-
First Football games
The first football games were barbaric initiation rites for incoming college freshman at Harvard. These melees usually ended in black eyes, bloodied noses, and sprained limbs. The freshman were accepted afterwards with postgame drinking and singing. -
First taste of rowing
Rowing was the first collegiate sport. It all started at Harvard University. Haravrd and Yale were the first to start the rowing clubs during this year. There were no coaches, it was all run by the students of the college. -
First Race
The first race was on Lake Winnipesaukee located in Carroll County, New Hampshire. There were approximatley 1,000 spectators including General Franklin Pierce the 14th president of the United States. Harvard Won the first race against Yale. -
The first intercollegiate baseball match
In the first baseball game between colleges, Amherst defeated Williams 73-32. The lopsided score reflected Amherst's preperation for the game and William's lack of training. Amherst was said to transform the informal game into a serious science. -
College Union Regatta Association
The College Union Regatta Association sponsored the races from 1859-1860 which drew more than 20,000 spectators to the sport of rowing. -
The Civil War sets back baseball
Baseball was the most popular sport on college campuses during the 1800's. However the Civil War for obvious reasons limited their ability to play. This did not affect it's popularity however as it kept spreading around the country. -
Football and the Community
College communities encouraged people to play football to become closer friends and to get to know students more at college. It was a major way to bond with diverse groups accross the whole college. -
Harvard puts restrictions on track athletes
Formal track and field at colleges began as an offshoot of rowing. Aspring athletes sometimes hired professional trainers to help them succeed. Harvard prohibited any association between student athletes and professional coaches. This was one of the earliest instances of college adminstrators regulating athletics. -
An Outstanding Coach
Amos Alonzo Stagg was hired at Chicago Univeristy as football head coach. The team was very successful with Stagg. Later he went to Yale Univeristy to stay as a head coach for football. He was selected onto the first ever All America team in football. He was later inducted into the college football hall of fame as a head coach. -
Men and Women playing sports
The women rowed, hiked,rode horseback, and ice skated. The men played more physical sports like football, rugby, and field hockey.
