Football began to develop during the mid-1800's, when a game similar to soccer was played in the eastern United States. The object of the game was simply to kick a round ball across the other team's goal line. The teams sometimes had 30 or more players. As the soccer-like game became popular, stricter rules were adopted and schools began to organize teams. The first college game was played on Nov. 6, 1869, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. In that game, Rutgers defeated the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), 6-4.

The first game resembling present-day football was played in 1874. That year, a team from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, visited Harvard University. The Canadian team wanted to play the English game of rugby, which permitted running with the ball and tackling. Harvard preferred to play its soccer-like game, in which players advanced the ball mainly by kicking. The teams agreed to play two games, the first under Harvard rules and the second under McGill rules. Harvard liked McGill's rugby game so much that it introduced the sport to other colleges. Running and tackling soon became as important as kicking in the U.S. game.

To learn more about the history of football go to:
Milbert, Neil. "Football." World Book Student. World Book, 2014. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.

Coach Terrence Lollis

Coach Alonzo Powell