At the turn of the 20th century, collegiate football could best be described as ruthless, chaotic, and hazardous. Injuries were common, many times serious, and, in a few cases, deadly.
President Theodore Roosevelt is credited with highlighting a serious review of the fledgling sport, resulting in reforms such as allowing the forward pass, increasing the distance for a first down from 5 yards to 10, and establishing a neutral zone dividing one team’s offense from the other’s defense. Injuries declined and interest in the sport rose as measured by participation, attendance, and competition.
More than a century later, another source of confusion has arisen: the name, image, and likeness regime, an ad hoc creation designed to compensate athletes for their services to their respective institutions. Free
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