1923 Niagara vs Colgate football game

Niagara vs. Colgate
Players refuse to tackle
Niagara Purple Eagles Colgate Raiders
(1–0[1]) (2–0[2])
0 55
Head coach: 
Coach Gray		 Head coach: 
Dick Harlow
1234 Total
Niagara 0000 0
Colgate 55000 55
Date October 6, 1923
Stadium Whitnall Field
Location Hamilton Village, New York

The 1923 Niagara vs Colgate football game was a college football game between the Niagara Purple Eagles and the Colgate Red Raiders played on October 6, 1923. The game was played at Whitnall Field in Hamilton Village, New York. The game is known for the Niagara team refusing to tackle their opponents during play and intentionally allowing them to score multiple times.[3]

Coach Gray of Niagara wanted to play four quarters of eight minutes in length rather than the standard 15-minute quarters, an agreement reached between the schools at an earlier date. The opposing coach Dick Harlow wanted nothing to do with the rule change and insisted on the standard 15 minutes.[4] In protest, the players of Niagara refused to tackle their opponents.[3]

References

  1. ↑ DeLassus, David. "Niagara (NY) Team Records 1923". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  2. ↑ DeLassus, David. "Coaching records: Richard C. "Dick" Harlow (1923)". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "PLAYERS REFUSE TO TACKLE; After Dispute With Colgate, Niagara Loses Farcical Game, 55 to 0". New York Times. October 7, 1923. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  4. ↑ "NU loses to Colgate Team" (PDF). Niagara Falls-Gazette. October 8, 1923. Retrieved August 14, 2014.