A Quick History Question or 2....

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Jim D

During the 60's the NCAA was trying to limit platoon football with different players for offense and for defense. The thought was that they could help schools keep costs down with having fewer players who could go both ways. They had a rule where no more than two players could
substitute during a dead ball period. I don't remeber if there were exceptions for 4th down. The offense reported to the Field Judge, who wore a green armband. The defense reported to the Umpire, who wore a red armband.

Once they legalized offenseive & defensive platooning in the 1960s, they still wanted to prevent special teams, so on any down that was not following a change of possession or free kick, you could sub no more than 2. That didn't change until some time in the early 1970s.

Robert