The single wing: Offense took flight with do-it-all backs

Minnesota's Bernie Bierman used the single wing to help turn the Gophers into a national power.

By Chip Scoggins, Star Tribune

Last update: August 25, 2007 - 5:25 PM

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The NFL has the big-time passing offenses, but for sheer variety, creativity and unpredictability, nothing beats college football. From the single-wing formation Bernie Bierman employed during the Gophers glory days to the spread attack that is taking todays game by storm, take a clipboard tour with staff writer Chip Scoggins, who spoke to a variety of former coaches about college footballs most innovative offenses over the years.

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As an All-America tailback in Tennessee's single-wing offense in the mid-1950s, Johnny Majors handled all the passing, all the punting, 70 percent of the running, and he also called all the plays.

That's when he wasn't playing safety on defense and returning punts and returning kicks.

In fact, he played every down in a 7-7 tie with Georgia Tech in 1955.

"The tailback in the Tennessee single wing was very, very busy," Majors said.

That offense helped Majors finish runner-up to Paul Hornung in Heisman Trophy voting in 1956 and earn SEC Player the Year honors twice.

"The single wing was a great offense for its time," Majors said.

Pop Warner is credited for developing the single-wing offense in the early 20th century at Carlisle (Pa.) Indian Industrial School with star athlete Jim Thorpe. The single wing featured many variations (including balanced and unbalanced lines), but the standard formation included four backs with the tailback receiving the direct snap from the center. Single wing is power football that also features misdirection and deception.

The single wing was the predominant offense in college football pre-World War II. Minnesota enjoyed tremendous success in the single wing under Hall of Fame coach Bernie Bierman. In 16 seasons, Bierman used the powerful single-wing attack to rack up a 93-35-6 record, seven Big Ten titles and five national championships.

Tennessee was one of the last college teams to use the single-wing attack. The Vols finally changed schemes not long after Majors graduated. Majors' ability to dominate a game three different ways (run, pass, kick) earned him a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame, but he favored one skill over the others.

"I loved running the football," he said. "There's nothing like running the football."

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