The first known occurrence of a one-point safety (conversion safety) was in an NCAA game on October 2, 1971, scored by Syracuse in the first quarter of a game at Indiana. On a point-after-touchdown kick, the ball was kicked almost straight up in the air. An Indiana player illegally batted the ball in the end zone (a spot foul defensive penalty). Syracuse won the game, 7-0.[6][7][8] The 1970 rulebook (Rule 8-5-3) stated, "If a scrimmage kick fails to cross the neutral zone, or crosses the neutral zone and is first touched by Team B, or is untouched and then rebounds into the end zone where it is recovered by Team A, it is a safety," and (8-5-4) "If the penalty for a foul committed when the ball is free leaves the ball behind a goal line, it is a safety if behind the offender's goal line."[9]
^Hammel, Bob (October 3, 1971). "Hungry crowd finds a 'Darling' in defense". The Bedford Daily-Times Mail. Vol. 6, no. 5. Bedford, Indiana. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com. Kicker George Bodine's effort was far short, and [Mike] Heizman, standing in front of the goal posts, reacted to the falling ball by swatting it away, mosquito-swatting style. Center Greg Aulk fell on the ball for Syracuse. ... 'It was just a reflex action,' Heizman said. 'I never even thought about the ball being live.'
^"College Football Notes". The Vincennes Sun-Commercial. Vol. 41, no. 212. Vincennes, Indiana. October 6, 1971. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com. Syracuse was trying to kick the extra point after taking a 6-0 lead. The ball was kicked almost straight up in the air and was coming down obviously short of the crossbar when an Indiana player [illegally] batted the ball down in the end zone and Syracuse recovered.
^Nissenson, Herschel (October 5, 1971). "Grambling TV rating 'low'". The Shreveport Journal. Vol. 77. Shreveport, Louisiana. p. 10A – via Newspapers.com.
^Nelson, David M. (1970). 1970 NCAA Official Football Rules. Phoenix, Arizona: College Athletics Publishing Service. p. 59.
