Football History

Charles "Charlie" Brickley (1879-1959) was a pioneer of American football, leaving his mark on the early days of the sport as a player, coach, and innovator. Brickley's legendary career began at Harvard University, where he quarterbacked the Crimson to a perfect record and a national championship in 1901. He later played professionally, showcasing his talent with teams like the Frankford Athletic Club and the Philadelphia Athletics.
Beyond his playing achievements, Brickley is credited with popularizing several key aspects of the modern game. He is considered the inventor of the spiral pass, a revolutionary technique that changed the landscape of offensive strategy. Additionally, Brickley introduced innovations like the huddle and the numbering system for offensive plays, further shaping the way the game is played.
Brickley's coaching career was equally impactful. He led the Penn Quakers to back-to-back undefeated seasons and national championships in 1904 and 1905, solidifying his legacy as a coaching pioneer. He continued to coach at various universities throughout his career, leaving a lasting impact on the sport with his innovative strategies and commitment to excellence.
Charlie Brickley's contributions to football extend far beyond his individual statistics and victories. He was a true innovator, a trailblazer who transformed the game with his revolutionary ideas. His legacy continues to inspire future generations of players, coaches, and fans alike, reminding them of the power of innovation and the enduring spirit of the sport.

For more on this legend and his playing days at Harvard check out our friend Dick Friedman's article in Harvard Magazine.

Benjamin Holt Ticknor wasn't just a football player; he embodied Harvard's gridiron grit in the 1930s. A dominant center renowned for his defense, Ticknor became a captain and a legend, etching his name in Crimson history.

Born in Massachusetts in 1909, Ticknor's athletic prowess shone from a young age. He excelled in football, basketball, and baseball, eventually choosing football as his true passion. Arriving at Harvard in 1928, he quickly carved a niche on the offensive and defensive lines.

Despite playing when Harvard didn't see its championship glory days, Ticknor's brilliance shone through. He earned All-American honors in 1930, becoming the first center in Harvard history to do so. His leadership as captain in 1930 was instrumental in leading the team to a respectable season despite several close defeats.

Ticknor's legacy, however, was built on more than wins. He was a defensive stalwart renowned for his fierce tackling and unyielding presence in the trenches. His nickname, "Iron Man," spoke volumes about his resilience and dedication. In multiple encounters, he held rival Yale at bay, earning him particular adoration from the Harvard faithful.

Beyond his athletic prowess, Ticknor was known for his sportsmanship and gentlemanly demeanor. He was a respected leader on and off the field, embodying the ideals of Harvard football. His impact extended beyond the gridiron, as he excelled academically and later found business success.

In 1954, Ticknor's contributions were recognized with his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. He remains one of only four Harvard players to receive this prestigious honor. His name graces the Ben Ticknor Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the Crimson's most outstanding offensive lineman.

American football, a sport deeply ingrained in the fabric of American culture, boasts a rich and storied history. While many institutions have contributed to the game's evolution, few have played as pivotal a role as Harvard University. This series of posts will delve into the fascinating history of Harvard football, exploring its origins, its impact on the development of the sport, and the legacy it has forged over the decades.  

From its humble beginnings in the 19th century, Harvard football quickly rose to prominence, becoming a dominant force in the early years of intercollegiate competition. The Crimson's clashes with rivals like Yale became legendary, drawing massive crowds and capturing the nation's attention. But Harvard's contributions extend beyond mere on-field success. The university played a crucial role in shaping the game's rules, advocating for innovations that helped transform rugby into the sport we know and love today.  

This series will also examine the iconic figures who have donned the crimson and white, from legendary coaches to Hall of Fame players. We'll explore the traditions and rivalries that have defined Harvard football and analyze the program's enduring importance to the broader landscape of American football. Join us as we uncover the captivating story of Harvard football, which is inextricably linked to the very essence of the game itself.

Born February 15, 1920, in Lawrence, Massachusetts, was Harvard’s solid Guard Endicott Peabody. Endicott was a formidable presence on the gridiron for the Harvard Crimson in the early 1940s. Peabody was a defensive disruption to Harvard's offensive opposition in the early 1940s.

A standout lineman, Peabody earned the nickname "baby-faced assassin" for his deceptively fierce play. His contributions to the Harvard football program were significant, culminating in his unanimous selection to the 1941 College Football All-America Team. This achievement underscored his dominance on the field and solidified his reputation as one of the premier players of his era.

Peabody's prowess extended beyond individual accolades. He was a key figure in Harvard's defensive line, known for his strength, agility, and relentless pursuit of the ball carrier. His leadership and determination inspired his teammates, contributing to the team's success. Notably, he played a crucial role in Harvard's strong showing against a heavily favored Navy team in 1941, disrupting their offensive drives and helping secure a scoreless tie.

Following his illustrious college football career, Peabody served in the United States Navy during World War II. After the war, he entered the political arena, eventually serving as the Governor of Massachusetts from 1963 to 1965. Despite his later career in politics, Peabody's legacy as a football star remained strong. In 1973, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, cementing his place among the game's legends. Endicott Peabody's football career exemplifies dedication, skill, and leadership, leaving an enduring mark on the sport.

-College Football Career

-Personal information

-Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)

-Weight 181 lb (82 kg)

-Career History

-College Harvard (1939–1941)

-High school Groton (Massachusetts)

-Penn Charter (Philadelphia)

-Career Highlights and Awards

-Unanimous All-American (1941)

-First-team All-Eastern (1941)

-College Football Hall of Fame (1973)

Endicott Peabody. (2025, January 31). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endicott_Peabody
also Harvard Magazine https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2020/10/great-performances-endicott-peabody

Discover how the grand opening of Harvard Stadium revolutionized the game of football. This video explores the stadium’s groundbreaking design, its impact on... — www.youtube.com

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Discover how the grand opening of Harvard Stadium revolutionized the game of football. This video explores the stadium's groundbreaking design, its impact on player safety, and how it set the stage for modern football stadiums. From its early days as a pioneering venue to its enduring legacy, we delve into the story of how Harvard Stadium shaped the future of the sport. Featuring historical footage, expert analysis, and interviews, this video is a must-watch for football fans and history enthusiasts alike.

Do you love the football talk on history and evolution? Then wait till you check out the original article Tim wrote Building and Opening Harvard Stadium.

Also check out the podcast version of our chat at Harvard Stadium Pigskin Dispatch Podcast.

-[b]Transcription of When Harvard Stadium Opened with Tim Brown

Hello, my football friends; this is Darin Hayes at PigskinDispatch.com. Welcome again to The Pig Pen, your portal to positive football history. And it is Tuesday.

As we have traditionally done over the last couple of years, we have visited with Timothy P. Brown of FootballArcheology.com, talking about another aspect of great football history that maybe isn't mainstream and we don't know much about. Tim has done some digging and studying on it, and he's got a great one for us tonight. Tim, welcome back to The Pig Pen.

Thanks, Darren. Yeah, looking forward to talking about cementing our relationship. If I can really pull in a really bad bet.

Yeah, I think that might earn some cement shoes there on that one. That's... I don't prepare these. He's just, you know, they just come right out, you know, and sometimes it doesn't come off right.

Tim is segwaying into a tidbit that he wrote a little about a year ago, a little over a year ago, or maybe it was this year, June 26. Building and opening Harvard Stadium, which is, you know, a great iconic stadium of college football that, you know, the cathedral, I guess, of football. So maybe, Tim, we'd love to hear about the history of what you have on this one.

Yeah, so Harvard Stadium, you know, I'm happy to report that I did see one game there. I went and saw Harvard Yale there 20 years ago or so. And it was; I've only had obstructed viewing seats on two or three occasions, and that was one of them.

There's, atop the stadium, there's these big cement pillars. And my seat was directly behind one of those. So I paid the full ticket price.

But anyways. Yeah, so it gives me visions of the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium where the Browns used to play, the old Browns. And the same way you get up on those upper levels, you have these giant pillars in the way, just half the field.

Well, yeah, that's I mean, I've done the I-beam thing at the Old County Stadium and Tiger Stadium, but. This was a much, this was much bigger than an I-beam. So anyways, but, you know, that Harvard Stadium was built in 1903.

Prior to that, they played basically right next door to where they built Harvard Stadium. It's, you know, it was an open area across the Charles River from from the rest of campus. That's over near where the Harvard Business School is.

But the. So. You know, the money, you know, they had all this money to build this new stadium, and they decided to build it out of reinforced concrete, which at the time was just this.

You know, exciting new way to build, you know, major structures. But this was the first, you know, sizable structure in the world to be built of reinforced concrete. So, the Romans had figured out how to do concrete.

And then we'd forgotten the magical, you know, of that for, you know, almost whatever, eighteen, nineteen hundred years. So, but, you know, they kind of got that going again. And so.

They had the money and they basically said, OK, we're going to build the start building this thing. After the baseball season is over, because they were building it atop the old baseball field. So they couldn't couldn't start building until like.

I was like, you know, half midway through June or something like that. And then it was just like Katie barred the door. You know, I mean, they literally had 800 workmen there every day trying to build this thing.

And they didn't have to dig it out or anything. They didn't. You know, it was basically just that they poured these big concrete slabs.

You know, just it's kind of like an assembly line production built one slab after another. And it was all with, you know, they it was all built with like sack creep. So, you know, they figured they had like 90,000 bags of cement.

Wow. These people poured. And so, you know, but, you know, the stadiums didn't have all the amenities that they have now.

So there were no bathrooms. There were no there were no concessions. That there were no lights.

You know, there's no maybe they had telephones in there. But I mean, literally, I mean, it was about as fair as you could have it by today's standards. You know, at the time, it's just this incredible structure.

So, I mean, they ended up it literally was being the progress of building the stadium was reported around the world, you know, among construction aficionados. Right. But so they, you know.

As we talked last week, you know, Yale would play almost all their games at home. Harvard was in the same situation. Everybody would come to Harvard because, you know, even before they built Harvard Stadium, they had a fairly sizable stadium.

They could make more money by playing there than playing at home. So so they played eight home games in the old stadium and in the tid, you know, in the tidbit itself. I've got a cool image from the newspaper showing them playing a game.

I think it's a game that they played against Carlisle. And then in the background, you can see, you know, the stadium is rising, you know, in the background. One other just quick little side note is that, and this is in the tidbit, too, there was in it when I found this article or one of the articles adjoining that article was a newspaper article about this guy in Britain named C.S. Rolls, and he had set a new world record by driving eighty-four miles an hour over the course of a kilometer.

So eighty four miles an hour was the fast, basically the fast anybody had ever driven a car. So I just thought it was interesting that that was next, you know, next door or next to this article. Then, this guy named Rolls joined up with Royce the next year.

They started a car company that most of us are familiar with and fits well with the Harvard thing, right? So anyway, they're building this thing, but they just couldn't get it completed. It is time for the last two games of the season. They wanted it to be ready for the Yale game, which was being played at Harvard that year.

So they stopped construction and then focused for about a week or two just on like cleaning the place up. They built temporary stands. They built like areas to block off the things that were still under construction.

And they had like 90,000 concrete paper bags laying around. They had to clean up. Well, it created a hell of a bonfire.

That's right. And so they did all that stuff, you know, they get it all set up. So then they play.

They wanted to I think they wanted to give it a, you know, a test run playing Dartmouth before, you know, Yale the following week. So Dartmouth comes into play and typically Harvard beat him every year. But that year, Dartmouth had a pretty good team and they end up winning 15 to nothing.

So, you know, the Harvard people are kind of peeled. Thankfully, Yale lost the same week. And so both teams were coming into the game, you know, with their most recent game being a loss.

And but everybody's excited. You know, there's you know, this is going to be the largest crowd to ever see a game at an on-campus stadium. You know, I mean, there were bigger games played at the polo or bigger crowds and polo grounds and, you know, a couple of places here and there.

But on campus, this is like they were going to have about 23 or 25,000 because the stadium wasn't complete. But sure enough, Yale comes in and beats Harvard 16 to nothing. So, you know, so they didn't score in their last in their first two games in Harvard Stadium.

They didn't even score. And they had to wait till the start of the 1904 season before they could win a game in their brand new, massive, reinforced concrete stadium. So anyway, that's kind of just the story.

But it's still, you know, kind of a cute, cute deal. And, you know, it's just. You just realize the things that we just take for granted in terms of the quality of stadiums and the the size of stadium, you know, 33,000 was what they designed this for.

And, you know, at that time, it was a U-shaped stadium. It is now again. But, you know, it was like it was considered just a palace compared to most places.

Right. Yeah. It's not a big fire hazard.

Some of the other ones were worried about collapsing as much as some of the things that were happening at that time at many games around the world. Yeah. So I mean, just the irony that they, you know, they have all this momentum and all this hype of this new stadium and then going, oh, and two and can't even score a point in their games against two rivals.

That's kind of ironic. Yeah. Yeah.

Well, you know, there's other stuff, too, that I think I'm not 100 percent sure about, but I believe that when they built that stadium, they did not plan for it. They didn't plan for like wooden benches. It was just that everybody was going to sit on concrete.

Eventually, they put concrete or wood boards there. But I'm pretty sure the original intention was to sit on concrete, which is fine in September and maybe October or November. Not so much.

Yeah. Now, when did the Yale Bowl that came a few years after the Harvard Stadium? Yeah, that opened in 14. OK.

It's almost 11 years. I mean, Yale, Yale had a, you know, Yale Field, which preceded Yale, the Yale Bowl was a pretty good sized stadium. I mean, I don't know exactly, but I'm guessing it was like 20.

Twenty thousand or something like that, and it increased in size over the years. But, you know, they build those stadiums and all of these, and it would go on; it went on for another 20 years. A lot of times, they'd have like if they were playing like Wesleyan or Bowdoin or something like that.

They'd get 6000 people. But so they really built the stadiums. To handle the Harvard and Yale games and to a lesser extent, Princeton, once every 24 months in the Harvard Yale game.

Well, but, you know, there were everybody. Wanted tickets, and like when they opened it in 03, because of the reduced capacity, they couldn't handle all, you know, all the some people got rejected. Right.

And so, you know, if you're a Harvard guy and you want tickets to the game and you get rejected, that's not a good thing. Yeah, probably not. Your social circles.

You have to get your Rolls-Royce and head back to Boston. Tim, that is an incredible story in so many facets. I'm still trying to absorb all this, so, you know, the whole thing with the Harvard team, the stadium, the Rolls-Royce.

You know, that's just tremendous stuff. You know, you have a lot of things going on there, and it is very historic. And you have a lot of different items like this.

So you come up in your tidbits that you're doing multiple times every week. And maybe you could share with the listeners how they, too, can partake in some of what you're writing is. Yeah, excuse me.

Yeah, just easiest thing is just go to footballarchaeology.com and subscribe. And, you know, you'll get an email every time that I send out a new a new post, which, you know, like you said, a couple of times a week. Other than that, you can follow me on on the Substack app.

That's probably the next best thing. But, you know, if you want to if you want to make sure you get it, you know, subscribe, get the email. And even if you don't read it, you can just delete it.

But it's up to you. Consume as you must. Well, we always enjoy reading from the hardworking historian of the gridiron up there, footballarchaeology.com. We always enjoy that and enjoy the stories.

And we love having you on here each and every Tuesday. And we'd like to talk to you again next Tuesday. Very good.

Again, look forward to chatting next week.

Charley Brewer, born on March 8, 1873, in Honolulu, Hawaii, left his mark on Harvard University football during its formative years.

During the stocking cap era of college football, Brewer earned his first of three All-American honors during his freshman season in 1892. A nagging ankle injury during the 1894 season perhaps prevented Charles Brewer from being a four-time All-American. Caspar Whitney, the great journalist of the time, described Brewer as: "He can stand as much banging about as any back. His gains were made by quickness in starting for the hole and determination once he reached it. He is cat-like in his movement and very speedy." In an era where Harvard and Yale dominated the landscape of college football, Brewer was a standout player on his squad.

-College Career

Brewer's football prowess flourished at Harvard University, where he played as an end. He was a key figure in the Crimson's early 20th-century teams, known for his exceptional athleticism, versatility, and leadership. He was considered one of the best players in the nation during his time at Harvard. His performance was instrumental in establishing Harvard as a football powerhouse.

-Football Legacy

Charley Brewer's football legacy is deeply intertwined with the early development of American football at the collegiate level. His contributions at Harvard helped solidify the program's reputation for excellence. He was a pioneer, demonstrating the skill and dedication that would come to define the sport. Beyond his on-field performance, he exemplified the ideals of sportsmanship and academic achievement, setting a standard for future Harvard athletes.

-Accolades, Awards and Career Stats

-Charley Brewer was a key part of the dominant Harvard teams of his era.

-Brewer was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1971.

-Charles Brewer '96 - Harvard Varsity Club (harvardvarsityclub.org)

-He was considered one of the nations best player of his era.

Charley Brewer's impact transcends mere statistics; he represents a pivotal chapter in the evolution of college football. His dedication and skill helped shape the game's early trajectory, leaving a lasting influence.

March 17, 1876 – New Bedford, Massachusetts  




Born on March 17, 1876, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, John Ashley Gammons, better known as Daff Gammons, was an early baseball and football legend.

"Daff" Gammons was a true multi-sport phenomenon, achieving legendary status in early football and baseball. His college career saw him excel in football for the formidable Brown University team of 1897. He also showcased his baseball talents for Brown and, later, Harvard.  

Gammons transitioned seamlessly into the early professional football landscape. He starred for the Duquesne Country and Athletic Club in 1898 and 1899, followed by the Homestead Library teams in 1900 and 1901. Remarkably, his contributions to these dominant squads made him a four-time professional football champion, a testament to his skill and impact during this nascent era of the sport. His prowess wasn't limited to the gridiron; at 25, Gammons broke into Major League Baseball with the Boston Beaneaters, further solidifying his athletic versatility.  

Beyond his playing days, Gammons left a significant mark as a collegiate coach of football and baseball.

He also found success as an amateur golfer, highlighting his well-rounded athletic abilities. While specific accolades and detailed statistics from this early period are often scarce, his four professional football championships stand as a primary testament to his football legacy. John Ashley "Daff" Gammons embodied the spirit of early athletics, excelling in multiple disciplines and leaving an indelible mark on both football and baseball history.  

Gammons starred on the excellent Brown University football team of 1897, the Duquesne Country and Athletic Club teams of 1898 and 1899, Homestead Library teams of 1900 and 1901, and was a four-time pro football champion. Daff played baseball for both Brown and Harvard in college and then, at the age of 25, broke into MLB with the Boston Beaneaters. He also excelled as a college football coach, baseball coach, and amateur golfer. He was an all-around athletic stud.

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The Horween family has been a cornerstone in the world of football for generations. Ralph and Arnold Horween, brothers and entrepreneurs, took over a business founded by their father Isadore, the Horween Leather Company, in Chicago in 1920. Their dedication to crafting high-quality leather has led to their products becoming synonymous with the NFL.

Timothy P. Brown of Football Archaeology visits us in this episode to share the story of this family that has quite a story in gridiron history and the present day.

If you love the football talk on history and evolution, then you should check out the original article Tim wrote The Horween Brothers and the NFL.

You may also be interested in the podcast version of our conversation found at: The Horween Family.

Born May 4, 1910, in Milton, Massachusetts, was Barry Wood the Harvard University quarterback from 1929 to 1931. The FootballFoundation.org tells us that he was quite the tremendous athlete as Dr. Barry Wood earned ten varsity letters at Harvard, lettering in football, hockey, baseball and tennis.

However, it was football where he really excelled,  as evidenced by his selection to Grantland Rice's first team All-America in 1931. As a sophomore in 1929 he threw a 40-yard touchdown pass and drop-kicked two extra points in a 20-20 tie with Army. He drop-kicked a field goal and extra point in a 10-6 victory over Yale. In 1930, Harvard beat Yale 13-0; Wood led the way by completing six of nine passes. In 1931, he led two touchdown drives as Harvard beat Army 14-13. The National Football Foundation selected Barry Wood for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

Being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame is a mark of unparalleled prestige and accomplishment. It signifies that a player has not only excelled on the field but has also left a lasting legacy that transcends generations. This honor is reserved for those who have demonstrated exceptional skill, leadership, and impact in collegiate football, shaping the sport’s history and inspiring future players. Remembering these inductees is not just a tribute to their remarkable careers but also a celebration of their enduring influence on the game. Their stories and achievements serve as a beacon of excellence and a testament to the profound role they’ve played in elevating college football to new heights.

The Harvard Crimson football helmet has undergone a relatively modest evolution compared to many other programs. The foundation of the Harvard helmet has remained consistent: a classic, crimson shell. Early helmets were leather and offered little protection, but as the game became more dangerous, advancements in materials and design were adopted.

The most noticeable changes have occurred in the facemask and decals. Early helmets often lacked facemasks entirely or featured simple bars. Over time, facemasks became more complex to protect players' faces. Decals, too, have evolved. While the core crimson color remains, the placement and design of the Harvard logo and other markings have varied over the years. Despite these alterations, the Harvard Crimson helmet maintains a timeless and traditional aesthetic, reflecting the university’s history and prestige.