1882 College Football Summary

Early college football games were played without lights; thus teams could be playing as the sun was setting and still no winner being determined.

This brought about a new rule being added to the books. The referee was given authority to call a game when it was too dark to finish. He was also put in charge of seeing that a team made the necessary yards for a first down.

Because of the delay tactics of perennial powers Princeton and Yale; a new system was instituted a Series of Downs; which was passed during a special session of the Spring Rules' Committee meetings.

Even with all of the changes; scoring was still done by goals and touchdowns with a twist.

Four touchdowns were equal to a single goal; while a goal after touchdown held a higher value than 4 touchdowns!

What?

Rivals Harvard and Princeton battled to a scoreless tie; however, because the latter was forced into making 2 safeties, Harvard was declared the winner.

This brought more on more arguments; as well as scoring changes that would be enacted a year later.

A 65-yard punt return by D. Morgan highlighted the Princeton 8-goals, 11-touchdown, 1-safety over Pennsylvania.

A few games later, Harvard would score the same manner and distance; with F.A. Mason going the distance in his team's victory.

In the season finale between rivals Princeton and Yale both schools had scored a goal and so the score remained till late in the game.

J.T. Haxall drilled the longest-recorded goal from the field at 65; a distance that would be held through the test of time or was it.

The long kick not traveled distance on the field; but would also make its way into through timeless recording of history as the mark to beat and through 1914 it was.

Haxall's successful kick gave a Yale a spotless 9-0 mark; along with Harvard and Princeton saw the three schools combined for a 23-3 record, clearly dominating the Intercollegiate Football Association.

Princeton's Alexander "Tinniebits" Moffatt converted 32 goals from the field.

Leaders (min. of 4 games) Show:

• Offensive Scoring Leader (Most Scored)
  Yale (8-0-0) 52 Goals, 22 Touchdowns 13 Safeties; converted to 265 Points
• Defensive Scoring Leader (Least Allowed)
  Yale (8-0-0) 1 Goals, 1 Touchdowns 5 Safeties; converted to 11 Points
• National Champions (Retroactive)
  Yale (8-0-0)
• Intercollegiate Football Association Standings
  

Writer R.M. Hodge/The Outing Magazine named Yale National Champion.

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