Meet the American who gave flight to football, Bradbury Robinson, college star threw first forward pass

Imagine the United States of America without football — our most popular sport and a cherished cultural spectacle. 

No Friday night lights, Saturday afternoon madness or Super Bowl Sunday. 

It nearly happened. Gruesome violence on the gridiron in the early 1900s spurred calls from pigskin prohibitionists to spike football.

St. Louis University star Bradbury Robinson was the first player to take a shot downfield to save football and beat the blitz that threatened to sack the popular but deadly sport.