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Colorado College Tigers football, 1882–1899

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The Colorado College Tigers football program represented Colorado College of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The school was the first college in the Western United States to organize a college football program. This article covers the program's first two decades from 1882 to 1899.

Significant milestones in the period covered include the following:

  • In 1882, Colorado College played and won its first game, defeating a team of volunteer firemen known as the Sigafus Hose Company.[1][2]
  • On April 11, 1885, Colorado College defeated the University of Denver, 12–0, in the first college football game played west of the Mississippi River.[1][2]
  • On November 28, 1889, Colorado College lost an intercollegiate game for the first time, falling by a 14–6 score in the first of what would become 90 rivalry games with the Colorado School of Mines.
  • On November 29, 1890, Colorado College won a 44–0 victory over the first University of Colorado football team.
  • In 1898, Washburn Field opened and became the home field for Colorado College football for the next 125 years.[2]
  • In 1899 and 1900, Colorado College won consecutive Colorado Football Association championships, defeating the University of Colorado both years.

1880s

[edit]

1882

[edit]
1882 Colorado College Tigers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record2–1
Head coach
  • None
Seasons
1883 →
1882 college football records
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Yale     8 0 0
Colorado College     1 0 0
Navy     1 0 0
Richmond     1 0 0
Harvard     7 1 0
Fordham     7 1 0
Princeton     7 2 0
Wesleyan     3 1 0
Rutgers     6 4 0
Columbian University     0 0 1
Dartmouth     1 1 0
Lake Forest     1 1 0
Minnesota     1 1 0
Northwestern     1 1 0
Stevens     1 1 1
Amherst     2 3 0
Penn     2 4 0
CCNY     1 2 0
MIT     1 4 0
Randolph–Macon     0 1 0
Clifton AC     0 1 0
Lafayette     0 2 0
McGill     0 2 0
NYU     0 2 0
Massachusetts     0 3 0
Columbia     0 5 0

The 1882 Colorado College football team represented Colorado College during the 1882 college football season. In its first season of college football, the team played three games, compiling a 2–1 record, including two victories over a team of firefighters known as the Sigafus Hose Company.[3][1]

DateOpponentSiteResultSource
November 30Sigafus Hose CompanyColorado Springs, COW 10–8[3]
December 16Colorado Springs High SchoolColorado Springs, COL (score unknown)[3]
December 25Sigafus Hose CompanyColorado Springs, COW 3–2[3]

1883

[edit]
1883 Colorado College Tigers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record1–1
Head coach
Seasons
← 1882
1884 →
1883 college football records
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Yale     9 0 0
Gallaudet     2 0 0
Carleton     1 0 0
Johns Hopkins     1 0 0
NYU     1 0 0
Harvard     8 2 0
Princeton     7 1 0
Penn     6 2 1
Stevens     6 4 1
Massachusetts     1 1 0
Minnesota     1 1 0
Wesleyan     3 3 0
Williams     1 1 0
Fordham     4 5 0
Michigan     2 3 0
Lafayette     2 4 0
Johns Hopkins     1 2 0
Columbia     1 3 0
Rutgers     1 6 0
Amherst     0 1 0
Dartmouth     0 1 0
Hamline     0 1 0
Lewisburg     0 1 0
Navy     0 1 0
CCNY     0 2 0
Columbian University     0 2 0
Georgetown     0 2 0

The 1883 Colorado College football team represented Colorado College during the 1883 college football season. In its first season under head coach E. B. Curtis, the team played two games against the Crowell Hose Company and compiled a 1–1 record.[4]

DateOpponentSiteResultSource
November 27, 1883Crowell Hose CompanyColorado Springs, COL 1–2[4]
April 1, 1884Crowell Hose CompanyColorado Springs, COW 3–0[4]

1884

[edit]
1884 Colorado College Tigers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record2–0
Head coach
Seasons
← 1883
1885 →
1884 college football records
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Princeton     9 0 1
Yale     8 0 1
Michigan     2 0 0
Williams     2 0 0
Navy     1 0 0
Wabash     1 0 0
Penn     5 1 1
Fordham     5 1 0
Harvard     7 4 0
Wesleyan     3 2 0
Butler     1 1 0
Columbia     1 1 0
Rutgers     3 4 0
Stevens     4 5 0
Dartmouth     1 2 1
Tufts     2 4 1
Massachusetts     1 2 0
Lafayette     2 5 0
Johns Hopkins     1 3 0
Albion     0 1 0
CCNY     0 1 0
Denver     0 1 0
DePauw     0 1 0
Olivet     0 2 0
Amherst     0 3 0
Lehigh     0 4 0

The 1884 Colorado College football team represented Colorado College during the 1884 college football season. In its second and final season under head coach E. B. Curtis, the team played two games and compiled a 2–0 record. In its first game against a collegiate opponent, the team defeated the University of Denver by a 12–0 score on April 11, 1885.[5]

DateOpponentSiteResultSource
1884Rolling MillW 1–0[5]
April 11, 1885Denver
W 12–0[1][5]

1885

[edit]
1885 Colorado College Tigers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record2–0
Head coach
Seasons
← 1884
1886 →

The 1885 Colorado College Tigers football team represented Colorado College during the 1885 college football season. In its first season under head coach R. D. McLeod, the team played two games against non-collegiate opponents and compiled a 2–0 record.[6]

DateOpponentSiteResultSource
Colorado Springs High SchoolW 1–0[6]
Crowell Hose CompanyW 1–0[6]

1886

[edit]
1886 Colorado College Tigers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record1–0
Head coach
  • None
Seasons
← 1885
1887 →
1886 Western college football independents records
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
California     6 2 1
Colorado College     1 0 0

The 1886 Colorado College Tigers football team represented Colorado College as an independent during the 1886 college football season. The team scheduled one game against Colorado Springs High School, winning by a forfeit.

DateOpponentSiteResultSource
Colorado Springs High SchoolW 1–0 (forfeit0[7]

1889

[edit]
1889 Colorado College Tigers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record0–1
Head coach
  • None
Seasons
← 1888
1890 →
1889 Far West college football independents records
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
USC     2 0 0
California     0 0 0
Washington     0 1 0

The 1889 Colorado College Tigers football team represented Colorado College as an independent during the 1889 college football season. The team compiled a 0–1 record, losing for the first time in an intercollegiate game by a 14–6 score against the Colorado School of Mines.[8]

DateOpponentSiteResultSource
November 28Colorado MinesColorado Springs, COL 6–14[8][9]

1890s

[edit]

1890

[edit]
1890 Colorado College Tigers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record4–1
Head coach
  • None
Seasons
← 1889
1891 →
1890 Far West college football independents records
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
California     4 0 0
Washington     0 0 1
Colorado     0 4 0

The 1890 Colorado College Tigers football team represented Colorado College as an independent during the 1890 college football season. The team compiled a 4–1 record, including a 44–0 victory over 1890 Colorado Silver and Gold football team (the first team to represent the University of Colorado) on November 29, 1890.[10]

DateOpponentSiteResultSource
Colorado Springs High SchoolW 20–0
Colorado Springs High SchoolW 5–0
Denver High SchoolW 20–12
Colorado MinesL 0–44
November 29ColoradoColorado Springs, COW 44–0[10]

1891

[edit]
1891 Colorado College Tigers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record0–2
Head coach
Seasons
← 1890
1892 →
1891 Far West college football independents records
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Stanford     3 1 0
California (spring)     4 2 0
Washington     1 1 0
USC     1 2 0
Colorado     1 4 0
California     0 1 0

The 1891 Colorado College Tigers football team represented Colorado College as an independent during the 1891 college football season. In its first season under head coach George K. Olmstead, the team compiled an 0–2 record, losing to both Colorado Mines and Colorado.[11]

DateOpponentSiteResultSource
Colorado MinesL 0–18[11]
November 26ColoradoColorado Springs, COL 4–24[11]

1892

[edit]
1892 Colorado College Tigers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record2–1
Head coach
Seasons
← 1891
1893 →
1892 Far West college football independents records
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Saint Mary's     1 0 0
Utah Agricultural     1 0 0
Stanford     1 0 2
California     2 1 1
Gonzaga     0 0 1
Washington     1 1 0
San Jose State     0 1 0
Utah     0 1 0

The 1892 Colorado College Tigers football team represented Colorado College as an independent during the 1892 college football season. In its second season under head coach George K. Olmstead, the team compiled a 2–1 record.[12]

DateOpponentSiteResultSource
Colorado Hose BoysL 0–14[12]
Colorado Springs High SchoolW 34–0[12]
Colorado Springs High School W 18–14[12]

1894

[edit]
1894 Colorado College Tigers football
ConferenceColorado Football Association
Record1–1 (0–1 CFA)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1893
1895 →
1894 Colorado Football Association standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Colorado $ 5 0 0 8 1 0
Colorado Mines 1 2 0 1 2 0
Denver 1 3 0 1 3 0
Colorado College 0 1 0 1 2 0
Colorado Agricultural 0 1 0 0 1 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1894 Colorado College Tigers football team represented Colorado College as a member of the Colorado Football Association (CFA) during the 1894 college football season. In its first and only season under head coach Harvey Noble, the team compiled a 1–1 record (0–1 against CFA opponents), outscored opponents by a total of 20 to 8, and tied for last place in the CFA.[13]

DateOpponentSiteResultSource
November 14Pueblo High SchoolColorado Springs, COW 20–0[13]
November 16DenverColorado Springs, COL 0–8[13]

1895

[edit]
1895 Colorado College Tigers football
ConferenceColorado Football Association
Record1–2–1 (0–2–1 CFA)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1894
1896 →
1895 Colorado Football Association standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Colorado $ 3 0 0 5 1 0
Colorado Mines 1 1 0 1 1 0
Denver 0 1 1 0 3 2
Colorado College 0 2 1 1 2 1
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1895 Colorado College Tigers football team represented Colorado College as a member of the Colorado Football Association (CFA) during the 1895 college football season. In its second and final season under head coach R. D. McLeod, the team compiled a 1–2–1 record, finished in last place in the CFA, and were outscored by a total of 82 to 32.[14]

DateOpponentSiteResultSource
Colorado Springs High School*Colorado Springs, COW 18–0[14]
Colorado MinesL 0–40
November 16ColoradoColorado Springs, COL 10–38
November 30DenverColorado Springs, COT 4–4[14]
  • *Non-conference game

1896

[edit]
1896 Colorado College Tigers football
ConferenceColorado Football Association
Record3–3–1 (0–2 CFA)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1895
1897 →
1896 Colorado Football Association standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Colorado $ 2 0 0 5 0 0
Colorado Mines 1 1 0 1 2 0
Colorado College 0 2 0 3 4 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1896 Colorado College Tigers football team represented Colorado College as a member of the Colorado Football Association (CFA) during the 1896 college football season. In its first and only season under head coach Pope Lamson, the team compiled a 3–3–1 record (0–2 against conference opponents), finished in last place in the CFA, and were outscored by a total of 102 to 44.[15]

DateOpponentSiteResultSource
October 24Denver East High SchoolColorado Springs, COW 6–4[15]
October 31at Pueblo High SchoolPueblo, COT 6–6[15]
November 3Denver Athletic ClubColorado Springs, COL 0–24[15]
November 14at ColoradoBoulder, COL 0–50[15]
November 18Pikes Peak RoadstersColorado Springs, COW 18–0[15]
November 21DenverColorado Springs, COW 12–0[15]
November 26Colorado MinesColorado Springs, COL 2–18[15]

1897

[edit]
1897 Colorado College Tigers football
ConferenceColorado Football Association
Record3–5 (0–2 CFA)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1896
1898 →
1897 Colorado Football Association standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Colorado $ 2 0 0 7 1 0
Colorado Mines 1 1 0 2 2 0
Colorado College 0 2 0 3 5 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1897 Colorado College Tigers football team represented Colorado College as a member of the Colorado Football Association (CFA) during the 1897 college football season. In its first and only season under head coach Browning Smith, the team compiled a 3–5 record (0–2 against conference opponents) and finished in last place in the CFA.[16]

DateOpponentSiteResultSource
Colorado Springs High SchoolColorado Springs, COL 0–6
Pueblo Centennial High SchoolW 60–0
Pueblo High SchoolW 24–0
October 17ColoradoColorado Springs, COL 0–8[16]
Denver Athletic ClubL 0–28
Colorado MinesL 0–30
November 16Ottawa (KS)Colorado Springs, COW 5–4[17]

1898

[edit]
1898 Colorado College Tigers football
ConferenceColorado Football Association
Record5–1–1 (1–1 CFA)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1897
1899 →
1898 Colorado Football Association standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Colorado Mines $ 2 0 0 8 0 0
Colorado College 1 1 0 5 1 1
Colorado 0 2 0 4 4 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1898 Colorado College Tigers football team represented Colorado College as a member of the Colorado Football Association (CFA) during the 1898 college football season. In its first and only season under head coach Charles Wilson, the team compiled a 5–1–1 record (1–1 against conference opponents), finished in second place in the CFA, shut out six of seven opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 129 to 6.[18]

DateOpponentSiteResultSource
October 1Denver North High School*Colorado Springs, COW 24–0[18]
October 22ColoradoColorado Springs, COW 22–0[18]
Denver Wheel Club*W 11–0[18]
Denver Athletic Club*W 5–0[18]
Denver Athletic Club*T 0–0[18]
November 25Colorado MinesL 2–6[18]
Denver*W 65–0[18]
  • *Non-conference game

1899

[edit]
1899 Colorado College Tigers football
CFA champion
ConferenceColorado Football Association
Record3–2–1 (2–0 CFA)
Head coach
Home stadiumWashburn Field
Seasons
← 1898
1900 →
1899 Colorado Football Association standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Colorado College $ 2 0 0 3 2 1
Colorado 2 1 0 7 2 0
Colorado Mines 1 2 0 2 3 0
Colorado Agricultural 0 2 0 0 2 1
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1899 Colorado College Tigers football team represented Colorado College as a member of the Colorado Football Association (CFA) during the 1899 college football season. In its first and only season under head coach John Clark, the team compiled a 3–2–1 record (2–0 against conference opponents), won the CFA championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 96 to 28.[19]

DateOpponentSiteResultSource
October 7Denver East High School*W 41–0[19]
October 14Denver Athletic Club*Denver, COL 10–5 (forfeit)[20][19]
October 21Denver Wheel Club*
  • Washburn Field
  • Colorado Springs, CO
T 6–6[19]
November 4Denver Wheel Club*
  • Washburn Field
  • Colorado Springs, CO
L 5–12[19]
November 22at ColoradoBoulder, COW 17–5[19]
November 30Colorado Mines
  • Washburn Field
  • Colorado Springs, CO
W 17–0[19]
  • *Non-conference game

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Colorado College Football History". Colorado College Athletics. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "What happened to football at Colorado College?". The Catalyst. October 28, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "1882 Colorado College". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "1883 Colorado College". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "1884 Colorado College". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c "1885 Colorado College". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  7. ^ "1886 Colorado College". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "1889 Colorado College". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  9. ^ "1889 Football Schedule - Colorado School of Mines Athletics".
  10. ^ a b "1890 Colorado College". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c "1891 Colorado College". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d "1892 Colorado College". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  13. ^ a b c "1894 Colorado College". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  14. ^ a b c "1895 Colorado College". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h "1896 Colorado College". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  16. ^ a b "1897 Colorado College". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  17. ^ "Colorado College, 5; Ottawa, 4". The Chicago Tribune. November 17, 1897. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h "1898 Colorado College". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g "1899 Colorado College". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  20. ^ Colorado walked off the field in protest of the referee's call with five minutes remaining in the game.