The Birthplace of College Football
On Nov. 6, 1869 the first college football game between the Rutgers Queensmen and the College of New Jersey Tigers (now Princeton University) was played. Despite it resembling more of a soccer match (a soccer ball was used) – throwing and carrying not being permitted – many historians consider it the first gridiron contest. That day, at a field on College Avenue in New Brunswick, N.J. where the College Avenue Gymnasium now stands, in a 6-4 Rutgers win, college football was born. The Queensmen also were cited with their lone national championship that year. The rest is history.
Today, despite non-sellout crowds, head coaching and stadium name changes, the Scarlet Knights are determined to rebuild to their former glory.
For the past three seasons (2018-2020), I've had the honor to document the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football home games for Getty Images. This edit highlights their quest thus far, as one of college's oldest football programs.