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Football Officiating => General Discussion => Topic started by: Etref on February 15, 2011, 07:26:16 AM

Title: I remember when
Post by: Etref on February 15, 2011, 07:26:16 AM
On a thread about knickers it was mentioned about old style flags and pylons. There have been a ton of changes over the years in rules, mechanics, the field, equipment, philosophy, etc. I thought it might be fun for us to each chime in with a change they remember happening in the game.


I remember when "staying wide" meant the wing officials were at the top of the numbers.
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: bama_stripes on February 15, 2011, 07:35:02 AM
...  the average HS varsity game lasted 1:45.

...  there was no option to "defer to the second half".

...  the main reason for not having a quick whistle was because the QB did such a good job of faking from the wishbone.
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: Welpe on February 15, 2011, 09:50:34 AM
...it felt like you would rip your ears off when taking off your helmet.
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: xkath on February 15, 2011, 11:01:11 AM
--The stirrups over the white sanitaries.
--The rubber bands instead of the manufactured down indicators.
--The cupped-hands only for interior blocking.
--The Acme Thunderer with the cork pea in it was THE standard whistle.
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: El Macman on February 15, 2011, 11:37:01 AM
--The stirrups over the white sanitaries.

Hah. How about:

White crew sock over the black stocking?

Life before bean bags?

Life before the restricted area?

Life before play clocks?

Life before the 3 and 1 principle?

Life when DPI was a spot foul?

Life when they could send out unlimited numbers for the coin toss?

Life before the fair catch?

Life when they could use a tee on FG attempts (not all that long ago)?

Life before the 9-yard marks?

Life when there were limited substitutions (in my high school playing days; not since I've been wearing the stripes)?

Square-toed kicking shoes, and straight-on kickers (Lou Groza, Tom Dempsey)?

I could go on, but I won't.
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: HLinNC on February 15, 2011, 11:38:40 AM
- adjustable and even mesh back hats were the norm

- not during my career but I remember varsity officials wearing shorts on Friday night       during the early portion of the season (late 70's- early 80's)

- no back judges- and a lot of the old guys when I started calling called the line judge the field judge

-all metal down boxes and chain poles with pointy ends
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: JasonTX on February 15, 2011, 12:33:56 PM
Lines were cut into the field instead of painted
Lines were made by killing the grass with diesel.
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: Etref on February 15, 2011, 02:18:41 PM


the goal posts (yes two post) were on the endline and gave players and officials twice the chance of running into one of them.
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: fleetofoot on February 15, 2011, 04:02:50 PM
My father officiated with a white shirt that had a black V down the chest.
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: texref on February 15, 2011, 05:12:35 PM
Hah. How about:

White crew sock over the black stocking?

Life before bean bags?

Life before the restricted area?

Life before play clocks?

Life before the 3 and 1 principle?

Life when DPI was a spot foul?

Life when they could send out unlimited numbers for the coin toss?

Life before the fair catch?

Life when they could use a tee on FG attempts (not all that long ago)?

Life before the 9-yard marks?

Life when there were limited substitutions (in my high school playing days; not since I've been wearing the stripes)?

Square-toed kicking shoes, and straight-on kickers (Lou Groza, Tom Dempsey)?

I could go on, but I won't.


I have come to the conclusion that El Macman's first crewmates were the Twelve Apostles.....
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: Welpe on February 15, 2011, 05:58:59 PM
Lines were cut into the field instead of painted
Lines were made by killing the grass with diesel.

Hey I worked at a new jr high last year that had their field lined like this.  ;D
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: Diablo on February 15, 2011, 06:24:36 PM
Lines were cut into the field instead of painted
Lines were made by killing the grass with diesel.

Add lines defined with powdered lime.
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: LAZebra on February 15, 2011, 06:50:07 PM

the goal posts (yes two post) were on the endline and gave players and officials twice the chance of running into one of them.
We still have schools in Alabama with posts like this!
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: Timer on February 15, 2011, 09:38:03 PM
Flags were red.
Players didn't celebrate
Everybody's shoes were black and most likely high-tops.
Coaches coached during the game.
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: sj on February 15, 2011, 11:08:42 PM
Drinking water during practice was for sissiegirls.
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: 6310 Forever on February 16, 2011, 08:58:32 AM
The down box was an actual box on a stick with a 1, 2, 3, or 4 on each side and it was turned to the next down.
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: Amir on February 16, 2011, 09:16:39 AM
We still have schools in Alabama with posts like this!
Most fields in the UK too, but that's because most teams play on rugby pitches.
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: Arbitrator on February 16, 2011, 10:01:05 AM
Flags were red.
Players didn't celebrate
Everybody's shoes were black and most likely high-tops.
Coaches coached during the game.

 ^flag

Players and coaches were not nearly as disrespectful to the officials. And place-kickers kicked "straight-on!" And we finally got Gatorade at the high school level in the 1968 season, but during games only!  z^
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: Etref on February 16, 2011, 01:26:26 PM
Yeah but it was powder and tasted like crap!
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: Chester on February 16, 2011, 04:04:45 PM
Remember the salt tablets?   
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: VALJ on February 16, 2011, 04:54:17 PM
Well, being only a 9-year vet, I the most I can say is "I remember when offenses only ran 5-wide formations on 3rd down or in the two-minute drill, instead of every play."   ;)
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: younggun on February 16, 2011, 05:41:04 PM
I remember when it was ok to pull a guy down by the inside of the back of there sholder pads or jersey... aWaRd
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: FredFan7 on February 16, 2011, 06:31:44 PM
I wore stirrup socks.

I worked my first three crew and thought I went to heaven.

I used a rock to modify my penalty flag into a ball weight!   :!#

I thought to myself, "Why is he bringing a basketball whistle to a football game?" when someone showed up with a Fox-40.

I could start 15 yards deep in the secondary as a back judge and still beat the ball players to the goal line!!! aWaRd yEs:
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: Osric Pureheart on February 16, 2011, 07:00:57 PM

I have come to the conclusion that El Macman's first crewmates were the Twelve Apostles.....

Did they really have 12-man crews in those days?  I thought officiating was supposed to be moving forwards...
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: Rulesman on February 16, 2011, 07:38:07 PM
...when my first varsity game had crew experience totaling 26 years.

...and the white hat had all 26 of 'em!

He was a crusty old vet: "Hold your spot... Get the chains... Hold your spot... Get the chains... Hold your spot..."

Hey man, make up yer freaking mind!  

Aahh, the good old days...
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: jeffreff on February 16, 2011, 09:02:38 PM
1. Metal pylons (spring-loaded) driven into the ground with flags on top
2. Head slaps taught as blocking/defensive techniques
3. Helmet shells with foam ear pads ONLY that rarely stayed snapped in place
4. Playing in threatening weather conditions unheard of today
5. Salt tabs, toe punchers, and stick-um
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: El Macman on February 16, 2011, 09:38:19 PM

I have come to the conclusion that El Macman's first crewmates were the Twelve Apostles.....
I had a chance to meet Moses, but my jv gladiator match went into extra periods, and my chariot had a bad wheel, so i missed him. But i got to work the Olympiad that year, so it's all good.
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: ornery1 on February 16, 2011, 10:02:30 PM
We used the spray stickum where you clapped your hands together, atomic balm, the mouth pieces in the boiling water and biting down while it was still soft and admiring those white helmets when you made a good hit and it left some paint . Those were the days!!!!!
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: biltheref on February 16, 2011, 10:58:40 PM
Nitrotan on jock itch, tough skin to prevent blisters, the smell of laquer in the classroom where my father put the fresh coat of it on the leather pads
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: Chester on February 17, 2011, 04:38:36 PM
As a high school football player back in the day, I remember going to "Dances" after the games at the Rec Center.  That's absolutely unheard of these days.

Every block in the back was called clipping.  They changed that in FED about 10-11 years ago??
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: jjseikel on February 17, 2011, 07:07:11 PM
I played HS football with my mouth piece stuck in the top of my sock and I never wore a tail pad.
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: DonM on February 17, 2011, 09:32:43 PM
... offensive pass interference in the EZ was a touchback
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: bama_stripes on February 18, 2011, 07:30:02 AM
I played HS football with my mouth piece stuck in the top of my sock and I never wore a tail pad.
That explains a few things!    LOL
Title: Re: I remember when
Post by: Etref on February 21, 2011, 01:56:09 PM
I remember when officials wore


KNICKERS