Windshield Time Leads to Obscure Thoughts

So, why in football do we have a fieldgoal and a safety?  And an extra point?

 

No other major sport has two methods to score.  Yes, Basketball has free throws and three-pointers, but those still involve shooting the ball thru the hoop.  At no time in basketball does the defense score nor do you get the choice of saying "hmmm... I made it to the top of the key and I don't think I can go any closer, so I'll just kick the ball over the backboard for 1 point.

 

Baseball, even after a grand slam, doesn't allow for the scoring of and "extra point".  Soccor has penalty kicks, etc, but it still involves the same method of scoring -- kicking the ball into the net.  By comparison, how odd would it seem to see the soccor player pick up the ball and run it and if he gets into the net, he gets 2 points. 

Volleyball, Tennis, Golf, Baseball, Basketball, Table Tennis.... they all have one method of scoring and don't have "defensive" scores or extra points.  Somehow the people who started and modified football over time were just a little confused or more creative.

I suspect the safety came out of necessity - if the offensive team gets tackled far enough back in the endzone, it has essentially left the field of play....  or say the tackle takes place on 4th down.  The other team takes over on downs -- would they automatically get a touchdown?  I assume these scenarios created the need for the creation of this thing called a safety.

Anyway...  windshield time lends toward obscure thinking.

 

Comments

[Dirkwood]

Footballs origins are Rugby. Rugby brings us the touchdown, extra point, goal posts, field goal, etc. Once upon a time the forward pass was not allowed in American football, similar to its father, rugby.

[ronznotes]

I see your points but someone or a group of someones continued to bring those multiple scoring elements forward. Interesting that this one sport captivates us and is unique.

[Dirkwood]

Duplicate post with spelling errors corrected.

Not sure what you mean. Footballs scoring concepts are not unique; they are currently used in rugby which happens to be the #4 ranked, by popularity, sport in the world (1. soccer, 2. basketball, 3. volleyball). In rugby extra points (2) still follow a try or touchdown (you must touch the ball down in the end zone, hence the football term). Defense can score in a rugby match as well. Rugby invented the 3 point filed goal as an alternative to a continued drive toward the end zone.

The concepts unique to football do not involve its scoring system but instead involve 1) long stoppage of play after 10 seconds (give or take) of action, 2) pads and helmets 3) forward pass 4) evolution of a scrummage to restart play into line of scrimmage and 5) taking 3hrs to play an 1hr long contest with the majority of the 1hr spent standing in 'huddles' vs. actual action.

Don't get me wrong, I am a husker fan and truly enjoy football, just wanted to give credit to football's founding concepts still played on a world wide scale today.