The origins of professional football were rooted in small-to-medium cities. Each team was made up of locals and represented their community. When the Dayton (Ohio) Triangles went down the road and crossed over state lines into Illinois to play the Rock Island Independents, each roster was made up of firemen, police officers, butchers, construction workers, dentists, teachers and an assortment of men who played for the civic pride of their city. And they also represented local athletic clubs.
Many of these men had played college football, and some had played professionally in makeshift leagues. At games, they charged a gate, hired referees, rented a field and was paid whatever was left over.