127-827: William Grier (born April 3, 1995) is an American professional football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators and West Virginia Mountaineers and was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the third round in the 2019 NFL draft . Grier attended SouthLake Christian Academy in Huntersville, North Carolina , then transferred to Davidson Day School in Davidson, North Carolina . As
254-466: A Kyle Allen pass being intercepted by Dakota Allen . Texas Tech scored 3 off of the turnover with Michael Ewton making a 32-yard field goal to give the Red Raiders a 3–0 lead. The Cougars committed a total of 5 turnovers in the game while the Red Raiders only had 1. In a defensive battle, Texas Tech beat Houston 27–24, improving to 3–0 for the first time since 2013. With the victory, the Red Raiders ended
381-422: A gridiron in appearance. Other major rule changes included a reduction of the field size to 110 by 53 + 1 ⁄ 3 yards (100.6 m × 48.8 m) and the adoption of a scoring system that awarded four points for a touchdown, two for a safety and a goal following a touchdown , and five for a goal from the field . Additionally, tackling below the waist was legalized, and a static line of scrimmage
508-403: A halftime period, and the first and third quarters are followed by a short break. Before the game starts, the referee and each team's captain meet at midfield for a coin toss . The visiting team can call either "heads" or "tails"; the winner of the toss chooses whether to receive or kick off the ball or which goal they wish to defend. They can defer their choice until the second half. Unless
635-401: A 10-yard-long chain between them, are used to measure for a first down. The chain crew stays on the sidelines during the game, but if requested by the officials they will briefly bring the chains on to the field to measure. A typical chain crew will have at least three people—two members of the chain crew will hold either of the two sticks, while a third will hold the down marker. The down marker,
762-424: A 3–0 lead midway through the 1st quarter. Despite a slow offensive start, Texas Tech scored 21 unanswered points to lead 21–3 at the end of the 1st. On Arizona State's next offensive position they scored their first touchdown on a 3-yard pass from Manny Wilkins to Kyle Williams. On the drive, Texas Tech's defense committed 4 penalties. The Red Raiders almost scored on their next possession, but Desmond Nisby fumbled
889-668: A 4-yard run from Justin Stockton. With 3:09 left in the 3rd quarter, Guburd threw an interception to Willie Sykes who returned it 33-yards for a pick six , extending Tech's lead to 49–10 following Ewton's PAT. Texas Tech backup quarterback McLane Carter entered the game late in the 3rd quarter, ending the drive with a 22-yard touchdown pass Quan Shorts late in the 4th quarter. The Red Raiders ended their next two drives by turning over on downs. The Red Raiders won their season opener 56–10, improving to 5–0 in season openers under head coach Kliff Kingsbury . The Texas Tech defense held Eastern Washington,
1016-525: A PAT attempt or successful field goal, the scoring team must kick the ball off to the other team. A safety is scored when the ball carrier is tackled in the carrier's own end zone. Safeties are worth two points, which are awarded to the defense. In addition, the team that conceded the safety must kick the ball to the scoring team via a free kick . Football games are played on a rectangular field that measures 120 yards (110 m) long and 53 + 1 ⁄ 3 yards (48.8 m) wide. Lines marked along
1143-519: A common draft that would take place each year, and it instituted an annual World Championship game to be played between the champions of each league. This championship game began play at the end of the 1966 season. Once the merger was completed, it was no longer a championship game between two leagues and reverted to the NFL championship game, which came to be known as the Super Bowl . College football maintained
1270-567: A feat the Professional Football Researchers Association compared to "selling refrigerators to Eskimos ". Princeton, Harvard, Yale, and Columbia then agreed to intercollegiate play using a form of rugby union rules with a modified scoring system. These schools formed the Intercollegiate Football Association , although Yale did not join until 1879. Yale player Walter Camp , now regarded as
1397-453: A field goal instead. A group of officials, the chain crew, keeps track of both the downs and the distance measurements. On television, a yellow line is electronically superimposed on the field to show the first down line to the viewing audience. There are two categories of kicks in football: scrimmage kicks, which can be executed by the offensive team on any down from behind or on the line of scrimmage, and free kicks. The free kicks are
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#17328586543331524-509: A freshman in 2014, ultimately redshirting the season. As a redshirt freshman in 2015, he competed with Harris to be the starting quarterback. Although Harris started the first game of the season against New Mexico State , Grier received playing time, attempting 18 passes and completing 16 for 166 yards with two touchdowns. He rushed for 43 yards with a touchdown. Grier started the second game, against East Carolina , throwing for 151 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. On October 3, against
1651-428: A game between Yale and Princeton, both teams used this strategy to maintain their undefeated records. Each team held the ball, gaining no ground, for an entire half, resulting in a 0–0 tie. This "block game" proved extremely unpopular with both teams' spectators and fans. A rule change was necessary to prevent this strategy from taking hold, and a reversion to the scrum was considered. However, Camp successfully proposed
1778-576: A game for the Allegheny Athletic Association against the Pittsburgh Athletic Club . This is the first recorded instance of a player being paid to participate in a game of American football , although many athletic clubs in the 1880s offered indirect benefits, such as helping players attain employment, giving out trophies or watches that players could pawn for money, or paying double in expense money. Despite these extra benefits,
1905-586: A junior, he threw for a national record 837 yards in a game, breaking the old record of 764. As a senior, he had 4,989 passing yards with a nation-leading and North Carolina record 77 touchdowns . He also rushed for 1,251 yards with 13 touchdowns. He was named the Parade All-American Player of the Year and Mr. Football USA . For his career, Grier had 14,565 passing yards, a state record 195 touchdown passes, 2,955 rushing yards and 31 rushing touchdowns. Grier
2032-533: A large stick with a dial on it, is flipped after each play to indicate the current down and is typically moved to the approximate spot of the ball. The chain crew system has been used for over 100 years and is considered an accurate measure of distance, rarely subject to criticism from either side. Football is a full-contact sport, and injuries are relatively common. Most injuries occur during training sessions, particularly ones that involve contact between players. To try to prevent injuries, players are required to wear
2159-553: A league-suggested numbering scheme. Although the sport is played almost exclusively by men, women are eligible to play in high school, college, and professional football. No woman has ever played in the NFL, but women have played in high school and college football games. In 2018, 1,100 of the 225,000 players in Pop Warner Little Scholars youth football were girls, and around 11% of the 5.5 million Americans who report playing tackle football are female according to
2286-408: A long circumference of 28 to 28 + 1 ⁄ 2 inches (71 to 72 cm), and a short circumference of 21 to 21 + 1 ⁄ 4 inches (53 to 54 cm). In college and high school play the ball has a long axis of 10 + 7 ⁄ 8 to 11 + 7 ⁄ 16 inches (27.6 to 29.1 cm), a long circumference of 27 + 3 ⁄ 4 to 28 + 1 ⁄ 2 inches (70 to 72 cm), and
2413-420: A minimum of 10 feet (3.0 m) on high school fields. Goal posts are padded at the base, and orange ribbons are normally placed at the tip of each upright as indicators of wind strength and direction. The football itself is a prolate spheroid leather ball, similar to the balls used in rugby or Australian rules football . To contain the compressed air within it, a pig's bladder was commonly used before
2540-670: A national champion of college football. The first was the Bowl Coalition , in place from 1992 to 1994. This was replaced in 1995 by the Bowl Alliance , which gave way to the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) in 1997. The BCS arrangement proved to be controversial , and was replaced in 2014 by the College Football Playoff (CFP). A football game is played between two teams of 11 players each. Playing with more on
2667-598: A one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles . He reunited with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore , who had also been the offensive coordinator when Grier played for the Cowboys. He was released on August 26 and signed to the practice squad two days later. Grier was released again on November 7. On November 12, 2024, Grier was signed to the Dallas Cowboys practice squad. Grier is from Charlotte, North Carolina and
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#17328586543332794-428: A pass hits the ground without a player having caught it. A forward pass can be legally attempted only if the passer is behind the line of scrimmage; only one forward pass can be attempted per down. As in rugby, players can also pass the ball backwards at any point during a play. In the NFL, a down also ends immediately if the runner's helmet comes off. The offense is given a series of four plays, known as downs . If
2921-427: A quarter ends, play continues until the down is completed. If certain fouls are committed during play while time has expired, the quarter may be extended through an untimed down . Games last longer than their defined length due to play stoppages—the average NFL game lasts slightly over three hours. Time in a football game is measured by the game clock. An operator is responsible for starting, stopping and operating
3048-414: A round ball that could not be picked up or carried. It could, however, be kicked or batted with the feet, hands, head, or sides, with the objective being to advance it into the opponent's goal. Rutgers won the game 6–4. Collegiate play continued for several years with games played using the rules of the host school. Representatives of Yale, Columbia , Princeton and Rutgers met on October 19, 1873, to create
3175-453: A row. Baylor attempted their first field goal attempt midway through the 4th quarter with Connor Martin making a 34-yard field goal. The Bears fumbled for a third time in the 4th quarter, with David Coleman III recovering it for the Red Raiders and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown. Following the fumble touchdown, Baylor answered back on their next drive with a 3-yard pass from Brewer to Denzel Mims. The Bears attempted another onside kick, with
3302-422: A rule in 1882 that limited each team to three downs , or tackles, to advance the ball 5 yards (4.6 m). Failure to advance the ball the required distance within those three downs would result in control of the ball being forfeited to the other team. This change effectively made American football a separate sport from rugby, and the resulting five-yard lines added to the field to measure distances made it resemble
3429-436: A secondary signal. Women can serve as officials; Sarah Thomas became the NFL's first female official in 2015. The seven officials (of a standard seven-man crew; lower levels of play up to the college level use fewer officials) on the field are each tasked with a different set of responsibilities: Another set of officials, the chain crew , are responsible for moving the chains. The chains, consisting of two large sticks with
3556-628: A set of equipment. At a minimum players must wear a football helmet and a set of shoulder pads , but individual leagues may require additional padding such as thigh pads and guards, knee pads, chest protectors, and mouthguards . Most injuries occur in the lower extremities, particularly in the knee, but a significant number also affect the upper extremities. The most common types of injuries are strains , sprains , bruises , fractures , dislocations , and concussions . 2017 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team The 2017 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team represented Texas Tech University in
3683-410: A short circumference of 20 + 3 ⁄ 4 to 21 + 1 ⁄ 4 inches (53 to 54 cm). Football games last for a total of 60 minutes in professional and college play and are divided into two halves of 30 minutes and four quarters of 15 minutes. High school football games are 48 minutes in length with two halves of 24 minutes and four quarters of 12 minutes. The two halves are separated by
3810-452: A standard set of rules for use by all schools. Teams were set at 20 players each, and fields of 400 by 250 feet (122 m × 76 m) were specified. Harvard abstained from the conference, as they favored a rugby-style game that allowed running with the ball. After playing McGill University using both American (known as "the Boston game ") for the first game and Canadian (rugby) rules for
3937-470: A team that has won 3 out of its last 5 games against FBS opponents, to only 10 points and 301 total yards while forcing 3 turnovers. at Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, TX Kickoff was delayed for an hour due to thunderstorms in the Lubbock area. The Sun Devils received the opening kickoff, with Michael Barden's kick going out of bounds. Arizona State started at their own 35-yard line, making it all
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4064-449: A tradition of postseason bowl games . Each bowl game was associated with a particular conference and earning a spot in a bowl game was the reward for winning a conference. This arrangement was profitable, but it tended to prevent the two top-ranked teams from meeting in a true national championship game, as they would normally be committed to the bowl games of their respective conferences. Several systems have been used since 1992 to determine
4191-425: Is called on the offense. There are two main ways the offense can advance the ball: running and passing . In a typical play, the center passes the ball backwards and between their legs to the quarterback in a process known as the snap . The quarterback then either hands the ball off to a running back, throws the ball, or runs with it. The play ends when the player with the ball is tackled or goes out-of-bounds or
4318-437: Is caught or recovered behind the line of scrimmage. If it is touched or recovered by the kicking team beyond this line, it becomes dead at the spot where it was touched. The kicking team is prohibited from interfering with the receiver's opportunity to catch the ball. The receiving team has the option of signaling for a fair catch , which prohibits the defense from blocking into or tackling the receiver. The play ends as soon as
4445-403: Is known as a two-point conversion . In general, the extra point is almost always successful, while the two-point conversion is a much riskier play with a higher probability of failure; accordingly, extra point attempts are far more common than two-point conversion attempts. A field goal (FG), worth three points, is scored when the ball is place kicked or drop kicked through the uprights and over
4572-407: Is responsible for all kicking plays. The special teams unit of the team in control of the ball tries to execute field goal (FG) attempts, punts , and kickoffs , while the opposing team's unit will aim to block or return them. Three positions are specific to the field goal and PAT (point-after-touchdown) unit: the placekicker (K or PK), holder (H), and long snapper (LS). The long snapper's job
4699-598: Is the oldest child of Chad Grier and Elizabeth Grier-Floyd. His father is a football coach and was a former quarterback for the East Carolina Pirates . He has two brothers, Nash and Hayes , a half-sister, Skylynn Elizabeth Floyd and a half-brother, John Henry "Hank" Grier. Nash, Hayes and Skylynn were popular users of Vine , the defunct video sharing service. Grier is married to Jeanne Marie Grier (née O'Neil) and they have two daughters. American football American football , referred to simply as football in
4826-421: Is to block members of the defensive line from tackling the ball carrier on running plays or sacking the quarterback on passing plays. The leader of the offensive line is the center, who is responsible for snapping the ball to the quarterback, blocking, and for making sure that the other linemen do their jobs during the play. On either side of the center are the guards (G), while tackles (T) line up outside
4953-437: Is to snap the football to the holder, who will catch and position it for the placekicker. There is not usually a holder on kickoffs, because the ball is kicked off a tee; however, a holder may be used in certain situations, such as if wind is preventing the ball from remaining upright on the tee. The player on the receiving team who catches the ball is known as the kickoff returner (KR). The positions specific to punt plays are
5080-589: The 1958 NFL Championship game between the Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants , still referred to as the "Greatest Game Ever Played". The game, a 23–17 overtime victory by the Colts, was seen by millions of television viewers and had a major influence on the popularity of the sport. This, along with the innovations introduced by the new American Football League (AFL) in the early 1960s, helped football to become
5207-548: The 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season . Kliff Kingsbury led the Red Raiders in his fifth season as the program's 15th head coach . The Red Raiders played their home games on the university's campus in Lubbock, Texas at Jones AT&T Stadium , and competed as members of the Big 12 Conference . They finished the season 6–7, 3–6 in Big 12 play to finish in eighth place. They were invited to
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5334-482: The 2018 NFL draft . He was listed on preseason watch lists for several national awards, including the Maxwell Award , Walter Camp Award , and Davey O'Brien Award . Grier appeared in several preseason lists of potential Heisman Trophy candidates. At the 2018 Big 12 Media Days, he was announced as the conference's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and a preseason first-team all-conference selection. Grier finished
5461-462: The 2018 season with 3,864 passing yards, 37 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He was named second-team All-Big 12 at the conclusion of the regular season. West Virginia finished with an 8–3 regular season record and was invited to the Camping World Bowl ; Grier announced that he would not play in the bowl game, in order to prepare for the 2019 NFL draft . Grier would be named the winner of
5588-612: The Birmingham Bowl where they lost to South Florida . Roster Last update: September 9, 2017 at The Ford Center at The Star , Frisco, TX Texas Tech's 2017 spring game was held at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on April 1, 2017. The Red Raiders are the first collegiate football program to hold an event at The Star. Texas Tech announced their 2017 schedule on December 13, 2016. The 2017 schedule consisted of 6 home games, 5 away games, and 1 neutral site game in
5715-539: The Indianapolis Colts . During the game, Grier threw for 224 yards, three interceptions and rushed for 17 yards in the 38–6 loss. In Week 17 season finale against the New Orleans Saints , Grier threw for four yards and a pick-six before exiting the game due to a foot injury in the second quarter. The Panthers lost the game 42–10. In 2020, new head coach Matt Rhule signed free agent Teddy Bridgewater to be
5842-575: The Ole Miss Rebels , he had the best game of his young career, going 24-of-29 for 271 yards and four passing touchdowns. He threw his four touchdowns in the first half; he was the first Gator quarterback since Chris Leak in 2005 to accomplish the feat. The game ended up being a 38–10 win for the Gators. Grier received a one-year suspension, effective October 12, 2015, after it was revealed that he had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs . He said
5969-411: The kickoff , which starts the first and third quarters and overtime and follows a try attempt or a successful field goal; the safety kick follows a safety. On a kickoff, the ball is placed at the 35-yard line of the kicking team in professional and college play and at the 40-yard line in high school play. The ball may be drop kicked or place kicked. If a place kick is chosen, the ball can be placed on
6096-407: The punter (P), long snapper, upback , and gunner . The long snapper snaps the football directly to the punter, who then drops and kicks it before it hits the ground. Gunners line up split outside the line and race down the field, aiming to tackle the punt returner (PR)—the player who catches the punt. Upbacks line up a short distance behind the line of scrimmage, providing additional protection to
6223-462: The "Father of American Football", secured rule changes in 1880 that reduced the size of each team from 15 to 11 players and instituted the snap to replace the chaotic and inconsistent scrum . While the game between Rutgers and Princeton is commonly considered the first American football game, several years prior in 1862, the Oneida Football Club formed as the oldest known football club in
6350-515: The "Father of American Football", established the snap , the line of scrimmage , eleven-player teams, and the concept of downs. Later rule changes legalized the forward pass , created the neutral zone , and specified the size and shape of the football. The sport is closely related to Canadian football , which evolved in parallel with and at the same time as the American game, although its rules were developed independently from those of Camp. Most of
6477-523: The 1st quarter after the Jayhawks failed to convert on 4th down. During the 3rd quarter, Texas Tech kicker Michael Barden missed his first field goal of the season on a 44-yard attempt. at Mountaineer Field , Morgantown, WV The Red Raiders entered the game ranked at #24 in the AP Poll , their first ranking since week 11 of the 2013 season . Texas Tech kicker Michael Barden missed 3 field goals during
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#17328586543336604-411: The 2018 Senior CLASS Award for FBS football as the outstanding senior student-athlete in that grouping of schools. Grier was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the third round (100th overall) in the 2019 NFL draft . In 2019, he was the third-string quarterback behind Cam Newton and Kyle Allen . On December 16, it was announced that Grier would be making his first career start in week 16 against
6731-531: The AFL New York Jets signed rookie Joe Namath to a then-record $ 437,000 contract (equivalent to $ 4.23 million in 2023). A five-year, $ 40 million NBC television contract followed, which helped to sustain the young league. The bidding war for players ended in 1966 when NFL owners approached the AFL regarding a merger, and the two leagues agreed on one that took full effect in 1970. This agreement provided for
6858-642: The Bengals practice squad. He was waived on November 25, 2023, and re-signed three days later to the practice squad. On December 18, 2023, Grier was signed by the Los Angeles Chargers off the Patriots practice squad. He was acquired to be the backup behind Easton Stick , who took over the quarterback starting job after Justin Herbert was placed on injured reserve with a broken finger. On March 23, 2024, Grier signed
6985-479: The Cougars' 16-game home winning streak. at Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, TX Texas Tech received the opening kickoff, but the drive ended in a Dominic Panazzolo punt from the Red Raiders' 33-yard line. Oklahoma State started at their own 37-yard line before scoring on a 14-yard pass from Mason Rudolph to James Washington to take a 7–0 lead. The Red Raiders punted once again on their next possession with
7112-455: The Cowboys starting at their own 30-yard line. Oklahoma State made it all the way to the Texas Tech 19-yard line before a Rudolph pass was intercepted by DaMarcus Fields and returned 95-yard for a touchdown to tie the game 7–7. Receiving the ball back, the Cowboys made it all the way to the Red Raiders' 5-yard line before the drive stalled out. Matt Ammendola tried for a 22-yard field goal, but
7239-576: The FCS and 85 scholarship players in the FBS, respectively. Individual players in a football game must be designated with a uniform number between 1 and 99, though some teams may "retire" certain numbers , making them unavailable to players. NFL teams are required to number their players by a league-approved numbering system, and any exceptions must be approved by the commissioner . NCAA and NFHS teams are "strongly advised" to number their offensive players according to
7366-517: The NCAA had granted Grier a waiver and he would be eligible to play in the season opener against Virginia Tech . In his first game with the Mountaineers, Grier threw for 371 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in a 31–24 loss to Virginia Tech. Grier threw for 352 yards and five touchdowns in a come-from-behind victory over then-No. 24 Texas Tech on October 14, and was named Big 12 Offensive Player of
7493-530: The PAT. The Eagles responded to the touchdown on their next possession with a 22-yard pass from Gage Gubrud to Terrance Grady; with Alcobendas making the PAT Eastern Washington trailed Texas Tech 10–21 with 4:07 left in the half. The Red Raiders would score another touchdown to lead 28–10 at halftime. Texas Tech scored two offensive touchdowns in the 3rd quarter, one a 1-yard run from Tre King and another one
7620-484: The Red Raiders recovering it at their own 49-yard line. Texas Tech ran the ball to end the game with a 38–24 victory. The Red Raiders extended their win streak against the Bears to 2 games and snapped a four-game losing streak on the season. Texas Tech scored 17 points off of turnovers and forced four turnovers: one interception and three fumbles. at Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, TX The Red Raiders' only score of
7747-452: The Sports and Fitness Industry Association. The role of the offensive unit is to advance the football down the field with the ultimate goal of scoring a touchdown . The offensive team must line up in a legal formation before they can snap the ball. An offensive formation is considered illegal if there are more than four players in the backfield or fewer than five players numbered 50–79 on
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#17328586543337874-491: The Sun Devils back to their 17-yard line, bringing up 4th and 30. Wilkins tried a deep pass to Harry, but it was incomplete and Arizona State turned the ball over on downs, giving the Red Raiders a 52–45 victory. at TDECU Stadium , Houston , TX Texas Tech closed non–conference play against instate and former Southwest Conference rival Houston. Houston received the opening kickoff with their first drive ending in
8001-447: The Sun Devils. After trailing by 18 at halftime, Arizona State tied the game 45–45 after a 21-yard pass from Wilkins to N'Keal Harry with 9:52 left to play. The two teams traded punts before the Red Raiders retook the lead following receiver Dylan Cantrell 's 3-yard touchdown run. On the next possession, Arizona State made it to their own 37-yard line but a false start penalty and Wilkins being sacked by Zach Barnes and Eli Howard pushed
8128-552: The Texas Tech punt, Baylor started at their own 35-yard line. The Bears made it to the Texas Tech 9-yard line when Brewer fumbled the ball with Dakota Allen recovering it for the Red Raiders. Texas Tech scored a touchdown following the Baylor fumble on a 5-yard pass from Nic Shimonek to T. J. Vasher . Baylor turned the ball over on downs on their next possession at the Texas Tech 1-yard line. The Red Raiders only made it to their own 31-yard line before having to punt. The Bears made it back to
8255-579: The United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia. American football evolved from the sports of rugby and soccer . Rugby, like American football, is a sport in which two competing teams vie for control of a ball, which can be kicked through a set of goalposts or run into the opponent's goal area to score points. What is considered to be the first American football game was played on November 6, 1869 , between Rutgers and Princeton , two college teams. They consisted of 25 players per team and used
8382-461: The United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football , is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense , the team with possession of the oval-shaped football , attempts to advance down the field by running with the ball or throwing it , while the defense , the team without possession of the ball, aims to stop
8509-455: The United States. The team consisted of graduates of Boston's elite preparatory schools and played from 1862 to 1865. The introduction of the snap resulted in an unexpected consequence. Before the snap, the strategy had been to punt if a scrum resulted in bad field position. However, a group of Princeton players realized that, as the snap was uncontested, they could now hold the ball indefinitely to prevent their opponent from scoring. In 1881, in
8636-547: The United States: official time was kept on a scoreboard clock rather than on a watch in the referee's pocket, as the NFL did; optional two-point conversions by pass or run after touchdowns; names on the jerseys of players; and several others, including expansion of the role of minority players, actively recruited by the league in contrast to the NFL. The AFL also signed several star college players who had also been drafted by NFL teams. Competition for players heated up in 1965, when
8763-608: The Week. In the Mountaineers’ 11th game of the season, against Texas , Grier left the game in the second quarter with a broken finger on his throwing hand. Grier had surgery on the broken finger and missed the remainder of the season, finishing with 3,490 passing yards and 36 total touchdowns on the year. At the conclusion of the season, Grier was awarded as Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year. On December 14, 2017, Grier announced he would be returning for his senior season rather than entering
8890-419: The active roster on October 5, to provide depth while Prescott recovered from a right thumb injury he suffered in the season opener. He served as the backup to Rush for five games, but did not see any game action and was declared inactive for the final 11 weeks. On August 26, 2023, the Cowboys acquired Trey Lance to be the team's third-string quarterback. Grier was notified the same day that he would be part of
9017-460: The advent of artificial rubber inside the leather outer shell to sustain crushing forces . At all levels of play, the football is inflated to 12 + 1 ⁄ 2 to 13 + 1 ⁄ 2 psi (86 to 93 kPa), or just under one atmosphere, and weighs 14 to 15 ounces (400 to 430 g); beyond that, the exact dimensions vary slightly. In professional play the ball has a long axis of 11 to 11 + 1 ⁄ 4 inches (28 to 29 cm),
9144-435: The ball is caught, and the ball may not be advanced. Officials are responsible for enforcing game rules and monitoring the clock. All officials carry a whistle and wear black-and-white striped shirts and black hats except for the referee, whose hat is white. Each carries a weighted yellow flag that is thrown to the ground to signal that a foul has been called. An official who spots multiple fouls will throw their hat as
9271-428: The ball just short of the goal line. The Sun Devils scored following the fumble recovery to trail 17–21 with 5:34 left in the half. Following miscues by both the defense and offense on previous drives, the Red Raiders scored on a 10-yard pass from Nic Schimonek to fullback Mason Reed. Texas Tech's defense stopped Arizona State's offense on the following drive, forcing the Sun Devils to punt from their own 38-yard line. On
9398-478: The ball off, throws it, or runs with it. The primary role of the halfback, also known as the running back or tailback, is to carry the ball on running plays. Halfbacks may also serve as receivers. Fullbacks tend to be larger than halfbacks and function primarily as blockers, but they are sometimes used as runners in short-yardage or goal-line situations. They are seldom used as receivers. The offensive line (OL) consists of several players whose primary function
9525-432: The ball over on the next drive when Brewer was sacked at the Baylor 35-yard line and fumbled the ball; Mychealon Thomas recovered the ball at the Baylor 21-yard line. The Red Raiders scored 3 points off of the turnover with a 39-yard field goal from Clayton Hatfield. Baylor scored a touchdown on their next drive with a 6-yard pass from Brewer to Pooh Stricklin. On the following kickoff, the Bears attempted an onside kick that
9652-467: The ball through the opponent's goalposts for a field goal . The team with the most points at the end of the game wins. American football evolved in the United States, originating from the sports of soccer and rugby . The first American football game was played on November 6, 1869 , between two college teams, Rutgers and Princeton , using rules based on the rules of soccer at the time. A set of rule changes drawn up from 1880 onward by Walter Camp ,
9779-413: The crossbars of the defense's goalposts. In practice, almost all field goal attempts are done via place kick. While drop kicks were common in the early days of the sport, the shape of modern footballs makes it difficult to reliably drop kick the ball. The last successful scoring play by drop kick in the NFL was accomplished in 2006; prior to that, the last successful drop kick had been made in 1941. After
9906-399: The defense is to prevent the offense from scoring by tackling the ball carrier or by forcing turnovers . Turnovers include interceptions (a defender catching a forward pass intended for the offense) and forced fumbles (taking possession of the ball from the ball-carrier). The defensive line (DL) consists of defensive ends (DE) and defensive tackles (DT). Defensive ends line up on
10033-430: The defensive backfield. They are divided into two types: middle linebackers (MLB) and outside linebackers (OLB). Linebackers tend to serve as the defensive leaders and call the defensive plays, given their vantage point of the offensive backfield. Their roles include defending the run, pressuring the quarterback, and tackling backs, wide receivers, and tight ends in the passing game. The defensive backfield , often called
10160-472: The ends and sides of the field are known as the end lines and sidelines . Goal lines are marked 10 yards (9.1 m) inward from each end line. Weighted pylons are placed the sidelines on the inside corner of the intersections with the goal lines and end lines. White markings on the field identify the distance from the end zone. Inbound lines, or hash marks , are short parallel lines that mark off 1-yard (0.91 m) increments. Yard lines , which can run
10287-404: The ends of the line, while defensive tackles line up inside, between the defensive ends. The primary responsibilities of defensive ends and defensive tackles are to stop running plays on the outside and inside, respectively, to pressure the quarterback on passing plays, and to occupy the line so that the linebackers can break through. Linebackers line up behind the defensive line but in front of
10414-556: The features that distinguish American football from rugby and soccer are also present in Canadian football. The two sports are considered the primary variants of gridiron football . American football is the most popular sport in the United States in terms of broadcast viewership audience. The most popular forms of the game are professional and college football , with the other major levels being high-school and youth football. As of 2022 , nearly 1.04 million high-school athletes play
10541-468: The field is punishable by a penalty. Teams may substitute any number of their players between downs; this "platoon" system replaced the original system, which featured limited substitution rules, and has resulted in teams utilizing specialized offensive, defensive and special teams units. The number of players allowed on an active roster varies by league; the NFL has a 53-man roster, while NCAA Division I allows teams to have 63 scholarship players in
10668-454: The field was shortened to 100 yards (91 m) long, two 10-yard-long (9.1 m) end zones were created, and teams were given four downs instead of three to advance the ball 10 yards (9.1 m). The roughing the passer penalty was implemented in 1914, and eligible players were first allowed to catch the ball anywhere on the field in 1918. On November 12, 1892, Pudge Heffelfinger was paid $ 500 (equivalent to $ 16,956 in 2023) to play
10795-484: The first half. The Red Raiders responded to the field goal on their next possession with Shimonek finding Derrick Willies for a 75–yard touchdown reception to lead 14–3 after Ewton's PAT. The Eagle's made it to the Tech 31-yard line and decided to go for it on 4th and 1, but couldn't pick up the first down. After the turnover on downs , Shimonek threw a 68-yard touchdown pass to Keke Coutee to widen their lead to 21–3 following
10922-599: The formation of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States, later renamed the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The legal forward pass was introduced in 1906, although its effect was initially minimal due to the restrictions placed on its use. The idea of a 40-yard-wider field was opposed by Harvard due to the size of the new Harvard Stadium . Other rule changes introduced that year included
11049-419: The game clock based on the direction of the appropriate official . A separate play clock is used to show the amount of time within which the offense must initiate a play. The play clock is set to 25 seconds after certain administrative stoppages in play and to 40 seconds when play is proceeding without such stoppages. If the offense fails to start a play before the play clock reads "00", a delay of game foul
11176-409: The game had a strict sense of amateurism at the time, and direct payment to players was frowned upon, if not prohibited outright. Over time, professional play became increasingly common, and with it came rising salaries and unpredictable player movement, as well as the illegal payment of college players who were still in school. The National Football League (NFL), a group of professional teams that
11303-577: The game with quarterback Nic Shimonek making his first career start for Texas Tech after former Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes II was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2017 NFL draft . Shimonek started the game by completing 14 straight passes and exited the game in the 3rd quarter, finishing 26/30 for 384 yards and 3 touchdowns with no interceptions. Red Raider backups McLane Carter and Jett Duffey went 3/3 for 49 yards, 1 touchdown and 2/2 for 16 yards, respectively. The Red Raiders received
11430-520: The game: from 43, 23, and 37 yards. at Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, TX The kicking problems continued for Texas Tech with the Red Raiders using 3 different kickers throughout the game. Michael Ewton missed an extra point; Matthew Cluck missed a 35-yard field goal; and Michael Barden made an extra point. at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium , Norman, OK at Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, TX at AT&T Stadium , Arlington, TX Texas Tech received
11557-443: The ground or a tee; a holder may be used in either case. On a safety kick, the kicking team kicks the ball from their own 20-yard line. They can punt, drop kick or place kick the ball, but a tee may not be used in professional play. Any member of the receiving team may catch or advance the ball. The ball may be recovered by the kicking team once it has gone at least ten yards and has touched the ground or has been touched by any member of
11684-434: The guards. The principal receivers are the wide receivers (WR) and the tight ends (TE). Wide receivers line up on or near the line of scrimmage, split outside the line. The main goal of the wide receiver is to catch passes thrown by the quarterback, but they may also function as decoys or as blockers during running plays. Tight ends line up outside the tackles and function both as receivers and as blockers. The role of
11811-475: The kick failed after hitting the right upright. Following the missed field goal, Texas Tech scored their first offensive touchdown of the game on a 3-yard pass from Nic Schimonek to Dylan Cantrell . The Cowboys scored a touchdown on their next two possessions to lead 21–14 with 3:49 left in the half. To end the first half, Michael Barden made a 24-yard field goal as time expired. at Memorial Stadium , Lawrence, KS The Red Raiders scored 2 touchdowns in
11938-580: The last cuts, but that he would be given the chance to play the complete preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders , where he posted 305 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns and 2 rushing touchdowns. On August 29, Grier was waived. On August 30, 2023, Grier signed with the practice squad of the Cincinnati Bengals . On September 22, 2023, Grier was signed by the New England Patriots off
12065-503: The most popular sport in the United States by the mid-1960s. The rival AFL arose in 1960 and challenged the NFL's dominance. The AFL began in relative obscurity but eventually thrived, with an initial television contract with the ABC television network. The AFL's existence forced the conservative NFL to expand to Dallas and Minnesota in an attempt to destroy the new league. Meanwhile, the AFL introduced many new features to professional football in
12192-429: The offense advances ten or more yards in the four downs, they are awarded a new set of four downs. If they fail to advance ten yards, possession of the football is turned over to the defense. In most situations, if the offense reaches their fourth down they will punt the ball to the other team, which forces them to begin their drive from farther down the field; if they are in field goal range , they might attempt to score
12319-410: The offense's advance and to take control of the ball for themselves. The offense must advance the ball at least ten yards in four downs or plays; if they fail, they turn over the football to the defense, but if they succeed, they are given a new set of four downs to continue the drive . Points are scored primarily by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone for a touchdown or kicking
12446-429: The offensive line. Players can line up temporarily in a position whose eligibility is different from what their number permits as long as they report the change immediately to the referee, who then informs the defensive team of the change. Neither team's players, except the center (C), are allowed to line up in or cross the neutral zone until the ball is snapped. Interior offensive linemen are not allowed to move until
12573-406: The opening kickoff and started at their own 25-yard line, but a delay of game penalty pushed them back to the 20. Shimonek was sacked on 3rd and 7, forcing the Red Raiders to punt on a three and out . The Eagles started at the Texas Tech 39-yard line following the punt, but Nic Sblendorio fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Texas Tech's Douglas Coleman III. The Red Raiders failed to capitalize on
12700-529: The opening kickoff, with receiver Keke Coutee returning it 92 yards for a touchdown. Baylor responded on the next drive with Charlie Brewer finding Gavin Holmes for a 4-yard touchdown pass. On the ensuing kickoff, Quentin Yontz returned Jay Sedwick's kick for 22 yards to the Texas Tech 47-yard line. The Red Raiders ended the drive on a 1-yard touchdown run from Tre King. The two teams traded punts on their next drives. After
12827-445: The plane of the two end lines. The crossbar of these posts is 10 feet (3.0 m) above the ground, with vertical uprights at the end of the crossbar 18 feet 6 inches (5.64 m) apart for professional and collegiate play, and 23 feet 4 inches (7.11 m) apart for high school play. The uprights extend vertically 35 feet (11 m) on professional fields, a minimum of 10 yards (9.1 m) on college fields, and
12954-402: The point(s)-after-touchdown (PAT) or conversion, which is a single scoring opportunity. This is generally attempted from the two- or three-yard line, depending on the level of play. If the PAT is scored by a place kick or drop kick through the goal posts, it is worth one point, typically called the extra point. If the PAT is scored by what would normally be a touchdown, it is worth two points; this
13081-445: The positive test stems from the drug Ligandrol , and that he was not aware it was banned, while also admitting he never followed protocol to clear the supplement with team trainers. His appeal was rejected by the NCAA, and he would not be eligible to return until the sixth game of the regular season in 2016. On December 19, 2015, Florida announced that Grier planned to transfer to another school. On April 6, 2016, Grier announced that he
13208-457: The punt, Michael Sleep-Dalton's punt was blocked by Ja'Deion High, who recovered the ball at the Arizona State 27-yard line. The Red Raiders scored quickly following the blocked punt, extending their lead to 35–17. The first half ended with Wilkins being sacked by Mychealon Thomas for a loss of 11-yards. Texas Tech's offense struggled in the 3rd quarter, while the defense gave up 3 touchdowns to
13335-422: The punter. In football, the winner is the team that has scored more points at the end of the game. There are multiple ways to score in a football game. The touchdown (TD), worth six points, is the most valuable scoring play in American football. A touchdown is scored when a live ball is advanced into, caught, or recovered in the opposing team's end zone. The scoring team then attempts a try, more commonly known as
13462-401: The receiving team. The three types of scrimmage kicks are place kicks, drop kicks, and punts. Only place kicks and drop kicks can score points. The place kick is the standard method used to score points, because the pointy shape of the football makes it difficult to reliably drop kick. Once the ball has been kicked from a scrimmage kick, it can be advanced by the kicking team only if it
13589-439: The reduction of playing time from 70 to 60 minutes and an increase of the distance required for a first down from 5 to 10 yards (4.6 to 9.1 m). To reduce infighting and dirty play between teams, the neutral zone was created along the width of the football before the snap. Scoring was also adjusted: points awarded for field goals were reduced to three in 1909 and points for touchdowns were raised to six in 1912. Also in 1912,
13716-402: The redzone, but Brewer's pass was intercepted in the endzone by Vaughnte Dorsey. Texas Tech took a knee to end the first half with a 21–7 lead. Baylor received the second half kickoff before going three-and-out and punted from their own 29-yard line. Texas Tech made it to the Baylor 1-yard line before Tre King fumbled with the ball being recovered by Jordan Williams for Baylor. The Bears turned
13843-643: The regular season. The Red Raiders hosted Big 12 foes Oklahoma State , Iowa State , Kansas State , and TCU and traveled to Kansas , West Virginia , and Texas . Texas Tech played Baylor in Arlington, Texas at AT&T Stadium for the 76th meeting in their rivalry . The Red Raiders hosted non-conference games against Eastern Washington and Arizona State and traveled to their other non-conference opponent Houston in Houston , Texas . at Jones AT&T Stadium , Lubbock, TX The Red Raiders entered
13970-534: The rulebook for the 1876 college football season , when the sport first shifted from soccer-style rules to rugby-style rules. Although it could easily have been called "rugby" at this point, Harvard, one of the primary proponents of the rugby-style game, compromised and did not request the name of the sport be changed to "rugby". The terms " gridiron " or "American football" are favored in English-speaking countries where other types of football are popular, such as
14097-452: The second one, the Harvard players preferred the Canadian style of having only 11 men on the field, running the ball without having to be chased by an opponent, the forward pass, tackling, and using an oblong instead of a round ball. An 1875 Harvard–Yale game played under rugby-style rules was observed by two Princeton athletes who were impressed by it. They introduced the sport to Princeton,
14224-503: The secondary, consists of cornerbacks (CB) and safeties (S). Safeties are themselves divided into free safeties (FS) and strong safeties (SS). Cornerbacks line up outside the defensive formation, typically opposite a receiver to be able to cover them. Safeties line up between the cornerbacks but farther back in the secondary. Safeties tend to be viewed as "the last line of defense" and are responsible for stopping deep passing plays as well as breakout running plays. The special teams unit
14351-411: The snap of the ball. The main backfield positions are the quarterback (QB), halfback/tailback (HB/TB), and fullback (FB). The quarterback is the leader of the offense. Either the quarterback or a coach calls the plays. Quarterbacks typically inform the rest of the offense of the play in the huddle before the team lines up. The quarterback lines up behind the center to take the snap and then hands
14478-523: The sport in the U.S., with another 81,000 college athletes in the NCAA and the NAIA . The National Football League (NFL) has the highest average attendance of any professional sports league in the world . Its championship game, the Super Bowl , ranks among the most-watched club sporting events globally. In 2022, the league had an annual revenue of around $ 18.6 billion, making it the most valuable sports league in
14605-481: The starter at quarterback. Grier was named the third-string quarterback after being passed on the depth chart by P. J. Walker . He did not play in any games and was declared inactive for 9 of the final 11 contests. In 2021, the team traded for Sam Darnold to be the starter at quarterback. On August 31, Grier was released after the Panthers decided to keep only two quarterbacks on the roster. On September 1, 2021, Grier
14732-491: The time was played at the collegiate level . The upstart NFL received a boost to its legitimacy in 1925, however, when an NFL team, the Pottsville Maroons , defeated a team of Notre Dame all-stars in an exhibition game . A greater emphasis on the passing game helped professional football to distinguish itself further from the college game during the late 1930s. Football, in general, became increasingly popular following
14859-481: The turnover and punted from the Eastern Washington 43-yard line. The two teams traded punts before Tech scored on a Justin Stockton 25-yard run late in the 1st quarter with Michael Ewton making the PAT. Eastern Washington opened the second quarter by marching down field to the Texas Tech 4-yard line, getting their first score of the day on a 22-yard field goal from Roldan Alcobendas to trail 7–3 with 10:32 left in
14986-410: The way to the Texas Tech 23-yard line before the drive stalled out. Brandon Ruiz tried for a 41-yard field goal, but missed. The Red Raiders took over at their own 23, but couldn't pick up a first down and punted the ball. Arizona State made it to the Texas Tech 26-yard line, before bringing out Ruiz for another field goal attempt. This time Ruiz's kick, a 44-yard attempt, was good, giving the Sun Devils
15113-411: The width of the field, are marked every 5 yards (4.6 m). A one-yard-wide line is placed at each end of the field; this line is marked at the center of the two-yard line in professional play and at the three-yard line in college play. Numerals that display the distance from the closest goal line in yards are placed on both sides of the field every ten yards. Goalposts are located at the center of
15240-408: The winning team decides to defer, the losing team chooses the option the winning team did not select—to receive, kick, or select a goal to defend to begin the second half. Most teams choose to receive or defer, because choosing to kick the ball to start the game allows the other team to choose which goal to defend. Teams switch goals following the first and third quarters. If a down is in progress when
15367-402: The world. Other professional and amateur leagues exist worldwide, but the sport does not have the international popularity of other American sports like baseball or basketball ; the sport maintains a growing following in the rest of North America, Europe, Brazil, and Japan. In the United States, American football is referred to as "football". The term "football" was officially established in
15494-419: Was claimed off waivers by the Dallas Cowboys , to replace Ben DiNucci as the third-string quarterback behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush . He was declared inactive for 16 contests. He was activated for the season finale but did not play. On August 30, 2022, Grier was waived by the Cowboys and signed to the practice squad the next day. He was elevated to the roster in three games, before being promoted to
15621-513: Was instituted. Despite these new rules, football remained a violent sport. Dangerous mass-formations like the flying wedge resulted in serious injuries and deaths. A 1905 peak of 19 fatalities nationwide resulted in a threat by President Theodore Roosevelt to abolish the game unless major changes were made. In response, 62 colleges and universities met in New York City to discuss rule changes on December 28, 1905. These proceedings resulted in
15748-519: Was originally established in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, aimed to solve these problems. This new league's stated goals included an end to bidding wars over players, prevention of the use of college players, and abolition of the practice of paying players to leave another team. By 1922, the NFL had established itself as America's premier professional football league. The dominant form of football at
15875-466: Was rated by Rivals.com as a four-star recruit and was ranked as the second best dual-threat quarterback in his class and 46th player overall. Grier was offered scholarships to play football at Auburn , Arkansas , Florida , North Carolina , Tennessee , and Wake Forest . He committed to play quarterback at the University of Florida. Grier competed with Treon Harris to be Jeff Driskel 's backup as
16002-450: Was recovered by Texas Tech at the Baylor 47-yard line. The Red Raiders started the drive at the Baylor 32-yard line after a catching interference penalty against Baylor. Texas Tech scored quickly with Shimonek throwing a 30-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Batson . Baylor started their next drive at their own 25-yard line. The Bears made it to the Texas Tech 40-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs after Brewer threw 4 incomplete passes in
16129-408: Was transferring to West Virginia University . He sat out the 2016 season per NCAA transfer rules. Grier was the presumed starter for West Virginia heading into the 2017 season , but there were questions surrounding his eligibility, since half of his year-long suspension was served in conjunction with his transfer waiting period. On June 20, 2017, West Virginia head coach Dana Holgerson announced that
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