News
Amid Boston Overdose Crisis, a Pair of Harvard Students Are Bringing Narcan to the Red Line
News
At First Cambridge City Council Election Forum, Candidates Clash Over Building Emissions
News
Harvard’s Updated Sustainability Plan Garners Optimistic Responses from Student Climate Activists
News
‘Sunroof’ Singer Nicky Youre Lights Up Harvard Yard at Crimson Jam
News
‘The Architect of the Whole Plan’: Harvard Law Graduate Ken Chesebro’s Path to Jan. 6
Crimson fans who watched their team go down to defeat today at least had the satisfaction of feeling that no undue trickery was involved.
But back in the fall of 1903, a Harvard team was nearly upset by a hoax that has since become legendary--the hidden ball trick of the Carlisle Indians.
At the beginning of the second half, Harvard kicked off to Carlisle. The ball was caught on the Indians' seven yard line by Johnson, their quarterback, but instead of making interference, the Indians grouped around Johnson as if to make a "flying wedge" formation. With this huddle of bodies as a shield, the ball was shoved inside halfback Dillon's jersey.
As soon as the ball was securely lodged, the whole Carlisle team fanned out in a long line across the field and scampered toward the Harvard goal line with arms outspread and palms up.
Posing as an interferer, Dillon ran through the entire Harvard team.
Afterward, in defending Carlisle against charges of chicanery, Coach Pop Warner said, "The public expects the Indian to employ trickery and we try to oblige."
Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter.