THE ORIGIN OF THE COFFIN CORNER KICK
You probably never heard of Marvin Kerner. Had it not been for one small problem, Marvin Kerner might be remembered as the greatest football player of all time. A brilliant passer, sensational runner, and powerful kicker, Kerner could do it all. Except . . . .
Except that after a wonderful season of freshman football at Furbusher State College in 1908, Kerner developed a disabling allergy to cowhide. Every time he so much as touched cowhide, he would suddenly be struck by uncontrolable coughing. And, as footballs are unfortunately covered with cowhide, handling such an object in any way proved impractical.
Although he could no longer perform as a backfield star, Kerner’s love of the game of football was so strong that he continued on the FSC squad as a third-string guard. Of all his wonderful talents, line play was not one. Although he had no ability for that position, he tried hard. He also carefully avoided sparking a coughing fit by refusing to recover any fumbles for three seasons.
In Kerner’s final game, FSC led by two points with three minutes to go when it came up short on third down at the fifty-yard-line. The FSC coach looked to his bench and discovered that two of his top three punters were out with injuries and the third had just been thrown out of the game for punching the referee. The old coach signaled to Kerner.
“Mervin,” he said.
“It’s Marvin, sir,” Kerner corrected.
“Whatever. I want you to go in there and punt one for the team.”
Bravely, Kerner nodded and resolutely trotted out on the field.
His punt sailed high and deep. It hit at the five and bounced out of bounds at the three. FSC’s victory was preserved, but at a terrible cost. Merely handling the football while punting caused poor Kerner to have a world-class coughing fit that proved fatal. But ever since, great punts that contain opponents near their own goal line have been called “Coughin’ Kerners.”
As often has happened with many terms, the spelling has been simplified.
Except that after a wonderful season of freshman football at Furbusher State College in 1908, Kerner developed a disabling allergy to cowhide. Every time he so much as touched cowhide, he would suddenly be struck by uncontrolable coughing. And, as footballs are unfortunately covered with cowhide, handling such an object in any way proved impractical.
Although he could no longer perform as a backfield star, Kerner’s love of the game of football was so strong that he continued on the FSC squad as a third-string guard. Of all his wonderful talents, line play was not one. Although he had no ability for that position, he tried hard. He also carefully avoided sparking a coughing fit by refusing to recover any fumbles for three seasons.
In Kerner’s final game, FSC led by two points with three minutes to go when it came up short on third down at the fifty-yard-line. The FSC coach looked to his bench and discovered that two of his top three punters were out with injuries and the third had just been thrown out of the game for punching the referee. The old coach signaled to Kerner.
“Mervin,” he said.
“It’s Marvin, sir,” Kerner corrected.
“Whatever. I want you to go in there and punt one for the team.”
Bravely, Kerner nodded and resolutely trotted out on the field.
His punt sailed high and deep. It hit at the five and bounced out of bounds at the three. FSC’s victory was preserved, but at a terrible cost. Merely handling the football while punting caused poor Kerner to have a world-class coughing fit that proved fatal. But ever since, great punts that contain opponents near their own goal line have been called “Coughin’ Kerners.”
As often has happened with many terms, the spelling has been simplified.
posted by Blind Mumbling | 3:22 AM
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