The 1906 college football season was the first in which the forward pass was permitted. Although there was no clear cut national championship, there were two teams that had won all nine of their games as the 1906 season drew to a close, the Princeton Tigers and the Yale Bulldogs, and on November 17, 1906, they played to a 0âÂÂ0 tie. St. Louis University finished at 11âÂÂ0âÂÂ0. The Helms Athletic Foundation, founded in 1936, declared retroactively that Princeton had been the best college football team of 1906. Other selectors recognized Yale as the national champions for 1906.
Although his nearsightedness kept him off the Harvard varsity squad, Theodore Roosevelt was a vocal exponent of football's contribution to the âÂÂstrenuous life,â both on and off the field. He helped revive the annual HarvardâÂÂYale football series after it had been canceled for two years following the violent 1894 clash that was deemed âÂÂthe bloodbath at Hampden Park.â His belief that the football field was a proving ground for the battlefield was validated by the performance of his fellow Rough Riders who were former football standouts. âÂÂIn life, as in a football game,â he wrote, âÂÂthe principle to follow is: Hit the line hard; don't foul and don't shirk, but hit the line hard!â In 1903, the president told an audience, âÂÂI believe in rough games and in rough, manly sports. I do not feel any particular sympathy for the person who gets battered about a good deal so long as it is not fatal.â He summoned the head coaches and representatives of the premier collegiate powersâÂÂHarvard, Yale and PrincetonâÂÂto the White House on October 9, 1905. Roosevelt urged them to curb excessive violence and make an example of fair play for the rest of the country. The schools released a statement condemning brutality and pledging to keep the game clean.
Following the 1905 season, Stanford and California switched to rugby while Columbia, Northwestern and Duke dropped football. Harvard president Charles William Eliot, who considered football âÂÂmore brutalizing than prizefighting, cockfighting or bullfighting,â warned that Harvard could be next, a move that could have been a crushing blow to the college game. Roosevelt wrote in a letter to a friend that he would not let Eliot âÂÂemasculate football,â and that he hoped to âÂÂminimize the dangerâ without football having to be played âÂÂon too ladylike a basis.â Roosevelt again used his bully pulpit. He urged for radical rule changes, and he invited other school leaders to the White House in the off-season.
An intercollegiate conference, which would become the forerunner of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), approved radical rule changes for the 1906 season. They legalized the forward pass, abolished the dangerous flying wedge, created a neutral zone between offense and defense, and doubled the first-down distance to 10 yards, to be gained in three downs. Georgia Tech coach John Heisman had seen the forward pass attempted in 1895 in a Georgia vs. North Carolina game, and lobbied for its legalization starting in 1903. After unsuccessfully attempting for three years to convince Rules Committee chairman Walter Camp to legalize the play, Heisman enlisted the valuable support of committee members John C. Bell and Paul Dashiell instead. Finally, in 1906, the Rules Committee, college football's governing body at the time, legalized the forward pass.
The American Intercollegiate Football Rules Committee met at the Murray Hill Hotel in New York City beginning January 12, 1906, to create measures âÂÂfor squelching brutality and all forms of unnecessary roughness.â Numerous changes were made, the primary one being the legalization of the forward pass. Various persons are given credit for the suggestion. Heisman. Bell, and Dr. J. William White were later credited with designing rules that would permit a pass, yet still be acceptable to a majority on the rules committee. Among the other rule changes made for the 1906 season included:
Even with the approval of a forward pass, the rules for American football in 1906 were still significantly different than the ones of a century later, as many of the present rules (100-yard field, four downs to gain ten yards, 6-point touchdown and 3-point field goal) were adopted in 1912. The rules in 1906 were:
Although a forward pass was made legal, that play in 1906 was still a risky business, because an incomplete attempt would result in stiff penalties â 15 yards back from the spot from which the pass was thrown on first or second down. If the defense committed a foul, the 15 yard penalty did not apply to the offense, but the defending team was not penalized either. In addition, a pass could not be caught more than 20 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, nor beyond the goal line (the end zone had not yet been invented). The passing game in the west (typified by St. Louis University) was closer to today's version than that in the east; the quarterback would fire the ball directly to an open receiver. The style used by Yale and Harvard, recounted later by a referee of the day, Horatio B. Hackett, was "the ball is thrown high in the air and the runner who is to catch it is protected by several of his teammates forming an interference for him."
Not everyone was impressed with the improved version of college football, particularly in California. "I do not believe the present experiment in American college football can survive," said the President of the University of California, Benjamin Ide Wheeler. He added, "In my opinion, the whole country will within five years be playing the Rugby game."
The Yale Bulldogs had enjoyed a 10âÂÂ0âÂÂ0 record in 1905, shutting out all of their opponents except for the Princeton Tigers, whom they had allowed a touchdown. In the West, the Michigan Wolverines, coached by Fielding "Hurry Up" Yost, had shut out their first 12 opponents, before playing the 9âÂÂ0âÂÂ0 University of Chicago Maroons. Chicago not only avoided a shutout, but handed Michigan a 2âÂÂ0 loss. In the South, Georgia Tech had gone 6âÂÂ0âÂÂ1.
September 5 marked the first use of the forward pass in a college football game. In its 22âÂÂ0 win over Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on a Wednesday afternoon, St. Louis University unveiled a new offensive style. SLU's coach, Eddie Cochems, had his team secretly practice the play. Though the first attempt was incomplete (resulting in a turnover), the next one was successful, as Bradbury Robinson threw to Jack Schneider, who then ran the rest of the way for a touchdown. St. Louis would go on to an 11âÂÂ0âÂÂ0 record, outscoring its opponents 407âÂÂ31, including Marquette (30âÂÂ0), Kansas (34âÂÂ2), Drake (32âÂÂ9) and Iowa (39âÂÂ0).
The season began in earnest on September 22, with some of the more powerful teams holding their lesser opposition scoreless, and on their home field. Harvard beat Williams 7âÂÂ0, Carlisle over Villanova 6âÂÂ0, Dartmouth defeated Norwich 5âÂÂ0. Penn State had a 24âÂÂ0 win over Lebanon Valley. In the west, Kansas had an 18âÂÂ0 victory over William Jewell College. In one of the few games where both teams scored, Holy Cross hosted Massachusetts in Philadelphia and won 6âÂÂ4. Harvard played a midweek game on September 26, beating Bowdoin 10âÂÂ0.
On September 29, Princeton opened its season with a 24âÂÂ0 win over Villanova, and Penn beat Lehigh 32âÂÂ6. At West Point, the United States Military Academy ("Army") won 12âÂÂ0 over Tufts. The universities of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts were all shut out by, respectively, Harvard (17âÂÂ0), Dartmouth (8âÂÂ0), Brown (12âÂÂ0) and Williams (5âÂÂ0). Penn State, Swarthmore and Dickinson all registered 26âÂÂ0 wins over, Allegheny, Johns Hopkins and Lebanon Valley, respectively. Pitt defeated Westminster 17âÂÂ0. Colgate and Cornell played to a 0âÂÂ0 tie at Ithaca, while out west, another Cornell (of Iowa) lost to Iowa State, 81âÂÂ0. Carlisle went one better, beating Albright 82âÂÂ0. In the South, Georgia Tech and Maryville tied 6âÂÂ6 in Atlanta, and Davidson and North Carolina were scoreless.
October 6: Harvard won its fourth game, but its 27âÂÂ6 win over Bates took the Crimson out of the ranks of the unscored upon. Meanwhile, other teams recorded their third consecutive shutouts. Swarthmore beat visiting Villanova 4âÂÂ0, and Penn State won at Carlisle by the same 4âÂÂ0 score. Dartmouth bested Holy Cross, 16âÂÂ0 and Princeton beat Stevens 22âÂÂ0. Army over Trinity (24âÂÂ0), Yale had opened its season midweek (October 3, 21âÂÂ0 over Wesleyan) and then beat Syracuse (51âÂÂ0) (Wesleyan itself lost 17âÂÂ0 to Brown). In the west, Iowa State's team beat Coe College 36âÂÂ0 on Friday, then Des Moines 45âÂÂ0 the next day. Maryville, at that time a regular southern opponent powerhouse, lost at Alabama, 6âÂÂ0; two days earlier, it had lost to Ole Miss 16âÂÂ6. Michigan opened its season with a 28âÂÂ0 win over visiting Case.
October 13: Princeton, Yale, Dartmouth, and Brown remained unscored upon, as did Lafayette, Pittsburgh and Swarthmore. Playing on 3 Saturdays and 2 Wednesdays, the Princeton Tigers played five games in fifteen days (Sep 29 to Oct 13), beating Villanova, Stevens, Washington & Jefferson, Lehigh (52âÂÂ0), and in Annapolis on this date, a 5âÂÂ0 win over Navy. Brown had beaten Massachusetts 17âÂÂ0 on a Wednesday afternoon. Yale defeated Holy Cross 17âÂÂ0 and Maine 4âÂÂ0. Swarthmore eked out a win at Penn, 4âÂÂ0. Harvard, 5âÂÂ0âÂÂ0 but not scorefree, defeated Massachusetts 21âÂÂ0. Army and Colgate played to a 0âÂÂ0 tie.
In the West, Kansas defeated Arkansas 37âÂÂ5 and Nebraska beat Drake 5âÂÂ0. In the South, Vanderbilt defeated Ole Miss at home, 29âÂÂ0 and Texas beat TCU 22âÂÂ0. Georgia Tech beat Tennessee-Chattanooga 18âÂÂ0 to reach 2âÂÂ0âÂÂ1. Clemson opened its season with a 0âÂÂ0 tie with visiting Virginia Tech. Other colleges stayed unscored upon, but against smaller opponents (Iowa State 32âÂÂ0 over Morningside, Mississippi State 62âÂÂ0 over Marion).
October 20: Yale stayed unscored on with a 10âÂÂ0 win over Penn State, and Dartmouth beat Massachusetts 26âÂÂ0. Princeton, however, gave up points in a 32âÂÂ4 win over Bucknell. Swarthmore beat GWU 17âÂÂ0. Harvard had a 44âÂÂ0 win over Springfield. Lafayette defeated North Carolina in Norfolk, VA, 28âÂÂ6. Brown was handed its first defeat, a 14âÂÂ0 loss at Pennsylvania, while Pitt lost to Carlisle, 22âÂÂ0.
After warming up with small colleges, Iowa State won at Nebraska, 14âÂÂ2, while Kansas beat visiting Oklahoma 20âÂÂ4. Michigan won at Ohio State, 6âÂÂ0. In the South, Vanderbilt handed Alabama a 78âÂÂ0 loss. After tuneup wins against Mooney and Rhodes, won at Georgia Tech, 16âÂÂ0. Clemson beat Georgia 6âÂÂ0, and played a Thursday afternoon 0âÂÂ0 tie against NC State.
October 27: Yale stayed unscored on, with a 12âÂÂ0 win over Amherst. Harvard won at Army, 5âÂÂ0. Swarthmore yielded a score in a 19âÂÂ4 win over Gettysburg. Lafayette beat Colgate 17âÂÂ6. Dartmouth and Williams College played to a 0âÂÂ0 tie.
Kansas beat Colorado, 16âÂÂ0 but Iowa State lost at Minnesota, 22âÂÂ4, and Missouri lost its first outing against a large school, falling 26âÂÂ4 at Iowa. Michigan beat visiting Illinois, 28âÂÂ9. Vanderbilt beat Texas, 45âÂÂ0. Mississippi State and LSU played to a 0âÂÂ0 tie. had beaten Auburn 10âÂÂ5 in a Friday afternoon game at Birmingham. Georgia Tech beat Davidson 4âÂÂ0.
November 3 The Yale Bulldogs traveled to West Point, and finally yielded some points, with the Army Cadets taking a 6âÂÂ0 lead at halftime. Yale made no first downs, but won the game anyway. Clarence Alcott blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown to tie the game 6âÂÂ6 on the point after. With two minutes left, Bigelow of Yale kicked a 35-yard field goal (for 4 points) from a steep angle, and a 10âÂÂ6 win.
Unbeaten Princeton (7âÂÂ0âÂÂ0) and Dartmouth (5âÂÂ0âÂÂ1) met in New Jersey, and it was no contest. The Princeton Tigers shut down the Big Green, 42âÂÂ0 with seven touchdowns. Harvard beat Brown 9âÂÂ5 (on a field goal with three minutes left) to reach 8âÂÂ0âÂÂ0 as well. Swarthmore defeated Amherst, 21âÂÂ0, and Lafayette beat Washington & Jefferson 14âÂÂ6, to stay unbeaten. Carlisle defeated Syracuse, 9âÂÂ4 in a game in Buffalo.
Out West, previously unbeaten Kansas traveled to meet St. Louis to match their rushing game against Eddie Cochem's pass attack. St. Louis made all the points, including the safety, for a 34âÂÂ2 win. Vanderbilt (4âÂÂ0) traveled to Ann Arbor to take on Michigan (3âÂÂ0), and lost, 10âÂÂ4. visited Tennessee at won, 17âÂÂ0, while Georgia Tech pasted Auburn 11âÂÂ0. Clemson had its 3rd 0âÂÂ0 tie, this one with Davidson, for a 1âÂÂ0âÂÂ3 record.
November 10 In the East, the number of unbeaten and untied teams went from five to just three: Harvard, Princeton and Yale. Lafayette and Penn played to a 0âÂÂ0 tie in Philadelphia; the Quakers drove 59 yards to the one, but were held by Lafayette's goal line defense. At Annapolis, Swarthmore lost at Navy, 5âÂÂ4, the result of a touchdown against a field goal. Before a crowd of 25,000 Harvard beat visiting Carlisle, 5âÂÂ0, and Yale beat Brown by the same score Princeton won at West Point, 8âÂÂ0.
In the South, stayed unbeaten with a 35âÂÂ0 win in New Orleans over Tulane (followed two days later by a 24âÂÂ0 in over Ole Miss in Memphis). Vanderbilt beat Rose-Hulman College, 33âÂÂ0 to reach 5âÂÂ1âÂÂ0 and Georgia Tech won at Georgia, 17âÂÂ0. Clemson beat Tennessee 16âÂÂ0. Texas A&M played TCU a second time; the first time around, TCU lost 42âÂÂ0, and the second contest was a 22âÂÂ0 loss.
November 17 The big game of the season (making the front pages the next day) was at Princeton, New Jersey, where 26,000 watched Yale and Princeton (both 8âÂÂ0âÂÂ0) faced off at Osborns Field. Both teams tried out the forward pass, described in The New York Times as "these spectacular newâÂÂfangled plays". Yale crashed the Princeton line in the final minutes, gaining at least 4 yards on each carry, but time ran out just as the Bulldogs reached the ten yard line, and the game ended in a 0âÂÂ0 tie.
Harvard became the last unbeaten and untied team, as its 22âÂÂ9 win over Dartmouth gave it a record of 10âÂÂ0âÂÂ0. Princeton's season was over, but the annual HarvardâÂÂYale game was still to be played. Cornell (7âÂÂ1âÂÂ1) hosted Swarthmore (7âÂÂ1âÂÂ0) and came away with a 28âÂÂ0 victory. Previously unbeaten Lafayette (6âÂÂ0âÂÂ1) hosted 4âÂÂ3âÂÂ0 Syracuse and was upset, 12âÂÂ4. Penn State beat Dickinson in Williamsport, PA, 6âÂÂ0. In Philadelphia, 15,000 watched the visiting Michigan Wolverines lose 17âÂÂ0 to the Pennsylvania Quakers.
In the West, Kansas played at Nebraska, winning 8âÂÂ6 to extend its record to 7âÂÂ1âÂÂ1. Iowa State beat Grinnell 25âÂÂ6 to reach 7âÂÂ1âÂÂ0. Carlisle visited Minnesota and won 17âÂÂ0
In the South, beat Maryville to reach an 8âÂÂ0âÂÂ0 record, and Vanderbilt beat Georgia Tech 37âÂÂ6 to reach 6âÂÂ1âÂÂ0. Their annual game was set for Thanksgiving Day, which in 1907 fell on November 29. Texas A&M won at Tulane, 18âÂÂ0, and two days later won at LSU, 22âÂÂ12, to reach 5âÂÂ0âÂÂ0. The AlabamaâÂÂAuburn game ended with Bama winning 10âÂÂ0.
November 24 The big game of the season was Harvard (10âÂÂ0âÂÂ0) at Yale (8âÂÂ0âÂÂ1). A crowd of 32,000 in New Haven saw the CrimsonâÂÂBlue meeting, described as "a game as has seldom been seen on any field," with both sides relying heavily on the forward pass. . Paul Veeder threw a pass and Clarence Alcott jumped high to catch it at the 3 yard line for a first down. Two plays later, Tom Roome forced his way through the line for Yale's touchdown. A Harvard fumble in the closing minutes was recovered by the Bulldogs, who were 12 yards from goal when the whistle blew. Final score: Yale 6, Harvard 0.
With that final game, both Yale and Princeton closed their seasons with identical 9âÂÂ0âÂÂ1 records, nine wins each and their own 0âÂÂ0 tie. Other games played that day were Lafayette's 33âÂÂ0 win over Lehigh, and Penn State 10âÂÂ0 over West Virginia.
Thanksgiving Day, November 29, 1907, was the next best thing to post-season play, as rivals met on the holiday. Cornell and Penn played to a 0âÂÂ0 tie and Lafayette beat Dickinson 26âÂÂ6 and Penn State won at Pittsburgh, 6âÂÂ0, giving both teams an 8âÂÂ1âÂÂ1 finish. In the West, Iowa State won at Drake, 7âÂÂ0, and Texas beat Texas A&M 24âÂÂ0. Both teams finished at 9âÂÂ1âÂÂ0. Further West, college football wasn't yet played on the Pacific Coast; the big game there had been Stanford's 6âÂÂ3 win at Berkeley over CaliforniaâÂÂin a rugby game attended by 10,000 fans
In Nashville, (8âÂÂ0âÂÂ0) and Vanderbilt (7âÂÂ1âÂÂ0) met on Thanksgiving for the South's biggest game. Vandy, whose only loss was its visit to Michigan, handed the Sewanee Tigers a 20âÂÂ0 defeat. Alabama crushed Tennessee, 51âÂÂ0, to finish 5âÂÂ1âÂÂ0, while the Vols' record was 1âÂÂ6âÂÂ2; the win, and one of the ties, was against American College. Clemson won at Georgia Tech, 10âÂÂ0, closing its season unbeaten, though not untied (4âÂÂ0âÂÂ3).
The consensus All-America team included: