Today's Tidbit… 1876 IFA Rule #8: Dead Ball

This is #7 in a series covering football’s original 61 rules adopted by the Intercollegiate Football Association in 1876. We review one rule each Friday.

(1905 Army Yearbook)

Rule 8: The ball is dead when it rests absolutely motionless on the ground.

Although Rule #8 pertains to a kicked or dropped ball that comes to rest, its more important application comes in defining touchdowns and downs. As we will see in upcoming rules, a touchdown requires touching and holding the ball to the ground behind t...