The prevailing modern version of the flea-flicker might actually be closer to another Zuppke innovation involving a "multiplicity of passes" that he dubbed the "flying trapeze." I'd ask Dr. Z, so you know it's right.) Zuppke wrote in a 1951 letter that he introduced the flea-flicker while coaching at Oak Park High in 1910 before he arrived in Champaign, though his description ("a short forward pass ending in a lateral, with interference for the ballcarrier") sounds more like a hook-and-ladder or hook-and-lateral. Still a chance to guess the candy, buy tickets for the grill and Pac-Man, and get in on the door prize drawing. (We got that from the 1967 book Football Lingo, co-authored by none other than SI.com's own Dr. All clothing is 5.00 and buy 5 get 1 free. The play and its name are both credited to legendary University of Illinois coach Bob Zuppke, who intended the phrase to evoke the quick, flicking action of a dog getting rid of fleas.
#Flea flicker series
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Flea Flicker (Burnside Series Book 9). Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. How did football's flea-flicker get its name?Īnswer: In a flea-flicker, the quarterback typically hands off or laterals to a running back, who after running several steps turns around and laterals back to the quarterback, who then heaves the ball downfield to a (hopefully) open receiver. Flea Flicker (Burnside Series Book 9) - Kindle edition by Chill, David. : What is the derivation of the football term "flea flicker"?ģ. In Reply to: Flea flicker posted by Steve on Januat 16:27: