Georgetown football, 1874–1889

Last updated

The Georgetown Hoyas football program represents Georgetown University, based in Washington, D.C., in the sport of American football. This article covers the team's history through 1889, when it was known simply as Georgetown football. The team was founded in 1874, but did not play any games that year. They scheduled their first game in 1881 against a local high school, but the latter failed to show up for the game and it was considered a Georgetown forfeit win. In 1883, they played two games against Gallaudet University. They reportedly played a game in 1884, played no games from 1885 to 1886, and then played regularly in the final three years of the decade, including their first intercollegiate match in 1889 against the Virginia Cavaliers. Modern-day Georgetown records do not consider any games prior to 1887 official, although their media guides prior to 1950 did.

Contents

Formation

Georgetown University's football team traces its history to 1874. [1] The sport had first been played five years earlier, and it was growing in popularity. [2] Baseball was the first sport to begin at the school in 1870, and students wanted to have a sport to play in the winter as well. [2] On November 1, 1874, school students met and created the Georgetown College Football Association, with the intention to start up an intercollegiate team and play later that year. [3] [4]

A committee was created that consisted of 15, including an elected president, vice president, secretary-treasurer and two censors; the Georgetown website notes that "exactly what a football censor did ... the College Journal does not explain." [3] The team's founding was reported in the College Journal, which described the association: "A committee of three was appointed to draw up a code of laws, and another committee of ten was appointed to serve as referees, A small monthly collection from the students who wish to take part in the game will suffice for all expenses. The game is played only during the winter months." [3] However, the team did not last as there were no nearby teams to compete against, and thus it folded shortly after being founded. [2]

The Georgetown Athletic Association was formed by students in 1875, but the founding documents included nothing relating to football. [3]

1881

1881 Georgetown football
ConferenceIndependent
Record1–0
Head coach
  • None
Seasons
←  1874
1883  →

The 1881 Georgetown football team represented Georgetown University during the 1881 college football season. [5] The team had scheduled its first game against an outside opponent upon receiving a challenge from Alexandria High School in Virginia, but the latter did not appear and Georgetown considered it a forfeit win. [5]

The Georgetown College Journal including a report about the game:

Before the holidays the football eleven of the Alexandria High School sent a challenge to the college for a match game; the game was to be played on their grounds and the Rugby ball was to be used. Though we had not a regularly organized team, the challenge was accepted, and an eleven was selected from the players of the year. All arrangements for the match were made, but at the last moment word was sent to us that the High School eleven could not play; the game was consequently postponed.
Though this match did not take place, there is no reason why football should not become as popular at the college during the colder months of the year as baseball is in the summer. We have a first class baseball nine; now let us have a good football eleven. [2]

This was Georgetown's only ever win against Alexandria High School, as they later lost games to them in 1887 and 1888. [6] Georgetown does not consider games prior to 1887 as official; however, prior to 1950 their media guides listed the pre-1887 results. [5]

No extramural games were played until 1883. [5]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResult
November 23at Alexandria High School Alexandria, VA W 2–0

1883

1883 Georgetown football
ConferenceIndependent
Record0–2
Head coach
  • None
CaptainJ. R. Slattery
Seasons
←  1881
1884  →

The 1883 Georgetown football team represented Georgetown University during the 1883 college football season. Two games were played against Gallaudet University, in the first games played against outside competitors, though not officially considered so by Georgetown records. [2] [5] Georgetown lost both.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResult
November 20at Gallaudet
L 0–13
November 29at Gallaudet
  • Kendall Green
  • Washington, DC
L 0–15

1884

1884 Georgetown football
ConferenceIndependent
Record?–?
Head coach
  • None
Seasons
←  1883
1887  →

The 1884 Georgetown football team represented Georgetown University during the 1884 college football season. There was a mention in The Critic and Record [7] that Georgetown traveled to play St. John's College; however, the result is unknown and the game has not been verified. [2] [5]

No games were recorded from 1885 to 1886. [5]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResult
Unknownat St. John's College Annapolis, MD Unknown

1887

1887 Georgetown football
ConferenceIndependent
Record2–1
Head coach
  • Dick Hennessy
Home stadiumGeorgetown Field
Seasons
←  1884
1888  →

The 1887 Georgetown football team represented Georgetown University during the 1887 college football season. This is the first season officially recognized in modern school record books (after 1950). [5] The season featured three games, with wins over Emerson Institute (46–6) and Washington High School (12–6) while losing 24–8 to Alexandria High School; these were the first games to take place at Georgetown, as previous games were played at their opponents' fields. [5]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResult
Emerson Institute
W 46–6
Alexandria High School
  • Georgetown Field
  • Washington, DC
L 8–24
November 6Washington High School
  • Georgetown Field
  • Washington, DC
W 12–6

1888

1888 Georgetown football
ConferenceIndependent
Record4–2
Head coach
Home stadiumGeorgetown Field
Seasons
←  1887
1889  →

The 1888 Georgetown football team represented Georgetown University during the 1888 college football season. The played six games and finished with a 4–2 record, including a forfeit by the Jefferson Athletic Club. [5] This was the first season to include games against a semi-pro team, as previously Georgetown had only played against local high schools. [2]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendance
October 15Orient Athletic Club
W 8–0300
October 16Jefferson Athletic Club
  • Georgetown Field
  • Washington, DC
W 1–0
October 16Washington Athletic Club
  • Georgetown Field
  • Washington, DC
W 8–0
November 13Orient Athletic Club
  • Georgetown Field
  • Washington, DC
W 9–6
November 17Dupont Athletic Club
  • Georgetown Field
  • Washington, DC
L 0–16
November 20at Alexandria High School
L 5–12

1889

1889 Georgetown football
ConferenceIndependent
Record5–1
Head coach
  • Bill Gleason
Home stadiumOld Georgetown Field
Seasons
←  1888
1890  →

The 1889 Georgetown football team represented Georgetown University during the 1889 college football season. They finished the season with a record of 5–1. This season included the first match against a full collegiate team, the Virginia Cavaliers. Georgetown's records show this game as a 34–0 victory for the team, while Virginia's record a 32–0 victory for the Cavaliers. [2] [5]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
October 29Orient Athletic Club
W 6–0 [8]
November 1at Virginia
W 34–0 [9]
?at Gallaudet
  • Kendall Park
  • Washington, DC
L 0–8
November 283:30 p.m.Dupont Athletic Club
W 2–01,500 [10]
December 3at Episcopal High School Alexandria, VA W 8–6 [11]
January 18, 1890Gallaudet
  • Old Georgetown Field
  • Washington, DC
W 10–4

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgetown Hoyas</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Georgetown University

The Georgetown Hoyas are the collegiate athletics teams that officially represent Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C. Georgetown's athletics department fields 24 men's and women's varsity level teams and competes at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level as a member of the Big East Conference, with the exception of the Division I FCS Patriot League in football and women's heavyweight rowing. The University also fields 5 non-NCAA varsity teams in men's heavyweight and lightweight rowing, women's lightweight rowing, women's squash, and sailing. In late 2012, Georgetown and six other Catholic, non-FBS schools announced that they were departing the Big East for a new conference. The rowing and sailing teams also participate in east coast conferences. The men's basketball team is the school's most famous and most successful program, but Hoyas have achieved success in a wide range of sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgetown Hoyas football</span> Varsity football team of Georgetown University

The Georgetown Hoyas football team represents Georgetown University in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision level of college football. Like other sports teams from Georgetown, the team is named the Hoyas, which derives from the chant, Hoya Saxa. They play their home games at Cooper Field on the Georgetown University campus in Washington, D.C. Their best season in the recent era was produced in 2011 when the team produced an 8–3 record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Georgetown Hoyas football team</span> American college football season

The 2009 Georgetown Hoyas football team was an American football team that represented Georgetown University in the 2009 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The team was led by Kevin Kelly, in his fourth season as head coach. The Hoyas played their home games at Multi-Sport Field in Washington, D.C. Georgetown failed to win a game, a first since 1885. However, they still filled their stadium past capacity for half their home games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1972–73 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1972–73 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University during the 1972–73 NCAA University Division college basketball season. John Thompson, coached them in his first season as head coach. The team was an independent and played its home games at McDonough Gymnasium on the Georgetown campus in Washington, D.C. It finished the season with a record of 12–14 – a significant improvement over the previous season's record – was not ranked in the Top 20 in the Associated Press Poll or Coaches' Poll at any time, and had no post-season play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1963–64 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1963–64 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University during the 1963–64 NCAA University Division college basketball season. Tommy O'Keefe coached them in his fourth season as head coach, but Georgetown's head coaching position paid so little that he could only coach part-time and held a full-time job outside of coaching in order to meet his financial obligations, impairing his ability to recruit players. The team was an independent and played its home games at McDonough Gymnasium on the Georgetown campus in Washington, D.C. It finished the season with a record of 15-10 and had no postseason play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1960–61 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1960–61 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University during the 1960–61 NCAA University Division college basketball season. Tommy O'Keefe coached them in his first season as head coach. The team was an independent and played its home games at McDonough Gymnasium on the Georgetown campus in Washington, D.C. The team finished with a record of 11-10 and had no post-season play, but it was the first Georgetown team to have a winning record since the 1955-56 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1949–50 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1949–50 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University during the 1949–50 NCAA college basketball season. Francis "Buddy" O'Grady coached it in his first of three seasons as head coach. The team was an independent and played its home games at the D.C. Armory in Washington, D.C. It finished with a record of 12-12 and had no post-season play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1932–33 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1932–33 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University during the 1932–33 NCAA college basketball season. Fred Mesmer coached it in his second season as head coach. For the first time in its history, Georgetown was a member of an athletic conference for basketball competition, joining Carnegie Tech, Pittsburgh, Temple, and West Virginia as founding members of the Eastern Intercollegiate Conference (EIC), which began play this season; Georgetown would remain a member of the EIC until it disbanded after the end of the 1938-39 season. The team played its home games at Tech Gymnasium on the campus of McKinley Technical High School in Washington, D.C. – except for one home game it played at Central High School Gymnasium on the campus of Washington, D.C.'s Central High School – and finished with a record of 6-11 overall, 3-5 in the EIC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1929–30 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1929–30 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University during the 1929–30 NCAA college basketball season. Bill Dudack coached it in his first and only season as head coach. Georgetown was an independent and, after playing its first two games at Clendenen Gymnasium on the campus of American University in Washington, D.C. – its home court the previous season – played its home games at Tech Gymnasium on the campus of Washington, D.C.'s McKinley Technical High School in Washington, D.C., the first Georgetown team to use Tech Gymnasium as its home court. It played one home game later in the season at Brookland Gymnasium on the campus of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1922–23 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1922–23 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University during the 1922–23 NCAA college basketball season. With John O'Reilly unable to coach due to illness for the second straight season, freshman basketball team coach John "Jackie" Maloney – a 1918 Georgetown graduate who had quarterbacked the Georgetown football team in the late 1910s and then was head coach of the football team in 1923 – coached the team for a single season. Georgetown was an independent and played its home games at Ryan Gymnasium on the Georgetown campus in Washington, D.C., and finished the season with a record of 8–3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1919–20 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1919–20 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University during the 1919–20 NCAA college basketball season. John O'Reilly coached the team in his sixth season as head coach. Georgetown was an independent and played its home games at Ryan Gymnasium on the Georgetown campus in Washington, D.C., and finished the season with a record of 13-1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1916–17 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1916–17 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University during the 1916-17 NCAA college basketball season. John O'Reilly coached the team in his third season as head coach. Georgetown was an independent and played its home games at Ryan Gymnasium on the Georgetown campus in Washington, D.C., and finished the season with a record of 8-4.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1911–12 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1911–12 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University during the 1911–12 NCAA college basketball season. James Colliflower coached the team in his first season as head coach. Georgetown was an independent and – except for two early games at Ryan Gymnasium on the Georgetown campus – played its home games at the Arcade Rink, also known as the Arcadia and as the Arcade Auditorium, in Washington, D.C. It finished the season with a record of 11–6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1910–11 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1910–11 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University during the 1910–11 Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (IAAUS) college basketball season. Maurice Joyce coached the team in his fourth and final season as head coach. Georgetown was an independent and for the first time played its home games at the Arcade Rink, also known as the Arcadia and as the Arcade Auditorium, in Washington, D.C., except for an early game played on the Georgetown campus at Ryan Gymnasium. It finished the season with a record of 13-7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1906–07 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1906–07 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University during the 1906-07 Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States college basketball season. It was the first men's team in Georgetown basketball history. Georgetown was an independent and played its home games at the Washington Light Infantry Armory at 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW in downtown Washington, D.C., finishing the season with a record of 2-2.

The 1940 Georgetown Hoyas football team represented Georgetown University during the 1940 college football season. The Hoyas were led by ninth-year head coach Jack Hagerty and played their home games at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. The team carried into the year a two-year, 16-game unbeaten streak, which ended at 23 games after a tightly contested loss to eventual co-national champion Boston College. Georgetown ended the regular season with a record of 8–1, ranked 13th in the AP Poll, the only ranked finish in Hoyas team history. They were invited to the 1941 Orange Bowl, where they lost to Mississippi State, 7–14.

The 1890 Georgetown football team represented the Georgetown University during the 1890 college football season. Georgetown finished the season with a 3–3–1 record. During the second game of the season, Columbia AC left the field during the first half with the score 4–0 in favor of Georgetown, and forfeited the game.

Kehoe Field is the name of two fields that served as the home of the Georgetown Hoyas intramural sports and varsity athletics teams, including several seasons of Hoyas football, since the 1950s. They occupied the same site, successively, on the Georgetown University campus in Washington, D.C.

The 2001 Georgetown Hoyas football team was an American football team that represented Georgetown University during the 2001 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In their first season in the Patriot League, the Hoyas finished last.

The 2005 Georgetown Hoyas football team was an American football team that represented Georgetown University during the 2005 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Hoyas tied for second-to-last in the Patriot League.

References

  1. ↑ Flynn, Tom (November 16, 2012). "Obstacles Nothing New for Georgetown Football". The New York Times .
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Georgetown Football History: Chapter 1: Football's Roots At Georgetown". HoyaSaxa.com.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "There Goes Old Georgetown". Georgetown University. May 18, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Georgetown Football History Project". HoyaFootball.com.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Game by Game: 1881–1890". HoyaFootball.com. Archived from the original on 2019-03-22. Retrieved 2024-01-26– via Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ "Game by Game: Opponents". HoyaFootball.com. Archived from the original on 2019-03-22. Retrieved 2024-01-26– via Wayback Machine.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. ↑ "A Popular Out-Door Game". The Critic and Record . November 16, 1888. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  8. ↑ "A Foot Ball Match". The Evening Star . Washington, D.C. October 30, 1889. p. 8. Retrieved August 7, 2022– via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  9. ↑ "Georgetown University Notes". The Evening Star . Washington, D.C. November 2, 1889. p. 12. Retrieved August 7, 2022– via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  10. ↑ "Foot Ball in the Mud". The Evening Star . Washington, D.C. November 29, 1889. p. 6. Retrieved August 7, 2022– via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  11. ↑ "Condensed Locals". The Evening Star . Washington, D.C. December 4, 1889. p. 8. Retrieved August 7, 2022– via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.