Parke H. Davis’s 1911 masterpiece, “Football, the American Intercollegiate Game,” stands as one of the first and most important comprehensive histories of the sport ever written. Davis himself was a true pioneer; he played at Princeton in the 1880s and served on the official Rules Committee, which gave him a unique insider’s perspective on the game’s evolution.
The book meticulously chronicles the first 40 years of college football, from the first game in 1869 through the 1910 season. Davis details the evolution of the rules from its rugby roots, recounts the great games and rivalries, and profiles the legendary players who defined the era. As a primary source written by one of the game’s founding figures, this book offers an invaluable window into the origins of the sport. It remains essential reading for any serious student of college football history. 🏈
