What Is 1913 Harvard Crimson football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1913 Harvard Crimson football team represented Harvard University during the 1913 college football season, finishing with a 5–2–1 record under head coach Percy Haughton. Notable games included a 14–13 win over Yale and a 13–0 shutout of Penn.

Key Facts

The 1913 Harvard Crimson football team finished with a 5–2–1 record
Percy Haughton was the head coach during the 1913 season
Harvard defeated Yale 14–13 in a closely contested rivalry game
The team shut out the University of Pennsylvania 13–0
Harvard played its home games at Harvard Stadium in Boston

Overview

The 1913 Harvard Crimson football team represented Harvard University in the 1913 college football season, marking the 72nd season of the program. Led by head coach Percy Haughton, the team competed as an independent and played its home games at Harvard Stadium in Boston, Massachusetts.

Harvard finished the season with a 5–2–1 overall record, showcasing a balanced mix of offensive strength and defensive resilience. The team faced a challenging schedule that included traditional rivals such as Yale and Princeton, contributing to a competitive and memorable season.

Harvard finished the 1913 season with a 5–2–1 record, winning five games, losing two, and tying one against a mix of regional and Ivy League opponents.
Percy Haughton, in his second year as head coach, continued to implement disciplined strategies that emphasized teamwork and field position.
The team defeated Yale 14–13 in a dramatic showdown at the Yale Bowl, marking one of the most exciting games of the season.
Harvard shut out the University of Pennsylvania 13–0 in a dominant defensive performance, highlighting the strength of their line and secondary.
Home games were played at Harvard Stadium, which opened in 1903 and was one of the first reinforced concrete stadiums in the United States.

How It Works

The structure and operations of early 20th-century college football teams like the 1913 Harvard Crimson were shaped by evolving rules, regional rivalries, and institutional support. These teams operated under a different set of athletic norms compared to modern programs, relying on student-athletes without athletic scholarships.

Season Format: The 1913 season consisted of eight games played between October and November, following the standard college football calendar of the era. Schedules were arranged independently, as no formal conference structure governed Harvard at the time.
Coaching Leadership: Percy Haughton served as head coach, bringing a methodical approach to practices and game planning. His leadership helped stabilize Harvard’s program after a transitional period in prior years.
Player Eligibility: Players were required to be full-time students without financial incentives, adhering to strict amateurism standards enforced by the university and the Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
Game Rules: The 1913 season followed rules that included a 10-yard first down requirement and a slightly rounder football, with limited substitution and no forward pass dominance.
Scoring System: Touchdowns were worth five points, field goals three, and safeties two—scoring conventions that would change in later decades to modern standards.
Recruiting & Roster: Rosters were assembled through campus tryouts and word-of-mouth, with no national recruiting networks; most players came from Northeastern prep schools.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 1913 Harvard Crimson to other teams of the era reveals trends in competitiveness, scoring, and program prestige.

Team	Season Record	Head Coach	Key Result	Stadium
Harvard Crimson	5–2–1	Percy Haughton	14–13 win over Yale	Harvard Stadium
Yale Bulldogs	5–1–1	Arthur L. Cheetham	14–13 loss to Harvard	Yale Bowl
Princeton Tigers	6–1–1	John W. Rush	3–3 tie with Harvard	Palmer Stadium
Michigan Wolverines	5–2–0	Fielding H. Yost	Won 3–0 vs. Penn State	Ferry Field
Notre Dame Fighting Irish	3–1–2	Knute Rockne (as player)	20–0 win over Kalamazoo	Cartier Field

This table illustrates how Harvard's 1913 campaign compared to peer programs. While not undefeated, Harvard remained competitive against top-tier teams, particularly in the Ivy League circuit. The narrow win over Yale and tie with Princeton underscored their status as a respected national program despite not claiming a national title.

Why It Matters

The 1913 Harvard Crimson football team represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of college football, reflecting the sport’s growing popularity and institutional integration.

Harvard’s 14–13 victory over Yale intensified one of the oldest and most storied rivalries in American sports, drawing national media attention.
The team helped popularize Harvard Stadium, one of the first permanent concrete stadiums, setting a precedent for modern collegiate facilities.
Percy Haughton’s coaching methods influenced future strategies, emphasizing conditioning, preparation, and team cohesion.
The season contributed to Ivy League prestige, reinforcing the role of elite universities in shaping early football culture.
Amateurism standards upheld by Harvard in 1913 contrasted with later debates over player compensation and NCAA regulations.
Historical records from 1913 provide valuable data for sports historians analyzing the development of offensive and defensive tactics.

The legacy of the 1913 Harvard Crimson endures in both athletic and academic contexts, symbolizing the intersection of tradition, competition, and institutional pride in American higher education.