March Quiz Answers

1.  In what year did Frank Tripucka become the first quarterback in the American Football League (AFL) to throw a touchdown pass and become the first professional quarterback in the United States to throw for 3,000 yards in a season?

 

1960, THE DEBUT SEASON FOR THE AFL

 Relevant post:  The Numbers Game

2.  In what year did the Georgia legislature outlaw football in response to the death of a college player?

 

1897; THE GOVERNOR VETOED THE BAN AFTER RECEIVING A LETTER FROM THE DEAD STUDENT’S MOTHER ASKING THE SPORT TO BE REINSTATED.

 Relevant Post:  Football History 101: The Gridiron's Genesis

3.  Under what circumstances will a team spend “dead money”?

 

IF IT RELEASES A PLAYER BEFORE IT HAS PAID THAT PLAYER HIS ENTIRE SIGNING BONUS, THE REMAINING AMOUNT OF THAT BONUS COUNTS AGAINST THE TEAM’S SALARY CAP FOR THE ENSUING SEASON.

 Relevant Post:  The NFL's March Madness

4.  Whose jerseys are the only others to be retired by the Denver Broncos? (Hint: there are two.)

 

QUARTERBACK JOHN ELWAY (#7) AND RUNNING BACK FLOYD LITTLE (#44)

 Relevant Post:  The Numbers Game

Floyd Little

5.  Name two of the four rules changes made at the NFL’s Annual Meeting.

 

(1)    THE NEW SCORING RULES FOR OVERTIME WILL

NOW APPLY TO REGULAR SEASON GAMES;

    (2)    TURNOVERS WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY REVIEWED

BY THE REPLAY OFFICIAL;

(3)    HAVING TOO MANY PLAYERS ON THE FIELD IS

NOW A “DEAD BALL” FOUL; AND

(4)    THE VICTIM OF A “CRACKBACK” BLOCK IS NOW

CONSIDERED A “DEFENSELESS PLAYER.”

 Relevant Post:  NFL Annual Meeting: Rules Changes and Redux

6.  If a team places its franchise tag on a player, how much must it pay that player? 

 

THE GREATER OF 120% OF THAT PLAYER’S SALARY OR THE AVERAGE OF THE TOP FIVE SALARIES AT THAT PLAYER’S POSITION.

Relevant Post:  The NFL's March Madness

7.  TRUE OR FALSE:  Among George Plimpton’s exploits in the world of professional sports was a stint as a professional wrestler named “Jungle George.”

 

FALSE.  HE TRIED HIS HAND AT FOOTBALL, BASEBALL, TENNIS, HOCKEY AND EVEN BOXING, BUT HE NEVER DONNED TIGHTS AND VENTURED INTO THE WORLD OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING.

 Relevant Post:  Reading Huddle:  Paper Lion

8.  What brutal formation developed in the 1890s caused so many injuries that Army and Navy canceled their annual game in 1894 for fear of too many casualties?

 

THE FLYING WEDGE

 Relevant Post:  Football History 101: The Gridiron's Genesis

9.  Which receiver joined the San Francisco 49ers in February after having retired before the 2011 season?

 

RANDY MOSS

 Relevant Post:  Cleats On, Cleats Off

10.  Who was the first football player to be paid, and what club paid him?

 

WILLIAM “PUDGE” HEFFELFINGER, WHO WAS HIRED BY THE ALLEGHENY ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

Relevant Post:   Football History 101: Pro Football's Infancy

 

BONUS:  Who helped George Plimpton apprehend Robert Kennedy assassin Sirhan Sirhan?

 

FORMER DECATHLETE RAFER JOHNSON

 Relevant Post: Reading Huddle: Paper Lion