Word: touchdown
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Dates: during 1920-1920
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Prior to this change in the rules an effort was made to have the goal from touchdown either thrown out of the game entirely, or at least to have the play made under conditions which would bring 22 men into action instead of only two offensive players, and a few half-hearted defenders clustered under the goal posts who knew they hadn't a chance in a thousand to block the kick...
However, the Rules Committee in session last winter maintained that inasmuch as scoring a touchdown, earning six points, required far more football ability than two field-goals, also equivalent to six points, that the goal from touchdown should serve as the extra reward for the touchdown makers over the team that could score only by the aerial route. And following this train...
thought, they made the goal from touchdown as easy a reward to gain as possible...
Under this rule, based on the above reasoning, the goal from touchdown has proved rather unsatisfactory. Games have been lost through a miscue by a nervous kicker or holder of the ball, and the rest of the team has had to see their efforts at team work successful at reaching the correct goal in view--the touchdown--nullified by one individual's failure to kick a tying or winning goal. That the kicking of the goal is quite inconsistent with the team play that is the essence of football, is in no way better shown than by the action...
Such a method of earning goals from touchdown would then mean something from the standpoint of team play. This goal kicking not only would be a real bit of active football but the one point, or even two points earned in this manner would still give the earners of a touchdown their extra credit over those who can score only by the field goals. The defensive team would have a real chance as an organization to combat its opponents' efforts. Consider how few times a free kick that has any chance at clearing the bar is ever blocked...