When Harvard Was King

The Harvard football program, along with Yale and Princeton, were among the top teams in college football for the first four decades of the game. In fact, Harvard has ties to winning 12 national championships from NCAA-designated major selectors. These are the seasons of 1874, 1875, 1890, 1898, 1899, 1901, 1908, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1919, 1920. Harvard claims seven of these college football national championships. The Crimson originally competed as a "Major" football independent before joining the Ivy League in 1956 as a founding member. Coaches that have patrolled the Harvard sidelines are significant as men such as Percy Haughton, Robert Fisher, Arnold Horween, Dick Harlow, John Yovicsin, Joe Restic, and Tim Murphy, among others. The players that have donned the "H" are significant as well, with the likes of Kyle Juszczyk, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ralph Horween, Arnold Horween, Percy Haughton, Roger Caron, Percy Wendell, and so many more. It's a rich history, and Harvard definitely guided much of the early formation of the game. You will find much to celebrate about Crimson football history in this collection of posts.

The popular football history website founded by Timothy Brown. Tim's FootballArchaeology.com has a daily football factoid that he shares that are really quite interesting in a short read. They preserve football history in a very unique way and we are quite happy that Tim has agreed to join us each week to go over some of his Today's Tidbits. There are also other longer posts and even some links to Mr. Brown's books on football history. Click that link and you can subscribe for free to receive them yourself each evening.

We are so pleased and honored that this scholar of early football spends a little bit of time with us via podcast and video to help celebrate the game we all love, and enlighten us about football's forgotten aspects. These lessons from this esteemed Football Archaeologist provide a framework of respect for our gridiron ancestors in a few ways on enlightenment.

Remembering the past illuminates the incredible athletic advancements players have made. Early football, though brutal, lacked the refined skillsets and physical conditioning seen today. Quarterbacks like Johnny Unitas revolutionized passing accuracy, while running backs like Jim Brown redefined power and agility. By appreciating these historical feats, we can marvel at the lightning-fast speed and pinpoint throws commonplace in today's game.

Secondly, the past offers valuable lessons in the constant evolution of strategy. From the single-wing formations of the early 20th century to the spread offenses of today, the game has continuously adapted. Studying these shifts allows us to see the brilliance of modern offensive and defensive coordinators who devise complex schemes to exploit weaknesses and control the game's tempo.

Finally, remembering the past allows us to celebrate the enduring spirit of the sport. The fierce rivalries, the iconic stadiums, and the passionate fan bases have all been a part of the game for over a century. By appreciating these enduring elements, we connect with the generations who came before us and understand the deeper cultural significance of American football.

FOOTBALL ARCHAEOLOGY | HARVARD CRIMSON

When Harvard Was King

Watching the events from London this morning reminded me that we periodically see teams reign as champions for a handful of years, despite it being difficult to do. For example, back when we lacked a method of crowning champions, Harvard enjoyed a run that compares with almost anyone’s, retroactively being named national champs four times in six years. — www.footballarchaeology.com

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Timothy P. Brown describes an eight year period in the early 20th century when the Harvard Crimson were the cream of the crop in College Football under Coach Percy Haughton, and built a citadel for the gridiron in Harvard Stadium.