Football – Page 2 – I Don't Get It

Neck Tension

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I love posed player portraits like these. I always wonder if the strong, athletic years turned out to be their glory days and they wound up selling secondhand Pontiacs in Peoria. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

As you can see, there are no facemasks on these helmets.

“If you want to prevent concussions, take the helmet off: Play old-school football with the leather helmets, no facemask,” former Steelers receiver Hines Ward said. “When you put a helmet on you’re going to use it as a weapon, just like you use shoulder pads as a weapon.” (profootballtalk.nbcsports.com)

I don’t know nothin’ ’bout no football helmets. But, golly, don’t they look happy?

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White Man’s Vertical

Come on. White men can jump would have been too easy. I dated a guy in college who was very proud of his vertical; he could high-five popcorn ceilings like nobody’s business. But he had nothing on this coach, who seems to have jumped up to groin level with the nearby player. Assistant varsity coach Bill Henneberry looks about 20 years old, not much older than the students at San Francisco’s Sacred Heart High School. And that’s part of why he made it happen.

According to jumpshigher.com,

If you’re between 17 and 30 and in a somewhat fitter than average population, here are some numbers to shoot for.

Average Vertical Leap of NCAA Div. 1 Football player: 29-31 inches.
Average Vertical Leap of NCAA Div. 1 Basketball player: 27-30 inches

Meanwhile, Michael Jordan had a reported 48″ vertical, but that’s still short of the amazing Kadour Ziani, the world record holder at 60″ vertical (though a lot of places say 56″).

Now maybe you’re not fit or between 17 and 30, but coach Henneberry was. Just look at this lift.

LifeOct10-55004 That’s some enthusiasm over blocking an extra point kick.

Root For The Home Team

A young Michael Landon can’t help but hoot and holler during the 1947 football season.

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Male cheerleaders lunge and make one jazz hand as a show of support.

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After the “eighth straight victory over Farmers,” the Longhorn football players rejoice as they hit the showers.

Meanwhile, at the basketball game, Hank Williams, Sr appears to be ornery as heck. Come on, fellas! You need to have the ball rest on the side of the thumb rather than on the tip of the thumb on every shot! Move it on over!

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Always Take Your Pipe Out Before Rooting For The Home Team

This man has everything: a visor, sunglasses, the tie, a pipe, and even popcorn. #Winning

Every Last One Bobbed

1926 Pine Burr Football Sponsor and her maids

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From what I gather, a “sponsor” was like the head of the pep squad. Betty Greer (“origin of the pep”) had maids, all with modern bobbed hair. But it doesn’t sound like she sponsored in the sense of providing funds. Although–props for your nice pearls and mink stole, Betty. PineBurr1926--025