The History of College Sports Is Awesome, Baby!
"It’s awesome, baby!" Those immortal words of broadcaster and Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Dick Vitale sum up college sports. From basketball to softball and from football to track and field, collegiate sports provide some of the most competitive and thrilling sports in the world. However, have you ever wondered when athletes first played sports such as football or basketball, on a collegiate level?
Gridiron 101
Before the Rose Bowl and the Chick-fil-A Bowl, there was the Jersey Bowl. OK, that was not the official name of the game. However, the first American football game between two colleges, took place in the state of New Jersey, on November 6, 1869. Rutgers University and nearby Princeton battled it out on the gridiron. There was no stadium full of cheering spectators sporting their College Apparel. In fact, roughly 100 spectators watched the game. Speaking of apparel, many of the 25 players on each team used their suspenders as belts! Nevertheless, the game was significant.
Rules, resolve, and Rutgers
The rules in that first collegiate football game little resembled today’s modern sport. For example, while the final score was 6-4, with Rutgers becoming the victor, that did not include the teams scoring two field goals and two safeties. In fact, the first American football was more like rugby.
However, the first college football game resembled the modern game, in spirit. According to one of the players, it included the elements of "physical prowess," "determination," "strategy," and "surprise." That sounds like today’s world of collegiate football, right?
Players and plays
Here is how the 25 players per side distributed themselves on the filed. Two players positioned themselves near the opponent’s goal, in an attempt to score. Meanwhile, 11 players served as defensive "fielders," while 12 "bulldogs" played offense.
The play of the first collegiate football game also differed from today. Every score equaled a "game," and a team needed to score 10 games, to win the competition. Players moved the ball up the field by hitting it with their heads, hands, sides, or feet; or kicking it.
Although college merchandise included textbooks and pens in 1869, football soon became a hit. Within a few years, the majority of East Coast universities and colleges had formed their own squads.
Hoops University
Perhaps you are a big fan of hoops, instead of the gridiron. This winter, you will eagerly choose which of your college hats and caps you will sport at the local college or university basketball game. However, take some time to remember how it all started.
James Naismith, a physical education teacher at a YMCA training school in Massachusetts, invented basketball in 1891. There are some interesting facts about the first game of basketball played:
- Naismith actually based the game of basketball on the children’s game "duck-on-a-rock."
- The first "basketball" was a soccer ball.
- Players shot the ball into peach baskets, in the first basketball game.
- The baskets were not open-ended, so players had to retrieve the ball after scoring.
- The final score was 1-0.
Before there were college car accessories (or commercial cars, for that matter) the University of Chicago played the University of Iowa in the first collegiate basketball game. The Iowa school had invited the Illinois school to play the game. They battled it out on the hard court, on January 18, 1896, which was actually the same year as the first collegiate football game.
A small score with a big meaning
The score of the first ever college basketball game was slightly higher than the first ever basketball game, but not by much. Chicago barely defeated Iowa, 15-12. Several decades later, the media first broadcasted college basketball games nationally on TV, in 1963. However, college basketball did not become a major sport in America, until the 1980s.
College sports then and now
While college sports have evolved greatly throughout the years, the excitement and competiveness it provides spectators has never changed. Today, student-athletes play a cornucopia of collegiate sports, including:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Field Hockey
- Football
- Ice Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
If you need to buy sports merchandise for the world’s biggest college sports fan (whether that is you, a friend, or a family member) where do you start? Here are some helpful ideas for you:
Accessories
From key chains to wristwatches, and from pens to wallets, "accessorize, accessorize" with an array of handy accessories that sport a favorite College team.
Team Apparel
While this may seem to be the most obvious choice, the college and universities, styles, and sizes available are almost limitless. Team shirts, jerseys and jackets are the most popular types of apparel from which to choose. Hats and caps also have become popular choices. However, for the most fanatic college sports fan, you can still find original yet practical apparel, such as belt buckles, bracelets, and gloves.
Car Accessories
Every day we spend about 25 minutes commuting to work. How about supporting a favorite college or university, while behind the wheel? For the vehicle’s exterior, colorful car magnets, window film, license plates, splashguards, and spare tire covers are some excellent ideas. For the inside, show your support every time you get behind the wheel, with an attractive collegiate steering wheel cover.
Christmas Items
‘Tis the season to cheer for your favorite college team. Say "Happy Holidays!" with festive Santa hats, wreaths, stockings, and even table runners
Collectibles
For the college sports fan that seems to have everything, quality embroidered footballs, golf gift box sets, and plush mascots are perfect.
Home and Office
Show your support for your favorite team while you entertain guests at home or complete tasks at work. Quality dinner plate sets, wastebaskets, clock & pen sets, mouse pads, wall clocks, coffee mugs, and even retro gas pump gumball machines are perfect for Home Sweet Home or The Office.
Tailgating and Grilling
Help you or someone you know become the life of the party, with handsome tumblers, BBQ utensil sets, ice pails, insulated bottles, and ice buckets.
Since their birth, college sports have provided fans with unending thrills, chills, and spills. Choose the right items to show how awesome they are!
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