Short discussion of the history of the Shovel Pass

Coaching Football: From Youth Leagues to the Pros - Google Books Result
                            (Click on 'Full screen' in the Book Result)

"The shovel pass was developed by Jack Curtice and popularized when Lee 
Grosscup played for him at Utah [1957]. In the Curtice shovel pass, one 
side of the line drops back in a retreating pass protection; the other 
side blocks aggressively as if for a run. The receiver runs to the gap 
created by the different blocking schemes and takes a short pass, often 
underhanded or a basketball chest pass; he then runs into the secondary 
where he 'options' the first man who tries to tackle him. The player to 
whom he laterals often scores." 

"The shovel pass has come back in style, especially with the shotgun 
spread attacks, but coaches seldom use the lateral to the passer, which 
Curtice used so succesfully." 

Coaching Football: From Youth Leagues to the Pros, pp. 66-67
  by Tom Flores and Bob O'Connor
Published by McGraw-Hill Professional, 2005
ISBN 0071439145, 9780071439145
304 pages

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SOME OF THE BETTER LINKS ON THE WEB CONCERNING "SHOVEL PASS"


http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shovel%20pass

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screen_pass (last paragraph, first section)

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Football-Instruction-2069/shovel-shuffle-pass.htm


http://bleacherreport.com/articles/39092-college-football-the-12-greatest-plays-in-history

[see #8 of the 12 greatest plays]

First used [in 1957 by Curtice and Grosscup] in a game against Army which 
the Utes lost 39-33. [The defeat at Army, then a national power under coach 
Red Blaik, is remembered as a "victory" in Ute lore.]


http://www.utefans.net/home/ancient_ute/utahpass.html

Actually, Grosscup traces its origins to Pop Warner's Stanford teams of 
the 1920s.  [So did Curtice; see previous link at bleacherreport.com]

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LINK TO DISCUSSION OF TOM LANDRY'S "SHUTTLE PASS"

http://broncosfreaks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13765&page=3

[excerpts from the comments by "zambini15"]

"The Cowboys sent their back forward to appear like a blocker and then as 
the defenders moved towards the retreating QB he would "shuttle" the pass 
to the RB. Landry said he named it the SHUTTLE pass after the NASA space 
shuttle." 

"Technique was important because the pass was so subtle (maybe should 
have been called the 'subtle pass') that defensive backs reading QBs could 
not detect it and rushing defensive linemen, engaged with a blocker, had a 
difficult time seeing it." 

"I contend that the UTE pass, or shovel pass, is different from the 
shuttle pass, where the qb is positioned in a more natural retreat posture 
and pushes the ball out from his shoulder, often with his non-throwing 
hand; Brett Favre does a great execution of the play!" 

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Also see last eight comments here, "Mike 1967" at 11-17-2005, 04:49 PM