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Originally Posted by Iowanian
I know you're being a wiseguy too, but there might be someone who doesn't know....
The Two orange poles, connected by a 10 yard chain are the first down chains. The first one marks the point of beginning at 1st down, while the 2nd marks 10 yards and the point the offense must get to receive a first down. The post, which also has the Down # on it, is the Ball marker, and moves to mark the yard line of the balls location(after a sack, it could be several yards behind the 10 yards for ex.
Many of the down markers are now made in Kansas City in the garages of some local makers of "dialadown"...one of which is a relative of mine.
When the Offense of KC passes the first down marker, you're bound to see a Planet Member in a cape and a helmet Hair do an odd lipped shake as they say "1st down"
http://football.about.com/cs/footbal...l_101downs.htm |
This reminded me of something I noticed at the game Sat night that I've never noticed before in person or on TV.
During the first half, on the Chiefs side of the field the first marker was always left where the initial line of scrimage was when the series started. If Dante returned it to the 27, then the first marker stayed at the 27 until AZ got the ball and then it would stay at that point until... you get the point. Then when the second half started this process was repeated on the visitor side of the field.
I think this helps make it clear why in some cases the chain gang brings the sticks/chains all the way across the field to measure.