YALE UNIVERSITY
TRADITIONS

THE BEGINNING - Founded in 1701 by ten Connecticut Congregational clergymen, the Collegiate School humbly began in a single wooden building located in the town of Killingworth (now Clinton). By 1718, the college had been moved to New Haven, the first building had been completed with funds from Elihu Yale, and the name of the college had been changed from Collegiate School to Yale College. "From an original graduating class of one student, a faculty consisting of the rector and one tutor, and a single wooden building, Yale has matured into one of the world's greatest universities . . . . Yet for all its size and scope, Yale retains a deep respect for its early history and for the continuity that its history provides--a continuity based on the striving for excellence that is Yale's proudest tradition." 1

 


THE IVY LEAGUE - The Ivy League unofficially began in 1945, when the group's leaders drafted the "Ivy Group Agreement". This document established league rules pertaining to financial aid, eligibility requirements, and academic standards. While this agreement applied only to the football programs of each university, the signing of it established an alliance between the schools that are now a part of "The Ancient Eight"--Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, UPenn, and Yale.


THE GAME - The first game between Harvard and Yale was played on November 13, 1875. Harvard won that first contest 4 goals to none. After 116 meetings, Yale now leads the overall series 63-45-8.

 


HANDSOME DAN - In 1889, Yale Football tackle Andrew Graves purchased a bulldog from a New Haven blacksmith for $5.00. the dog was led across the field before football and baseball games, and was famed for his ferociousness. "The Philadelphia Press recalled that 'a favorite trick was to tell him to "Speak to Harvard". He would bark ferociously and work himself into physical contortions of rage never before dreamed of by a dog.'"2 The current University mascot, Louis, is the fifteenth Handsome Dan to grace the Yale Bowl with his beauty and charisma.

 


FIGHT SONGS - Played at the beginning of every game, and after every Yale touchdown, Cole Porter's "Bulldog" is the song most commonly associated with Yale football. Another popular fight song named "Down the Field" is played at the end of each game to celebrate Yale victories. Click here to hear these songs and more!


1 http://www.yale.edu/admit/history.html
2 http://www.yale.edu/athletic/mas.html