1895 - The First Look At The Forward Pass

Out of a little-known St. Louis University, as early as 1906, a far sighted coach named Eddie Cochems was experimenting with the forward pass. In the summer of that year he took his team to Lake Beulah, Wisconsin, for the sole purpose of developing the forward pass. Cochems studied the ball. he could see that it had been designed to fit the instep of the shoe for kicking and the armpit for carrying. There seemed no part of the ball that would allow a grip for throwing. Then Cochems noticed the seven lacings. Here was just the place!

Cochems told his players - particularly his best back, six foot four Brad Robinson - to put their fingers between the two lacings nearest the end of the ball. Its diameter was shortest there. Then he told them to try throwing the ball on its long axis. He recommended that they try throwing it overhand, with a twist of the wrist, much as a catcher pegs a baseball down to second base.They did. With cries of delight they saw the ball going further and farther downfield.