"Indianizing" in football (1919)

Benjamin Zimmer bgzimmer at RCI.RUTGERS.EDU
Fri Jun 10 09:25:13 UTC 2005


Nothing to do with the "Redskins" debate!  Earlier cites can no doubt be
found, since the blocking technique apparently got its name from Pop
Warner's famed team at the Carlisle (Pa.) Indian School, starring Jim
Thorpe from 1908 to 1912.  The Harvard team was known for "Indianizing"
until the tactic was ruled illegal in 1920.

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1919 _N.Y. Times_ 14 Dec. S2/4 Casey is a past master of the trick which
is called "Indianizing." He can put a man out of a play by skillfully
throwing himself at him and hitting him with his body.
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1919 _N.Y. Times_ 19 Dec. 19/5 The practice at the cage as usual consisted
of tackling the dummy and Indianizing work.
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1920 _L.A. Times_ 15 Mar. I7/2 The next most important revisions were
those which will penalize "clipping" or "Indianizing" and roughing the
forward passer.
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http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=435169
Harvard Crimson, November 17, 1927
After songs and cheers Coach Horween will speak, while "Tack" Hardwick,
whose "indianizing" was famous in the days of C. E. Brickley '15, will be
the last speaker to address the mass meeting.
"Indianizing" was a method of interfering used by the Carlisic [sic!]
Indian College teams, and Hardwick became exceptionally proficient in its
practice. When a player "Indianized" a runner, he threw his body across
the knees of his opponent in such a way as to take him completely out of
action.
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http://www.aafla.org/SportsLibrary/CFHSN/CFHSNv08/CFHSNv08n2g.pdf
College Football Historical Society Newsletter, Feb. 1995, p. 13/3
[reprint of 1931 article from NEA wire service]
Casey will be remembered particularly for his spectacular running with the
ball. But he also was famous for his old style of tackling. "Indianizing,"
they called it then. A better name for it would have been "paralyzing."
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--Ben Zimmer



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