| Description |
xiii, 275 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| Summary |
During World War I, American army camps, navy stations, and marine barracks formed football's first true all-star teams, which competed against each other and top colleges while raising millions of dollars for the war effort. In War Football: World War I and the Birth of the NFL, Chris Serb details three long-forgotten seasons of American football when college amateurs mixed with blue-collar pros on the field of play. These games showed investors a lucrative market and made players realize that their football careers didn't have to end after college. Soon the barriers to professionalism began to fall, and within two years of the armistice the National Football League was born. War Football explores for the first time this lost chapter of sports and military history and directly connects World War I with the founding of the NFL. Seven future Hall-of-Famers led the charge of more than 200 military veterans who played in, coached for, and shaped the character of the young league. Football fans, sports historians, and military historians alike will find this a fascinating read. -- Back cover. |
| Contents |
Prologue : "war football" -- George Halas sees his future -- Walter Camp's vision -- Cupid takes aim at the Northeast -- A true all-American at Camp Custer -- Camp Sherman's march through Ohio -- Beckett's Marines conquer the West -- Selling war football -- Brickley kicks for Uncle Sam -- Jock Sutherland's fighting dentists head South -- Frank Pollard, Omar Bradley, and race in war football -- Coach Ike -- The Cleveland Navy battles Pop Warner -- George Halas and the 1919 Rose Bowl -- How football helped win the war -- The AEF tournament -- Peace and college football's golden age -- War football and the birth of the NFL -- Epilogue -- Appendix I: War football players -- Appendix II: All-service teams, 1917-1919 -- Appendix III: War football records. |
| Subject |
National Football League -- History -- 20th century.
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National Football League. (OCoLC)fst00547559
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World War (1914-1918) (OCoLC)fst01180746
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Football -- United States -- History -- 20th century.
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World War, 1914-1918 -- Social aspects -- United States.
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Football and war -- United States.
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Football. (OCoLC)fst00931362
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Football and war. (OCoLC)fst01747887
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Social aspects. (OCoLC)fst01354981
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United States. (OCoLC)fst01204155
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National Football League. (DE-588)1048975-7
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Weltkrieg 1914-1918. (DE-588)4079163-4
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Fußball. (DE-588)4018968-5
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United States. (DE-588)4078704-7
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| Chronological Term |
1900-1999
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| Genre/Form |
History. (OCoLC)fst01411628
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| Added Title |
World War I and the birth of the NFL |
| Other Form: |
Online version: Serb, Chris, 1970- author. World War I and the birth of the NFL Lanham, Maryland : Rowman & Littlefield, 2019 9781538124857 (DLC) 2019007538 |
| ISBN |
9781538124840 hardcover alkaline paper |
|
153812484X hardcover alkaline paper |
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