| Yale Bulldogs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Current season: 2025 Yale Bulldogs
| |||
| |||
| First season | 1872 | ||
| Head coach | Tony Reno | ||
| 12th year, 74–46–0 (.617) | |||
| Home stadium | Yale Bowl | ||
| Year built | 1914 | ||
| Stadium capacity | 61,446 | ||
| Stadium surface | Grass (1914-2018) FieldTurf (2019-present) | ||
| Location | New Haven, CT | ||
| Conference | Ivy League | ||
| All-time history | |||
| Template:Yale Bulldogs history | |||
| All-time record | 944–393–55 (.698) | ||
| Postseason bowl record | 0–0–0 (.000) | ||
| Claimed national titles | 27 | ||
| Conference titles | 18 | ||
| Rivalries | Harvard (rivalry) Princeton (rivarly) LeHigh (rivalry) | ||
| Heisman winners | Larry Kelley - 1936 Clint Frank - 1937 | ||
| Consensus All-Americans | 100 | ||
| Colors | Yale blue and White
| ||
| Fight song | "Bulldog" | ||
| Mascot | Handsome Dan | ||
| Website | yalebulldogs.com | ||
The Yale Bulldogs football team represents Yale University located in New Haven, Connecticut. The Bulldogs are a member of the NCAA FCS Ivy League and play their home games at the Yale Bowl in West Haven, Connecticut. Their main rival is the Harvard Crimson. The Bulldogs are currently coached by Tony Reno.
History[]
The Bulldogs were the dominant team in the early days of intercollegiate football, winning 27 college football national championships, including 26 in 38 years between 1872 and 1909. Walter Camp, known as the "Father of Football," graduated from Hopkins Grammar School in 1876, and played college football at Yale College from 1876 to 1882. He later served as the head football coach at Yale from 1888 to 1892. It was Camp who pioneered the fundamental transition of American football from rugby when in 1880, he succeeded in convincing the Intercollegiate Football Association to discontinue the rugby "scrum," and instead have players line up along a "line of scrimmage" for individual plays, which begin with the snap of the ball and conclude with the tackling of the ballcarrier. In 1916, against the advisement of coach Tad Jones, Yale quarterback Chester J. LaRoche (1918s) helped lead the Yale team in a win against Princeton by turning the momentum of the game with a fourth-down call in the huddle to go for first down rather than punt. The team made the down and went on to win the game in one of Yale's greatest victories in its history. LaRoche went on to spearhead the creation of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame.
By the 1940s, however, Yale's success in football had waned at the national level. The famed sportswriter Grantland Rice wrote that Yale, along with Harvard and Princeton, was one of the top teams in the late 19th and early 20th century. However, "It was has been a different story in the later years when the far west, the midwest, the southwest, and the south have taken charge as Harvard, Yale, and Princeton fell behind."
Formation of the Ivy League[]
When the Ivy League athletic conference was formed in 1955, conference rules prohibited post-season play in football. While Yale had always abstained from post-season play, other member schools had participated in bowls before, and the new policy further insulated Yale and the Ivy League from the national spotlight.
NCAA Division I subdivision split[]
The NCAA decided to split Division I into two subdivisions in 1978, then called I-A for larger schools, and I-AA for the smaller ones. The NCAA had devised the split, in part, with the Ivy League in mind, but the conference did not move down for four seasons despite the fact that there were many indications that the ancient eight were on the wrong side of an increasing disparity between the big and small schools. In 1982, the NCAA created a rule that stated a program's average attendance must be at least 15,000 to qualify for I-A membership. This forced the conference's hand, as only some of the member schools met the attendance qualification. Choosing to stay together rather than stand their ground separately in the increasingly competitive I-A subdivision, the Ivy League moved down into I-AA starting with the 1982 season.
Stadiums[]
Culture[]
Boola Boola[]
"Boola Boola" is a football song of Yale University. It has enjoyed widespread popularity over the years and has been adapted to many other uses. Despite its popularity, it is not Yale's official fight song, which is "Bull Dog", by Cole Porter.
The song in its present form was composed in 1900 and is generally attributed to Allan M. Hirsh, Yale Class of 1901, who in a 1930 letter claimed to have written it in collaboration with his classmates F. M. Van Wicklen, Albert Marckwald, and James L. Boyce in the fall of 1900. Though the claim was disputed by Marckwald – who was credited with the tune in the 1901 Class Book – and others, the weight of the evidence, including several articles in the Yale Alumni Weekly from 1900 and 1901, supports Hirsh's claim.
Lyrics[]
Boola boola, boola boola, boola boola, boola, boola
Oh when we're through with those poor fellows
They will holler boola, boo
Rah, rah!
Oh Yale, Eli Yale
Oh Yale, Eli Yale
Oh Yale, Eli Yale
Oh Yale, Eli Yale
Pigskin Parade[]
- Information: Pigskin Parade
Pigskin Parade is a 1936 American musical comedy film which tells the story of husband-and-wife college football coaches who convince a backwoods player to play for their team so they can go to the big game.
Plot[]
Due to a misunderstanding, Yale inadvertently invites the small Texas State University to come to Connecticut and play against its football team for a benefit game. Coincidentally, TSU has just hired a new coach, Slug Winters, who arrives at the college with his wife Bessie just in time to hear the announcement that the team is to play Yale.
The coach digs in to whip the team into shape, with Bessie's help, she knowing more about football than Slug does. But just before the big game, Bessie causes an accident and the team's quarterback Biff Bentley breaks his leg. All seems hopeless until Slug and Bessie stumble across an Arkansas hillbilly named Amos Dodd, who throws a football like no one they have ever seen. They find him tossing melons with his sister, Sairy Dodd.
The only problem remaining is to figure a way to get the college to enroll the hillbilly so that he can take the place of the injured quarterback. Amos also falls for attractive student Sally Saxon, bringing out jealousy in her rich suitor Mortimer Higgins.
Texas State travels to the game at Yale, which is played in a blizzard. During half-time, The Yacht Club Boys sing their planned entertainment: "We Brought The Texas Sunshine Down With Us". The freezing Yale crowd responds with a barrage of snowballs. Yale is leading 7-6 in the final minutes when Slug accidentally knocks himself unconscious on the sideline. Bessie takes over and sends in a play, which hillbilly Amos runs barefoot for the winning touchdown, To celebrate their victory, everyone sings the "Texas Tornado."
Huddle[]
- Information: Huddle
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Huddle is a 1932 American pre-Code sports drama film.
Plot[]
Tony Ametto, a young steel-worker with immigrant parents, gets a scholarship to Yale, where he becomes a football star and finds romance with a young heiress.
Harvard Beats Yale 29-29[]
- Information: Harvard Beats Yale 29-29
Harvard Beats Yale 29–29 is a 2008 documentary film by Kevin Rafferty, covering the 1968 meeting between the football teams of Yale and Harvard in their storied rivalry. The game has been called "the most famous football game in Ivy League history". Actor Tommy Lee Jones, who was a 1st-team All-Ivy League guard for Harvard that season, was interviewed for the documentary.
Story/plot[]
For the first time since 1909, the football teams of Harvard and Yale were each undefeated with 6–0 records in their conference (8–0 overall) when they met for their season's final game on November 23, 1968 at Harvard Stadium. Led by their quarterback captain Brian Dowling, nationally-ranked Yale was heavily favored to win and they quickly led the game 22–0. With two minutes remaining on the clock they still led 29–13. As the last seconds ticked down, Harvard, coached by John Yovicsin, tied the game, scoring 16 points in the final 42 seconds. The Harvard Crimson declared victory with a famous headline, "Harvard Beats Yale 29–29," providing the title for Rafferty's documentary.
Mascot[]
- Main Article: Handsome Dan
Handsome Dan[]
Fight songs[]
Bulldog[]
“Bulldog” is considered to be the Yale Fight Song, is the one they play after touchdowns during a football game.
Lyrics[]
Bulldog! Bulldog!
Bow, wow, wow
Eli Yale
Bulldog! Bulldog!
Bow, wow, wow
Our team can never fail
When the sons of Eli
Break through the line
That is the sign we hail
Bulldog! Bulldog!
Bow, wow, wow
Eli Yale!
Down the Field[]
“Down The Field” is played at the end of every Yale athletic event, win or lose.
Lyrics[]
March, march on down the field
Fighting for Eli
Break through that crimson line
Their strength to defy
We’ll give a long cheer for Eli’s men
We’re here to win again
hahvahd’s team may fight to the end
But YALE! WILL! WIN!
Bright College Years[]
“Bright College Years” is their tear-jerking alma mater.
Lyrics[]
Bright college years with pleasure rife
The shortest, gladdest years of life
How swiftly are ye gliding by
O why does time so quickly fly
The seasons come, the seasons go
The earth is green or white with snow
But time and change shall not avail
To break the friendships formed at Yale
In after years should trouble rise
To cloud the blue of sunny skies
How bright will seem through mem’ry’s haze
Those happy golden bygone days
O let us strive that ever we
May let these words our watch cry be
Where e’er upon life’s sea we sail:
“For God, for country, and for Yale!”
Here's to Good Old Yale[]
"Here's to Good Old Yale" is an instrumental song played by the marching band of Yale University.
Boola Boola[]
Boola boola, boola boola, boola boola, boola, boola
Oh when we're through with those poor fellows
They will holler boola, boo
Rah, rah!
Oh Yale, Eli Yale
Oh Yale, Eli Yale
Oh Yale, Eli Yale
Oh Yale, Eli Yale
Goodnight, Poor hahvahd[]
Lyrics[]
Goodnight, poor hahvahd
hahvahd, goodnight
Oh, we’ve got your number
You’re high as a kite
Oh, goodnight, poor hahvahd
You’re tucked in tight
When the big blue
Team gets after you
hahvahd, goodnight!
Bingo[]
Bingo! Bingo!
Bingo, bingo, bingo! That’s the lingo.
Eli is bound to win,
There’s to be a victory,
So watch the team begin.
Bingo! Bingo!
hahvahd’s team cannot prevail.
Fight! Fight!
Fight with all your might,
For Bingo, Bingo, Eli Yale!
Notable games[]
1910 Vanderbilt vs. Yale[]
- Main article: 1910 Vanderbilt vs. Yale
The 1910 Vanderbilt vs Yale football game, played October 22, 1910, was a college football game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and Yale Bulldogs. Vanderbilt managed to hold defending national champion Yale to a scoreless tie on its home field, the south's first great showing against an Eastern power. It was the first home game in which Yale failed to score a point.
1927 Georgia Bulldogs[]
In the second week of play, Georgia defeated Yale by the score of 14–10, the school's first win over an Eastern power. Georgia was propelled into the national spotlight. Bobby Hooks threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to Frank Dudley.
The starting lineup was: Nash (left end), Stelling (left tackle), Smith (left guard), Boland (center), Jacobson (right guard), Morris (right tackle), Shiver (right end), Broadnax (quarterback), Estes (left halfback), McTigue (right halfback), McCrary (fullback).
1968 Yale vs. Harvard[]
- Main article: 1968 Harvard vs. Yale
The 1968 Yale vs. Harvard football game was a college football game between the Yale Bulldogs and the Harvard Crimson, played on November 23, 1968. The game ended in a 29–29 tie after Harvard made what is considered a miraculous last-moment comeback, scoring 16 points in the final 42 seconds to tie the game against a highly touted Yale squad.
2004 Harvard-Yale prank[]
- Main article: 2004 Harvard-Yale prank
At the annual Harvard–Yale football game on November 20, 2004, Yale students, costumed as a Harvard "pep squad", distributed placards to Harvard fans for a card stunt. When the fans raised the placards together, they read "We Suck".
Conference affiliations[]
- Independent (1872-1955)
- Ivy League (1956-present)
Championships[]
Yale has won 27 national championships from NCAA-designated major selectors.
| Season | Coach | Selectors | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1872 | No coach | Parke Davis | 1–0 |
| 1874 | No coach | National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis | 3–0 |
| 1876 | No coach | Billingsley, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis | 3–0 |
| 1877 | No coach | Billingsley, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis | 3–0–1 |
| 1879 | No coach | Parke Davis | 3–0–2 |
| 1880 | No coach | Billingsley, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis | 4–0–1 |
| 1881 | No coach | National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis | 5–0–1 |
| 1882 | No coach | Billingsley, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis | 8–0 |
| 1883 | No coach | Billingsley, Helms, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis | 9–0 |
| 1884 | No coach | Billingsley, Helms, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis | 8–0–1 |
| 1886 | No coach | Billingsley, Helms, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis | 9–0–1 |
| 1887 | No coach | Billingsley, Helms, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis | 9–0 |
| 1888 | Walter Camp | Billingsley, Helms, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis | 13–0 |
| 1891 | Walter Camp | Billingsley, Helms, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis | 13–0 |
| 1892 | Walter Camp | Billingsley, Helms, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis | 13–0 |
| 1893 | William Rhodes | Parke Davis | 10–1 |
| 1894 | William Rhodes | Billingsley, Helms, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis | 16–0 |
| 1895 | John A. Hartwell | Parke Davis | 13–0–2 |
| 1897 | Frank Butterworth | Parke Davis | 9–0–2 |
| 1900 | Malcolm McBride | Billingsley, Helms, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis | 12–0 |
| 1901 | George S. Stillman | n/a | 11–1–1 |
| 1902 | Joseph R. Swan | Parke Davis | 11–0–1 |
| 1905 | Jack Owsley | Parke Davis, Whitney | 10–0 |
| 1906 | Foster Rockwell | Billingsley, Parke Davis, Whitney | 9–0–1 |
| 1907 | William F. Knox | Billingsley, Helms, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis, Whitney | 9–0–1 |
| 1909 | Howard Jones | Billingsley, Helms, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis | 10–0 |
| 1927 | Mal Stevens | Football Research | 7–1 |
Seasons[]
2020s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | ||
| 2026 | ||
| 2025 | ||
| 2024 | Tony Reno | 7-3 |
| 2023 | Tony Reno | 7-3 |
| 2022 | Tony Reno | 8-2 |
| 2021 | Tony Reno | 5-5 |
| 2020 | Tony Reno | None |
2010s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Tony Reno | 9-1 |
| 2018 | Tony Reno | 5-5 |
| 2017 | Tony Reno | 9-1 |
| 2016 | Tony Reno | 3-7 |
| 2015 | Tony Reno | 6-4 |
| 2014 | Tony Reno | 8-2 |
| 2013 | Tony Reno | 5-5 |
| 2012 | Tony Reno | 2-8 |
| 2011 | Tom Williams | 5-5 |
| 2010 | Tom Williams | 7-3 |
2000s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Tom Williams | 4-6 |
| 2008 | Jack Siedlecki | 6-4 |
| 2007 | Jack Siedlecki | 9-1 |
| 2006 | Jack Siedlecki | 8-2 |
| 2005 | Jack Siedlecki | 4-6 |
| 2004 | Jack Siedlecki | 5-5 |
| 2003 | Jack Siedlecki | 6-4 |
| 2002 | Jack Siedlecki | 6-4 |
| 2001 | Jack Siedlecki | 3-6 |
| 2000 | Jack Siedlecki | 7-3 |
1990s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Jack Siedlecki | 9-1 |
| 1998 | Jack Siedlecki | 6-4 |
| 1997 | Jack Siedlecki | 1-9 |
| 1996 | Carmen Cozza | 2-8 |
| 1995 | Carmen Cozza | 3-7 |
| 1994 | Carmen Cozza | 5-5 |
| 1993 | Carmen Cozza | 3-7 |
| 1992 | Carmen Cozza | 4-6 |
| 1991 | Carmen Cozza | 6-4 |
| 1990 | Carmen Cozza | 6-4 |
1980s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Carmen Cozza | 8-2 |
| 1988 | Carmen Cozza | 3-6-1 |
| 1987 | Carmen Cozza | 7-3 |
| 1986 | Carmen Cozza | 3-7 |
| 1985 | Carmen Cozza | 4-4-1 |
| 1984 | Carmen Cozza | 6-3 |
| 1983 | Carmen Cozza | 1-9 |
| 1982 | Carmen Cozza | 4-6 |
| 1981 | Carmen Cozza | 9-1 |
| 1980 | Carmen Cozza | 8-2 |
1970s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Carmen Cozza | 8-1 |
| 1978 | Carmen Cozza | 5-2-2 |
| 1977 | Carmen Cozza | 7-2 |
| 1976 | Carmen Cozza | 8-1 |
| 1975 | Carmen Cozza | 7-2 |
| 1974 | Carmen Cozza | 8-1 |
| 1973 | Carmen Cozza | 6-3 |
| 1972 | Carmen Cozza | 7-2 |
| 1971 | Carmen Cozza | 4-5 |
| 1970 | Carmen Cozza | 7-2 |
1960s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Carmen Cozza | 7-2 |
| 1968 | Carmen Cozza | 8-0-1 |
| 1967 | Carmen Cozza | 8-1 |
| 1966 | Carmen Cozza | 4-5 |
| 1965 | Carmen Cozza | 3-6 |
| 1964 | John Pont | 6-2-1 |
| 1963 | John Pont | 6-3 |
| 1962 | Jordan Olivar | 2-5-2 |
| 1961 | Jordan Olivar | 4-5 |
| 1960 | Jordan Olivar | 9-0 |
1950s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Jordan Olivar | 6-3 |
| 1958 | Jordan Olivar | 2-7 |
| 1957 | Jordan Olivar | 6-2-1 |
| 1956 | Jordan Olivar | 8-1 |
| 1955 | Jordan Olivar | 7-2 |
| 1954 | Jordan Olivar | 5-3-1 |
| 1953 | Jordan Olivar | 5-2-2 |
| 1952 | Jordan Olivar | 7-2 |
| 1951 | Herman Hickman | 2-5-2 |
| 1950 | Herman Hickman | 6-3 |
1940s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Herman Hickman | 4-4 |
| 1948 | Herman Hickman | 4-5 |
| 1947 | Howard Odell | 6-3 |
| 1946 | Howard Odell | 7-1-1 |
| 1945 | Howard Odell | 6-3 |
| 1944 | Howard Odell | 7-0-1 |
| 1943 | Howard Odell | 4-5 |
| 1942 | Howard Odell | 5-3 |
| 1941 | Spike Nelson | 1-7 |
| 1940 | Raymond Pond | 1-7 |
1930s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | Raymond Pond | 3-4-1 |
| 1938 | Raymond Pond | 2-6 |
| 1937 | Raymond Pond | 6-1-1 |
| 1936 | Raymond Pond | 7-1 |
| 1935 | Raymond Pond | 6-3 |
| 1934 | Raymond Pond | 5-3 |
| 1933 | Reginald Root | 4-4 |
| 1932 | Marvin Stevens | 2-2-3 |
| 1931 | Marvin Stevens | 5-1-2 |
| 1930 | Marvin Stevens | 5-2-2 |
1920s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1929 | Marvin Stevens | 5-2-1 |
| 1928 | Marvin Stevens | 4-4 |
| 1927 | Tad Jones | 7-1 |
| 1926 | Tad Jones | 4-4 |
| 1925 | Tad Jones | 5-2-1 |
| 1924 | Tad Jones | 6-0-2 |
| 1923 | Tad Jones | 8-0 |
| 1922 | Tad Jones | 6-3-1 |
| 1921 | Tad Jones | 8-1 |
| 1920 | Tad Jones | 5-3 |
1910s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1919 | Albert Sharpe | 5-3 |
| 1918 | No team - World War I | |
| 1917 | Tad Jones | 3-0 |
| 1916 | Tad Jones | 8-1 |
| 1915 | Frank Hinkey | 4-5 |
| 1914 | Frank Hinkey | 7-2 |
| 1913 | Howard Jones | 5-2-3 |
| 1912 | Art Howe | 7-1-1 |
| 1911 | John Field | 7-2-1 |
| 1910 | Ted Coy | 6-2-2 |
1900s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1909 | Howard Jones | 10-0 |
| 1908 | Lucius Biglow | 7-1-1 |
| 1907 | William Knox | 9-0-1 |
| 1906 | Foster Rockwell | 9-0-1 |
| 1905 | Jack Owsley | 10-0 |
| 1904 | Charles Rafferty | 10-1 |
| 1903 | George Chadwick | 11-1 |
| 1902 | Joseph Swan | 11-0-1 |
| 1901 | George Stillman | 11-1-1 |
| 1900 | Malcolm McBride | 12-0 |
1890s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1899 | J.O. Rodgers | 7-2-1 |
| 1898 | Frank Butterworth | 9-2 |
| 1897 | Frank Butterworth | 9-0-2 |
| 1896 | Sam Thorne | 13-1 |
| 1895 | John Hartwell | 13-0-2 |
| 1894 | William Rhodes | 15-0 |
| 1893 | William Rhodes | 10-1 |
| 1892 | Walter Camp | 13-0 |
| 1891 | Walter Camp | 13-0 |
| 1890 | Walter Camp | 13-1 |
1880s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1889 | Walter Camp | 15-1 |
| 1888 | Walter Camp | 13-0 |
| 1887 | 9-0 | |
| 1886 | 9-0-1 | |
| 1885 | 7-1 | |
| 1884 | 8-0-1 | |
| 1883 | 8-0 | |
| 1882 | 8-0 | |
| 1881 | 5-0-1 | |
| 1880 | 4-0-1 |
1870s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1879 | 3-0-2 | |
| 1878 | 4-1-1 | |
| 1877 | 3-0-1 | |
| 1876 | 3-0 | |
| 1875 | 2-2 | |
| 1874 | 3-0 | |
| 1873 | 2-1 | |
| 1872 | 1-0 |