Harvard finally entered intercollegiate competition in the spring of 1874, when the captain of the McGill rugby team proposed a series of matches between the two universities.

After a bit of haggling, it was agreed there would be two games played: One under Harvard rules, the other under strict soccer rules.

More than 500 spectators paid 50 cents apiece to watch the historic game, played May 14, 1874. The Harvard-McGill rivalry has survived to become the oldest intercollegiate rivalry in North America. Harvard won this year's matchup two weeks ago, 9-7.

The first game was played under Harvard rules, and resulted in a Harvard win. The second game, played the next day and under Canadian rules, was a scoreless standoff.

Although the Harvard-McGill rivalry is the oldest rivalry, it is the Harvard-Yale rivalry which is the most famous.

The first Harvard-Yale game took place in November 1875 in New Haven. Conn. There was a bit of negotiation, and the game was played under Harvard's rugby rules. Harvard took advantage of the Elis, who were confused by Harvard's offense.

Yale came back the next year to win. In that game, the Flis started what today might be called an endzone celebration. When a Yale player kicked the ball over the goal in the final period to give the Elis a lead, the partisan crowd stormed onto the field and pranced around for 20 minutes.

The Harvard-Yale rivalry continues to this day, not only in football, but also in rugby. The Harvard rugby club meets the Elis this morning at Soldiers Field before the football game.