College Sports Established
1650
Location
Boston, Massachusetts
College Name
Harvard University
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division I
1921 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
1954 - Present / Ivy League
Nickname
Crimson - The Harvard Crimson is one of the most well-known and respected college sports teams in the United States. The team's nickname has a long and storied history, dating back to 1875 when Harvard University’s athletic association first adopted it. At that time, crimson was chosen as an official color for their sports teams due to its strong representation of school spirit and pride.
In recent years, there have been several theories about how exactly this nickname came into being. One popular theory suggests that it originated from a famous quote by then-Harvard President Charles W Eliot in 1906: “If they cannot win with crimson on their backs, let them be gray." This statement implies that he wanted his students to strive for victory no matter what color they were wearing - thus inspiring the name "Crimson" as an inspirational symbol for success at Harvard athletics!
Another explanation suggests that the name comes from a poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow called “The Crimson Flag,” which references both courage and loyalty associated with those who fight under its banner - making it perfect symbolism for any competitive collegiate team looking to inspire greatness among its players! Regardless of where or why this moniker originated, one thing is sure: It has become synonymous with excellence in college athletics over time – representing everything great about competing at such high levels within NCAA Division I competition today!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1875
- 1968
- 2008
- 2018
-
Harvard plays its first intercollegiate football game
The game was played on November 13, 1875, between Harvard and Tufts University. It was played at Jarvis Field in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The game was played with a round, rather than an oval, ball and did not have a fixed number of players on each team. Harvard won the game by a score of 1-0, with the lone point coming ... -
Joe Restic becomes the head coach of Harvard football
In 1968: Joe Restic becomes the head coach of Harvard football. He leads the team to a 117-97-6 record over his 23-year tenure. -
Harvard’s men’s basketball team wins its first Ivy League championship
Below are details about Harvard’s men’s basketball team winning the Ivy League championship in 2008: The Harvard Crimson finished the 2007-2008 season with an overall record of 14-14 and a conference record of 10-4. Their record was good enough to earn them a share of the Ivy League title with the Cornell Big Red. This was the first Ivy League ... -
Colton Chapple inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
Colton Chapple played quarterback for the Harvard Crimson from 2010 to 2013. During his time at Harvard, Chapple set multiple records and earned numerous awards, including the 2013 Ivy League Player of the Year. Chapple finished his career at Harvard with 7,648 passing yards, 56 touchdown passes, and a completion percentage of 63.6%. He also rushed for 1,375 yards and ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Crimson
The Harvard Crimson sports teams have a long and rich history of success in NCAA competitions. From the early days of the Ivy League to today, Harvard has been one of the most successful universities in athletics. As one of only nine schools that are members of all three NCAA divisions, Harvard's athletic prowess is unparalleled among its peers.
Harvard joined Division I-A (now known as FBS) football in 1875. Since then, they have won seven national championships and countless conference titles while competing against college football’s most outstanding programs like Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and USC. The Crimson also boasts an impressive record on the basketball court has appeared in 21 NCAA tournament appearances with 11 Sweet Sixteen berths, highlighted by their Final Four appearance back during the World War II era 1942 season under legendary coach Floyd Stahlman who coached at Harvard for 20 years from 1938-1958 before retiring due to health reasons after leading his team into battle against eventual champion Wisconsin Badgers led by Hall Of Fame Coach Bud Foster.
In addition to their success on hardwood floors, the Crimson also excels at other sports such as rowing, where they've earned over 40 National Championships dating back all way until 1852 when Charles W Eliot became President Of the University which was much earlier than any other school had even thought about participating collegiate level competitions. They're no slouch either in baseball, with 35 All-Americans produced throughout the program's history, including current MLB stars John Means & Matt Barnes, who both played together 2012 squad that reached the College World Series semifinals before being eliminated by two-time-defending champions South Carolina Gamecocks led future major leaguer, Christian Walker.
With such a deep tradition behind them, it should be no surprise why so many fans flock to see what this storied program can do each year, whether gridiron or diamond field. There is something special about watching historic universities compete highest levels of collegiate athletics we know today!
Sports Fan Products
