Harvard is also responsible for the forward pass!
Prior to 1906, ball movement was accomplished in football similarly to the way it is currently done in rugby (ie, never throw forwards). There were too many deaths in collegiate football, however, so the decision was made to widen the field. Harvard had already built its concrete stadium though, and could not expand the field to be any wider. After much head scratching it was decided that instead of widening the field a forward pass could be implemented so as to stretch the players vertically down the field.
And lo the forward pass was born, and it was good.
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