JRN 362 - The Story of Football

Online Summer Session 1: May 18 – July 2

The Story of Football reveals the game’s compelling history of characters and competition and explores why its enduring popularity reflects the religious ecstasy and physical violence embedded in American culture.

• Learn how Napoleon — yes, the 19th century French dictator who never blocked or tackled — influenced the game to the point where his tactics deployed by a Harvard coach launched a national debate on whether football should be banned.

• Understand how a military facility in Chicago served as football’s Silicon Valley during World Wars I and II and spawned — literally — Bill Belichick and the 21st century dynasty he built in New England.

• Analyze how today’s spread offense is the logical result of rules first launched in the early 20th century that opened the game and triggered an evolution toward speed in addition to the traditional characteristics of brains and brawn.

• Discuss whether the future of the game is in question as participation rates drop even as television ratings and fantasy football play rise.

In addition, the instructor will explain why he loves the veer offense and is overjoyed to see Lamar Jackson running a variant of it for the Baltimore Ravens and how he hopes that Tom Brady doesn’t end his career as Johnny Unitas did when he left the Colts for the Chargers. He is a fan of the New York Giants, who marked his birth in 1956 and 30th birthday in 1986 by winning NFL Championships.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Cost and schedule

This course will run from May 18 to July 2. The course will earn you 3 academic credits at a cost of $795 per credit, with a total cost of $2,385.

Register now

Course registration is based on course availability and satisfying course pre-requisites. Enrollment limitations are strictly enforced.

You can register for the course by filling out our course registration form and following these instructions for the Course Information section:

1. Select "Summer I" under the Course Term dropdown menu.
2. Enter "JRN 362" in the next field, Course Number.
3. Enter "3" in the field, Course Number of Credits.

Register for JRN 362