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Dictionary definition of “soap scrimmage”

soap scrimmage

n. especially in non-professional American football, a practice game for which the cost of admittance is a bar of bath soap. Also soap game. Subjects: , , ,
Editorial Note: Other items needed by a sports team are sometimes substituted as the price of admittance. This term is occasionally applied to any scrimmage or pre-season match, regardless of the requirements for admittance.
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Citations: 1962 Western Kansas Press (Great Bend) (Sept. 5) “Russell HS Plans “Soap Scrimmage”” p. 6: Russell High School football coach Merle “Bones” Nay, has announced that a “soap scrimmage” will be held Friday at the school. Admission to the scrimmage will be one bar of soap, to be used by the athletic department throughout the year. 1963 Coshocton Tribune (Ohio) (Sept. 3) “NCTown 11 Tops Injured Generals; TR Patriots Win” p. 6: The Newcomerstown Trojans closed out their pre-season grid activities on a winning note Saturday night, outscoring the West Lafayette Generals give touchdowns to one in the two clubs’ annual “soap game” on the winner’s field. 1964 Constitution-Tribune (Chillicothe, Mo.) (Sept. 2) “Announce Lineups For Soap Game” p. 19: The “soap game” which was started last year drew more than 200 fans and attendance tomorrow night should be even better. Admission to the contest is one average size bar of soap. 1985 Larry Porter @ Lincoln Omaha World-Herald (Neb.) (Sept. 7) “Late TD Pass Lifts Bulldogs Past Northeast”: The same thing happened in our soap scrimmage.…But I didn’t catch it. I didn’t even see it. 1991 Stu Pospisil Omaha World-Herald (Neb.) (Dec. 7) “Lin. Christian Survives Rush By Geneva for 67-65 Victory” p. 51SF: We started playing good basketball Wednesday. In our soap scrimmage Tuesday night, we shot 20 percent. 1997 Dallas Morning News (Aug. 16) “High School Football Update” p. 4B: The cost of admission to the scrimmage: a towel. In the past it has been a towel and soap scrimmage, but Kennedale Athletic Booster Club board member Kathy Duncan said there is a surplus of soap currently. 2005 Derek James Standard Democrat (Sikeston, Mo.) (Aug. 21) “Bulldogs showcase team”: The Annual Sikeston Bulldog Red and Black Scrimmage, or what is commonly called the “soap game,” was held on Friday night at Sikeston Public Schools Stadium. 2005 Charles City Press (Iowa) (Aug. 24) “Comets sports drink scrimmage”: Charles City head football coach Steve Stallsmith announced Monday that the 2005 football scrimmage scheduled for Friday night at Comet Field has been changed from a soap scrimmage to a sports drink scrimmage. Admission to the game is to bring a sports drink to the game.
Posted 31 Aug 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend
Reader comments:

Soap Scrimmage, does that mean that Coach Merle “Bones Nay is the originator of the term, or the concept of the “Soap Scrimmage?

Coach Nay is the earliest citation of the term 1962.  I played for Coach Nay in 1962.  Great Leader and motivator.

by M. Laubhan 17 Jul 08, 1252 GMT

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