Single-wing formation

Created by Glenn "Pop" Warner, the single wing was deemed superior to the T formation in its ability to get an extra eligible receiver downfield.

Two-time All-American Jack Crain's handwritten playbook clearly denotes how the University of Texas ran their version of the single-wing circa 1939–1940.

University of Texas Coach Dana X. Bible ran a balanced line, which meant that each side of the center had the same number of linemen.

[8] Slightly splitting offensive ends, called flexing, was in widespread use by Notre Dame's Box variation of the single-wing.

Knute Rockne's Notre Dame Box offense employed a balanced line, which had 3 linemen on each side of the center.

Another Rockne innovation was a shifting backfield that attempted to confuse the defense by moving backs to alternate positions right before the snap.

The single-wing style of football is still practiced by a small group of teams across the country, almost exclusively at the high school and youth level.

[14] In 2008, the Miami Dolphins utilized a version of the single-wing offense (calling it the "wildcat") against the New England Patriots on six plays, which produced four touchdowns in a 38–13 upset victory, and again two weeks later, defeating the San Diego Chargers.

[15] In college football, by the early 1960s, the only major teams still relying on the single wing were Tennessee, UCLA, University of Pennsylvania and Princeton.

The weakness of this formation is less power than the traditional single-wing and it requires very talented backs to play tailback and halfback effectively.

Sutherland created this formation from the original single-wing he learned from legendary coach Pop Warner at the University of Pittsburgh in the 1910s.

Sutherland's Pitt teams were named "National Champions" by various selectors in nine different seasons,[17] including five recognized by the university.

The cut-back play started like a strong side sweep with offensive guards and quarterback running interference for the tailback.

[27] The current incarnation of the Wildcat offense, which has been adopted by many college, NFL, and high school teams, uses many elements of the single-wing formation.

In 1998 and 1999, Park View High School in Sterling, Virginia advanced to consecutive state championships using the single wing offense.

When Park View coach Mickey Thompson moved to nearby Stone Bridge High School in 2000, he took the single wing with him.

On February 1, 2010, Stone Bridge Offensive Coordinator Matt "Hate-Dog" Griffis was named Head Coach of nearby Broad Run High School.

[31] In 1998, The Menominee Maroons won the Michigan high school class BB football championship, and in 2006 and 2007 won the Michigan High School Class B football championship, winning 28 consecutive games over the last 2 years, and reaching the state playoffs for the last 11 years.

[33] Xavier High School's (NYC) Head Coach Chris Stevens recently changed the team's offense to the single-wing.

[35] Conway Springs continues to run the Single Wing offense and added state titles in 2004, 2008, and again in 2011 and are perennial playoffs contenders under Coach Matt Biehler.

[37][38] In Nebraska Dave Cisar's Screaming Eagle youth football teams have been running the Single Wing offense for 8 seasons.

[39] In Connecticut, Anthony Sagnella runs the single wing with his North Haven High School Team that reached the 2015 Class L state Championship Game and were defeated by New Caanan, 42–35.

More recently, Sagnella won back-to-back CIAC Class MM State Championships running the single wing in 2022 and 2023 with Adam Pandolfi at Taiback.

[41] In Colorado, Brian Christensen's Akron Rams (Class 1A) high school football team has made running the Single Wing offense a local tradition.

[citation needed] Howard left Sigourney-Keota after the 2006 season to become the new head coach at Webster City High School and was charged with rebuilding a once-proud program that hadn't won over six games or made the Class 3A playoffs since 1996.

Installing his vaunted single-wing offense, in 2007 the Lynx led District 2 in rushing by gaining over 2,200 yards on the ground despite their overall record of 3–6.

The late Coach Pat Droskinis, listed in the PA Sports Hall of Fame, coached them and led by a strong 4–5–2 defense that featured All-State ends in 6-foot-3 Russ Frantz and 6-2 Harry Butsko, the Cass Twp Condors blanked Minersville, Nescopeck, West Mahanoy Township, Schuylkill Haven, Ashland, Blythe Township, Mahanoy Township, Lansford and Saint Clair, and then Shamokin in the playoff game (2–0).UNDEFEATED UNTIED UNSCORED UPON: The Perfect Season: The Story of Pennsylvania's 1957 Cass Football Team https://a.co/d/ao0L0gD In Pittsburgh, Coach Pete Dimperio ran the single wing at Westinghouse High School from 1946 to this retirement in 1966.

When Coach Dimperio started at Westinghouse the student body was mostly the children of Italian immigrants, but by the late 1950s it was almost 100% African American.

After the Big Red went 0–8–1 in 1977, he returned to the single wing for good because tailback Clay Sampson offered a dual threat.

In 1985, Piper's single wing offense featured a potent mix of speed, athleticism and experience that produced an average victory margin of 29.6 points.