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Professor John J. Miller is the director of the Dow Program in American Journalism at Hillsdale College and one of the nation’s most respected literary journalists. A regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal, he previously spent many years as a writer and podcaster for National Review. Miller is also the founder and executive director of the Student Free Press Association, the non-profit organization behind The College Fix, which supports and promotes collegiate journalism.

The Chronicle of Higher Education has described him as “one of the best literary journalists in the country,” a reputation reflected in his body of work. He is the author of several books, including The Big Scrum: How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football, which explores the surprising truths behind presidential intervention that helped shape the sport’s modern identity and the topic of today discussion.

01:20 – Journey into Journalism and What Inspired Writing: The Big Scrum

06:00 - Walter Camp and Theodore Roosevelt History with Football

10:30 – Early Violence and Brutality of Football & Charles Elliot’s Dislike for Football

17:40 – The Introduction of the Forward Pass

24:00 – Fights, Yale vs Harvard and the Flying Wedge

27:00 – Moments in Researching the Big Scrum

32:40 – Walter Camps Wife and Football

34:10 – Where You Can Find and Support Professor Miller

Twitter/x: @heymiller

https://www.heymiller.com/