navy football team football team represented college football season team football squad represent team coach entirely student operated captained squad member team played single game scoreless tie team entirely student operated supported faculty school football squad background widely believed football researchers playing football began november player challenged player nearby princeton contest closely resembled soccer teams scoring kicking ball opponent net lacked uniform rules structure game developed slowly rules drafted october consisted guidelines number teams participating sport increased game effectively controlled claimed national championships years yale presented form challenge claiming national championships time period birth football debated historians accepted occurrence student returned leave football throwing ball friend dropped group fellow attempted contest eventually organized ended abruptly ball kicked biographer stated evidence form football came school cadets lost interest game shortly afterward theory supported journalist regardless sport banned years prior schedule season summary separate efforts establish football team guided developed training regiment help school baseball team shape team played sport rules closer soccer players permitted kick ball order advance second effort headed successful efforts met friends played officially challenged team game team formed academy led manager trainer captain team wake practice following drill meals squad received encouragement faculty allowed eat late dinner skip final drill additional practicing direct orders school superintendent banned football similar activities year sole contest played december opposition team reportedly composed players princeton yale pennsylvania hosted baltimore team temporary field drawn superintendent cow pasture rules decided teams established game played rugby rules chronicle covered contest described game played rugby rules battle beginning end regular knock drag fight sides immediately excited audience aroused highest pitch enthusiasm spirited contest ball backward forward ground material result awful witness living kicking masses humanity individual leather oval got ball started run caught cadets earth men falling game closely fought finally declared scoreless tie referee hour began navy reportedly gained possession ball managed scoring position separate occasions navy forced baltimore end zone safety worth points offered navy benefit american chronicle reported gave strongest performances reckless play repeatedly jumping kicking ball play form delay game time game known father credited inventor football uniform informed baltimore team playing average pounds looked way teams evenly matched knowledge sailing decided design canvas jacket players difficult grasp began sweat presented design academy tailor created double lined jackets laced drawn tightly fit player body weighted suits worn team confused heavy players team players different positions squad consisted forwards quarterback addition playing served team manager captain served unofficial assistant coach asked participate team age players ranged years academy admission policy school allowed men ages admitted year students future player remarked boys school postseason aftermath postseason college football game played establishment east west tournament game later known rose bowl participate rose bowl season went tied washington match according statistics compiled college football research center yale declared season champion giving eighth overall produce football team season team coach supported academy officials season time navy squad play navy finish 1880s winning seasons overall record ties game navy opponents finish 19th century overall record lack coach season times squad lacked time
1879 Navy Midshipmen football team