The one-platoon system, also known as iron man football, is a platoon system in American football where players play on both offense and defense. It was the result of smaller roster sizes in the early days of the game and rules that limited player substitutions, rules that are also standard procedure in many other sports but were eliminated in the 1940s as free substitution was legalized. The alternative system is the two-platoon system (or simply the platoon system), which uses separate offensive and defensive units (three platoons if special teams is also counted).
Each system was used at different times in American college football and in the National Football League. One-platoon football is seen in modern times mostly on lower-end and smaller teams at the high school and semi-pro levels, where player shortages and talent disparities require it; the system allows teams to play with a smaller roster than a two-platoon or multiple-platoon team, but because players are on the field the entire game with no rest between series, players slow down and become fatigued more quickly in the later stages of a game. As a result, players were required to take breaks between play blocks. Modern teams with sufficient numbers of talented players no longer use the one-platoon system.
Before 1941, virtually all football players saw action on "both sides of the ball," playing in both offensive and defensive roles. From 1941 to 1952, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) allowed unlimited substitution. This change was originally made because of the difficulty in fielding highly skilled players during the years of the Second World War, in which many able-bodied college-age men volunteered for or were drafted into military service.[1] The National Football League followed suit abolishing its substitution restrictions in 1943, for similar reasons.
For the 1953 season, the NCAA emplaced a set of new rules requiring the use of a one-platoon system, primarily due to financial reasons.[2] One source indicated that only one player was allowed to be substituted between plays;[3] however, according to the NCAA, the actual rule allowed a player to enter the game only once in each quarter.[4] More precisely, a player leaving the game in the first or third quarter could not return until the beginning of the next quarter, and a player leaving the game in the second or fourth quarter could not return until the final four minutes of that quarter.[5]Tennessee head coach "General" Robert Neyland praised the change as the end of "chickenshit football".[1]
The one-platoon rules were gradually liberalized over the next 11 seasons; by 1958, Louisiana State had developed a three-platoon system (a two-way platoon, an offensive platoon, and a defensive platoon known as the Chinese Bandits).[6]O. J. Simpson said after retiring from the NFL in 1979 that when he began playing football the best players played both ways, with the weakest only on defense and stronger players on offense.[7]
For the 1964 season,[4] the NCAA repealed the rules enforcing its use and allowed an unlimited number of player substitutions.[4][8] This allowed, starting with the 1964 season,[9] teams to form separate offensive and defensive units as well as "special teams" which would be employed in kicking situations. By the early 1970s, however, some university administrators, coaches and others were calling for a return to the days of one-platoon football.[10]
The sport of arena football used a limited one-platoon system (from which quarterbacks, kickers and one "specialist" were exempt) from its inception until 2007.
Don Hutson – Green Bay PackersSplit end, safety, and kicker who in various seasons was the league leader in offensive, defensive and special teams categories: touchdown receptions (from 1935–38 and again from 1940–44); interceptions (1940), extra points made and attempted (1941, 1942 & 1945), and field goals made (1943).
Glen Hepburn – This University of Nebraska at Omaha graduate played both tight end and defensive end/linebacker and played three full seasons with the Omaha Mustangs, a minor professional team. He died September 12, 1968, age 29, in the second game of his fourth season with the Mustangs, from injuries sustained in a game four days prior.[17]
Mike Furrey – After playing one-platoon football in the Arena Football League in 2002 and 2003, Furrey played on both sides of the ball with the NFL's St. Louis Rams, Detroit Lions, and Cleveland Browns at wide receiver and safety. Furrey did not see defensive game action in a season in which he also started on offense. He has recorded 10 career pass deflections and four career interceptions on defense, and 221 career receptions and seven career touchdowns on offense.[18]
Gordie Lockbaum – While his professional career was brief and mostly unsuccessful, Lockbaum was one of Division I college football's last full-time two-way players as a member of the Holy Cross Crusaders football squad.
ReferencesEdit
^ abcDouglas S. Looney, One Is More Like It, Sports Illustrated, 3 September 1990, retrieved 20 January 2009.
^Clarence Munn, Thumbs Down On The One Platoon, Sports Illustrated, 29 November 1954, retrieved 20 January 2009.
^K. Adam Powell, Woody Durham, "An Era of Change (1963-1968) (Google Books cache), Border Wars: The First Fifty Years of Atlantic Coast Conference Football, Scarecrow Press, 2004, ISBN0-8108-4839-2, ISBN978-0-8108-4839-9.
^ abc"College Football Rules Changes" (PDF). 2016 NCAA Football Records: Football Bowl Subdivision Records. p. 188. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
^Grothe, Peter (January 20, 1953). "Punts and Pitches". The Stanford Daily. p. 3. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
^Miller, Bryce (November 20, 1958). "Gambled On Untried Men". The Times-Picayune. UPI. p. 42.
^O.J. Simpson - Tonight Show - 1979 (YouTube). NBC. 2017-12-23 [1979]. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15.
^17 Reasons Why Knute Rockne Wouldn't Recognize This Game, Athlon Sports, retrieved 20 January 2009.
^Robert C. Gallagher, The Express: The Ernie Davis Story, p. 63, Random House, 2008, ISBN0-345-51086-0.
^One-platoon football seen as a money saver, The Free-Lance Star, November 22, 1974.
Wilmington Sunday Star article on its 1953 reintroduction
September 01, 2023
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The one platoon system also known as iron man football is a platoon system in American football where players play on both offense and defense It was the result of smaller roster sizes in the early days of the game and rules that limited player substitutions rules that are also standard procedure in many other sports but were eliminated in the 1940s as free substitution was legalized The alternative system is the two platoon system or simply the platoon system which uses separate offensive and defensive units three platoons if special teams is also counted Members of the 1935 New Hampshire Wildcats football team whose positions were listed in their college yearbook simply as backs four standing and linemen seven kneeling Each system was used at different times in American college football and in the National Football League One platoon football is seen in modern times mostly on lower end and smaller teams at the high school and semi pro levels where player shortages and talent disparities require it the system allows teams to play with a smaller roster than a two platoon or multiple platoon team but because players are on the field the entire game with no rest between series players slow down and become fatigued more quickly in the later stages of a game As a result players were required to take breaks between play blocks Modern teams with sufficient numbers of talented players no longer use the one platoon system Contents 1 History 2 Noteworthy professional one platoon players 3 References 4 Further readingHistory EditBefore 1941 virtually all football players saw action on both sides of the ball playing in both offensive and defensive roles From 1941 to 1952 the National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA allowed unlimited substitution This change was originally made because of the difficulty in fielding highly skilled players during the years of the Second World War in which many able bodied college age men volunteered for or were drafted into military service 1 The National Football League followed suit abolishing its substitution restrictions in 1943 for similar reasons For the 1953 season the NCAA emplaced a set of new rules requiring the use of a one platoon system primarily due to financial reasons 2 One source indicated that only one player was allowed to be substituted between plays 3 however according to the NCAA the actual rule allowed a player to enter the game only once in each quarter 4 More precisely a player leaving the game in the first or third quarter could not return until the beginning of the next quarter and a player leaving the game in the second or fourth quarter could not return until the final four minutes of that quarter 5 Tennessee head coach General Robert Neyland praised the change as the end of chickenshit football 1 The one platoon rules were gradually liberalized over the next 11 seasons by 1958 Louisiana State had developed a three platoon system a two way platoon an offensive platoon and a defensive platoon known as the Chinese Bandits 6 O J Simpson said after retiring from the NFL in 1979 that when he began playing football the best players played both ways with the weakest only on defense and stronger players on offense 7 For the 1964 season 4 the NCAA repealed the rules enforcing its use and allowed an unlimited number of player substitutions 4 8 This allowed starting with the 1964 season 9 teams to form separate offensive and defensive units as well as special teams which would be employed in kicking situations By the early 1970s however some university administrators coaches and others were calling for a return to the days of one platoon football 10 The sport of arena football used a limited one platoon system from which quarterbacks kickers and one specialist were exempt from its inception until 2007 Noteworthy professional one platoon players EditPudge Heffelfinger Yale and Allegheny Athletic Association guard defensive tackle who was the sport s first professional player Jim Thorpe New York Giants halfback defensive back and drop kicker Red Grange Chicago Bears halfback defensive back Don Hutson Green Bay Packers Split end safety and kicker who in various seasons was the league leader in offensive defensive and special teams categories touchdown receptions from 1935 38 and again from 1940 44 interceptions 1940 extra points made and attempted 1941 1942 amp 1945 and field goals made 1943 Sammy Baugh Washington Redskins quarterback tailback defensive back and punter credited with revolutionizing the use of the forward pass Baugh was the 1943 NFL leader in passing interceptions and punting 11 Chuck Bednarik Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker and center first overall 1949 NFL Draft selection and the NFL s last full time two way player 12 Bednarik was an outspoken critic of the modern football player s lack of stamina under the two platoon system 1 13 14 E J Holub Texas Tech and Kansas City Chiefs linebacker center and long snapper the last two way player in major professional football beginning two years after Bednarik retired 15 Charley Trippi Georgia college and Chicago Cardinals professional quarterback halfback punter and return specialist also switched to defense and remained punter for his final 1954 1955 seasons with the Cardinals Jim Thorpe called Trippi the greatest football player I ever saw 16 Glen Hepburn This University of Nebraska at Omaha graduate played both tight end and defensive end linebacker and played three full seasons with the Omaha Mustangs a minor professional team He died September 12 1968 age 29 in the second game of his fourth season with the Mustangs from injuries sustained in a game four days prior 17 Mike Furrey After playing one platoon football in the Arena Football League in 2002 and 2003 Furrey played on both sides of the ball with the NFL s St Louis Rams Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns at wide receiver and safety Furrey did not see defensive game action in a season in which he also started on offense He has recorded 10 career pass deflections and four career interceptions on defense and 221 career receptions and seven career touchdowns on offense 18 Gordie Lockbaum While his professional career was brief and mostly unsuccessful Lockbaum was one of Division I college football s last full time two way players as a member of the Holy Cross Crusaders football squad References Edit a b c Douglas S Looney One Is More Like It Sports Illustrated 3 September 1990 retrieved 20 January 2009 Clarence Munn Thumbs Down On The One Platoon Sports Illustrated 29 November 1954 retrieved 20 January 2009 K Adam Powell Woody Durham An Era of Change 1963 1968 Google Books cache Border Wars The First Fifty Years of Atlantic Coast Conference Football Scarecrow Press 2004 ISBN 0 8108 4839 2 ISBN 978 0 8108 4839 9 a b c College Football Rules Changes PDF 2016 NCAA Football Records Football Bowl Subdivision Records p 188 Retrieved July 24 2017 Grothe Peter January 20 1953 Punts and Pitches The Stanford Daily p 3 Retrieved June 27 2021 Miller Bryce November 20 1958 Gambled On Untried Men The Times Picayune UPI p 42 O J Simpson Tonight Show 1979 YouTube NBC 2017 12 23 1979 Archived from the original on 2021 12 15 17 Reasons Why Knute Rockne Wouldn t Recognize This Game Athlon Sports retrieved 20 January 2009 Robert C Gallagher The Express The Ernie Davis Story p 63 Random House 2008 ISBN 0 345 51086 0 One platoon football seen as a money saver The Free Lance Star November 22 1974 Sammy Baugh Pro Football Hall of Fame retrieved 20 January 2009 Chuck Concrete Charlie Bednarik College Football Hall of Fame Football Foundation Retrieved 20 January 2009 Bednarik wants Eagles to lose Super Bowl The Washington Post 4 February 2005 retrieved 20 January 2009 Bednarik Showing His Bitter Side The Los Angeles Times p D 13 6 February 2005 retrieved 20 January 2009 AFL All Stars Sports All Stars 1963 Pro Football pp 65 66 American Heroes Football Historian retrieved 20 January 2009 Mustangs recall memorable ride Omaha semipro football team found a special time place by Rich Kaipust Omaha World Herald December 25 2017 Mike Furrey ESPN Retrieved 11 May 2010 Further reading EditWilmington Sunday Star article on its 1953 reintroduction Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title One platoon system amp oldid 1146544235, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
