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Harvard vs. Yale Rowing Competition
First ever intercollegiate athletics competition. This is significant because it was the first collegiate athletic competition ever and paved the way for other collegiate sports to start. -
Amherst vs. Williams Baseball Game
First ever intercollegiate baseball game occurred in Massachusetts. Amherst won the game 73-32 against their opponent. This game was played with "Boston" rules which is different from baseball rules today and this is significant because it shows how different rules were played before an official rule was implemented. -
Rutgers vs. Princeton Football Game
First intercollegiate football game played in New Jersey. Rutgers beat Princeton in the first ever game. This has long term implications on the history of college sport because this was just the start of the game of football and would grow in popularity. -
Morrill Land Grant College Act was passed
Allowing granted land to colleges. This allowed for more competitiveness between schools with recruitment of students. This was significant for its time period because it made athletics a way that schools would get students to come to their schools. -
First Intercollegiate Track and Field association formed
Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletics of America. The following year the first annual national competition, the USA track and field championships were held. These events secured track and field as a national sport and led to the development of international competitions. -
Precursor to the Big Ten Conference
A meeting between seven university officials met in Chicago to develop parameters for eligibility, participation, scheduling, and funding. This is significant because it set principles for collegiate athletics. -
Johns Hopkins vs. Yale Ice Hockey Game
First intercollegiate ice hockey game played in Maryland. The game ended in a 2-2 tie. This is significant because it shows the first interest people had in ice hockey and the growth of different sports during this time. -
First Concrete Stadium
Harvard built the first freestanding concrete stadium. This is significant because it shows how footballs popularity increased and becoming a spectator sport. -
President Theodore Roosevelt held an emergency meeting
The meeting was with university administrators at the White house to fix injury issues. The cause of the meeting was because 18 players died and more than 140 were seriously injured. This is significant because it shows that the President had to intervene to help make the game safer and it shows how changes were made. -
Precursor to NCAA formation
Another meeting that took place at NYU with 13 different institutions represented. The meeting occurred to discuss the lack of safety and governance of intercollegiate athletics. Decided that they needed to develop an organization with structure and integrity. This is relevant because it shows the continued changing of the game to keep players safe. It was the stepping stones to the formation of the NCAA. -
NCAA Constitution
Laid the groundwork for intercollegiate amateur sport. "An amateur sportsman is one who engages in sports for the physical, mental, or social benefits he derives therefrom, and to who the sport is an avocation. Any college athlete who takes pay for participation in athletics does not meet this definition of amateurism." This is relevant because it emphasized the idea of playing for the love of the game. -
Development of Big Ten
They enforced more stringent conference rules. Big Ten coaches must be a full time employee. Some coaches did not want this. This is significant because it paved the way for coaches to earn huge salaries. -
Formation of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States
Collaboration with the ideas from the two previous meetings lead to 62 members forming the IAAUS. This is significant because it reformed the rules and regulations of collegiate sports. -
NCAA Formed
The IAAUS was renamed to the National Collegiate Athletic Association. This is significant because it represented care and assistance of student athletes. It also showed the growth of sports in a positive way.