Yale Bulldogs football

The Yale Bulldogs football program represents Yale University in college football in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA). Yale's football program, founded in 1872, is one of the oldest in the world. Since their founding, the Bulldogs have won 27 national championships, two of the first three Heisman Trophy winners (Larry Kelley in 1936 and Clint Frank in 1937), 100 consensus All-Americans, 28 College Football Hall of Fame inductees, including the "Father of American Football" Walter Camp, the first professional football player Pudge Heffelfinger, and coaching giants Amos Alonzo Stagg, Howard Jones, Tad Jones and Carmen Cozza. With over 900 wins, Yale ranks in the top ten for most wins in college football history.

Yale Bulldogs football
2023 Yale Bulldogs football team
First season1872
Athletic directorVictoria Chun
Head coachTony Reno
10th season, 60–40 (.600)
StadiumYale Bowl
(capacity: 61,446)
Field surfaceGrass (1914-2018) Field Turf (2019-present)
LocationNew Haven, Connecticut
ConferenceIvy League
All-time record929–387–55 (.698)
Claimed national titles27 (1872, 1874, 1876, 1877, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1897, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1909, 1927)[1]
Conference titles17 (1956, 1960, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1989, 1999, 2006, 2017, 2019, 2022)
RivalriesHarvard (rivalry)
Princeton (rivalry)
Heisman winnersLarry Kelley – 1936
Clint Frank – 1937
Consensus All-Americans100
Current uniform
ColorsYale blue and white[2]
   
Fight song"Down the Field"
MascotHandsome Dan
WebsiteYaleBulldogs.com

History

Early history
See also: List of Yale Bulldogs football seasons
Walter Camp, the "Father of American Football", as Yale's captain in 1878

The Bulldogs were the dominant team in the early days of intercollegiate football, winning 27 college football national championships, including 26 in 38 years between 1872 and 1909.[3] Walter Camp, known as the "Father of Football," graduated from Hopkins Grammar School in 1876, and played college football at Yale College from 1876 to 1882. He later served as the head football coach at Yale from 1888 to 1892.[4] It was Camp who pioneered the fundamental transition of American football from rugby when in 1880, he succeeded in convincing the Intercollegiate Football Association to discontinue the rugby "scrum," and instead have players line up along a "line of scrimmage" for individual plays, which begin with the snap of the ball and conclude with the tackling of the ballcarrier.[5] In 1916, against the advisement of coach Tad Jones, Yale quarterback Chester J. LaRoche (1918s) helped lead the Yale team in a win against Princeton by turning the momentum of the game with a fourth-down call in the huddle to go for first down rather than punt. The team made the down and went on to win the game in one of Yale's greatest victories in its history. LaRoche went on to spearhead the creation of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame.[6]

By the 1940s, however, Yale's success in football had waned at the national level. The famed sportswriter Grantland Rice wrote that Yale, along with Harvard and Princeton, was one of the top teams in the late 19th and early 20th century. However, "It was has been a different story in the later years when the far west, the midwest, the southwest, and the south have taken charge as Harvard, Yale, and Princeton fell behind."[7]

Formation of the Ivy League

When the Ivy League athletic conference was formed in 1955, conference rules prohibited post-season play in football. While Yale had always abstained from post-season play, other member schools had participated in bowls before, and the new policy further insulated Yale and the Ivy League from the national spotlight.

NCAA Division I subdivision split

The NCAA decided to split Division I 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 four seasons despite the fact that there were many indications that the ancient eight were on the wrong side of an increasing disparity between the big and small schools. 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. Choosing to stay together rather than stand their ground separately in the increasingly competitive I-A subdivision, the Ivy League moved down into I-AA starting with the 1982 season.[8]

Conference affiliations

Yale has been both an independent and affiliated with the Ivy League.[9]

  • Independent (1872–1955)
  • Ivy League (1956–present)

Championships

National championships

Yale has won 27 national championships from NCAA-designated major selectors.[10][11]: 110–112  Yale claims each of these championships.[12]

Yale champions
1876
1879
1881
1882
Season Coach Selectors Record
1872No coachParke Davis1–0
1874No coachNational Championship Foundation, Parke Davis3–0
1876No coachBillingsley, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis3–0
1877No coachBillingsley,[13] National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis3–0–1
1879No coachParke Davis3–0–2
1880No coachBillingsley, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis4–0–1
1881No coachNational Championship Foundation, Parke Davis5–0–1
1882No coachBillingsley, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis8–0
1883No coachBillingsley, Helms, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis9–0
1884No coachBillingsley,[13] Helms, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis8–0–1
1886No coachBillingsley,[13] Helms, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis9–0–1
1887No coachBillingsley, Helms, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis9–0
1888Walter CampBillingsley, Helms, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis13–0
1891Walter CampBillingsley, Helms, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis13–0
1892Walter CampBillingsley, Helms, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis13–0
1893William RhodesParke Davis10–1
1894William RhodesBillingsley, Helms, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis16–0
1895John A. HartwellParke Davis13–0–2
1897Frank ButterworthParke Davis9–0–2
1900Malcolm McBrideBillingsley, Helms, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis12–0
1901George S. Stillmann/a[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2]11–1–1
1902Joseph R. SwanParke Davis11–0–1
1905Jack OwsleyParke Davis, Whitney10–0
1906Foster RockwellBillingsley, Parke Davis, Whitney9–0–1
1907William F. KnoxBillingsley, Helms, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis, Whitney9–0–1
1909Howard JonesBillingsley, Helms, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis10–0
1927Mal StevensFootball Research7–1
  1. Parke Davis' selection for 1901, as published in Spalding's Foot Ball Guide (to which he was a contributor until his death) for 1934 and 1935, was Harvard.[14][15]
  2. The NCAA Record Book states "Yale" for 1901, which is an error that has been perpetuated since the first appearance of Parke Davis' selections in the NCAA book about 1995.[14][15]

Conference championships

Yale has won 17 conference championships, all in the Ivy League, as of 2022 with nine outright and eight shared.[16]

2019 Yale Bulldogs
Year Conference Coach Overall record Conference record
1956Ivy LeagueJordan Olivar8–17–0
19609–07–0
1967Carmen Cozza8–17–0
19688–0–16–0–1
1969†7–26–1
1974†8–16–1
1976†8–16–1
19777–26–1
19798–16–1
19808–26–1
1981†9–16–1
1989†8–26–1
1999†Jack Siedlecki9–16–1
2006†8–26–1
2017Tony Reno9–16–1
2019†9–16–1
20228–26–1

† Co-championship

Head coaches

Career records of Yale head coaches.[17]

Coach Tony Reno confers with players in November 2021
Coach Years Record Pct.
No coach1872–188779–5–8.902
Walter Camp1888–189267–2–0.971
William Rhodes1893–189426–1–0.963
John A. Hartwell189513–0–2.933
Sam Thorne189613–1–0.929
Frank Butterworth1897–189818–2–2.864
James O. Rodgers18997–2–1.750
Malcolm McBride190012–0–01.000
George S. Stillman190111–1–1.885
Joseph R. Swan190211–0–1.958
George B. Chadwick190311–1–0.917
Charles D. Rafferty190410–1–0.909
Jack Owsley190510–0–01.000
Foster Rockwell19069–0–1.950
William F. Knox19079–0–1.950
Lucius Horatio Biglow19087–1–1.833
Howard Jones1909, 191315–2–3.825
Ted Coy19106–2–2.700
John Field19117–2–1.750
Art Howe19127–1–1.833
Frank Hinkey1914–191511–7–0.611
Tad Jones1916–1917, 1920–192760–15–4.785
Albert Sharpe19195–3–0.625
Mal Stevens1928–193221–11–8.625
Reginald D. Root19334–4–0.500
Ducky Pond1934–194030–25–2.544
Spike Nelson19411–7–0.125
Howard Odell1942–194735–15–2.692
Herman Hickman1948–195116–17–2.486
Jordan Olivar1952–196261–32–6.646
John Pont1963–196412–5–1.694
Carmen Cozza1965–1996179–119–5.599
Jack Siedlecki1997–200871–48.597
Tom Williams2009–201116–14.533
Anthony Reno2012–present60-40.600

Rivalries

Harvard
Main article: Harvard–Yale football rivalry
Harvard-Yale football game, 1905

Harvard and Yale have been competing against each other in football since 1875. The annual rivalry game between the two schools, known as "The Game", is played in November at the end of the football season. As of 2022, Yale leads the series 69-61-8.

The Game is the second oldest continuing rivalry and also the third most-played rivalry game in college football history, after the Lehigh–Lafayette Rivalry (1884) and the Princeton–Yale game (1873). Sports Illustrated On Campus rated the Harvard–Yale rivalry the sixth-best in college athletics in 2003.

Harvard had been unbeaten versus Yale from 2007 to 2015. The nine game winning streak was the longest during the rivalry. Yale's 21–14 victory over Harvard in Cambridge in 2016 ended the streak.

The Game is significant for historical reasons as the rules of The Game soon were adopted by other schools. Football's rules, conventions, and equipment, as well as elements of "atmosphere" such as the mascot and fight song, include many elements pioneered or nurtured at Harvard and Yale.[18][19]

Princeton
Main article: Princeton–Yale football rivalry

The series with Princeton dates to 1873.

Yale Bowl
Main article: Yale Bowl

The Yale Bowl is Yale's football stadium in New Haven, Connecticut about 1-1/2 miles west of Yale's main campus. Completed in 1914, the stadium seats 61,446, reduced by renovations from the original capacity of 70,869.[20]

Ground was broken on the stadium in August 1913. It was the first bowl-shaped stadium in the country, and provided inspiration for the design of such stadiums as the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Rose Bowl, and Michigan Stadium. Through its inspiration of the Rose Bowl stadium, its name is also the origin of college football's bowl games. It was the perfect setting for New Haven native Albie Booth, also known as "Little Boy Blue" to perform his heroics vs. Army in November 1929 and for the 47-yard "kick that made history" by Randall "Randy" C. Carter, '77, snapped by the stalwart center from Illinois, Ralph Bosch, '77 and surely placed by John "Nubes" Nubani, '78, in the last seconds of the 1975 Yale-Dartmouth game to win the game for Yale, 16–14. The victory lifted head coach Carm Cozza into a tie with the legendary Walter Camp for most victories by a Bulldog mentor.[21] The current scoreboard (notable for the time clock being arranged vertically instead of horizontally) was added in 1958, and in 1986 the current press box was added. Yale hosted Penn in the first night football game at the Bowl on October 21, 2016. Penn defeated Yale in the game, 42–7. The Bowl was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987.[20][22]

College Football Hall of Fame inductees

As of 2017, 29 Yale Bulldogs players and coaches have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.[23]

End Tom Shevlin was a four-time All-American from 1902 to 1905
Lee "Bum" McClung later served as Treasurer of the United States
Name Position Years Inducted
Mal AldrichHB1919–19211972
Doug BomeislerEnd1910–19121972
Albie BoothHB1929–19311966
Gordon BrownG1897–19001954
Walter CampCoach1888–18951951
Pa CorbinC1886–18881969
Ted CoyFB1907–19091951
Carmen CozzaCoach1965–19962002
Clint FrankHB1935–19371955
Pudge HeffelfingerG1888–18911951
Bill HickockG1892–18941971
Frank HinkeyEnd1891–18941951
James HoganT1901–19041954
Art HoweQB1909–19111973
Dick JauronRB1970–19722015
Howard JonesCoach1908–19401951
Tad JonesCoach1909–19271958
Larry KelleyEnd1934–19361969
Hank KetchamC, G1911–19131968
John KilpatrickEnd1908–19101955
Alex KrollC1956, 1960–19611997
Bill MalloryFB1921–19231964
Lee McClungHB1888–18911963
Century MilsteadT1920–1921, 19231977
Tom ShevlinEnd1902–19051954
Amos Alonzo StaggEnd1885–18891951
Mal StevensQB, HB1919–1921, 19231974
Herbert SturhahnG1924–19261981
Sam ThorneHB1893–18951970

Yale players in the NFL

More than 30 players from Yale have gone on to play in the National Football League, including running backs Calvin Hill, Chuck Mercein and Chris Hetherington, defensive backs Dick Jauron, Gary Fencik and Kenny Hill, tight ends Eric Johnson and John Spagnola, quarterback Brian Dowling, and linemen Fritz Barzilauskas, Century Milstead and Mike Pyle.

Name Position Years Teams
Shane BannonFB2011–2011Kansas City Chiefs
Fritz BarzilauskasG1947–1951Boston Yanks, New York Bulldogs, New York Giants
Art BramaT1922–1923Racine Legion
Bruce CaldwellFB1928New York Giants
Rich DianaRB1982Miami Dolphins
Brian DowlingQB1972–1977New England Patriots, Charlotte Hornets (WFL), Green Bay Packers
Greg DubinetzG1979Washington Redskins
Joe DufekQB1983–1985Buffalo Bills, San Diego Chargers
Gary FencikDB1976–1987Chicago Bears
Chris HetheringtonFB1996–2006Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers, St. Louis Rams, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers
Calvin HillRB1969–1981Dallas Cowboys, The Hawaiians (WFL), Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns
Kenny HillDB1981–1989Oakland Raiders, Los Angeles Raiders, New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs
Jaeden Graham TE 2018- Atlanta Falcons
Dick JauronDB1973–1980Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals
Eric JohnsonTE2001–2007San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints
Herb KemptonQB1921Canton Bulldogs
Alex KrollT, C1962–1962New York Titans
Nate LawrieTE2004–2008Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Cincinnati Bengals
Don MartinDB1973–1976New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chuck MerceinRB1965–1970New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, Washington Redskins, New York Jets
Than MerrillDB2001Chicago Bears
Century MilsteadT1925–1928New York Giants, Philadelphia Quakers (AFL), New York Giants
Foyesade OluokunLB2018–Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars
John PrchlikT1949–1953Detroit Lions
Gene ProfitDB1986–1988New England Patriots
Mike PyleC1961–1969Chicago Bears
Jeff RohrerLB1982–1987Dallas Cowboys
Bill SchulerT1947–1948New York Giants
John SpagnolaTE1979–1989Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers
Tyler VargaFB2015–2016[24]Indianapolis Colts
Paul WalkerEnd, DB1948New York Giants
Rodney Thomas IIDB2022-Indianapolis Colts

All-Americans
Yale guard Pudge Heffelfinger became the first professional football player in 1892.
Frank Hinkey was a four-time All-American (1891–1894).
Fullback Ted Coy was a three-time All-American (1907–1909).

Since the first All-American team was selected by Caspar Whitney in 1889, more than 100 Yale football players have been selected as first-team All-Americans. Consensus All-Americans are noted below with bold typeface.

See also

References
  1. "Yale Football By Year" (PDF). Retrieved October 18, 2011.
  2. "Yale Athletics Brand Guidelines" (PDF). December 17, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  3. Official 2009 NCAA Division I Football Records Book (PDF). Indianapolis, IN: The National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2009. pp. 76–81. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
  4. Walter "The Father of Football" Camp at the College Football Hall of Fame
  5. Parke H. Davis (1912). Football: The American Intercollegiate Game. c. Scribner's sons. p. 51.
  6. Sports Illustrated, 9/22/1958, 'Never de-emphasize the value of winning'
  7. "Lincoln Nebraska State Journal 20 Jul 1944, page 10". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  8. Mark F. Bernstein, Football: The Ivy League Origins of an American Obsession
  9. "Yale Bulldogs Football Record by Year".
  10. Christopher J. Walsh (2007). Who's #1?: 100-Plus Years of Controversial National Champions in College Football. Taylor Trade Pub. p. 132. ISBN 978-1-58979-337-8.
  11. 2017 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). Indianapolis: The National Collegiate Athletic Association. July 2017. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  12. Conn, Steve (2009). 2009 Yale Football Media Guide (PDF). Yale University. pp. 106–108. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  13. 1996 NCAA Football Records Book. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 1996. pp. 54–59. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  14. Okeson, Walter R., ed. (1934). Spalding's Official Foot Ball Guide 1934. New York: American Sports Publishing Co. p. 206.
  15. Okeson, Walter R., ed. (1935). Spalding's Official Foot Ball Guide 1935. New York: American Sports Publishing Co. p. 233.
  16. "Yale Composite Championship Listing". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2012-03-25. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  17. "Yale Coaching Records". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on 2010-02-13. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  18. Bergin, Thomas G. (1984). The Game: The Harvard-Yale Football Rivalry, 1875–1983. Yale University Press.
  19. Corbett, Bernard M.; Simpson, Paul (2004). The Only Game That Matters. Crown. ISBN 1-4000-5068-5.
  20. "Yale Bowl, Class of 1954 Field". Yale Athletics. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  21. The Morning Record, Meriden, CT, November 3, 1975
  22. James H. Charleton (December 1985). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Yale Bowl". National Park Service.
  23. "Hall of Fame: Select group by school". College Football Hall of Fame. Football Foundation. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  24. Florio, Mike (July 26, 2016). "Tyler Varga retires". profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
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