History of the NFL Forward Pass and 'The Big Scrum – How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football' with Professor John J. Miller

Professor John J. Miller is the director of the Dow Program in American Journalism at Hillsdale College and one of the nation’s most respected literary journalists. A regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal, he previously spent many years as a writer and podcaster for National Review. Miller is also the founder and executive director of the Student Free Press Association, the non-profit organization behind The College Fix, which supports and promotes collegiate journalism.

The Chronicle of Higher Education has described him as “one of the best literary journalists in the country,” a reputation reflected in his body of work. He is the author of several books, including The Big Scrum: How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football, which explores the surprising truths behind presidential intervention that helped shape the sport’s modern identity and the topic of today discussion. 

01:20 – Journey into Journalism and What Inspired Writing: The Big Scrum

06:00 - Walter Camp and Theodore Roosevelt History with Football 

10:30 – Early Violence and Brutality of Football & Charles Elliot’s Dislike for Football

17:40 – The Introduction of the Forward Pass

24:00 – Fights, Yale vs Harvard and the Flying Wedge

27:00 – Moments in Researching the Big Scrum

32:40 – Walter Camps Wife and Football

34:10 – Where You Can Find and Support Professor Miller

Twitter/x: @heymiller

https://www.heymiller.com/

Chapters

• 1:20 Journey into Journalism and What Inspired Writing: The Big Scrum
• 6:00 Walter Camp and Theodore Roosevelt History with Football
• 10:30 Early Violence and Brutality of Football & Charles Elliot’s Dislike for Football
• 17:40 The Introduction of the Forward Pass
• 24:00 Fights, Yale vs Harvard and the Flying Wedge
• 27:00 Moments in Researching the Big Scrum
• 32:40 Walter Camps Wife and Football
• 34:10 Where You Can Find and Support Professor Miller