August 3, 1852 – It was the first American intercollegiate sporting event that had ever taken place. The Harvard heavyweight rowing crew competed against their rivals Yale on Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire. Harvard triumphed by 2 lengths in over 2 miles over the Eli rowing group.
This started the competitive athletic rivalry between the two Eastern Universities. Most famously the football rivalry between the schools dates back to 1875 and is the second-oldest rivalry in college football, but as we see these two were rivals long before that.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
Exploring the Years of Ultimate Futility (1970s NFL)
There were four years where pro football fans got to witness several examples of
The History of the Olympic Games: From Ancient Greece to the Modern Era
The Olympic Games are one of the most significant sporting events in the world,
The History Of Sports Explained
The dictionary definition of sport, according to Oxford Languages is ‘an activity involving physical
Historic Rivalries: Yankees vs. Red Sox Showdowns
The storied rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox extends
The 1977 Denver Broncos and The “Orange Crush Defense”
Whenever football fans talk about great teams of the past that failed in their
How UK Horse Racing Has Evolved Over The Last 100 Years
There are few more historic sports in the world than horse racing, with the
The Impact of Sports on College Students’ Academic Success
Whether or not sports participation affects the academic life of college students is a
1972 Olympics Revisited (Weightlifting Medal Winners)
Weightlifting at the 1972 Olympics occurred in Munich, Germany, from August 27 to Sept.6.