CLASSIC: Teddy Roosevelt May Just Have Saved Modern (American) Football

Summary

---

Ridiculous History - CLASSIC: Teddy Roosevelt May Just Have Saved Modern (American) Football

Podcast: Ridiculous History (iHeartPodcasts)
Air Date: April 17, 2026
Hosts: Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown

Episode Overview

In this lively and humorous episode, Ben and Noel delve into the shocking, brutal, and ultimately transformative early history of American football. Centered on President Theodore Roosevelt's unlikely but pivotal role in saving the sport from being banned due to its deadly violence, they trace how student fatalities, press outrage, and passionate college rivalries led to a presidential intervention that helped create modern football as we know it. The episode weaves historical research with the hosts’ signature banter and pop culture asides, making a compelling case for why every football fan owes a debt to TR.

---

Main Themes & Key Insights

1. The Dangerous Origins of American Football

• Early Football Fatalities:
  Ben and Noel discuss how, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, American football was an exceedingly violent sport, often resulting in serious injuries or even death.
  • "He was rushed and dogpiled on and was at the bottom of this heap of humanity. And he... began to vomit blood. And they realized that he was dying on this football field." (Ben, 05:50)
• Notable Tragedy:
  The fatal injury of University of Georgia fullback Richard Von Gammon in 1897 is recounted in vivid detail, serving as a flashpoint for national outrage and reform efforts.
  • "Von Gammon... had suffered a skull fracture and a concussion and he was placed in a horse drawn carriage headed for Grady Hospital. And he died in the hospital overnight." (Ben, 06:41)
• Lack of Protection:
  Helmets and adequate protective gear were virtually nonexistent, exacerbating the risks.
  • "Back in these days... they didn't have helmets, they barely had any padding." (Noel, 08:05)

2. Public Outcry and the Debate Over Football’s Future

• National Backlash:
  Von Gammon's death and others like it led to fierce debate about whether football should be abolished, with critics likening it to "the gladiatorial combat of ancient Rome." (Ben, 09:00)
• Calls for Reform or Outright Bans:
  Ivy League administrators and muckraking journalists called for banning football from campuses, while some referred to these efforts as "the baby act" (Ben, 16:20), highlighting the generational and cultural divides over the sport.

3. Theodore Roosevelt’s Personal and Political Stake

• Roosevelt the Fan (and Father):
  Although too physically frail as a child to play varsity, Roosevelt idolized football’s values—"resolution, courage, endurance, and capacity to hold one’s own and stand up under punishment." (Ben, quoting Roosevelt, 10:54)
• Presidential “Roughness” Philosophy:
  • "He didn't feel any sympathy for people who got battered even a great deal as long as it was not fatal." (Noel, 11:56)
• Family Ties:
  The episode discusses how Roosevelt’s son, Theodore Roosevelt Jr., was nearly seriously injured playing for Harvard. This prompted the president to reconsider how the sport could be preserved without sacrificing player safety.
  • "There are multiple factors... you have the inarguable fact that children are dying. They're dying. Preventable deaths." (Ben, 19:41)

4. The Presidential Summit & the Birth of the NCAA

• White House Football Summit:
  In October 1905, Roosevelt convened coaches, athletic directors, and key officials at the White House to demand changes for safety’s sake.
  • "Football is on trial. Because I believe in the game, I want to do all I can to save it." (Roosevelt, quoted by Ben, 19:41)
• Landmark Reforms:
  Changes following the summit included:
  • Legalizing the forward pass (reducing dangerous dogpiles and direct hits).
  • Doubling the first-down distance to 10 yards per three downs.
  • Creating the "neutral zone" between opposing teams.
  • "They changed... to more specific things... a neutral zone between offense and defense... and they doubled the first down distance to 10 yards." (Noel, 22:31)
• Formation of the NCAA:
  The National Collegiate Athletic Association came into being in 1906, out of this push for codified commercial rules and lasting reform.
  • "In 1906, 62 institutions become members of the NCAA." (Ben, 21:05)

5. The Impact: Football Survives, But Not Unscathed

• Declining Fatalities, Enduring Brutality:
  Deaths dropped from the notorious “death harvest” year (19 in 1905) to 11 per year, but serious injuries persisted.
• Roosevelt’s Legacy in Football:
  The episode closes with the notion that without Roosevelt’s intervention, American football might not have survived or transitioned into a professional national pastime.
  • "Harvard's football coach at the time, William Reed, said that Roosevelt had helped save the game." (Ben, 26:55)
• Ongoing Controversies:
  The hosts encourage listeners to think about the continuing debate over concussions and brain injuries in football, noting their own work on a documentary about the subject. (Ben & Noel, 31:16)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Von Gammon... had suffered a skull fracture and a concussion... He died in the hospital overnight." (Ben, 06:41)
• "It was more like something akin to what you'd see on a Vietnam battlefield. Or... this is a college sport for fun." (Noel, 07:09)
• "Was football a proper pastime, or was it as violent and deadly as, quote, the gladiatorial combat of ancient Rome?" (Ben, 09:00)
• "Roosevelt called American football the greatest exercise of fine moral qualities such as resolution, courage, endurance, and capacity to hold one's own and stand up under punishment." (Ben, 10:54)
• "[Roosevelt:] Football is on trial. Because I believe in the game, I want to do all I can to save it." (Ben, quoting Roosevelt, 19:41)
• "They changed the rules... Legalized the forward pass, created a neutral zone, and doubled the first down distance to 10 yards..." (Noel, 22:31)
• "Fatalities declined to 11 per year instead of the 19 that we saw in that death harvest year, which to me isn't quite good enough." (Noel, 26:26)
• "If you're a football fan, you should ardently thank President Theodore Roosevelt." (Ben, 26:55)
• On Halftime Shows:
  "More and more recently, it's the Super Bowl halftime show, man. Which is its own bag of badgers, its own ball of wax... or weird string... or I should say ball of lip-synced abbreviated performances." (Ben, 27:45)
• On American Football’s Global Perception:
  "For outsiders looking in, the rules of football can seem as inscrutable as the rules of cricket. Do you know the rules of cricket?" (Ben, 29:04)
  "Absolutely not. Don't feel bad. Neither do I." (Noel, 29:10)

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• Introduction & Context – [03:45–05:10]
• Richard Von Gammon Tragedy / Early Football Dangers – [05:50–07:09]
• Statistical Overview of Football Injuries – [07:26–08:05]
• Public Debate and Roosevelt’s Stance – [09:00–10:54]
• Roosevelt’s Family Connection & White House Summit – [18:08–21:05]
• Birth of the NCAA and Rules Changes – [21:05–23:06]
• Outcomes and the Halftime Show Tangent – [26:26–27:45]
• Discussion of Football vs. Cricket (Global Sport Confusion) – [29:04–30:27]
• Listener Engagement / Closing Thoughts – [31:16–32:42]

---

Tone, Language & Listener Takeaways

• Engaging, Funny, and Informative:
  The hosts combine pop culture jokes, presidential trivia, and historical storytelling with a conversational but knowledgeable tone. As always, the banter is sprinkled with self-deprecating humor and accessible explanations for non-sports-fans.
• International Perspective Encouraged:
  They invite international listeners to weigh in on American football’s appeal (or lack thereof) and share opinions on sports safety.
• Call to Action:
  The hosts prompt fans to connect via social media about concussions and the "weirdest sport you know about," broadening the show’s participatory charm.

---

Summary

This episode traces how American football, once at risk of abolition due to its shockingly high death toll, was steered toward reform by President Theodore Roosevelt—who loved football’s character-building roughness but recognized the human cost. Through his advocacy, a set of safety-focused reforms and the NCAA were born, making the gridiron safer (if still brutal) and safeguarding the future of the sport. The episode is a thoughtful yet entertaining look at how cultural values, media, and presidential politics shaped the uniquely American pastime so many enjoy—and debate—to this day.

Transcript

[A]

And we have returned, fellow ridiculous historians, with a classic episode for you this week. This comes with a very special shout out to one of our number one guys, Noel, our super producer, Mr. Max Williams, who will always know more about sports than either you or me. Agreed.

[B]

It's like a superpower.

[A]

Max, do you. No. I don't know. You hadn't quite joined the show yet, but you're familiar with the idea of football, right?

[B]

Beth watched a game or thousands. I've seen a game or two in my day.

[A]

I know I gotta stop sounding like an alien impersonating human. I've thrown a football before, caught one and even kicked it once. You've touched some pig skin, right?

[B]

Did they. Did Lucy pull it out right at the last minute? No, it was John. The football kicked his bald head instead. Yeah, kick him in the bald head. No, no, too far.

[A]

Rude. Also, why is he the Lucy of our show? Anyway, this episode is for fans of American football, so not soccer and fans of President's past. It turns out that Teddy Roosevelt from earlier just may have been the saving force of modern American football.

[B]

Let's just jump right into it. What do you say?

[C]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human

[B]

today we're talking about how

[A]

you don't have to earn more when you can save more.

[B]

Okay, so you brought me this stat. T Mobile customers had the lowest wireless bills versus Verizon and AT&T over the past five years. That seems surprising.

[C]

Surprising but true. Which, honestly, is what people need right now. Affordable wireless service isn't a perk. It's a difference.

[D]

Based on Harris X billing snapshots from Q3 21 and Q4 25 compared to average AT&T and Verizon bills. Comparison excludes discounts, credits and optional charges. For more details, see harrisx.comt mobile bills.

[C]

This one's for all my TV lovers. My entertainment from DirecTV gets you 60 channels and Disney, Hulu and HBO Max all in one pack. But here's the thing. With so much great TV and my entertainment, you're going to want to talk about everything you've been watching. Just remember that your friends might not be as well watched as you. Don't be a spoiler and encourage them to get my Entertainment for just $34.99 a month. Go to directtv.com genrepacks and sign up today. New customers only. Service renews monthly unless canceled. Credit card required conditions applied. Apps HBO Max Basic with ads begins after DirecTV 5 day trial. Learn [e-mail] restrictions apply

[D]

Every small business owner has that one moment that could have broken them. But remarkably, it didn't. Hi, I'm Ben Walter, CEO of Chase for Business and on season three of the Unshakeables, my co host Kathleen Griffith and I are bringing you more incredible stories of overcoming the impossible. Listen to the Unshakeables wherever you get your podcasts and learn [e-mail] podcast JPMorgan Chase Bank NA member FDIC Copyright 20 and 26 JPMorgan Chase Co.

[B]

Indeed Sponsor jobs get you quality candidates when you need them most. Spend less time searching and more time actually interviewing candidates who check all your boxes. Less stress, less time, more results when you need the right person to cut through the chaos. This is a job for indeed sponsored jobs and listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsor job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves. Indeed.com podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Need to hire. This is a job for indeed sponsored jobs.

[A]

Ridiculous History is a production of iHeartRadio. Foreign. The following episode is going to be of. You know, it's going to be about something ridiculous, but it's also going to be a peek into US Culture for a lot of our fellow ridiculous historians listening outside of the United States. We are today talking about football.

[B]

American Football.

[A]

American Football.

[B]

And there's going to necessarily be some roughness in this episode. Remember that movie Necessary Roughness?

[A]

No, what was Necessary Roughness?

[B]

It was just a raunchy like 90s American football comedy, I believe. Yeah.

[A]

Who are you?

[B]

Oh, I'm Noel and I am an aficionado of raunchy 90s football based comedies.

[A]

Yes, yes, yes. That's how we met.

[B]

I did my undergrad in that actually all facts.

[A]

I am and this is ridiculous history. But it would not be ridiculous history without our super producer, Casey Pegra.

[B]

I just want to acknowledge that American Football also a great band. Yep. Kind of a. What is it? What would you call them? It's a little emo kind of. Yeah, sort of sort of emo, but way more on the tolerable side as far as I'm concerned. No, they're good. They're kind of jangly. They don't like. They don't wine scream. It's kind of a little more low key and the guitars are kind of jangly and arpeggio y kind of. I dig it. And they have reunited after many dormant. They have a third album coming out actually. I will say this though. For some reason the name American Football, it's just very bland sounding. It Sounds like they'd be a very bland kind of vanilla band. And they sort of are.

[A]

I mean, no, it's, it's approachable emo. That's what I would call it, Approachable emo. Casey on the case.

[B]

Well, today's story actually has a pretty cool Atlanta connection, which is where we find ourselves right now. Back in 1897, there was a fullback at the University of Georgia named Richard Von Gammon, and he was playing with his team against the Virginia team, which is a college team. And in those days, it was quite common for players to be brutally injured. And this was no exception. He was rushed and dogpiled on and was at the bottom of this heap of humanity. And he started, he received this, this hit and then began to vomit blood. And they realized that he was dying on this football field.

[A]

Right. They eventually realized what happened. The teen doctor popped the guy with a syringe full of morphine and then noticed the blood was coming from Richard Von Gammon's head. Von Gammon, you see, had suffered a skull fracture and a concussion and he was placed in a horse drawn carriage headed for Grady Hospital. And he died in the hospital overnight.

[B]

Yeah, and that scene that we're describing, a medic basically coming out and stabbing a football player with a syringe full of morphine, sounds more like something akin to what you'd see on a Vietnam battlefield. Or, you know, I mean, this is, this is a college sport for fun.

[A]

Right? Right. He was not wearing headgear. Today, football is still hazardous. According to CDC estimates here in the US 1.6 to 3.8 million sports and recreation related concussions occur each year in the U.S. 10% of all contact sports athletes sustain concussions each year. Brain injuries cause more deaths than any other sport injury. And in American football, brain injuries count for, get this, 65 to 95% of all fatalities. And this is with all the equipment that people have today.

[B]

Yeah, back in these days that we're talking about, they didn't have helmets, they barely had any padding. A little later, there's a movie called Leatherheads that stars guy that played Jim in the Office and George Clooney, where you can see the relatively minor changes that were made in football by 1925. And there were some pretty small helmets, a little bit more shoulder padding. But in these days event, this death of this young man really polarized the nation against the sport. Very little protective measures were put in place for these, these young men that

[A]

were out there, I am delighted by, because we know a lot about Each other. This is news to me, folks. I am delighted, Noel, by your, by your fascination with these, these, like, turn of the 20th century football films, you know, 90s to early 2000s. Is that your wheelhouse?

[B]

Totally, dude. I did my dissertation on Varsity Blues.

[A]

You know, looking back, it all makes sense in retrospect, and that's something that we see today. You know, if you've ever watched a US football game, you can see the tremendous amount of damage these folks are dealing out to one another. And then you can look back at pictures of footballers of yesteryear and see that they were doing the same thing with much less protection. This has been an ongoing debate in this country. Was football a proper pastime? People were asking in the wake of Vaughn Gammon's death, or was it as violent and deadly as, quote, the gladiatorial combat of ancient Rome? Ivy League university presidents argued about this, along with reformist muckraking journalists and politicians, as we learn through a great Smithsonian article called Score One for Roosevelt. President Theodore Roosevelt himself intervened because, you see, in addition to being president, he was a huge football fan and had

[B]

been from the start. And he even schooled his young son, who comes into play in this, in saying that the very thing that makes us love football is the very thing that makes it so utterly brutal and dangerous. At the time, they. I'm not a football, okay, Now I'm. I'm showing. I'm tipping my hand a little bit. I am not an expert on the sport itself, just more its portrayal in cinema. But they didn't even have the forward pass you had. It was all about the rush. It was all about having an individual holding the ball, rushing it physically, not throwing the ball and having it intercepted. You had to actually physically hold it, and that would open you up to much more potential to be hit or dogpiled on. And that is how the game was played in those days.

[A]

And this put Roosevelt in an interesting position because he loved the game. Ever since he was a kid, he publicly presented himself as a fan. But there was a little bit of what PR folks would call optics at play here, because this bravado in his public presentation of himself was meant to distract from his severe asthma, his terrible eyesight, and the other physical challenges he had growing up as a sickly child, he was too slender and frail to play varsity football himself. But that did not diminish his love for the sport. Roosevelt called American football the greatest exercise of fine moral qualities such as resolution, courage, endurance, and capacity to hold one's own. And stand up under punishment. He also wrote that in life, as in a football game, the principle should be don't foul and don't shirk, but hit the line hard. Furthermore, he said, I will disinherit any son who does not play college sports.

[B]

Yeah, and this comes into play in just a little bit. But he also was quoted as saying in a public address in 1903 that he didn't feel any sympathy for people who got battered even a great deal as long as it was not fatal. And the thing is, these injuries that were happening, they didn't always result in death, but they were gruesome and they had long lasting ramifications. Even if it wasn't clear right away, it was this death in clear view of everyone, basically, that really changed the conversation. But we are talking about punctured lungs from ribs that are broken. We are talking about head injuries, we are talking about wrenched spines, broken legs, all kinds of stuff because of the lack of safeguards in this sport.

[A]

Right? And we also have to consider that at this point in time, a lot of people were not aware of the long term damage posed by concussions. You know what I mean? They wouldn't notice something wrong necessarily until several years had passed. Guys, we live in the beautiful southeastern part of the United States and every time spring comes, we get a lot of pollen, get a lot of flowers, we get a lot of bugs.

[B]

We do. And it gets a little hot and humid out there. And so you do end up having bugs kind of seeking cooler climbs and then often involves climbing under your door. In my case, it was an ants at a picnic situation. But thankfully I was able to knock those ants out of the frame using Pesti.

[A]

Other pest control companies, they're going to charge you hundreds of bucks. But with Pesti, we're talking about getting started at just $35.

[B]

A treatment and a customized plan to boot. Based on your location, bugs and climate, Pesti gets rid of over 100 different types of bugs, from spiders to the aforementioned ants to roaches and scorpions. Keep the bugs away with Pesti, go to pesti.comhistory for an extra 10% off your order.

[A]

That's P-E-S-T-I-E.comhistory for an extra 10 percent off at T Mobile, we could explain

[B]

Super Mobile ourselves, but would you rather hear it from Kevin Bacon? Today, business happens virtually everywhere.

[A]

That's why you need Supermobile from T Mobile. The best plan on the best network. A first of its kind plan that lets you run your business from your phone like never before in moments of

[B]

high demand, T Mobile's network intelligently adapts to help give your business the connection it needs needs with built in security

[A]

to keep your business your business all

[B]

backed by America's largest mobile to satellite network. Get intelligent performance, enhanced security and seamless coverage with Super Mobile from T Mobile. The best business plan on the best network. Discover [e-mail] best business plan based on

[D]

combination of advanced network performance coverage layers and security features. But network based on analysis by Ookliffe speed test intelligence data 1H 2025 include

[B]

trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.

[D]

T Satellite available with capable device in most outdoor areas where you can see the sky.

[C]

Obsession is in session and this summer prime has everything you want. Steamy romances, irresistible love stories and the book to screen favorites you've already read twice off campus.

[B]

This is the part where I tell you all the things I want to do to you.

[C]

Elle can you think of anything more fun and fearless Every year after the Love Hypothesis, Sterling Point and more slow burns, second chances chemistry you can feel through the screen. Your next obsession is waiting. Watch only on Prime.

[B]

Honestly, Honestly, Honestly.

[D]

No one wants to think about hiv, but there are things that everyone can do to help prevent it. Things like prep. PREP stands for Pre Exposure Prophylaxis and it means routinely taking prescription medicine before your exposed to HIV to help reduce your chances of getting it. Prep can be about 99% effective when taken as prescribed. It doesn't protect against other STIs, though, so be sure to use condoms and other healthy sex practices. Ask a healthcare provider about all your prevention Options and visit findoutaboutprep.com to learn more. Sponsored by Gilead

[A]

Historians will tell us that by the time Roosevelt entered the White House as president in 1901, the gridiron had turned into a killing field because of these harsh rules. One Princeton player explained to the journalist Henry Beach Needham that we're coached to pick out the most dangerous man on the opposing side and put him out in the first five minutes of the game. In 1905, the Chicago Tribune reported that 19 people died playing college, high school and Sand Lauder amateur football that year, and Roosevelt was getting unsettled. He didn't like this. He's president, so the press is always gonna be, you know, at least partially adversarial, right? And being a shrewd politician, he saw trouble on the horizon and he didn't like these journalists talking bad, talking smack about football. He was determined to save football somehow. He also knew on the side of the ivory towers that several officials at Harvard and other universities were determined to abolish the game altogether, at least ban it from their campuses. Roosevelt referred to this as the baby act.

[B]

In that period that. Ben, you were just describing, in the 1905 football season, the Chicago Tribune coined a pretty excellent expression for it. They called it the death harvest.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. So we see Roosevelt at a crossroads, right? The colleges want to end the game. The journalists are describing the horrors of physical injury in lurid detail. Maybe now we reintroduce his son, Theodore Roosevelt Jr.

[B]

It was in that year of the death harvest that Ted Roosevelt, as Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Was known, was playing for his alma mater of Harvard against Yale. And that was when he got an illegal hit that left him with a broken nose and a pretty bloodied face. And some conjectured that this was done to him on purpose because no one else had been seriously injured in that game and in that. But here's the thing. In that same afternoon, another football player by the name of Harold Moore, who played for Union College, he died of a cerebral hemorrhage when he was kicked in the head while attempting to tackle an NYU player. And this was all during that year. And it was kind of an eye opening thing for President Roosevelt because he wasn't. He certainly didn't want to give his son special treatment. But I think he. It opened his eyes to how there needed to be some kind of change that wouldn't rob the sport of what made it good, but also would have some protections for these young men who were in Ivy League schools and had bright careers ahead of them outside of the sport. You know, they didn't want to. He didn't want them to have, like, brain injuries and be so seriously injured that they couldn't pursue their. I mean, I think. What do you think made it click for him, Ben? Because he certainly didn't seem someone that would pamper his son. He wanted him to, you know, be in this rough environment and kind of learn and, you know, stand on his own two feet.

[A]

There are multiple factors. We know that he was very, very close to his children, but he also expected a lot out of them. We know that he wrote to his son and said that the very things that make it a good game make it a rough game, referring to football. And even then he seemed a little divided. He definitely wanted his children to play, but he was also, as any father would be concerned. And then, you know, you have the media angle and then you have the inarguable fact that children are Dying. They're dying. Preventable deaths. And they're dying as a result of participating in this sport. On October 9th, Roosevelt convenes a football summit at the White House. A lot of people are there, athletic directors, Ivy League coaches, Secretary of State Elihu Root. And Roosevelt says football is on trial Because I believe in the game. I want to do all I can to save it. And so I have called you all down here to see whether you won't all agree to abide by both the letter and spirit of the rules. For that will help.

[B]

And Ben, if I'm not mistaken, this summit or this intercollegiate collective, a conference, I guess, would ultimately become what is now today known as the ncaa.

[A]

Yeah, the National Collegiate Athletic Association. This happened. So he makes this speech. In 1905, same year as the death harvest. The next year, March 1906, 62 institutions become members of the NCAA.

[B]

And this included a codified set of rules of engagement, much like any kind of international agreement between nations on what Constitution institutes, fair war tactics. I mean, this was very much along those lines. They changed some of the rules. Remember earlier I was talking about how they didn't allow the forward pass, you had to run with the ball. Now they allowed the forward pass, which would cut down on the opportunities for runners to be tackled. And not to mention, they changed to more specific things. Ben, you might have a better grasp of this than me, but I'm going to do my best to explain it. They changed. They had a neutral zone between offense and defense, and they actually. So a neutral zone would. A zone where you are less likely to get hit. Is that right?

[A]

So in American football, and I had to look this up. In American football, the neutral zone is the length of the football from one tip to the other when it's spotted, placed on a certain spot on the field prior to the snap of the ball during a scrimmage down.

[B]

Okay, so there's that again.

[A]

I feel like you just got whooshed. Huh? I got whooshed.

[B]

I got whooshed big time. So legalize the forward pass. That one, I understand. Neutral zone. And then they also doubled the. This is from a history.com article about how Teddy Roosevelt saved football. They doubled the first down distance to 10 yards, so I guess you didn't have to rush quite as far.

[A]

Oh, you know what?

[B]

In the amount of time, that makes sense.

[A]

Also, I was getting too in the weeds with that neutral zone definition. Let's just think of it as an area where no members of either team can go other than the person holding the ball.

[B]

That makes sense.

[A]

That makes a little more sense. We're unwashing ourselves big time, guys. We live in the beautiful southeastern part of the United States. And every time spring comes, we get a lot of pollen, we get a lot of flowers, we get a lot of bugs.

[B]

We do. And it gets a little hot and humid out there. And so you do end up having bugs kind of seeking cooler climbs and then often involves climbing under your door. In my case, it was an ants at a picnic situation. But thankfully I was able to knock those ants out of the frame using Pesti.

[A]

Other pest control companies, they're gonna charge you hundreds of bucks. But with Pesti, we're talking about getting started at just $35, a treatment and

[B]

a customized plan to boot. Based on your location, bugs and climate. Pesti gets rid of over 100 different types of bugs, from spiders to the aforementioned ants to roaches and scorpions. Keep the bugs away with pesty. Go to pesti.comhistory for an extra 10% off your order.

[A]

That's P E S-T-I-E.comhistory for an extra 10 percent off whether you run a

[B]

small office or a factory of 500, for businesses of all sizes, connection is everything. That's why T Mobile is reinventing business Internet with super super broadband. Powered by America's fastest 5G Internet and integrated with Starlink, super broadband is built from the ground up and the sky down, reaching every zip code in the US Even in the most remote locations like this solar farm. Whether it's the boardroom or the emergency room, with super broadband, your critical beta stays online even through disruptions. T Mobile now delivers super broadband a new era of business Internet. Visit superbroadband.com to learn more.

[D]

Fastest 5G network based on analysis by Oculus Speed Test Intelligence data 2H2025. Speeds vary due to local network characteristics and management. Satellite requires hardware installation and clear view of the sky.

[C]

With a 36 month commitment, obsession is in session. And this summer, prime has everything you want. Steamy romances, irresistible love stories and the book to screen favorites you've already read twice off campus.

[B]

This is the part where I tell you all the things I want to do to you.

[C]

Elle. Can you think of anything more fun and fearless? Every year after the love hypothesis, Sterling point and more slow burns, second chances chemistry you can feel through the screen. Your next obsession is waiting. Watch only on Prime.

[B]

Honestly. Honestly. Honestly.

[D]

No one wants to think about hiv. But there are things that everyone can do to help prevent it. Things like Prep Prep stands for pre exposure prophylaxis. And it means routinely taking prescription medicine before you're exposed to HIV to help reduce your chances of getting it. Prep can be about 99% effective when taken as prescribed. It doesn't protect against other STIs, though, so be sure to use condoms and other healthy sex practices. Ask a healthcare provider about all your prevention Options and visit findoutaboutprep.com to learn more. Sponsored by Gilead.

[B]

And this didn't completely change the nature of the game, which was by design. They wanted to keep it rough. They didn't want to like. I mean, it's a little bit of a pejorative. I mean, very much is. But Roosevelt said they didn't want to make the game be played quote, on too ladylike a basis. So it certainly wasn't becoming. Yeah, it certainly wasn't becoming touch football or flag football or something. But fatalities declined to 11 per year instead of the 19 that we saw in that death harvest year, which to me isn't quite good enough.

[A]

Still progress. I guess you could say that. Harvard's football coach at the time, William Reed, said that Roosevelt had helped save the game. A ban against the sport by colleges and universities would have prevented, most likely would have prevented the development of professional football. And although this ends the main branch of our tale, and it is true that if you are a football fan, you should ardently thank President Theodore Roosevelt. I have to say, there is one thing about football that always trips me out. More and more recently, it's the super bowl halftime show, man. Yeah. Which is its own bag of badgers, Its own ball of wax or weird string or I should say ball of lip. Synced abbreviated performances.

[B]

Totally. We had the super bowl in Atlanta this last game, and people were talking more about the halftime show than they were about the game. Apparently it was a bit of a snooze fest. But it was funny when there were things that happened as part of the game, the telecast. I could go outside and hear like the blue angel jets flying overhead. That was funny to be able to experience those things in real time.

[A]

Yeah. I know that there are amazing super bowl halftime performances, and I know that there are people who just tune in to watch that. But I gotta say, the last one didn't really. Didn't really move me. You know what I mean? Who Was that? Maroon 5.

[B]

Maroon 5. Adam Levine with his Adam Levine and his tacky tattoos.

[A]

I heard the bigger controversy was him showing a nipple and not get nipples and not getting in trouble when Janet Jackson.

[B]

Multiple nipples yeah.

[A]

For just the one.

[B]

Yeah. It's definitely a bizarre double standard.

[A]

So let us know what you think of American football. I'd especially love to hear what you think if you are not from this country, because here in the US football is tremendously popular. It's a billion dollar industry. And for outsiders looking in, the rules of football can seem as inscrutable as the rules of cricket. Do you know the rules of cricket?

[B]

Absolutely not. Don't feel bad. Neither do I. I know the bat's called the wicket, right?

[A]

No, no, sorry, man. No, no, it's the. I don't know the name of the bat in cricket, but the wicket is one of the two sets of three stumps at either end of the pitch.

[B]

Are you kidding me?

[A]

No. Like a wicket in croquet.

[B]

So what's a sticky wicket?

[A]

A sticky wicket, if I'm just speculating here, is a wicket where it's tough to knock down the horizontal parts, the bales.

[B]

Okay, I give up.

[A]

Don't give up.

[B]

All right, I won't give up.

[A]

I'm gonna send you a great sketch from Mitchell and Webb, my friends, about cricket.

[B]

I would really love that, Ben, because I love Mitchell and Webb and I apparently am completely ignorant on the rules of cricket and American football. Because you know what, Ben? They don't really talk about the rules in the movies, the football movies. They just assume that you already know.

[A]

And it's mainly about the Oscar moment speeches, right?

[B]

To me, it's about the Oscar moment. It's about, like, Rudy is a good one. I like Rudy. You know, the under underdog story.

[A]

I really like mainstream for you.

[B]

I know, I know. I usually go for the deeper cuts, but it's an important one. Remember the Titans? Do you remember them? Remember those Titans?

[A]

I don't remember those Titans. I know the name of the film, but I haven't watched it.

[B]

Well, it's a very, very inspiring tale of underdoggedness.

[A]

I'm more into weird presidential history and trivia, and I think this episode qualifies for that.

[B]

I think this episode is the beautiful Venn diagram betwixt those two disciplines, Ben.

[A]

Right, right. I agree with you, Noel. And this ends our story today. Yeah. Let us know if American football is popular outside of the US it's probably never gonna be as popular as soccer or, you know, what the rest of the world calls football. Furthermore, let us know what you think of the concussion controversy. A few years back, we got together at work and did what I think is a pretty stand up video, a documentary on concussions do you remember that, Casey?

[B]

I do remember that. We went to. Or I didn't go, but somebody went to like a conference or something about it, right?

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

Football hall of Fame or something like that.

[A]

Maybe we can post that on our Facebook page. Ridiculous Historians. It's an excellent way to learn a little bit more about the current science combating concussions. Today while you are on the Internet, feel free to check us out on Twitter. You can also find us on Instagram. And you can check out some more of Noel's, I'm certain, deep dive research into 90s era football films on his own Instagram.

[B]

Yep, you can. That is at Embryonic Insider where you'll, you know, I'll post pictures and video clips of me at various 90s pop culture conferences and you know, symposiums. Symposiums and talks and you know, TED talks, all the different kinds of talks.

[A]

And you can find me En Bollen, where I am your faithful correspondent, providing a visual travelogue of the various strange countries that I, that I get kicked into and kicked out of. North Korea, I'm looking at you.

[B]

Here's looking at you, North Korea. I like that. Ben, I really gotta go. Thanks to super producer Casey Pegram. As always, Alex Williams, who who composed our theme, research associate Gabe Luzier. And Ben, you.

[A]

Thanks, Noel. And hey, and thank you too. Thanks to Theodore Roosevelt for introducing us to the term Rough Riders, for being president, for making football a little less lethal and allowing the game to continue for its millions of fans across the country and the world. And thanks for listening. I have one last question I'm going to squeeze in one last question for everybody. What's the weirdest sport you know about?

[B]

Yeah, let us know, folks. We'll talk to you soon. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. I'm U.S. transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. We all seem to be in a rush these days, from work to driving our kids around. But when you're behind the wheel, please do not speed. A few minutes saved by going faster is never worth the risk. So follow the speed limit, enjoy the drive, maybe bring some snacks for the kids. And know that along the way you're getting quality time with your family, paid for by nhtsa.

[C]

This is Sophia Donner from OK Storytime this summer. Find your next obsession on Prime Video and listen. We're not saying you need another obsession, but there could be a lot worse ones. Steamy romance, addictive love stories, and the book to screen favorites you've already read twice, so why not watch them a third time off campus? Elle the Love Hypothesis and more Slow Burns Second Chances chemistry you can feel through the screen and it makes you wish you were actually in that movie. We've got binge worthy series can't miss movies perfect for when you're ignoring your own problems or procrastinating as one does. Your next obsession is waiting. Watch only on prime what's up cousin?

[B]

I want a new phone. Have you seen any good deals?

[C]

Everyone has free phones but when I switched to T Mobile I got more value and so much more. Live streaming included and travel benefits.

[B]

And the best part? The price of your talk, text and data is guaranteed for five years.

[D]

Get more benefits and more value.

[B]

AT T Mobile Family save and get a 5 year price guarantee. Switch network now. @t mobile.com qualifying plan requires price guarantee

[D]

on doc, text and theta exclusions like taxes and fees apply.

[C]

CT mobile.com Get a full body reset anywhere you go with Dr. Teal's magnesium spray. It's a concentrated magnesium blend of pure Epsom and Dead Sea salts all bundled up in a convenient on the go bottle. A few quick sprays will relax your body and mind and keep you feeling recharged all day long. It's wellness you can feel and you can find it in your local bath aisle. Dr. Teals Yep, you needed that. This is an I Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.