Football Facts and Figures; A Symposium of Expert Opinions on the Game's Place in American Athletics

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1894. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER III LETTERS FROM MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY AND HEADMASTERS I Was much complimented by your letter asking me about football; but as I resigned my mastership of Adams Academy on August 1, 1893, I felt I had no right to pronounce as a school-master on the matter. I have therefore put your letter in the hands of my successor, Mr. William R. Tyler (Harvard, 1874). I wish you would correspond specially with him. He was one of the Harvard team that began intercollegiate football by playing with McGill University, and declined the captaincy of the Harvard team in his senior year. He also played on the Adams Academy team in 1874, '75, '76, '77. The revival of football started at my table in 1870. Football was forbidden by the faculty of Harvard College from 1858 (I think) to 187CL. on account of the cjass fights. In 1870, I, being Latin tutor, organized a boarding-table at my house for students who had been my personal friends in all the four classes. Most of them were graduates of the Boston Latin School, where the old American football had been played for indefinite years. Of these Tyler was my special friend. Two or three of the young men came to me and asked if I thought that the faculty would allow football to be resumed, on an engagement by the students that it should be a real game and not a class fight. I referred the matter to the faculty, and had the petition granted. The game was organized on this condition, with a team for all classes. It was practised on the old traditional lines, very much, I believe, like the Association game in England. After about two years a challenge came from McGill University, which played the Rugby game, and the Harvard team agreed to adopt that form for the sake of the match. can recall but very few cases of serious injury to ...