Oct 5th, 1974: uOttawa 23, Carleton 22

This was not a Panda Game contest between these two universities but it had some significance nonetheless. While the article below does not make mention of it, it was billed as a hundred-year anniversary tribute to the first football game played, between McGill and Harvard, in late October 1874.

Appropriately enough, its conclusion provided a spotlight on a uniquely Canadian rule. 

Ah, the single point, you long-misunderstood, delightful bastard! May you live forever!

Are you among those who think that awarding a single point for a missed field goal is rewarding failure? If so, you are incorrect. 

The single point rewards field position and getting the ball across the goal line at the conclusion of the play. You don't get a point for doinking the ball off the goal post or for a kick that falls short of it, yet those are still missed field goals. 

This is also why the defending team can avoid giving up the point by running the ball out of the endzone. If successful, at the conclusion of the play, the ball had not crossed the line. Therefore, no point.

The closer the offense is to the goal line, the more difficult the run back. You either drove the ball in position or recovered a turnover to make this possible so it is field position that is rewarded, not missing the field goal attempt.

When you've kicked it through the back of the endzone, obviously you had to cross the goal line to do so, so again, you've earned a point. You wouldn't be able to do this from your own 20-yard line. 

With that in mind, think of a successful field goal as awarding an additional two point for the added precision of getting it between the goal posts.

A lot of people don't care for this rule. That's certainly an opinion that anyone can be entitled to, but I've noticed that many of those who don't care for it also don't actually understand it (and become defensive when you point that out to them). 😋 

You can argue that skill and talent has improved to the point that the accomplishment is no longer reward-worthy, that's one thing. But stating that teams get rewarded for "missing a field goal" is ridiculous.

I wish the CFL (in particular) would direct the time spent considering doing away with the single point towards educating fans as to its actual purpose instead.