First game in Notre Dame Football history
The first Notre Dame football team.
On Nov. 23, 1887, nearly 45 years to the day after Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., arrived in northern Indiana, the University of Notre Dame fielded a collegiate football team. Originally published in Scholastic, the University’s student magazine, the following article describes the scene of the inaugural contest. The photos are among the earliest athletics images in the Notre Dame Archives.
For some days previous to Wednesday great interest had been manifested by our students in the football game which had been arranged between the teams of the Universities of Michigan and Notre Dame. It was not considered a match contest, as the home team had been organized only a few weeks, and the Michigan boys, the champions of the West, came more to instruct them in the points of the Rugby game than to win fresh laurels.
The visitors arrived over the Michigan Central RR., Wednesday morning, and were at once taken in charge by a committee of students. After spending a few hours in “taking in” the surroundings, they donned their uniforms of spotless white and appeared upon the Seniors’ campus. Owing to the recent thaw, the field was damp and muddy; but nothing daunted, the boys “went in,” and soon Harless’ new suit appeared as though it had imbibed some of its wearer’s affinity for the soil of Notre Dame.
At first, to render our players more familiar with the game, the teams were chosen irrespective of college. After some minutes’ play, the game was called, and each took his position as follows:
Univ. of M. – Full Back: J.L. Duffy; Half Backs: J.E. Duffy, E. McPheran; Quarter Back: R.T. Farrand; Centre Rush: W.W. Harless; Rush Line: F. Townsend, E.M. Sprague, F.H. Knapp, W. Fowler, G.W. De Haven, M. Wade.
Univ. of N.D. – Full Back: H. Jewett; Half Backs: J. Cusack, H. Luhn; Quarter Back: G. Cartier; Centre Rush: G.A. Houck; Rush Line: F. Fehr, P. Nelson, B. Sawkins, W. Springer, T. O’Regan, P.P. Maloney.
On account of time, only a part of one inning was played, and resulted in a score of 8 to 0 in favor of the visitors. The game was interesting, and, notwithstanding the slippery condition of the ground, the Ann Arbor boys gave a fine exhibition of skilful [sic] playing. This occasion has started an enthusiastic football boom, and it is hoped that coming years will witness a series of these contests.
After a hearty dinner, Rev. President Walsh thanked the Ann Arbor team for their visit, and assured them of the cordial reception that would always await them at Notre Dame. At 1 o’clock carriages were taken for Niles, and amidst rousing cheers the University of Michigan football team departed, leaving behind them a most favorable impression.
Amidst melting snow and muddy conditions, the entire Notre Dame student body showed up for the game that was played on “senior campus field.”
This map depicts Notre Dame’s campus in 1894, seven years after the first football game. There is no way of telling if the field on this map was in the same location in 1887, but it suggests that “senior campus field” may have been located near present-day Crowley Hall of Music and Riley Hall of Art and Design.
The first Notre Dame program featured team rosters and a rules explanation of the “American college game of football.”
- 001First game in Notre Dame Football history
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- 005Notre Dame Victory March debut
- 006Irv Smith vs. Indiana (1991)
- 007Strong and True: Pat Terrell
- 008First game in series with Navy
- 009Holtz Relaxation Sessions
- 0101981 LSU/Faust Debut
- 011Strong and True: Ara Comes To Notre Dame
- 012Ray Zellars vs. Purdue (1994)
- 013“The Genuflect Play” (1971)
- 0141901 State Title
- 015Ara Takes The Team To Moreau Seminary, 1964
- 016Montana Leads The Irish Back (1977 vs. Purdue)
- 017The Intensity of Frank Leahy
- 018This Day in History: Reggie Ho's Heroics (1988 vs. Michigan)
- 019Lou Holtz Debut (1986 vs. Michigan)
- 020Notre Dame's Third Game of the Century (1966 vs. Michigan St.)
- 021Lambert Caps Comeback (2006 vs. MSU)
- 022Tim Brown Goes Back-to-Back (1987 vs. Michigan State)
- 023Dillingham to Battle (2002 vs. Michigan State)
- 024The Rocket Launches...Twice (1989 vs. Michigan)
- 025Brian Smith Seals It (2008 vs. Michigan)
- 026This Day in History: ND Turns on the Lights
- 027The Unconscious Touchdown (1992 vs. Michigan)
- 028This Day in History: Harry Oliver's Heroics
- 029This Day in History: Irish Hook the Horns
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- 031Irish Upset National Champs (1998 vs. Michigan)
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- 034This Day in History: The Era of Ara Begins
- 035Strong and True: Tom Thayer
- 036This Day In History: Rockne Takes The Reins
- 037Strong and True: Gerome Sapp
- 038Notre Dame Goes International: The Mirage Bowl
- 039Frank Leahy Joins The Navy
- 040The Build Up (1988 vs. Miami)
- 041The Locker Room Speech (1988 vs. Miami)
- 042The Blocked Punt (1988 vs. Miami)
- 043The Play (1988 vs. Miami)
- 044Irish Upset Hurricanes in Series Finale
- 045Strong and True: Steve Beuerlein
- 046The Block
- 047This Day in History: Game of the Decade
- 048Quinn to Samardzija
- 049College GameDay
- 050The Touchdown That Should Have Been
- 051Play Like a Champion Today
- 052This Day In History: Covington's Goal Line Stop (1995 vs. Army)
- 053Strong and True: Tim Brown
- 054Strong and True: Justin Tuck
- 055The House That Rockne Built (1930 vs. Navy)
- 056Tiger Bait? Not. (1984 vs. LSU)
- 057October 18, 1924: The Four Horsemen Arrive
- 058Strong and True: Marc Edwards
- 059Strong and True: Shawn Wooden
- 060Pass Right (2005 vs. Washington)
- 061Strong and True: Luther Bradley
- 062The Genius of Ara
- 063Staying on Top (1943 vs. Iowa Pre-Flight)
- 064Ending The Streak (1957 vs. Oklahoma)
- 065Small Screen Debut (1952 vs. Oklahoma)
- 066This Day In History: Most Points Ever (1905 vs. American Medical)
- 067Strong and True: Bob Crable
- 068This Day In History: Gipp's Best Game (1920 vs. Army)
- 069Jones Runs Past Panthers (2003 vs. Pittsburgh)
- 070This Day In History: The Forward Pass (1913 vs. Army)
- 071The Hiring of Lou Holtz
- 072Rockne Joins The Team
- 073Dave Casper: Hall of Famer
- 074Lou's Last Home Game
- 075Goal Line Stand (1998 vs. Boston College)
- 076This Day In History: Filming Rudy (1992 vs. Boston College)
- 077Strong and True: Jonas Gray
- 078This Day In History: Notre Dame's Second Game of the Century (1946 vs. Army)
- 079This Day In History: Win One For The Gipper
- 080The Shutout Season
- 081Strong and True: Autry Denson
- 082This Day In History: The Snow Bowl
- 083This Day In History: Irish Topple a Nemesis
- 084The Real Rudy Moment (1975 vs. Georgia Tech)
- 085Notre Dame Stadium Rededication
- 08651-0. (1966 vs. USC)
- 087Lou Holtz's USC Test
- 088A Battle of Unbeatens (1988 vs. USC)
- 089Respect: Lou's First Locker Room Speech
- 090The Green Jersey Game (1977 vs. USC)
- 091The Alma Mater Debut
- 092Trampling the Trojans (1995 vs. USC)
- 093This Day In History: Beuerlein's Second Chance (1986 vs. USC)
- 094Defeating The Defending Champs (1973 vs. USC)
- 095Theismann, As in Heisman
- 096Notre Dame's First Heisman Trophy Winner: Angelo Bertelli (1943)
- 097Notre Dame's Second Heisman Trophy: Johnny Lujack (1947)
- 098Notre Dame's Third Heisman Trophy: Leon Hart (1949)
- 099Notre Dame's Fourth Heisman Trophy: Johnny Lattner (1953)
- 100Notre Dame's Fifth Heisman Trophy: Paul Hornung (1956)
- 101Notre Dame's Sixth Heisman Trophy: John Huarte (1964)
- 102Notre Dame's Seventh Heisman Trophy: Tim Brown (1987)
- 103Notre Dame's First Win
- 104The First Bowl Trip: One For The Ages (The Journey)
- 105The First Bowl Trip: One For The Ages (The Game)
- 106The Japan Bowl
- 107The First Perfect Season
- 108This Day In History: Notre Dame All-Stars vs. New York Giants (Rockne's Final Game)
- 1091929 National Championship Season
- 110Beating the Buffaloes (1990 Orange Bowl)
- 111The Last Flight of Knute Rockne
- 112Rocket's Return That Wasn't (1991 Orange Bowl)
- 113Strong and True: Vagas Ferguson
- 114The Chicken Soup Game (1979 Cotton Bowl Classic)
- 115Thunder and Lightning (1993 Cotton Bowl Classic)
- 116Irish Outrun Aggies Again (1994 Cotton Bowl Classic)
- 117"We're #1" (1978 Cotton Bowl Classic)
- 1181930 National Championship Season
- 1191949 National Championship Season
- 120Notre Dame's Fourth Game of The Century (1993 vs. Florida State)
- 121Strong and True: Rocket Ismail
- 122The Cheerios Bowl (1992 Sugar Bowl)
- 123Ara's Final Game (1975 Orange Bowl)
- 124Irish Top The Tide (1973 Sugar Bowl)
- 125The 11th National Championship (1989 Fiesta Bowl)