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Back when football was deemed too dangerous to play at BYU – and almost in the entire state

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About a century ago, football was considered such a dangerous sport that schools decided to not field programs.

Opposed to the game of football” was a headline in the Deseret News on Dec. 8, 1905. Too many injuries and even the death of a Utah football player in a game during the 1900 season combined to create a ban on football at the Provo school.

Football was played at then-Brigham Young Academy from 1896-1903. But, about the same time as the Brigham Young University name came along in 1903, the sport of football was discontinued there for some 16 years.