It鈥檚 been a century and a half since 乐播传媒 played host to the first football game in Maine.
In 1875, the first game was a roughhouse affair, against Tufts, with a rudimentary set of rules but a purpose that has endured through the years: a chance to compete athletically, with high energy and high ideals, and to create connections and friendships of a lifetime.
To celebrate the sesquicentennial, 乐播传媒 has scheduled a series of events, including on-field festivities, coinciding with the season opener vs. Amherst at 1 p.m. on Sept. 13.
To , here are 15 uniquely 乐播传媒 football moments from 150 years.
Nov. 6, 1875: Maine鈥檚 first college football game
Tufts and 乐播传媒 played the first college football game in Maine on Nov. 6, 1875.
As Charlie Clark 鈥�51 wrote in 乐播传媒 Through the Years, the first game was 鈥済reeted at the time with some hilarity.鈥� Few 乐播传媒 players knew the rules, and none had played before.
In the days before the game, the 乐播传媒 Student noted student enthusiasm. 鈥淓very man who had failed to distinguish himself in baseball seemed possessed with the idea that here was an opportunity to immortalize himself.
鈥淭all and short, lean and stout, quick and slow, active and clumsy have all rushed into this new game. Shirts have been torn, coats curtailed, boots ruined, and shins bruised; but, never mind, it鈥檚 fun and good exercise.鈥�
The bemused tone continued with the Lewiston Evening Journal鈥檚 coverage: 鈥淥ccasionally, 10 or 12 men got into a promiscuous scramble for the possession of the ball鈥nd came forth rubbing their shins and using such phrases as, 鈥楪racious juggernaut.鈥欌��
The rules as published in the Student: 鈥淣o one wearing projecting nails, iron plates, or gutta percha on the soles or heels of his boots shall be allowed to play.鈥�
In a history of 乐播传媒 football, Adelbert Jakeman, Class of 1927, noted an ulterior purpose of that first game: 鈥渢o form an acquaintance with the students鈥� from a fellow college.
Oct. 26, 1889: Football promises to transform a 鈥榙ooryard dreamer鈥� into a 鈥榗osmopolitan鈥�
乐播传媒 played only one football game in the decade of the 1880s, but there was lots of talk both on campus and across the country about how the new college sport could teach lessons in manhood.
On Oct. 26, 1889, the Lewiston Saturday Journal reprinted urging the college to re-adopt the game. Football, the writer said, can knock the 鈥渂ow-kneed slovenliness鈥� out of a young man, and shake out the 鈥渉ayseed element,鈥� language consistent with how football was being .
In football, a young man 鈥渉as got to wake, he has got to stir himself and at the same time he learns something of the universal struggle necessary to gain a foothold anywhere.鈥� The physicality of football, he wrote, 鈥渕akes a cosmopolitan out of a dooryard dreamer.鈥�
The sole game played in the decade was versus an experienced Bowdoin team, a 62鈥�0 loss.
Oct. 29, 1898: 乐播传媒 defeats Bowdoin in a historic 鈥榥erve destroyer鈥�
By the 1890s, football was booming nationwide. In Maine, an historic 乐播传媒鈥揃owdoin rivalry was taking root. Bowdoin had easily won the first five games of the series, but 乐播传媒 broke through with a 10鈥�6 win at Bowdoin in 1897. It was the first time Bowdoin had been defeated by a Maine college, which set the stage for high drama in Lewiston in 1898.
With Garcelon Field not yet finished, the 1898 game was played at foggy Lee Park, a circus grounds near campus, with 乐播传媒 upsetting its rivals, 6鈥�0, in a bruising battle before 2,500 fans.
The 乐播传媒 hero was William Allen Saunders, Class of 1899, a guard from Virginia who powered into the end zone for the game鈥檚 lone touchdown. Newspapers called it 鈥渢he fiercest foot ball [sic] ever seen in this state,鈥� and said 乐播传媒鈥� 鈥渉appy farmer boys鈥� celebrated with trolley rides, fireworks, and songs mocking Bowdoin.
Saunders, who had studied at Storer College in Harpers Ferry before 乐播传媒, went on to a long career teaching math and science at historically Black colleges.
Nov. 30, 1905: President Chase defends the imperiled sport of football
In the early 1900s, college football appeared headed toward oblivion. Scandals involving professional ringers abounded, and mass-momentum formations like the 鈥渇lying wedge鈥� made the game deadly. In 1905, at least 18 people died playing football and more than 150 were injured, according to The Washington Post.
On Nov. 28 of that year, Columbia University abolished the sport. The university released a list of injuries sustained that year, including broken arms, broken collar bones, a sprained spinal column, a dislocated shoulder, and a 鈥渂ack injured by being jumped on by a Wesleyan player.鈥�
Two days later, 乐播传媒 President George Colby Chase released a statement saying that the . 鈥淲e have left too much to the well-meaning but undeveloped judgment of students.鈥� At the time, students had a large hand in running their college sports teams. Within a year, new rules at the national level legalized the forward pass, banned the most dangerous formations, and created what would become the NCAA.
At 乐播传媒, the reforms were welcomed by students. 鈥淩ingers, hirelings, and physically perfect ignoramuses, we will leave to those who want them. We want clean, intelligent 乐播传媒 men,鈥� The 乐播传媒 Student reported.
Oct. 28, 1911: A 鈥榥ear-riot,鈥� and accusations of UMaine 鈥榤uckerism鈥�
Adelbert Jakeman鈥檚 football history notes a 鈥渘ear riot鈥� after 乐播传媒 upset the University of Maine, 5鈥�0, at Orono, in 1911.
After the game, 乐播传媒 fans, led by the college band, began to parade from the field through the Maine campus. That did not go over well with the locals, who believed that the celebration violated sports etiquette.
When Maine students 鈥渁ttempted to rush the 乐播传媒 crowd,鈥� the 乐播传媒 supporters decamped to a public street to form their march, 鈥渂ut again they were rushed by the Maine fellows.鈥� Chaos ensued. 鈥淭he 乐播传媒 line was broken up and considerable damage done to the band instruments in the scrap which followed,鈥� reported the Student.
Later, 乐播传媒 professor and head football coach Royce Purinton, Class of 1900, told his physiology class that the Maine students were guilty of 鈥渕uckerism.鈥�
Sept. 26, 1925: The huddle comes to 乐播传媒
What the conference on the pitching mound is to baseball, the huddle is to football. It鈥檚 iconic, and it came to 乐播传媒 football in 1925.
The newfangled approach to playcalling was described as 鈥渁 congregating of the players in a closely locked group behind the scrimmage line. From this circle, the men jump to their positions and the ball is snapped back and the play put into motion without an audible word.鈥�
Before the advent of the huddle, quarterbacks would yell out plays at the line of scrimmage. Head coach Oliver Cutts, Class of 1896, told the local paper that it would no longer be necessary for a team鈥檚 home cheerleaders to hush the crowd while the quarterback yells out the play.
Oct. 1, 1932: 乐播传媒 ties mighty Yale
The score was 0鈥�0 but still made national news, including in The New York Times, under the headline “Ability of 乐播传媒 to Hold Yale to 0鈥�0 Tie Listed Among Saturday’s Surprises.鈥�
鈥淪carlet-clad gridiron warriors from 乐播传媒 College, Lewiston, Maine, furnished one of the early football surprises of the season here Saturday in holding Yale to a nothing to nothing tie in the opening game of the season for the Elis,鈥� reported a wire story that appeared in newspapers as far away as Miami, Fla.
To celebrate, 乐播传媒 freshmen hauled logs to the top of Mount David, then touched off a bonfire that could be seen for miles around. 鈥淏ombs and red fire added to the general conflagration,鈥� the Lewiston Daily Sun said.
Down below, a crowd gathered at Hathorn Hall. Then, led by the campus band, the throng paraded around campus before heading up Mount David for a party and speeches.
Dec. 7, 1946: 乐播传媒 heads to Ohio for the Glass Bowl
In 1946, 乐播传媒 returned from a three-year wartime hiatus with just 28 players. 鈥淢ost of the guys were veterans of the war. We had no doubt we would do well,鈥� recalled guard Linden Blanchard 鈥�49.
Led by coach Raymond 鈥淒ucky鈥� Pond, the Bobcats rolled to a 7鈥�0 season, outscoring opponents 89鈥�10, and earned a postseason football bid to the inaugural Glass Bowl in Toledo.
The Dec. 7 game was full of pageantry 鈥� bands, flags, and even an 18-pound lobster presented to Ohio鈥檚 governor. Underdog 乐播传媒 stunned the crowd of 12,000 by scoring first.
Art Blanchard 鈥�50 was named the game鈥檚 MVP, and while 乐播传媒 lost 21鈥�12, the team left Ohio with a unique 乐播传媒 football milestone: the only bowl game played by a NESCAC team.
This video clip shows cheerleaders delivering the huge lobster to Ohio Gov. Frank Lausche at halftime, a gift from Maine Gov. Horace Hildreth.
Nov. 10, 1956: 乐播传媒 sweeps the old State Series for the final time
Before the Colby-乐播传媒-Bowdoin rivalry, there was the Maine State Series, with UMaine in the mix. By 1956, Maine had dominated, winning nine straight series games. But in 1956, the Bobcats rattled off five straight wins, including a sweep of the series, to capture their last outright state title before Maine left the league in 1964.
The star was Bob 鈥淪pinner鈥� Martin 鈥�57, described by coach Bob Hatch as a player who 鈥渄id so many things so well.鈥� An All-America selection, Martin led 乐播传媒 in rushing, passing, receiving, punting, and scoring that year 鈥� 99 points in all. Teammate Brian Flynn 鈥�57 recalled the grueling two-way play of the era: 鈥淚f you went in you had to play both ways until you came out.鈥�
The clincher came with a 38鈥�13 rout of Colby before Maine Gov. Edmund Muskie 鈥�36 and 3,000 fans, capping 乐播传媒鈥� last State Series crown.
Oct. 28, 1961: Bob Hatch schemes his way to a huge surprise vs. UMaine
Using an innovative spread formation vs. Maine on Oct. 28, 1961, head coach Bob Hatch surprised the heavily favored Black Bears, delighted the national media, and inspired the campus.
Dubbed the 鈥淧opular Halfback鈥� by the Associated Press, the formation had running back Paul Planchon 鈥�64, with a 鈥減air of sticky fingers for catching passes,鈥� lined up like a typical wide receiver. But he wasn鈥檛 out wide alone. With him went four linemen. When quarterback Swift Hathaway 鈥�62 took the snap, he could either hand off to a running back behind him or 鈥� which he did most often versus Maine 鈥� toss a pass to Planchon, who headed downfield with his escort.
The creative play confused Maine, helping 乐播传媒 to a surprise 15鈥�15 tie. (The name 鈥淧opular Halfback鈥� was a reference to the Army鈥檚 鈥淟onesome End,鈥� Bill Carpenter, who always lined up near a far sideline and never even came into the huddle.)
Web Harrison 鈥�63, one of Hatch鈥檚 players who would go on to coach 乐播传媒 football from 1978 to 1991, recalled the post-game scene:
鈥淚n the most genuine display of school spirit I ever witnessed, students lined both sides of the walk from Alumni Gym to the Den, waited for the players to emerge from the locker room, and cheered each player as we walked to the Den.鈥�
1974: A beloved coach coins 鈥楪reat Day to Be a Bobcat鈥�
When Web Harrison 鈥�63 joined the 乐播传媒 football coaching staff in 1974, he would kid around with his friend and fellow alumnus Russ Reilly 鈥�66, who was a trainer and assistant coach.
Harrison, who had seen combat duty in Vietnam with the Marines, would greet Reilly with a version of a Marine Corps saying: 鈥淕ood afternoon, Russ! What a grand and glorious day to be a 乐播传媒 student, where every day is a holiday and every meal is a banquet.鈥�
That greeting was soon shortened to today鈥檚 鈥淚t鈥檚 a Great Day to Be a Bobcat!鈥� In this video, Harrison shares the story:
Nov. 7, 1981: On and off the field, 乐播传媒 overwhelms its oldest rival
With All-American receiver Larry DiGiammarino 鈥�82 at his best on the field, and fired-up 乐播传媒 students making headlines off the field, the 23鈥�13 victory over Bowdoin was the high point of one of 乐播传媒鈥� best seasons ever.
乐播传媒 swaggered into Bowdoin with a 5鈥�1 record under head coach Web Harrison 鈥�63, who was in the fourth year of a 20鈥�12 stretch and two outright CBB titles.
Before the game, when tailgating 乐播传媒 students resisted extinguishing their barbecue grill, the Brunswick fire department was called in to 鈥渉ose down the hibachi,鈥� according to The 乐播传媒 Student.
Then, a Bowdoin security officer was pushed aside as students rushed through the Whittier Field gate without paying. A 乐播传媒 student was arrested, but released in time to receive an ovation from the 乐播传媒 student section.
The 乐播传媒 Student called the sequence of events in Brunswick 鈥渙verreaction鈥� and called for the end of paid admission. After conferring with his Bowdoin counterparts, Dean of the College James Carignan 鈥�61 told the Student that 鈥渢hey feel the whole thing is very unfortunate. They are most anxious that these kinds of incidents not interfere with our relationship as a whole.鈥�
Feb. 19, 1998: 乐播传媒 appoints Mark Harriman as head coach
With his appointment as head coach in 1998, Mark Harriman took over a team that had won two games and lost 46 over the previous six years.
When he retired in 2018 with a record of 46鈥�115, Sun Journal columnist Kalle Oakes praised the 乐播传媒 coach under the headline, 鈥淗arriman was the hero 乐播传媒 needed.鈥� What his record didn鈥檛 explain, said Oakes, was how Harriman created stability and restored pride in 乐播传媒 football.
A few years earlier, Oakes had done something few columnists dare 鈥� apologize in print 鈥� in this case for snarky comments about 乐播传媒鈥� football fortunes.
In praising 乐播传媒 football and 乐播传媒 athletics, Oakes wrote, 鈥淚鈥檝e never met a coach or athlete affiliated with 乐播传媒 whom I didn鈥檛 like. They鈥檙e shake-your-hand-firmly, look-you-in-the-eyes, give-you-a-thoughtful-answer folks. They have sports and life in perspective. Lord knows we need more of those qualities in this world.鈥�
Oct. 28, 2006: 乐播传媒 football lands in Sports Illustrated in a big, muddy way
On Oct. 28, 2006, Garcelon Field turned into a waterlogged stage as 4.62 inches of rain poured down during the 乐播传媒鈥揅olby game. Photographer Daryn Slover, on assignment for 乐播传媒, battled the elements until his lenses gave out 鈥� but not before capturing an unforgettable shot: Jamie Walker 鈥�07, of Needham, Mass., dragging a pile of Colby defenders on one of his 43 carries.
The image, sent to Sports Illustrated the next Monday, landed a two-page spread in the magazine鈥檚 Football America issue. After four overtimes, Colby鈥檚 22-yard field goal sealed the Mules鈥� 10鈥�7 win.
Another national spotlight moment in the decade came in 2002, when Sean Atkins 鈥�03 of New York City ran for seven touchdowns and 302 yards in a 48鈥�28 win over Bowdoin. A clip of the performance aired on ESPN. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when it sunk in,鈥� Atkins said of seeing himself on TV. But any glory, he said, 鈥渂elongs to 乐播传媒 College and the people who gave me my opportunities.鈥�
Oct. 9, 2010: 乐播传媒 dedicates major renovations to Garcelon Field
In 2010, a $2.6 million, donor-funded makeover turned 1899鈥檚 Garcelon Field into a truly 21st-century campus landmark. 鈥淚t鈥檚 awesome,鈥� Brendan Murphy 鈥�11 of Sandwich, Mass., a lineman and senior tri-captain, told the Sun Journal.
鈥淎nd it was all donor-funded. It鈥檚 a good feeling that people stepped up to show what 乐播传媒 athletics means to them, specifically football.鈥�
The renovation installed a new FieldTurf surface; an aluminum grandstand for 1,500 (with stadium seats at midfield); an expanded press box; and four Musco light towers that finally brought true night games to 乐播传媒.
The upgrade did more than freshen football鈥檚 home. It also opened the door to all-year, day-and-night play on the field. With men鈥檚 lacrosse moving to Garcelon, the venue hosted its first-ever playoff game, an NCAA first-rounder, and soon became a year-round stage for big moments, practices, and pick-up traditions alike.
Sept. 28, 2024: A historic road victory vs. head coach Matt Coyne鈥檚 alma mater
In-state football rivalries have taken center stage ever since 乐播传媒 began playing football in the 1800s. But in recent years, a rivalry with a NESCAC foe 350 miles away has gained traction.
On Sept. 28 of last year, 乐播传媒 defeated previously unbeaten Wesleyan 鈥� the alma mater of head coach Matt Coyne, who was appointed 乐播传媒 head coach in 2022. The road win was 乐播传媒鈥� first against the Cardinals since 1981.
Like the crowds of yesteryear that boarded trains from Lewiston to places like Brunswick, New Haven, or even Toledo, Ohio, 乐播传媒 believers turned out in force to support the Bobcats in Middletown.
鈥淲e had a huge number of traveling fans down there,鈥� Coyne recalled. 鈥淭he environment was unbelievable. We鈥檙e sitting there, and it鈥檚 louder on our side than on Wesleyan鈥檚.
鈥淎ll the parents, the alums, everybody I鈥檝e heard from over the last 24 or 36 hours, hundreds of texts. It鈥檚 really awesome and it鈥檚 a testament to these kids鈥� work ethic and what they鈥檝e put into this program.鈥�
