Today's Tidbit… IFA Rule #27 Knocking On

This is #27 in a series covering football's original 61 rules adopted by the Intercollegiate Football Association in 1876. We review one rule each Friday.

We kept last week’s review of Rule 26 short to avoid stepping on Rule 27’s toes. As you will recall, Rule 26 told us it was legal to toss the ball backward, including passing it to a teammate. Conversely, Rule 27 says knocking on or throwing a ball forward is illegal.

Rule 27: Knocking on, i.e., deliberately hitting the ball with the hand, and t...