https://www.historynet.com/fighting-words-military-terms-that-apply-to-sports.htm
Fighting Words: Military Terms That Apply to Sports
Christine Ammer
"Frank Gifford, a Hall of Fame halfback turned broadcaster, once said, “Pro football is like nuclear warfare. There are no winners, only survivors.” That is a somewhat extreme view, but there is no doubt that a football game, like a battle, involves fierce competition. Indeed, some coaches say, “We are going to war.” The analogy is borne out by the adoption of numerous military terms to football and other sports.
In football, a blitz, like the German blitzkrieg (lightning war), is a concentration of force at high speed to break the opposition’s line. More specifically, it is a defensive strategy. During a play one or more linebackers or defensive backs are sent across the line of scrimmage to tackle the opposing team’s quarterback or disrupt his pass. The military term dates from World War II; in football it came into use in the early 1960s.
The noun bomb in football signifies a long passing play, when the passer throws the ball to the receiver deep in the field. This usage dates from about 1939. The analogy is not clear but presumably refers to bombs dropped from aircraft, which fall a considerable distance. In contrast to the arcing bomb, a bullet is a fast, straight pass.
To blow away, meaning to shoot dead or kill by gunfire, originated in Southern dialect and became common military slang during the Vietnam War. It was soon transferred to football and other sports to signify a thorough defeat. A 1988 sports headline had it as a double entendre: Miami Hurricanes Blow Away Michigan at Finish."
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