1869___First game
1875___First official game ball: an egg-shaped, leather-covered rugby ball
\______Field length reduced to 100 yards plus endzones
\______15 players on each side
1876___Crossbar added to field goal posts at 10 feet high
1877___First uniform devised by Princeton player L.P. Smock
1880___Scrimmage system established for putting ball in play
\______11 players on each side
1882___System of downs first used: offense had 3 downs to make 5 yards
\______Player substitution first allowed
1883___Points system adopted: FGs worth 5, TDs and conversions worth 4, safety 1
1884___Points awarded for safety increased from 1 to 2
1885___First official used
1894___"Flying wedge" formation and similar formations outlawed
\______Three officials used: referee, umpire, and linesman
1895___Seven offensive players on the line of scrimmage first used
1897___5 points awarded for a touchdown and 1 point for a successful conversion
1903___First football only stadium built at Harvard
1904___Field goal worth 4 points
1906___Forward pass made legal
1908___Field judge used in the officiating crew for the first time
1909___Field goal worth 3 points
1912___System of downs revised to 4 downs to make 10 yards
\______Touchdown worth 6 points
1915___Numbers added to jersey
1922___Scrimmage line for conversion attempts established at the 5 yard line
1927___Goal posts moved to the rear of the end zone
1929___Scrimmage line for conversion attempts moved to 2 yard line
1937___Numbers required on both sides of jersey
1939___Helmets required
1941___Players may substitute at any time but may not be withdrawn or the
outgoing player returned until at least one play has intervened.
"Platoon" football made possible
1948___Unlimited substitution on change of team posession
1951___Face mask added to helmet
1953___Two-platoon abolished and players allowed to enter game only once in each quarter
1955___Back judge used in the officiating crew for the first time
1956___Rubber covered ball permitted
1958___2 pt conversion adopted for a run or pass completion following a TD
\______Scrimmage line for conversion attempts moved to the 3 yard line
1959___Distance between goal posts increased to 23 feet, 4 inches
1964___Platoon football returns. Unlimited substitutions between periods and after a score
1967___Numbering system according to position first used
1972___Line judge added to officiating crew
1973___Mouth protectors required
1974___Substitutes must be in for one play and replaced players out for one play
1983___Side judge added to officiating crew
1988___2 pts awarded to defense for returning a conversion attempt by offense
\______Kicking tee disallowed for field goal and conversion attempts
1991___Distance between goal posts reduced to 18 feet, 6 inches
1992___2 points awarded to defense for returning a fumble outside the endzone
1993___Rubber covered ball outlawed
\______Players who are bleeding or whose uniforms are saturated with blood must come out of
the game until their return has been approved by medical personnel
1995___Overtime used for Division 1A for the first time
1998___First "official" national champion for D1A: Fiesta Bowl winner Tennessee
2002___First woman to play in major college football: New Mexico kicker Katie Hnida
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