Televised Football Before the Yellow First Down Line
Televised football before 1998 was widely regarded as one of the most difficult sports to watch on television. The clip above shows a football legend Doug Flutie leading a game winning drive against Jacksonville in 1998 season, the first year the yellow line was utilized. attending this game in person would have been thrilling judging by the fans' electric reaction after Flutie completed his final pass for a touchdown to take the lead however watching the televised broadcast is frustrating because it is nearly impossible to see the Bill's progress toward a first down. Our team is a group of avid football fans and we struggled to determine if Flutie threw for a first down during a few of the plays because the first down markers were not in view of the camera and even when the first down markers were in view it is a tough angle to perceive the actual distance. It is clear that if three diehard football fans become frustrated during one of football's most exciting progressions, a two-minute drill, that a casual fan or someone new to football would quickly be turned off to televised football especially during the grind of the first three quarters. In a time before the yellow line televised football was reserved for only the most avid fans who had a deep understanding of the game.
Beyond this specific highlight of Flutie leading a game winning drive, one of the most exciting parts of football, go back and watch any famous college or NFL play before 1998 and find highlights of the NFL playoffs this season. Even though the most famous plays before 1998 are incredible sports moments, it is guaranteed that the playoff games from this season will easier to follow and likely elicit more of an emotional response and be more exciting because it is clear what the team's objective is.
United States sports culture would be extremely different if the yellow first down line had never been introduced. Televised NFL and College Football games have become some of the most widely watched television programs in the nation, shaping an entirely new advertising industry where televised football commercial breaks have become some of the most coveted airtime. Most new football fans would have likely looked to other sports because the barrier to entry of televised football would have been so much higher without the yellow first down line. Without the yellow first down line the most widely watched television event could have become the NBA finals or the World series instead of the Super Bowl which has become by far the most widely watched event each year.
Beyond this specific highlight of Flutie leading a game winning drive, one of the most exciting parts of football, go back and watch any famous college or NFL play before 1998 and find highlights of the NFL playoffs this season. Even though the most famous plays before 1998 are incredible sports moments, it is guaranteed that the playoff games from this season will easier to follow and likely elicit more of an emotional response and be more exciting because it is clear what the team's objective is.
United States sports culture would be extremely different if the yellow first down line had never been introduced. Televised NFL and College Football games have become some of the most widely watched television programs in the nation, shaping an entirely new advertising industry where televised football commercial breaks have become some of the most coveted airtime. Most new football fans would have likely looked to other sports because the barrier to entry of televised football would have been so much higher without the yellow first down line. Without the yellow first down line the most widely watched television event could have become the NBA finals or the World series instead of the Super Bowl which has become by far the most widely watched event each year.