Inside the opponent's 20 yard line

[wdm1219inpenna]

When exactly did the term "Red Zone" begin being used for football? Why was it refered to as a "red" zone when in fact it's a green field? Could you imagine if the powers that be decided to paint that area red, to truly make it a red zone? Just a curiosity thing on my part. I tried to research it but came up empty.

[leopard88]

When exactly did the term "Red Zone" begin being used for football? Why was it refered to as a "red" zone when in fact it's a green field? Could you imagine if the powers that be decided to paint that area red, to truly make it a red zone? Just a curiosity thing on my part. I tried to research it but came up empty.

My foggy recollection is that Tom Landry referred to the area as the "Red Zone" when he was coaching the Cowboys. Presumably he called it the "Red Zone" just because success there is important to winning football games and the color red is often associated with urgency (such as the mythical red phone in the White House). The story started showing up during games and coverage and eventually because common football lingo (probably in the 1980s, if memory serves me).

[BBTV]

IIRC it was just because TV graphics tended to color the area red (I think just to have contrast from the green), so the announcers just referred to it as the "red zone" or "red area". It just kind of stuck.

[oddball]

I decided to search it up, because I've always heard that it's called the Red Zone because as a defense, you need to bear down and finally stop the offense. Yet, as I googled it, I came across this quite amusing answer: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_is_inside_th...%27_in_football

[leopard88]

I decided to search it up, because I've always heard that it's called the Red Zone because as a defense, you need to bear down and finally stop the offense. Yet, as I googled it, I came across this quite amusing answer: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_is_inside_th...%27_in_football

Yeah, that sounds about right.

[O_Town_Clown]

I'm sure this was a John Maddenism. Now I have to do some searching. Quickly! To the Google!

[FiddySicks]

I think it was actually named after recent Buccaneers teams. You see, they wear red jerseys, and absolutely love spending time in the Red Zone. But the thing is, they also enjoy just staying in the Red Zone, it's almost like they're just extremely comfortable there. Ggoing beyond the Red Zone isn't really their thing.

[jc...]

Tom Coughlin refers to it as the Green Zone. I like that better. Green Means GO!

[O_Town_Clown]

A Google search found this random page I have no reason to believe.

The page had this passage:

The term "red zone" as it pertains to American Football was invented by Dave Plati, the Associate Athletic Director and Sports Information Director at the University of Colorado.

I couldn't substantiate it, but I found Plati's Bio Page, which said this:

among the many innovative numbers he is credited with first charting was “scoring percentage inside-the-20,” which is now commonly known as the red zone.

So, really I have nothing. but I didn't want the research to go to waste.

So...there.

[tBBP]

I think it was actually named after recent Buccaneers teams. You see, they wear red jerseys, and absolutely love spending time in the Red Zone. But the thing is, they also enjoy just staying in the Red Zone, it's almost like they're just extremely comfortable there. Ggoing beyond the Red Zone isn't really their thing.

All of that is just ONE of the reasons I ain't never care for Gruden...which in turn makes me wonder why you liked him so much (though not solely because of this).

Offensive genius, that Chucky.

[FiddySicks]

I think it was actually named after recent Buccaneers teams. You see, they wear red jerseys, and absolutely love spending time in the Red Zone. But the thing is, they also enjoy just staying in the Red Zone, it's almost like they're just extremely comfortable there. Ggoing beyond the Red Zone isn't really their thing.

All of that is just ONE of the reasons I ain't never care for Gruden...which in turn makes me wonder why you liked him so much (though not solely because of this).

Offensive genius, that Chucky.

That pretty much sums it up. Love him or hate him, that trophy was lifted by Gruden that year, not Dungy.

[tBBP]

I think it was actually named after recent Buccaneers teams. You see, they wear red jerseys, and absolutely love spending time in the Red Zone. But the thing is, they also enjoy just staying in the Red Zone, it's almost like they're just extremely comfortable there. Ggoing beyond the Red Zone isn't really their thing.

All of that is just ONE of the reasons I ain't never care for Gruden...which in turn makes me wonder why you liked him so much (though not solely because of this).

Offensive genius, that Chucky.

That pretty much sums it up. Love him or hate him, that trophy was lifted by Gruden that year, not Dungy.

And it sickens me every time I see that particular image.

but it's cool...you liked him, I coulda cared less for him, but in the end...we both still fans of the same daggone team.

[crashcarson15]

Tom Coughlin refers to it as the Green Zone. I like that better. Green Means GO!

A newbie posting with complete spelling, caps, and punctuation. Wow!

[oddball]

I think it was actually named after recent Buccaneers teams. You see, they wear red jerseys, and absolutely love spending time in the Red Zone. But the thing is, they also enjoy just staying in the Red Zone, it's almost like they're just extremely comfortable there. Ggoing beyond the Red Zone isn't really their thing.

All of that is just ONE of the reasons I ain't never care for Gruden...which in turn makes me wonder why you liked him so much (though not solely because of this).

Offensive genius, that Chucky.

That pretty much sums it up. Love him or hate him, that trophy was lifted by Gruden that year, not Dungy.

And it sickens me every time I see that particular image.

but it's cool...you liked him, I coulda cared less for him, but in the end...we both still fans of the same daggone team.

I know because I still wonder how Mike Turico has a job! He's horrible!

[FiddySicks]

I think it was actually named after recent Buccaneers teams. You see, they wear red jerseys, and absolutely love spending time in the Red Zone. But the thing is, they also enjoy just staying in the Red Zone, it's almost like they're just extremely comfortable there. Ggoing beyond the Red Zone isn't really their thing.

All of that is just ONE of the reasons I ain't never care for Gruden...which in turn makes me wonder why you liked him so much (though not solely because of this).

Offensive genius, that Chucky.

That pretty much sums it up. Love him or hate him, that trophy was lifted by Gruden that year, not Dungy.

And it sickens me every time I see that particular image.

but it's cool...you liked him, I coulda cared less for him, but in the end...we both still fans of the same daggone team.

I know because I still wonder how Mike Turico has a job! He's horrible!

Amen to both statements.