re: 1908 National Champions?

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The game was much more brutal and violent back then and players literally died on the football field. It got so bad the sport was nearly banned.

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Yep, from 1900 to 1905, there were 45 deaths, usually from broken necks/spnes or internal injuries. It was practically gladitorial.

Teddy Roosevelt was a huge football fan & to avoid football getting banned, he set up a grid-iron committee to make football safer. They eventually accepted Walter Camp's forward pass proposal. Even though maiming/career-ending injuries still occur, the forward pass made on-the-field deaths a rarity.