The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1916-06-23

| All the Members of the Two Lower
Glasses Were In 1t, and 1t Was More
of a Free Fight Than Ball Match
Death and Resurrection of the Game
Football was played in American col
leges as early as 1900. The teams
were made up from all the students
who happened to be on hand. The OBJ
ject of each side was to drive the bal
across a given line. The players could
not carry the ball in their hands, but
had to kick 1t.
In the year 1916 the first football
game at Harvard was played on the
Delta, small triangular piece OF
ground. The contest was between all
the members of the two lower classes
and proved not 80 much a football
game as a fight. When, in 1850. the
faculty forbade that sort of contest
the students held a solemn burial serv-
Ice over the football Over the grave
they erected a tablet that bore the
following inscription:
Hic facet
Football Fightum
Obiit July 2. 1861
Act. Tx Years
Resurgat
And In twelve years football ire
surged," when, in 1872, the class of
IA played the class of rs on Boston
common.
Oddly enough, the history of the
game at Yale was much the same as
n uao af no vuord Tho c00,t xx,h{oh
had been abolished there in 1860, came
to life again in 1872, when the Yale
Football association was founded and
game was played with Columbia.
In 1864 Princeton and Rutgers play
ed the first intercollegiate game in
America 1t was not until 1872 that
Oxford and Cambridge, in England, ar
ranged a contest.
In the game played at Harvard be-
fore 1874 there were no goal posts To
make goal one side had to strike or
Kick the ball on the fly over the end
line of the field. If the opposing side
caught 1t no goal resulted. A ''lurker''
or ofrside player could not Kick the ball.
player could not run with it unless
he was chased by an opponent. but
could stride 1t OF kick It. The ball was
made of black rubber cloth inflated
into a sphere.
In tho spring of 1874 the students
1t McGlll university in Montreal, Can
ida, ca me to Cambridge to play Har-
Iard university a game of Rugby foot.
ball.
According to the Rugby rules. play
II could run with the ball and any
opponent could tackle lIim. A goal was
'cored when one side kicked the ball
'ver the goal posts. A score was also
made by touchdown when a player
arried the ball behind the opponents
'oal line ard there touched 1t to the
round.
The Canadians had forgotten to bring
he OWL pigskin football that is used
Rugby, and that first game of Rug
y In America was played with an in
la rAbber football. Perhaps that &C
ouF.ted for the fret that the pupils
re re able to defeat the teachers.
All Harvard took interest in the new
anne. Football enthusiasts quickly |
called that the old American game
I'D not have the possibilities for devel-
pment that Rugby had. During the
Iyring and fall the Harvard team prac- |
ICED diligently anti In October went to |
lontreal to play return game with
lc0tll. Posters and window cards ad
ertised the game throughout the city,
nd a crowd of 1900 spectators was
to the field.
The McGflR players wore red and
lack striped jerseys. stockings and
'hite knickerrOckers. The Harvard
layers wore magenta handkerchiefs
nd jerseys and old tweed trousers
either team had any protective pad.
Ing.
The Boston Advertiser OF Oct. %,
s74, givei, the, following account of
le game,
"The game was called at 3 80, and at
Harvard was declared the winner.
wing secured Il ree touchdowns. In
Spouse to the tiger of the McGills,
e Harvard 'rahs' were delivered with
vim. AID every $ tranger on the field
timed much ast0 nlshed ut the style
the ckeer. many being disposed to
Ink 1t u joke. Th e small boys yelled
: another. and d second was given
: th,f umpire. The Victoria band
N n ianuged to get through Yankee
'0dlei quite resp ectably. T.
rseelN fright In Yol this Companion.