A History of Princeton University Football

Princeton University's football program boasts a rich and storied history, dating back to the very origins of American intercollegiate football. As a member of the Ivy League, the Princeton Tigers compete at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level, carrying a legacy of innovation, tradition, and excellence.

The Genesis of Intercollegiate Football

The roots of Princeton football can be traced to the informal games played by students in the 1840s. Gathered behind Nassau Hall on crisp fall afternoons, students formed impromptu teams, often divided by residential college (East vs. West) or literary society (Whig vs. Clio). Sometimes, the division was simply alphabetical: A to L against M to Z.

The evolution of these informal matches culminated in the first intercollegiate American football game, played on November 6, 1869, between Princeton and Rutgers in New Brunswick, New Jersey. This historic contest, played with rules more akin to soccer, saw Rutgers emerge victorious with a score of 6-4. Spectators, numbering in the hundreds, surrounded the field, some perched on a wooden fence. A memorable moment occurred when a Rutgers player, in his fervor, mistakenly kicked the ball into his own team's goal, scoring for Princeton.

This inaugural game sparked what is now the longest continuous rivalry in American intercollegiate football. While this game involved kicking a ball with one's foot, the modern game of football came six years later in a match between Harvard and Tufts where the ball could only be advanced by running or passing, but not kicking it.

Early Dominance and the Rise of Rugby

In the years following the initial contest against Rutgers, Princeton quickly established itself as a dominant force in the nascent world of college football. The Tigers were one of the dominant forces in the early days of intercollegiate football, winning 22 of the first 40 national titles (1869-1909). The Thanksgiving Day Princeton-Yale game was arguably the biggest football game of the year nationally in the 1890s.

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An important development occurred when Harvard played Yale in a rugby-type match. Impressed by the game, some at Princeton advocated for its adoption. Despite some preferring the existing game, considering it "more scientific," the views of Potter and Dodge prevailed, albeit by a narrow margin, at a spirited mass meeting.

Innovations and Star Players of the 19th Century

Princeton's football program continued to evolve, marked by innovative strategies and exceptional players. The team developed offensive formations, such as the "engine of attack," which drew comparisons to Harvard's "flying wedge" and Yale's "tackles back."

Kicking became a hallmark of Princeton's game in the 1880s, with players like John T. record setting standards that proved difficult to surpass. In the 1882 Yale game, John T. scored 20 points in Princeton's 26-7 victory. Another superb kicker and a slippery open field runner.

The teams of 1885 and 1889 achieved perfect records, showcasing the program's growing strength. The 1885 team was highlighted by the famous run of Tillie Lamar 1886. A crucial play involved a player passing the ball into Lamar's outstretched hands, who then ran 90 yards for a touchdown. Hector Cowan, a tower of strength on both the 1885 and 1889 teams, played tackle for five years, the last two as a Seminary student.

The 1893 team, also undefeated, was known for its strong defense. This team was considered Princeton's best up to that point, overwhelming teams like Penn State and Cornell and defeating Harvard, 12 to 0, and Yale, 24 to 6. This was the last year that Harvard and Princeton met until 1911.

The late 1890s saw Arthur Poe emerge as a standout player. In 1898, Princeton missed a perfect record by the same narrow margin as in 1896, suffering a 5 to 5 tie with Army, the only team it did not hold scoreless. Arthur Poe won a 7 to 0 victory over Yale by snatching the ball from an opponent's arms and dashing the length of the field for a touchdown. The next year he clinched an 11 to 10 victory over Yale by kicking a last-minute field goal, the only one he had ever attempted. These exploits added to the memorable legacy of the Poe brothers, six of whom played for Princeton between 1882 and 1902.

The Dawn of the 20th Century and New Challenges

The 1903 team, undefeated and untied, scored 159 points against its eleven opponents, giving up only 6 -- all to Yale. John DeWitt, a big fast guard, was probably Princeton's most complete player in the pre-forward-pass era. He excelled at drop-kick, and place-kick equally well. In the last game of his career, Princeton gave Yale its first defeat in two years. Yale scored its six points (five with a touchdown and one with a kick) early in the game. and DeWitt scooped up the ball and ran 75 yards for a touchdown; Roy Vetterlein '06, the Princeton quarterback, kicked the extra point, tying the score. With only a minute left to play in the game, DeWitt kicked a 43-yard field goal (then worth five points) from a difficult angle, for the winning score. That Monday mornmg, placards all over the campus jubilantly announced: John DeWitt 11, Yale 6.

From 1903 until the outbreak of the First World War, Princeton was eclipsed by Yale, and then by Harvard, except for two seasons. The Princeton and Yale teams had perfect records until their last game, when they held each other to a scoreless tie. The Princeton captain that year was Herbert L. later the principal donor to the gymnasium that bears his name.

In 1911 Sanford White, at end, scored all the points that brought Princeton its first Big Three title since 1896. He made a drop-kick and ran 90 yards for a touchdown, ``without a hand being laid on him,'' the Alumni Weekly reported. In another game, he tackled a Harvard player behind his own goal line for a safety, adding the two points needed to win, 8 to 6. Also in 1911, a Penn player intercepted a pass at mid-field and raced goalward. for the winning score of 6 to 3. Less spectacular, but equally important, was the all-round play at tackle of Eddie Hart, captain in 1910 and 1911. There's a story about Eddie Hart: A Paris theatre was advertising for a strong man to take on anyone in the audience, Hart, on orders from his colonel, went forward to the stage and threw the challenger into the wings.

In 1911, just before Hart's team was photographed, someone doing research on the rights and privileges of champions discovered John DeWitt in his white sweater. A similar sweater was made ready for Eddie Hart, thus transmuting the 1903 improvisation into tradition.

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The Roper Era and the "Team of Destiny"

The period following World War I saw Bill Roper '02 take the helm as head coach, a position he held from 1919 through 1930. Roper, an inspirational coach. Roper's 1919 and 1920 teams tied Harvard and beat Yale; his 1922, 1925, and 1926 teams were Big Three champions. In 1912 Hobey Baker '14 scored 92 points, an individual Princeton season record for more than sixty years.

His 1922 team, known as the "team of destiny," achieved Princeton's first perfect season since 1903. Stan Keck, a big, fast, all-American tackl~e -- ``the ubiquitous Mr. Don Lourie, an all-American quarterback, was the star of the attack. Lourie was ably assisted by Hank Garrity, Ralph Gilroy, and Jack Cleaves. Their exploits moved Frank D. Halsey '12 and A.C.M. Lourie and Garrity, Cleaves and Gilroy. Garrity, Cleaves, Gilroy and Lourie. The team's offense was known for its innovative plays (some of its plays were made up on the field), but its defense was invincible. Points were provided chiefly by Ken Smith '24's field goals and extra points. Its most thrilling victory was over heavily favored Chicago. and Ken Smith kicked the extra points, making the score 21 to 18. During the game, an excited Princeton fan whacked someone sitting in front of him with his rolled-up program.

The 1925 and 1926 teams were led by Ed McMillan '26 at center and John Davis '27 at guard, and expertly directed by Dan Caulkins '27 at quarterback. In 1926, after receiving a punt behind alert and effective interference, swept 92 yards for a touchdown that was reminiscent of the one Tillie Lamar had scored forty years before.

The Thirties and Forties: Continued Success

The success of the Roper era continued into the 1930s and 40s. In 1932 the Class of 1936 freshman team won all of its games and held all of its opponents scoreless. The members of this class, together with some excellent players from neighboring classes, won 25 games and lost only one -- an upset by Yale, 7 to 0, in 1934. Teams captained by Art Lane '34 and Pepper Constable '36 were undefeated and untied in 1933 and 1935. In 1933, Princeton outscored its opponents 116 to 0 and gave up only 8 points to the other two. Donald G. college team he had ever seen. He was unconnected with Dartmouth, but with a consuming passion for the underdog.

Princeton beat Yale in 1938, 1939, 1940, and 1941, at that time the longest string of Princeton victories in the history of the series. Stars of this era included All-Americas Dave Allerdice '41 (who set half a dozen other records), and Bob Peters '42, whose skill in running, passing, and kicking made him a powerful triple threat. Other notable players included Harry Mahnken in 1943 and 1944.

The Caldwell Era and the Single-Wing Offense

Charles W. Caldwell Jr. took over as head coach from 1945 until his death in 1957. Caldwell adhered to the power blocking of traditional single-wing football. He produced a string of outstanding players, including Jack Davison '47 (who had played under Fritz Crisler from 1912 through 1915. graduated in 1948), Ed Mead '49, George Sella '50, George Chandler '51, Dave Hickok '52, and Frank McPhee '53. These teams contributed the major part of a winning streak of twenty-four games (1949-1952), a Princeton record.

The 1950 and 1951 games against Harvard both set records for that series: in 1950, for the highest score, 63 to 26, and in 1951, for the widest margin of victory, 54 to 13. Weather also played a part in those years. One game was played with the wind whistling through the open end of the stadium; while the offensive team was in the huddle, an official had to hold the ball on the line of scrimmage to keep it from blowing away. These years were replete with outstanding performances from players like Jack Davison, Homer Smith, George Chandler, Frank McPhe~e -- and Dick Kazmaier.

In 1951, Dick Kazmaier became the first Princetonian to win the Heisman Trophy, the most prestigious individual honor in college athletics. Kaz was named the Ivy League Football Player of the Decade to go with being the last Heisman winner from an Ivy League school. Kazmaier ran, passed, and punted equally well. rather than power. His passes and punts were distinguished by their accuracy, his runs by his change of pace and of direction. Princeton was unofficial Ivy champion in 1955.

In his senior year, Kazmaier gained 1,827 yards, rushing and passing, the best in the nation. The 1950 Tigers (led by All-Americans Hollie Donan ’51, Reddy Finney ’51, and Dick Kazmaier ’52) were also awarded the Lambert Trophy as the top team in the East. Caldwell was voted coach of the year. In 1950 Caldwell was voted coach of the year; in 1951 he stood fourth.

The Colman Years and the Gogolak Era

Following Caldwell's death, Richard "Dick" Colman took over the coaching reins. From 1957 through 1968, he taught single-wing football with the same conviction as Caldwell and with similar results. His teams won 75 games and lost 33, matching the average (.694) that Caldwell's teams had compiled during his twelve-year stewardship. Colman's teams captured Ivy League titles in 1958, 1964, 1965, and 1966. Key players from this era included Bill Guedel '64, Cosmo Iacavazzi '65, Paul Savidge '66, and Walter Kozumbo '67.

Colman's tenure also saw the emergence of gifted players like Stupski, whose two key tackles led to the upset of undefeated Harvard, 18 to 14. He had a great scoring campaign against Yale akin to John DeWitt's virtuoso performance half a century earlier. In three seasons Flippin ran for nine touchdowns and passed for two others, thus having a hand in eleven of the twelve touchdowns his teams scored against Yale.

This era also saw the rise of Charlie Gogolak's renowned place-kicking. Gogolak and Dan Sachs's running and passing. In 1966, Princeton had its first undefeated, untied team since 1933, beating Penn 55 to 0. That same year, Yale had what many considered the best team that Princeton had ever made in this series. Poetic justice called for a tie game, but Charlie Gogolak's six field goals and two goals after touchdown led Princeton to a 32 to 6 victory. six more than the previous record, set by his older brother Pete at Cornell. The Gogolak brothers had emigrated to the country with their family from Hungary during the revolt of 1956. Both later kicked for professional teams.

The Transition to the T-Formation and Modern Football

Dick Colman resigned at the end of the 1968 season to become director of athletics at Middlebury College. He was succeeded by Jake McCandless, who had understudied Dick Kazmaier in 1949 and 1950, and had assisted Colman, chiefly as backfield coach, since 1958. McCandless shifted the Princeton offense from single-wing to T-formation. His 1969 team tied Yale and Dartmouth for the Ivy League championship. In 1967 fullback Ellis Moore scored five touchdowns against Harvard, setting an Ivy single-game record, later eaualled bv Ed Marinaro of Cornell.

The program continued to produce talented players, including Carl Barisich '73 (an all-East as well as all-Ivy player). At the end of the 1977 season, Casciola was succeeded by Frank Navarro previously head coach at Wabash College in Indiana. A notable achievement of the era was Princeton's sixth successive victory over the Elis, tying a record set in 1952.

Recent History and Continued Legacy

Fine individual performances continued to mark Princeton football, bringing new records and awards. While offensive guard and captain Bill Cronin '74 and running back Walt Snickenberger '75 were named all-Ivy. In 1975, Snickenberger also set a Princeton season scoring record of 16 touchdowns and received the Bushnell Award as Ivy League player of the year. Several players were awarded scholarships for graduate study by the N.C.A.A. For passes caught (44, 78), and open-field runner Mike Carter '77 led the Ivy League in both kickoff and punt returns. Offensive tackle Kevin Slagle '77 was named All-Ivy in 1975 and All-East in 1976. In the latter year. offensive guard Kevin Fox '77 was chosen as scholar-athlete by the National Football Foundation.

Princeton's 150-pound football teams generally gave a good account of themselves in the Eastern Intercollegiate League after its founding in 1931. Their longest period of excellence came in the late thirties and early forties when, coached by Harry A. earned them the title ``The Fighting Fifties'' and enabled them to win the championship five of the six years from 1937 through 1942. title by overwhelming Navy, champion the five preceding years. most notably the 1975 eleven, which defeated perennial league leaders Army and Navy on the way to a tie with Cornell for the championship.

Princeton joined Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, and Yale Universities, Dartmouth College, and the University of Pennsylvania in formally organizing the Ivy League athletic conference in 1955, conference rules prohibited post-season play in football. (Princeton never competed in the post-season.) The policy further insulated Princeton and the Ivy League from the national spotlight.

The NCAA split Division I collegiate football into two subdivisions in 1978, then called I-A for larger schools, and I-AA for the smaller ones. The NCAA had devised the split, in part, with the Ivy League in mind, but the conference did not move down for 4 seasons. Unable to play competitively against long-time rival Rutgers anymore, Princeton stopped scheduling them as a football opponent after 1980. Then in 1982 the NCAA created a rule that stated a program's average attendance must be at least 15,000 to qualify for I-A membership. This forced the conference's hand, as only some of the member schools met the attendance qualification.

Since the formation of the Ivy League, Princeton has achieved moderate success on the gridiron, with 11 Ivy League championships, three outright and eight shared, and 10 Big Three championships since 1955. Princeton has won 28 national championships from NCAA-designated major selectors.

In 1914, Princeton built Palmer Stadium, the third college football stadium ever built and what was the second oldest standing college stadium until its demolition in 1996. Palmer Stadium was modeled after the Greek Olympic stadium and seated 45,750 spectators. During the construction of the new stadium, the Tigers played a season of nine away games, plus a homecoming game against Yale at Giants Stadium in 1997. Princeton Stadium opened on September 19, 1998, and seats 27,773. After eight years of natural grass fields, FieldTurf artificial playing surface was installed for the 2006 football season and the field was named "Powers Field" in honor of William C. The Finney-Campbell practice fields to the east of Princeton University Stadium have been outfitted with FieldTurf.

One hundred and fifty years ago, on Nov. The game was played on the New Brunswick campus of Rutgers and more closely resembled what we know today as soccer - and was even played with a round, rubber ball. “Ever since I played here, everyone in the program has always talked about our place in having played the first game and taken great pride in it,” said Bob Surace of the Class of 1990, who is Princeton’s Charles W. Caldwell Jr. Over time, the Princeton Tigers have celebrated many major historic moments of the game while fueling University spirit.

On Monday night, Ford Family Director of Athletics Mollie Marcoux Samaan, Class of 1991; executive associate director of athletics Anthony Archbald; and former Princeton football player and New York Giants legend Keith Elias, Class of 1994, were recognized along with their Rutgers counterparts as part of the Monday Night Football ceremonies between the Giants and the Dallas Cowboys. On Saturday, Nov. 9, Princeton will celebrate the anniversary of that first game while playing Dartmouth in a one-of-a-kind game at Yankee Stadium. “The team is very excited to play in Yankee Stadium this weekend - but this game will be treated with the same attitude as every other game,” said Tyler. The goal? “We’re obviously very competitive and love to win games and championships, that goes without saying,” said Surace.

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