The first college football game ever was played in an open field that was here, with Rutgers beating Princeton 6-4. There is an old plaque in the nearby gymnasium marking the occasion. See the wonderful article by Jerry Carino at https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/bigten/2019/08/27/birthplace-college-football-anonymous-rutgers-parking-lot/2128665001/, which cites research by historian Tom Frusciano, author of the book 2008 book "Rutgers University Football Vault: The History of the Scarlet Knights." The article calls for a real historical marker for the site. See also, http://www.princetonmagazine.com/first-smackdown-1869/.
Publication date | Aug 27, 2019 |
Neighborhood | Behind College Ave. Gym |
The first college football game ever was played in an open field that was here, with Rutgers beating Princeton 6-4. There is an old plaque in the nearby gymnasium marking the occasion. See the wonderful article by Jerry Carino at https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/bigten/2019/08/27/birthplace-college-football-anonymous-rutgers-parking-lot/2128665001/, which cites research by historian Tom Frusciano, author of the book 2008 book "Rutgers University Football Vault: The History of the Scarlet Knights." The article calls for a real historical marker for the site. See also, http://www.princetonmagazine.com/first-smackdown-1869/.