1896 Holy Cross football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1896 Holy Cross football Independent 2–2–2 Alfred C. N. Petersen 1st John J. Finn Worcester Agricultural Fairgrounds, Worcester College Grounds The 1896 Holy Cross football team was an American football team that represented the College of the Holy Cross as an independent in the 1896 college football season. In their first year under head coach Alfred C. N. Petersen, the team compiled a 2–2–2 record. John J. Finn was the team captain.2019 Holy Cross Football Fact Book College of the Holy Cross June 15, 2020 117 https://goholycross.com/documents/2019/7/19/19-hc-fb-fb.pdf Worcester, Mass. Holy Cross' record book considers this its first season of varsity football play. It also featured the first game in the Boston College–Holy Cross football rivalry, as well as the most controversial game in the history of the rivalry – and of Holy Cross football.2019 Holy Cross Football Fact Book College of the Holy Cross June 15, 2020 81 https://goholycross.com/documents/2019/7/19/19-hc-fb-fb.pdf Worcester, Mass. BC and HC each claim to have won the November 14 rematch game, after both teams refused to follow referees' instructions following a controversial play with three minutes remaining in the game. Holy Cross was leading 6-4 when Boston College scored what its players, and a raucous home crowd, asserted was the go-ahead touchdown; Holy Cross maintained the runner had been tackled for a loss. Officials initially ruled in favor of Holy Cross, and Boston College's players protested by refusing to take the field, leading the officials to declare a 6-4 Holy Cross win. Under pressure from the South End Grounds crowd, however, they reversed their decision and asked Holy Cross, whose players were already celebrating their win, to resume play. Holy Cross refused. The game restarted with only Boston College players, who promptly scored a touchdown (then worth 4 points) to end the game with an 8-6 victory. Decades later, the two colleges continued to disagree on who had won the game.Who Won that 1896 Game Anyhow? B.C. or Holy Cross? Roger Birtwell November 22, 1953 58 Boston Sunday Globe Boston, Mass. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67734280/1896-boston-hc/ Because of the disputed win, some statisticians list Holy Cross with a 1–3–2 record in 1896. One of Holy Cross' star players this year was Louis Sockalexis, a multi-sport athlete who later found fame as the first Native American player in Major League Baseball. Holy Cross played its home games at two off-campus fields in Worcester, Massachusetts, the Worcester Agricultural Fairgrounds and the Worcester College Grounds. Schedule October 17 l 1896 Worcester Tech Engineers Worcester Tech Worcester Agricultural Fairgrounds Worcester, MA 0–10 October 24 t 1896 Boston University Terriers Boston University Worcester College Grounds Worcester, MA 0–0 500 Holy Cross and B.U. Tie October 25, 1896 8 The Sunday Post Boston, Mass. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72168102/1896-holy-cross-bu/ October 31 t Newton A.A. Worcester College Grounds Worcester, MA 0–0 Neither Side Scored November 1, 1896 2 The Boston Sunday Globe Boston, Mass. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72168350/1896-newton-hc/ November 7 l Boston College Worcester College Grounds Worcester, MA rivalry 2–6 Boston College, 6; Holy Cross, 2 November 8, 1896 4 The Boston Sunday Globe Boston, Mass. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72168723/1896-holy-cross-bc/ November 14 w yes Boston College South End Grounds Boston, MA 6–4 500 Boston College 8, Holy Cross 6 November 15, 1896 16 The Boston Sunday Globe Boston, Mass. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72169025/1896-boston-hc/ November 27 w Worcester Academy Worcester College Grounds Worcester, MA 14–0 References Holy Cross Category:Holy Cross Crusaders football seasons Holy Cross football