The short punt formation, invented by Amos Alonzo Stagg in 1896, is one of football’s earliest and most influential formations. Known for its versatility, the formation was widely used for decades alongside others like the single wing and wing T, but it has since faded into obscurity. Unlike typical punting formations with the punter 15 yards deep, the short punt placed the quarterback or punter just five yards back, enabling a triple-threat offense of running, passing, or punting.
Fielding Yost’s “Hurry Up” teams famously used the short punt from 1902 to 1905 to dominate opponents. Initially thought to have been replaced by Pop Warner’s single wing in the early 1900s, the short punt continued to see use for decades, appearing in coaching manuals and even high school football as late as the 1950s. Dana X. Bible and Lou Howard both highlighted its adaptability in their writings, with Howard tweaking it to mimic the T formation.
The formation made a brief but notable reappearance in professional football in 1961 when Red Hickey of the San Francisco 49ers introduced the “Zephyr offense,” a variation of the short punt. Although initially successful, it was quickly neutralized by George Halas and the Chicago Bears, who recognized it as a modernized single wing.
Despite being largely forgotten, the short punt formation influenced the development of modern football formations, including the shotgun. Its ability to adapt to significant rule changes over decades underscores its ingenuity and importance in football history. Today, the short punt formation remains an often-overlooked but critical part of the game’s evolution.
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