FULLbacks and HALFbacks

[bradfritz21]

This is probably another one of those things that only brain injured people think about, but did you ever wonder why a fullback is called a FULLback when he's the back that's lined up halfway between quarterback and halfback in the I formation and the halfback is called a HALFback when he's the full distance from the quarterback?

How does that make sense?

[berserkerone88]

Originally Posted by bradfritz21

This is probably another one of those things that only brain injured people think about, but did you ever wonder why a fullback is called a FULLback when he's the back that's lined up halfway between quarterback and halfback in the I formation and the halfback is called a HALFback when he's the full distance from the quarterback?

How does that make sense?

Hope this helps

Halfback vs Fullback

[pennsyltuckian]

In the old days, in the "I" formation, there was a guy who was a quarter of the way back from the line, one who was half way back from the line and one who was fully back from the line.

In those days the biggest of them was the fullback and he normally carried the ball because bigger was harder to tackle. Somewhere along the line someone realized the bigger guy being in front of the smaller was a good idea for the sake of blocking since defenses were getting bigger.

Others started lining their fullbacks up in that position but continued to call them fullbacks. At least most of them started calling the other guy a running back even though they weren't either the lone back or in the "T" formation.

[Jasonew6]

Originally Posted by bradfritz21

This is probably another one of those things that only brain injured people think about, but did you ever wonder why a fullback is called a FULLback when he's the back that's lined up halfway between quarterback and halfback in the I formation and the halfback is called a HALFback when he's the full distance from the quarterback?

How does that make sense?

Quarterback

Halfback

Fullback

Tailback

[Bengalzona]

Originally Posted by pennsyltuckian

In the old days, in the "I" formation, there was a guy who was a quarter of the way back from the line, one who was half way back from the line and one who was fully back from the line.

In those days the biggest of them was the fullback and he normally carried the ball because bigger was harder to tackle. Somewhere along the line someone realized the bigger guy being in front of the smaller was a good idea for the sake of blocking since defenses were getting bigger.

Others started lining their fullbacks up in that position but continued to call them fullbacks. At least most of them started calling the other guy a running back even though they weren't either the lone back or in the "T" formation.

^ This

[THEBURG]

Originally Posted by bradfritz21

This is probably another one of those things that only brain injured people think about, but did you ever wonder why a fullback is called a FULLback when he's the back that's lined up halfway between quarterback and halfback in the I formation and the halfback is called a HALFback when he's the full distance from the quarterback?

How does that make sense?

Didn't used to be that way, with the full house backfield.