1888 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1888 North Carolina Tar Heels football IndependentNorth Carolina Inter-Collegiate Football Association (spring 1889) NCIFA 1–3 1–1 Hector Cowan (spring 1889) 1st Bob Bingham Steve BragawTimm 2023 197 Campus Athletic Field (I) none The 1888 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina (referred to as "the University" or "Chapel Hill" in media at the time) in the 1888 college football season.UNC N The school was referred to as "The University" or "Chapel Hill" in various contemporary newspapers and magazines at the time. The Tar Heels played four games, two in the fall of 1888 and two in March 1889, with a final record of 1–3. This was the first season the university fielded a football team. The team captains for the 1888 season were Bob Bingham and Steve Bragaw. The game against Wake Forest on October 18, 1888 was the first in the state, and the game against Trinity several weeks later, on November 29, was the first "scientific" game in the state. Princeton star Hector Cowan traveled south at the beginning of 1889, and trained the team for ten days, prior to the team's games in March, and was paid $300, which was collected by the student body for that purpose.Worman 1895 261The News and Observer Under the Dome https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/134054330/ October 25, 2023 January 31, 1937 2 Newspapers.com Schedule October 18 Thursday 3:00 p.m. l y Wake Forest State Fairgrounds (II) Raleigh, NC rivalry 4–6 November 29 Thanksgiving Day 3:00 p.m. Trinity Wins The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC) December 1, 1888 https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84024516/1888-12-01/ed-1/seq-1/ 20 February 2024 l y Trinity (NC) Base Ball Park Raleigh, NC rivalry 0–16 600The Duke Chronicle Duke-Carolina Grid Rivalry Dates Back to the Eighties Bill Schuchardt https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84024516/1888-11-25/ed-1/seq-6.pdf 6 August 2022 November 14, 1941 5 October 25, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231025165943/https://dukelibraries.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/api/collection/p15957coll13/id/69384/page/0/inline/p15957coll13_69384_0 March 1, 1889 4:00 p.m. w y Wake Forest Athletic Park Raleigh, NC 33–0 500Joe Bray A Century of Carolina Football https://goheels.com/news/1999/8/1/205475046.aspx August 8, 1999 August 23, 2023 GoHeels.com The University of North Carolina https://web.archive.org/web/20231025164747/https://goheels.com/news/1999/8/1/205475046.aspx October 25, 2023 live March 8, 1889 2:45 p.m. l y Trinity (NC) Athletic Park Raleigh, NC 17–25 700Sumner 1988 274 1888 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE https://goheels.com/sports/football/schedule/1888 1 December 20201889 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE https://goheels.com/sports/football/schedule/1889 1 December 2020 Football at the University American football started spreading to North Carolina college campuses in the 1880s.Sumner 1988 265 In late 1883, a team of seniors and freshman squared off against a team composed of sophomores and juniors and won.Sumner 1988 265 In 1886, The University Magazine wrote that "football now reigns supreme as the king of winter sports" on UNC's campus.Johnson Long Weeks Dockery 1887 101Sumner 1988 265 In the yearly game between the Seniors and Freshman against the Sophomores and Juniors on October 30, 1886, the Seniors and Freshman easily beat the opposing side.Johnson Long Weeks Dockery 1887 101 & 108 In 1887 fall, students began practicing football well in advance of the inter-class game that was held on October 7, 1887, in which the Seniors and Freshman beat the Sophomores and Juniors.Hester Lewis Valentine Egerton 1888 26 The school's football team had scheduled a game with the Binghamites on Thanksgiving 1887, but that was cancelled due to an "unavoidable cause."Hester Lewis Valentine Egerton 1888 76 Instead, the Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies played three games, with the Phis besting the Dis in the series 2–1.Hester Lewis Valentine Egerton 1888 76 In 1888, The University Magazine wrote that the sophomore class team was "getting ready to challenge anything that walks – their usual attitude."Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1888 34 The magazine further mentioned a tournament that would take place between six fraternities following the North Carolina State Fair.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1888 34 Season summary true #FFFFF0 center 30% right Decidedly one of the most interesting features of the whole fair was the game of foot ball yesterday between Wake Forest and Chapel Hill, resulting in a victory for Wake Forest. The game was exciting and was played by excellent teams on both sides. It was witnessed by a tremendous crowd. The players were uniformed and were a skilled and active set of boys. The News and Observer reflecting on the October 18th Wake Forest-North Carolina gameThe News and Observer [untitled] https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/134000914/ October 25, 2023 October 19, 1888 4 Newspapers.com The News and Observer [untitled] https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wilmington-messenger/134009946/ October 25, 2023 October 20, 1888 1 Newspapers.com The first ever inter-collegiate football game in North Carolina and the first ever game for the university football team came against Wake Forest at the North Carolina State Fair on October 18 at 3:00 p.m local time.UNC NThe News and Observer Beats the Records – The Attendance at the Fair Yesterday https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/134000608/ October 25, 2023 October 18, 1888 4 Newspapers.com The News and Observer The State Fair is The Farmers' Special Holiday https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/134000777/ October 25, 2023 October 14, 1888 1 Newspapers.com Each team had 15 members and the field was 300 feet long by 100 feet wide and took place in front of the fair's grand stand. Wake Forest brought a team representing their whole school, while the North Carolina's team was composed of only their sophomore class.Sumner 1988 265 The game utilized "a set of improvised rules" per for The University Magazine.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1888 85 Chapel Hill won the first game of three, the Wake Forest Student wrote that North Carolina won the game because "... our boys played under two new rules and had the disadvantage in position of their goal."Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1888 85 Wake Forest proceeded to win the second and third games quickly, "once they caught on to their opponent's dodges."Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1888 85 The writers for The University Magazine retorted that "there were many more rules which were strange to the University than to the Wake Forest team."Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1888 85 They further wrote that most of the third party witnesses to the game, felt North Carolina was more organized and ran better.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1888 85 In late October, following Wake Forest-UNC, The News and Observer wrote that interest in football was growing in the area and a Carolina student wrote in and stated a football "association" had started recently with 89 members.The News and Observer Foot Ball Coming to the Front https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/134000472/ October 25, 2023 October 28, 1888 4 Newspapers.com Funds had been allocated to the group in order to equip and "keep up a team in suitable style," while more money was needed to order uniforms. He wrote of the goal to help establish an inter-collegiate state league to help "make the Old North State still prouder of her boys." In response to this letter from a UNC student, a Trinity student crafted a letter to The News and Observer on October 30 stating Trinity had first started to organize an association for football in January 1888 and hoped for an inter-collegiate state league then.The News and Observer Football https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/134001616/ October 25, 2023 November 1, 1888 4 Newspapers.com In that same letter, the student announced that a game was scheduled to be played in Greensboro, North Carolina on Thanksgiving Day.Sumner 1988 269 Excitement was growing around football "everywhere" as the game against Trinity approached.The News and Observer The Event in Foot-Ball https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/134007875/ October 25, 2023 November 18, 1888 4 Newspapers.com The game was moved to a baseball park in Raleigh and a large crowd was expected to come. In preparation, Trinity purchased uniforms for over $100. The next game organized for the university came against Trinity on November 29 on Thanksgiving Day at 2:30 PM local time in what was referred to as the first "scientific" game of football.Winston-Salem Journal Trinity To Have College Football Season https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal/134055016/ October 25, 2023 July 25, 1920 5 Newspapers.com The News and Observer The American Game of Foot-Ball John F. Orowell https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/134001460/ October 25, 2023 November 27, 1888 1 Newspapers.com The teams utilized the American Inter-collegiate Association's rules.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1888 85 In front of an estimated crowd of 600,Sumner 1988 269 Chapel Hill won the toss.The News and Observer Trinity Wins https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/134007804/ October 25, 2023 December 1, 1888 1 Newspapers.com It took nearly twenty minutes for Trinity scored the first touchdown with Durham S. and they made the goal after .Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1888 86 Prior to halftime, Trinity's Daniels scored another touchdown and goal after before the university team maintained the ball in Trinity's half but could not score before time ran out. Going into the ten minute halftime, Trinity led 12–0. Chapel Hill got the ball after kicking off to start the second half, but could not manage to score, missing a potential 5-point drop kick by "a few feet."Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1888 86 Trinity scored one last touchdown, but missed the goal after touchdown bringing the score to 16–0, which proved to be the last.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1888 86 Despite having some good runs, North Carolina showed good sportsmanship after the loss as they "... gave three cheers for Trinity which were returned with a will."Sumner 1988 269 North Carolina's Geo. Graham was thought by The University Magazine to be the best all-around player of the game, while Trinity felt their team captain Johnson was just as good.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1888 86 As a whole The News and Observer wrote that play by both sides was "excellent," but Trinity played better and, particularly, their half-backs "sacrificed personal plays for the benefit of team work." The paper noted Daniels and Rahders of Trinity, along with Graham of university were the stand outs.Sumner 1988 269 Formation of the North Carolina Inter-Collegiate Football Association Later that day following the Trinity–University game, officials from Trinity College, Wake Forest College, and met in Raleigh, North Carolina and formed the North Carolina Inter-Collegiate Football Association (NCIFA).Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1888 85The News and Observer The Game of Foot-Ball Thursday Between Trinity College and Chapel Hill https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84024516/1888-11-25/ed-1/seq-6.pdf 6 August 2022 November 25, 1888 6 October 24, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231024162121/https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84024516/1888-11-25/ed-1/seq-6.pdf The first NCIFA president was announced to be Trinity's J. F. Jones, while W. C. Down of Wake Forest and S. C. Bragaw of Chapel Hill were named secretary and treasurer, respectively.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1888 85 The constitution that was agreed upon was based on the American Inter-collegiate Association's own constitution.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1888 85 Wake Forest's team and North Carolina's sophomore class team, which Wake Forest won 2 scores to 1.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1888 85 The game which featured a best of three format, Chapel Hill won the first game and Wake Forest the next two.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1888 85 The writers for "The University Magazine" wrote that the game featured two new rules the North Carolina team did not use prior and felt the games were "unfair."Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1888 85 A stipulation of the new association is that each team would play one game with each of the other teams in the group and the team that won the largest number of games will be the champion.The News and Observer The Foot Ball Association https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/134008997/ October 25, 2023 February 13, 1889 4 Newspapers.com The 1889 Inter-collegiate Football Association was to be played in February 1889 with one game on the 18th and 22nd. The first game was to between Wake Forest and UNC, while the second was between Trinity and Wake Forest. Both games were to be played in Raleigh. By February 13, the game between Trinity and UNC had not been scheduled. The Wake Forest-Chapel Hill game was highly anticipated and both teams were reported to be putting in good practice. Governor Fowle was hoping to attend the match, but had to leave for New Bern, North Carolina instead.The Charlotte Observer The Governor's Fondness for Foot-ball https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer/134009750/ October 25, 2023 February 19, 1889 3 Newspapers.com Due to weather on February 17, the Wake Forest-Chapel Hill football game on February 18 was postponed.The Tobacco Plant News from the State Capitol https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tobacco-plant/134009669/ October 25, 2023 February 18, 1889 4 Newspapers.com The Tobacco Plant News from the State Capitol https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tobacco-plant/134009636/ October 25, 2023 February 20, 1889 4 Newspapers.com Despite Trinity's teams showing up, their match against Wake Forest was postponed due to nine inches of snow that had fallen since the night before.The News and Observer The Game Postponed https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/134009539/ October 25, 2023 February 23, 1889 4 Newspapers.com The Wilmington Messenger The Beautiful Snow https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wilmington-messenger/134009444/ October 25, 2023 February 23, 1889 1 Newspapers.com The Wilmington Messenger wrote that "University and Wake Forest College teams was again necessarily postponed." The game between Wake Forest and Chapel Hill, the first game of the NCIFA, took place on Friday March 1, 1889 at 4:00 PM local time at the "Athletic Grounds" in Raleigh, where the university team won 33–0 in front of a crowd of around 500 people.The News and Observer An Exciting Game of Foot Ball Between Chapel Hill and Wake Forest https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/134053402/ October 25, 2023 March 2, 1889 4 Newspapers.com The Charlotte Observer North Carolina Notes https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer/134009079/ October 25, 2023 March 7, 1889 2 Newspapers.com The Wilmington Messenger Messenger Bureau https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wilmington-messenger/134009180/ October 25, 2023 March 3, 1889 1 Newspapers.com Greensboro North State [untitled] https://www.newspapers.com/article/greensboro-north-state/134009265/ October 25, 2023 March 7, 1889 1 Newspapers.com Chapel Hill began in a V formation and gained 25 yards on the first play.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1889 184 Bragaw scored a touchdown, but Graham missed the point after goal as the game reached 15 minutes played, making the score 4–0. North Carolina scored again with Rhem and made the point after to get six points. Wake Forest managed to push the ball into the university's territory, but failed to score. Bragaw scored another touchdown and Graham missed the point after. There were no more scores before halftime, leaving the score 14–0. Wake Forest got the ball at the start of the second half and drove into the university's half. However, they could not advance and even were pushed back into their own half and eventually scored a safety, bring the score to 16–0. North Carolina's Graham made a 40-yard drop kick to get another five points. Wake Forest scored a safety again and Carolina's Howell and Bragaw followed with a touchdown apiece, with Graham only making one goal after touchdown between the two scores.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1889 184 The final score was 33–0.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1889 184 The News and Observer wrote that Wake Forest was "out witted at every point," especially with the V formation that was used by the Chapel Hill team.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1889 183–4 North Carolina's Bragaw had great runs, while George Graham kicked well.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1889 184 Wake Forest's Dowd played the well, but "had no support."Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1889 184 Governor Daniel Gould Fowle and Wake Forest President Taylor were in attendance. The News and Observer wrote that North Carolina was "well-trained," great at their respective positions, and heavier than Wake Forest. The Trinity-Chapel Hill game was expected the following Friday, March 8. Trinity and North Carolina played another game at the "Athletic Grounds" in Raleigh at 2:30 PM local time, large crowds were expected and the field was reported as dry.The News and Observer [untitled] https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/134008923/ October 25, 2023 March 8, 1889 4 Newspapers.com The News and Observer The Most Exciting Contest That Has Ever Occurred in North Carolina - A Strong Pushing Game By Strong Teams https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/134053135/ October 25, 2023 March 9, 1889 4 Newspapers.com The teams were thought to be well matched and the best game of the season was expected. Due to the late arriving crowd, which totaled roughly 700 in number, the game started at 2:45 PM. Trinity won the coin toss and chose to receive, which let North Carolina chose the goal. Trinity started off with the ball and assembled in a V formation, which was stopped by North Carolina.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1889 184 The university obtained the ball from a fumble and got the ball close to the goal line.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1889 184 Before three minutes of game time elapsed, Graham scored touchdown, but failed to get the point after goal.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1889 184 Nearly two minutes later, Bragaw became injured in a play near the Trinity goal line and had to withdraw from the game, he was tackled by Trinity's Daniels and his own teammate Murphy "jumped on them and crushed them to the ground."Bragaw N The University Magazine wrote that Bragaw broke his right leg,Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1889 184 while The Progressive Farmer wrote that he dislocated his ankle.The Progressive Farmer [untitled] https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-progressive-farmer/134009308/ October 25, 2023 March 12, 1889 3 Newspapers.com This caused the university's Little to move from guard to half-back and Snipes moved in on the line to replace Little.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1889 184 Graham scored two more touch downs without making any goals after touchdown to make the score 12–0 in North Carolina's favor.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1889 184 The university stopped Trinity short of their goal and prevented a score and obtained possession of the ball, they proceeded to move down the field and score by way of a drop kick adding another 5 points.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1889 184 With limited time left in the half, Trinity gradually pushed until Crowell was able to score a touchdown, but Durham missed the goal after.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1889 184 The score going into half time was 17–4 in favor of North Carolina. After the university failed with the V formation to open the second half and gained around 15 yards before being pushed back. Trinity primarily had possession of the ball for the second half.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1889 184 Trinity's Durham scored three touchdowns (of which only one made a point after goal) and the university had one safety to make the score 20–17 in favor of Trinity. Trinity's Durham made field kick as the game's time expired making the final score 25–17.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1889 184 The University Magazine noted that Trinity attempted to run the ball around ends to open the game and was unsuccessful, then they switched to pushing the ball and made all their scores by pushing through North Carolina's center.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1889 184 The magazine stated that switching Little from the guard position hurt the university's team and ability to stop the pushing through and felt the loss came due to Bragaw's injury.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1889 184 The News and Observer wrote that it was "one of the great games every played in the South." Aftermath and legacy The University Magazine wrote that a man from Princeton University was coming to Chapel Hill to instruct the boys on football.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1889 233 The final game of the association was played between Wake Forest and Trinity on March 29, where Wake Forest won 32–0.The Charlotte Observer [untitled] https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer/134009127/ October 25, 2023 March 31, 1889 1 Newspapers.com After the completion of the game, the three-game "championship series" was done and six total games were played, with each team having a victory.The Wilmington Messenger Honors Even With The Foot Ball Clubs https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wilmington-messenger/134009222/ October 25, 2023 March 31, 1889 1 Newspapers.com With this final result, the first season of the football association was undecided with each team winning a game.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1889 236–7 Trinity scored a total of 25 points, Wake Forest: 32, and the university: 50.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1889 237 NCIFA president Jones received word that Greensboro was finishing their grounds and could host football games in favor of Raleigh, where prices were higher.Harris Howell Battle Hammond 1889 237 See also List of the first college football game in each US state References Footnotes N Citations Bibliography https://ia801402.us.archive.org/17/items/northcarolinauni18881889/northcarolinauni18881889.pdf Harris Hunter L. Howell Logan D. Battle Wm. Jas. Hammond Walter M. VIII I–II The University Magazine 1888 1888 Edwards, Broughton & Co., Steam Printers and Binders Raleigh, North Carolina Internet Archive https://ia801402.us.archive.org/17/items/northcarolinauni18881889/northcarolinauni18881889.pdf Harris Hunter L. Howell Logan D. Battle Wm. Jas. Hammond Walter M. VIII I–IV The University Magazine 1889 1889 Edwards, Broughton & Co., Steam Printers and Binders Raleigh, North Carolina Internet Archive https://ia802907.us.archive.org/4/items/northcarolinauni18871888/northcarolinauni18871888.pdff Hester St. Clair Lewis H. W. Valentine T. W. Egerton M. W. VII I The University Magazine 1888 Philanthropic and Dialectic Societies Chapel Hill, North Carolina Internet Archive https://ia802901.us.archive.org/28/items/northcarolinauni18861887/northcarolinauni18861887.pdf Johnson Jacob C. Long Vernon W. Weeks Stephen B. Dockery Claudius VI I The University Magazine 1886 1887 University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, North Carolina Internet Archive https://ia800205.us.archive.org/7/items/hellenianserial1890univ/hellenianserial1890univ.pdf Martin E. W. The Hellenian 1890 North Carolina University Raleigh, North Carolina Internet Archive Sumner Jim L. 1988 The North Carolina Inter-Collegiate Foot-Ball Association: The Beginnings of College Football in North Carolina https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/23518857.pdf October 23, 2023 The North Carolina Historical Review 65 3 263–286 23518857 https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/unc.sidearmsports.com/documents/2023/7/26/2023_UNC_Media_Guide.5.pdf Timm Tyler Carolina Football Media Guide 2023 2023 North Carolina Athletic Communications Department Chapel Hill, North Carolina live https://web.archive.org/web/20231026132135/https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/unc.sidearmsports.com/documents/2023/7/26/2023_UNC_Media_Guide.5.pdf October 26, 2023 https://books.google.com/books?id=sJNAAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA261 Football in the South Worman James H. XXV Outing 1895 The Outing Company, Ltd. New York City, NY Google Books North Carolina Category:North Carolina Tar Heels football seasons North Carolina Tar Heels football