Harvard-Yale Rivalry By: Leigh Pitre and Christopher Vickers Documenting Rivalry in Sport

History Participated in very first intercollegiate events in The Regatta Race caused the number of sports in the intercollegiate athletics to grow between the schools. Rivalry is simply known as “the game” to many fans.

History First met on the Gridiron in Harvard won the game 4-0. Today the rivalry favors Yale with 65 wins, Harvard 56, and 8 ties between the two. Rivalry has grown to be the 3 rd most played game in college football history.

November 1894 This game almost ended the rivalry before it even truly started. – During the game 7 players had to be carried off of the field in dying condition. Yale won the game 12-4.

November 1894 Due to brutality from both sides, the game was named “The Springfield Massacre,” and universities talked for months about ending the rivalry. After the suspension of the rivalry for 2 years, both universities agreed to renew the Harvard-Yale rivalry.

November 1967 One of the more famous games played between Harvard and Yale. Both teams entered the game with a perfect and identical record of 8-0.

November 1967 Following a touchdown pass, a pass interference, and a 2-point conversion, Yale dominated the game by 16 points with only 42 seconds remaining in the game. However, the on-side kick was muffed, and the ball was recovered by Harvard around the five yard line.

November 1967 In the last seconds of the game, Harvard completed a touchdown pass, followed by a 2- point conversion, and forced a tie of Yale’s coach, Carmen Cozza, called this the worst loss of his career. This game helped to establish the Harvard- Yale game as one of the primary football rivalries.