October 13, 1945. Michigan vs Army. A desperate coach with depleted roster makes a decision that would change football FOREVER. This is the untold story of how substitution rules transformed college football from Iron Man endurance tests into today’s specialized chess match.
In this deep dive, I explore:
The brutal Iron Man era when players never left the field
How WWII forced the most important rule change in football history
Fritz Crisler’s desperate 1945 experiment that created two-platoon football
The financial crisis that nearly ended 50+ football programs
Why the NCAA tried (and failed) to turn back the clock in 1953
Paul Dietzel’s genius three-platoon workaround at LSU
The birth of special teams as a “third platoon”
Today’s tempo wars and the ongoing substitution battle
From the 1899 Sewanee Tigers’ legendary 5 games in 6 days to Nick Saban vs hurry-up offenses, this is the complete history of football’s most consequential rule change.
Key Moments:
1876-1940: The Iron Man Era
1941: WWII forces emergency substitution rules
1945: Crisler invents platoon football
1953: The NCAA’s failed attempt to restore “60-minute men”
1958: Dietzel’s LSU “Chinese Bandits” exploit the system
1965: Unlimited substitution returns permanently
2014: The modern tempo wars begin
This isn’t just about rules – it’s about the soul of football itself.
Question: Has football become TOO specialized, or is this just natural evolution? Let me know in the comments!
#CollegeFootball #FootballHistory #FritzCrisler #IronManFootball #NCAA #FootballEvolution #TwoWayPlayers #SpecialTeams
💥 PATREON – https://patreon.com/hcfbh
💥 JON’S BOOKS:
Been Dead, Never Been To Europe – Memoir About My Death And Recovery – https://amzn.to/3CgnmJP
Manage Your Damage – Heart Attack Survivor – https://amzn.to/3MkIy6i
The Mystery of the Dent in My Head – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMKCB54P
