Wikipedia includes this tidbit:
In the early part of the 20th century, when most teams employed the 2-3-5 formation, the row of three players were called halfbacks.
So, in soccer, the halfback is halfway back on the field and the fullbacks are all the way back? And I don't know where a quarterback would start, but if it's a little back from the centerfield line, that would make logical sense?
The wikipedia entry on Quarterback says this on the origin of the term.
The term quarterback has its origin in Scottish Rugby, wherein backfield players, according to their customary distance behind the forwards, were designated "quarter back" (i.e. ¼ of the way back), "halfback", and "fullback".[citation needed] Eventually in rugby the English-Irish nomenclature prevailed, with halfback, three-quarters back, and fullback; in some places, notably New Zealand, the term "five-eighths back" is used as well.
Why didn't I think to actually look up quarterback? That's hilarious. I think it's because halfback and fullback made sense to me already but I wanted to doublecheck.
Why look it up? ask and you'll get a definition - possibly several - with added snark.
But still, why is that one guy in American Football called quarterback? It's still odd to me.
Although not as odd as when my friend was the hooker on the rugby team!
That goes with the hockey stuff I was not able to actually type.
∀ ita ∃ pain. ∴ ita ≠ happy.
5/8s back. That's HILARIOUS.
I always wanted there to be a player called a Doubleback.
I always wanted there to be a player called a Doubleback.
Heh. And I was worried about the lack of a Three-Quarter Back.
I figured that was what it was, but it didn't gel with where they actually are on the field.
Thanks y'all!