127 Years Ago Today In Rutgers Football History

[Source]

The first game of the Big Ten Conference was October 17, 1896 when the league was known as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives. It was later known as the Western Conference and the Big Nine. Minnesota defeated Purdue 14-0 at Minneapolis. Meanwhile, Rutgers defeated Haverford 6-2 at Neilson Field on campus that day.

In 1896 scoring rules:
4 points = touchdown
2 points = goal after touchdown
5 points = field goal
2 points = safety (awarded to the defense)

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

Michigan's fight song was written in 1898.. including teh phrase "champions of the west". Western Conference... now it makes more sense.

 

[Source]

Michigan's fight song was written in 1898.. including teh phrase "champions of the west". Western Conference... now it makes more sense.

Believe it or not, in 1896, college teams in places like Michigan were considered in the "west."

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

Believe it or not, in 1896, college teams in places like Michigan were considered in the "west."

Well. I always assumed thta was what the song meant.. but to actually have them in a conference named "Western Conference".. that is a bit more literal interpretation of "Champions of the West"...where the abbreviation to "west" fit the song better than "Champions of the westernconference"