Touchdown query

[Graham_Clayton]

I have always been intrigued why a "touchdown" is so called when it is not necessary for the offensive player to touch the ball down onto the ground?

[CS85]

Is this one of those "football is such a silly game, tralala" things? Stop yourself.

[ninersdd]

Is this you:

[Kramerica Industries]

I think he passes that snuff test. His join date is before flacco even began posting.

And since we're all pretty sure Cody is among us with a different alias, I'll give him a pass on that account too.

That said, the constant thread-bumping is getting annoying. I know that many of these threads hold no "expiration date" of sorts, but there's probably a reason why a thread made in 2008, was left in 2008.

[ninersdd]

Yeah I saw the join date. I was just showing the photo cause he is annoying us like flacco did.

[Kramerica Industries]

Flacco was just, ugh.

Even without the rest of his stupidity considered, it's probably never a good idea to join a Canadian-hosted site and start blasting the Canadian Anthem. I mean, seriously, how can anyone outside of Quebec hate that thing?!

[BlueSky]

To answer the question, IIRC when football first started it was necessary to touch the ball down in the end zone. That rule was changed in American football but again IIRC (I'm sure someone here knows) it's still required in rugby.

[BBTV]

It wouldn't make any sense to actually touch the ball down, essentially downing yourself. What would it serve? If the other team tackled you in the end zone, you'd touch, and score. If you just downed yourself, you'd touch and score. It's just an unnecessary action that can only lead to an unnecessary injury. That being said, a lot of American football terminology is silly and outdated, both in the rules and the positions. Besides the concept of "downs", why does the full back line up half way back, but the half back lines up the full way? Why is an H back called an H back? Why is the eligible receiver that's spread all the way out known as both the split end and the wide receiver and the wideout? How the hell did the "waggle" get that name? Very hard game to learn if you didn't grow up with it.

[officeglenn]

The American (and Canadian) version of football evolved from what is now known as rugby, where it is necessary to touch the ball down in the end zone. I guess it's just one of those things no one ever bothered to change.

[Evil G]

So, you're an Aussie trying to insult an American sport?

Seems legit.

[-kj]

Mod note:

The original poster asked a reasonably legit question, given that his location information places him in Australia. Unfortunately, what he got in return was a bunch of witch-hunting and insults. At least a few people bothered to actually consider the question; the rest of you were out of line, and it's becoming quite tiresome on these boards. Please stop. Thank you.

[Gothamite]

In that spirit, the *ball* might not have to be touched down, but the *player* is, and there are situations when the player is considered to be an extension of the ball, so long as he has control of it.

Or it's an historical anachronism like the name "football", which is equally misapplied to games in Australia and the United States (although you use your feet a lot more in Aussie Rules than we do in gridiron).

[The_Admiral]

You know, it's one of those things I've never really thought about. I guess I just figured you went down the field and touched the goal.

Oh, and football is a silly game. Tra la la la la.