The early days of Harvard-Dartmouth football were consistently disastrous to the representatives of the Big Green. From 1884, when the first gridiron contest between the two colleges was held on Soldiers Field to the beginning of the present century, the elevens which issued forth annually from the New Hampshire hills to tackle the Crimson of Cambridge returned home empty handed.

In the 15 contests which took place between Harvard and Dartmouth teams before 1900, Harvard scored a total of 502 points in addition to guarding its goal line successfully against the inroads of the invaders.

Dartmouth's First Tally With the advent of the twentieth century, however, the situation changed materially, and for awhile Dartmouth maintained a precarious supremacy. The 1901 Dartmouth eleven was first to score against Harvard, securing 12 points, but bowing before its opponent's 27.

In 1903 the present Harvard Stadium was completed, and the Crimson athletic officials decided that a Dartmouth football game would be a fitting baptism. It was a day of glory for the Indians, who dedicated the Stadium with their first victory over Harvard and a 11 to 0 score. Their team was described as unusually heavy, the line averaging 220 pounds to the man from tackle to tackle. One of the conspicuous performers for the Crimson on that occasion was John Parkinson '05, who held the center position, and whose son is one of the probable players for this afternoon. Today, then, marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the opening of the Stadium.