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

Sports History On This Day: May 6
May 6, 1954 – Great Britain’s distance-runner, Roger Bannister became the first person to record

The Story of Tony Esposito (One of the Greatest Players in NHL History)
We’ve lost another great one. Tony Esposito passed away on August 10, 2021 after

Sports History On This Day: May 5
May 5, 1863 – From the sports realm of the boxing ring. It was on this

Tim Hanlon Reminds Us There Are “GOOD SEATS STILL AVAILABLE!”
This week I bring Tim Hanlon on the show to take us back in

Sports History On This Day: May 4
May 4, 1969 – The Cincinnati Red Stockings played their first official baseball game. In

Sports History On This Day: May 3
May 3, 1910 – The Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States is renamed the National Collegiate

1970 Minnesota Vikings (Would This Be Their Year?)
Fresh off a Super Bowl appearance, many predicted the 1970 Vikings would be back

Sports History On This Day: May 2
May 2, 1920 – It may not have been as appreciated as it should have