Early American & Canadian 'Football': Beginnings Through 1883/84

Rating:
Summary: Football for the serious researcher
Review: This book is an excellent source for the true sports historian. Please note this book is of serious academic nature - there are no lionized descriptions of teams, coaches, or players, but instead a thoughtful and thorough analysis of the early origins of football, soccer, and rugby in the United States and Canada. Smith has broken down football into the components which he considers essential (carrying the ball and the system of downs) and explains how convention has held us from correctly identifying early field games as soccer/rugby/football. I myself have researched college football for nearly 20 years and I have long thought considering 1869 as the 'first' season was never fully correct since more than one sport can be traced to that game (and even before). Smith has done an excellent job of allowing me to see the picture more clearly. Very much looking forward to his follow up on football after 1883!