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American Football was not developed as an offshoot of the Canadian version, by Harvard. That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.
Yes, it was derived from Rugby, but limiting participation to 11 players per side and the basic codification of rules was done in the 1880's by Yale's Walter Camp. Harvard did influence the 160 ft. width of an American Football field, as that was what fit within their original playing area.
Regarding fair catches on kickoffs, in a Pats/Ind. Colts game in the early-mid 1980's, at the end of the first half, the Colts did a short pooch kickoff to aviad a big return, which the Pats up-lineman fair caught. Tony Frankiln then missed a long 60+ yard fair catch, free kick FG attempt. I've never seen another one attempted after a K.O. And don't forget that a period can be extended by one play to attempt the fair catch kick.
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