Football 159 Years Ago Today

October 18, 1852, Monday – The New-York Times

YALE FOOT BALL GAME

In almost every University in America there is some contest to decide the strength and agility of the Freshman and Sophomore classes. In Yale, it is the Foot-ball Game.

On Wednesday, 13th inst., at 4 o’clock, P.M., the rival classes met for the purpose of contesting five games. Each class numbers 114 youths; and this year, their apparent strength was so nearly equal, that it was generally conceded that if the Sophomores conquered, as is usually the result, it would be through artifice.

The Freshmen gave the first kick, and then a general rush was made for the ball, around which they formed a dense crowd for 15 minutes, each class striving to their utmost ability without gaining a single rod. At this crisis the ball was kicked from the crowd, over the side bounds, where any one who could get it has the right to one kick. A Sophomore obtained this right, but, not being expert himself, he communicated the ball to the leader of his class, a powerful fellow, who ran several rods with it, when he was overtaken by a more athletic Freshman, but succeeded in throwing the ball nearly over the goal. One or two more kicks, and the umpires decided that the Sophomores had won the first game.

After contesting the second game for nearly an hour, the umpires finally decided that one of the Freshmen, having caught the ball, was entitled to a kick at it. This the Sophomores were unwilling to allow, but claimed a victory, and challenged the Freshmen to commence the third game. The Freshmen determined to abide by the decision of the umpires, and refused to commence the third game until their second was fairly (as they claimed) ended.

It is but justice to the Sophomores to say that one of the umpires decided the second game in their favor. Darkness here ended the fierce conflict.

The Freshmen have since challenged their rivals to play the remaining four games. But the Sophomores are determined not to play again unless the Freshmen will commence at the third. Here the matter will probably rest, as neither party is disposed to compromise.

Hundreds of spectators witnessed this trial of strength, in which the combatants manifested as much interest and invincible courage as was ever exercised upon the plains of Mexico by the American soldiers; and it is also worthy of note that in this contest also, one brave hero fainted, and was borne bleeding from the field.

From: “The Lost Century of American Football“

Football Artist Frederic Remington born 150 years ago today

Frederic Remington football art, Harper's Weekly cover, 1887

Some of the greatest football art of the 19th century was created by Frederic Remington, born October 4, 1861, 150 years ago today. Remington was Walter Camp’s teammate at Yale. For more of his images: http://lostcentury.com/frederic-remington-art.html

125 Years Ago from the Father of American Football

October, 1886 – Outing Magazine

THE GAME AND LAWS OF AMERICAN FOOTBALL
By Walter C. Camp

Division of labor has been so thoroughly and successfully carried out on the football field that a player nowadays must train for a particular position as much as he would on a ball nine. There is, however, the same call for a general preparation which is met with in all athletic contests.

During the summer it is well to take a few preliminary steps toward the more active work of the real football season. Half-backs and backs ought to practice kicking some daily throughout the summer, while rushers need only take any kind of exercise which shall improve their wind.

With the beginning of August men who have been smoking during the summer should begin to forego some of their pleasure. Let this be done gradually, so that by September the man is fit to go without the weed altogether. With September the real work commences.

The first day or two will prove hard—particularly so in case of the heat holding on late. When this happens it is advisable to begin playing as late in the afternoon as possible and take extra care to have repeated intermissions. As soon as a cool day comes a regular game should be played of two three-quarters, and this will make every man feel the need of training.

If a man has never played the game before he should certainly read the rules and spend a few days in watching the men, so that he shall have a fair idea of the meaning of the terms.

The few cardinal points to be noted are that the ball must not be batted with the hand or thrown forward; that if it has been last touched by one of your own side behind you, you are off side and cannot touch it; that you cannot tackle an opponent unless he has the ball, and that if you are fairly held with the ball you must say, “Down.” You can “heel” a ball caught on the fly from a kick, or throw forward, or bat, by an opponent, or from a “punt out” by one of your own side.

Remembering these facts will keep you busy the first few days. Every player should begin his course in the rusher line. It is there that he will learn most quickly what to do, and, particularly, what not to do. For the first few days you will go home utterly worn out and discouraged, and yet before ten days have passed you will be able to stand fifteen or twenty minutes’ rushing with comparative ease. When this point is reached it is time to decide for what position you are best fitted.

First 444 words of 7,211 word article.
Entire article: “The Lost Century of American Football”
Ebook: “11 Classic Football Articles by Walter Camp”

Football 135 Years Ago This Week in 1876, Tufts College

September 27, 1876, Wednesday – The Boston Daily Globe

TUFTS COLLEGE NOTES

From the enthusiastic manner in which the incoming class has taken hold of foot ball, the College expects it to furnish some good men for our College eleven, and it is hoped that we can put a stronger team into the field this fall than ever before.

According to a custom of the college the Sophomores challenge the Freshmen to some game soon after the beginning of the college year. The Sophomores have already challenged the Freshmen to a game of foot ball, to be played one week from this afternoon, by Tufts’ rules.

Football in California in 1876 and 1893

September 18, 1876, Monday – Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California

A match at foot-ball came off between the Golden Gate and High School Clubs Saturday. Each club won a game.

September, 1893 – Outing Magazine

FOOTBALL ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE
By John Craig

California has for many years been a paradise for the athlete. Amateur sports each year find a fresh awakening of interest in them in the public mind, and football stands distinctive above all. The climate of the Golden State offers advantages for athletic training perhaps unequaled elsewhere, as out-of-door work can be done in every month of the year, and this is particularly desirable to the men who make up the football elevens.

While the press of the country records from time to time the brilliant intercollegiate games of the East little has been told, outside of the local papers of the section, of the sturdy wearers of the canvas jacket on the Pacific side, although many games have been played there that for exhibitions of strength and skill would compare favorably with the contests on the other slope.

Football on the Pacific slope has not seen many years of life; it is yet in its infancy, and perhaps not more than ten years have seen the game in progress there.

About the first clubs to organize were the Phoenix and Wanderers. These were composed, in the main, of grown men—the Wanderers principally from the English residents—and all their matches were under the Rugby rules.

Some exciting games were played at the old Recreation Grounds, in San Francisco, in the Fall and Winter of 1880-81, the “punting” of Nicholson, captain of the Wanderers, and the “tackling” of Coubrough and Woolrich of the same club, with the clock-work “passing” and the running of Dean and Sime, of the Phoenix team, being the features of these contests. The two last named played together like parts of a machine, one always following a few yards behind the other, each invariably “passing” the ball before or on being “tackled.”

Sime was a wonderful runner, doing 100 yards very close to 10 seconds, and was selected by the Olympic Club of San Francisco, with Belcher and R. B. Haley, for whom a record of 9 4/5 seconds for 100 yards is claimed, to represent that club at the championship games in the East several years ago. Not long after this a number of other clubs entered the field…

The University of California now began to manifest considerable interest in football, and the Merion team soon tried conclusions with the “U.C.s” on the campus at Berkeley, in a game wherein the University team made a wonderful showing. Soon after, they were able to defeat all comers, among them the crack Phoenix team…

The public now began to take great interest in football, for it had found these games full of excitement, and the season of 1886 found five clubs in the field — the University, The Wasps, Orions, Reliance and Law College teams. These organized the California Football League, and for the first time on the Pacific coast the game was played by eleven men instead of fifteen, though at first the intercollegiate rules were not adopted as a whole.

A series of twenty games was played by the league teams in 1886, and they proved to be the greatest treat yet offered to the public in the way of out-door sports.

From 4,000 to 5,000 spectators would fill the grand stand each Saturday at Fourteenth and Centre streets, Oakland, to witness the contests; among the fair sex there was never before on the Pacific coast so much interest manifested in athletic games…

In 1887 another league was organized among younger players than those who formed the teams of the previous season, and was in consequence dubbed the “Little League.” These clubs were, however, not very far behind their predecessors in any particular, and many large audiences witnessed the contests…

Before this time the coast teams had played the half-backs and fullback many yards behind the rush-line, relying on a long pass from the quarter to give them opportunities for gaining headway in going around the “end.” The close play and center-rushing tactics introduced by Tobin soon showed the inferiority of the old-time method, and a game between the San Francisco and University teams resulted in a victory for the former by a score of 44—0. The “long pass” game has never been used on the coast since.

The only team that succeeded in scoring against the victorious Olympics was the eleven of the Leland Stanford, Junior, University — the new university at Palo Alto that has since done so much to develop football and bring it into favor in California.

From: “The Lost Century of American Football”

Football on September 11, 1876

September 11, 1876, Monday – The Boston Daily Globe

FOOTBALL MATCH AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE

Notwithstanding the rain this afternoon, the customary match game of foot ball was played between the Sophomores and Freshmen—the classes of ’79 and ’80. Both classes appeared upon the campus at 2 o’clock, being about equal in numbers. The match game was for the best three in five.

The “Freshies” gave the first “warning,” and, contrary to all precedent, kicked the ball over the Sophomores’ goal, after a hotly-contested game, lasting twelve minutes, during which several fouls were made. The success of ’80 was warmly cheered and applauded by the spectators.

The next three warnings were won by the Sophomores, the games occupying respectively twenty-two, five, and sixteen minutes. Although the Sophomores thus got the best three in five, yet the Freshies rightly feel elated over the effective resistance they offered, since usually the Sophomores “walk through” a Freshman class in from one to three minutes in their first match game.

From “The Lost Century of American Football”

Football 157 Years Ago – September 8, 1854

September 8, 1854, Wednesday – The New-York Times

THE ANNUAL FOOT-BALL GAME AT HARVARD COLLEGE

We are gratified to learn that the Freshman class just beginning its course at Harvard College is extraordinarily large, numbering, we believe, one hundred and five. Besides these, there have been accessions to the other classes of students admitted to an advanced standing.

The annual foot-ball match upon the Delta took place last evening, the first Monday of the term, in accordance with the time honored custom. The Freshmen were able to muster in such strong force that it was supposed that the almost universal result of their game with the Sophomores might be reversed in this instance: but although they played remarkably well, this proved not to be the case, and they were thrice beaten, as usual.

In the next match the Freshmen were reinforced by the Juniors, (always a favorite class,) and the Sophomores by the Seniors.

The support afforded by the Juniors might perhaps have given victory to the Freshmen this time, but there are in the present Senior class six stalwart men whose vigorous limbs, aided by their associates, carried everything before them, and the result was the same as before. It was universally conceded upon the ground, however, that the Freshmen made a most gallant stand. They contend, of course, to a great disadvantage, not knowing the ground, and scarcely each other.

After the foot-ball playing the students formed a large ring, hand-in-hand, and joined in singing Auld Lang Syne. This, we believe, is a modern feature in the proceedings. Hearty cheers were then given for President Walker, the late President, Mr. Sparks, Professor Felton and others, and for the several classes.

The afternoon was a fine one for the game, and the closing scenes were illuminated by the nearly full moon. While literature and learning flourish at the university, the manly sports are not neglected.

From “The Lost Century of American Football“

Wisconsin Football, Sep 1, 1870 – Newspaper 141 Years Ago

September 1, 1870, Thursday – Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, Wisconsin

Foot ball has taken the place of base ball as an amusement in Sioux City.

www.LostCentury.com

Civil War Football Image: Aug. 31, 1861 – 150 Years Ago !

August 31, 1861 – Harper’s Weekly

From “The Lost Century of American Football“

Football in New Orleans, 1874, Prize is Barrel of Chicago Beer

August 22, 1874, Saturday – The Morning Star and Catholic Messenger, New Orleans, Louisiana

FIELD SPORTS AND GAMES

     A grand match game of Base Ball, between the Lone Stars and the Robt. E. Lees—game to commence at 3 o’clock P.M. Prize, to be chosen by the winner.
     A grand match game of Foot Ball, twenty-five men on each side—game to commence at 6 o’clock. Prize, one barrel Chicago Lager Beer.