TITLE: Bull Pen-Football

COVERAGE: 1890-1917

DESCRIPTION:  Athletic competition began on the campus of Biddle University when an ambitious group of young men assembled and organized the Bull Pen, Biddle’s first football team. After two years of grueling practices, football became the first major sport to become officially established on the campus. The Bull Pen’s first intercollegiate game was against Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina.

TYPE: Photograph

PHOTOGRAPH DATE: 1913, 1917, 1928

CREATOR: Inez Moore Parker Archives and Research Center

ACQUISITION DATE: November 2000

PROCESSED BY: Monika Rivera Rhue

HISTORICAL NOTE: Football was first played as an organized sport at Biddle University in 1890 when a group of interested students formed the first football team, with L B. Ellerson as the Captain. For their first game, the team challenged Livingstone College to a game. The game was held at Livingstone College on December 27, 1892. Some spectators traveled in wagons, on mules, horses, and others walked, in order to witness this event. The field was covered with snow, but the game was held in spite of the weather. A Biddle player scored the first touchdown. Biddle was attempting to score another touchdown when a Biddle player was tackled and fumbled the ball. W. J. Trent, a Livingstone player, scooped up the ball and ran for a touchdown. The Biddle team argued that the ball was already out of bounds, when the Biddle player fumbled. The referee, Mr. Pete Murphy, who was also the coach of the Livingstone team, declared that the ball was out of bounds when it was fumbled, therefore the touchdown by Livingstone did not count. Biddle won the game with a score of four to zero. This football game was the first one ever to be played between two historically black institutions of higher learning.

The football program was banned at Biddle because it was deemed too rough of a sport. In 1911, the students petitioned faculty to lift the ban on intercollegiate football. In 1912, the football competition between Biddle University and Livingstone College was renewed. This football game became an annual event known as the Turkey Day Classic.

The 1916 football team not only defeated all of their opponents, but also prevented the opposing teams from scoring. 1916 is also the year that the team became known as the “Bulls.” Benjamin Harris, a student in the class of 1917, drew the first bull mascot and the bull has been the school’s mascot since that time.  

The following is a list of players from the first game played between Biddle University and Livingstone College.

PLAYERS:

Biddle University:

Ends, H.H. Muldrow and J.J. Robinson; Tackles, Charles H. Shute and William Haig; Guard, C. E. Rayford and Captain L.B. Ellerson; Center, Hawkins (first name unknown); Quarterback, G. E. Ceasar; Halfbacks, W.W. Morrow and Mebane (first name unknown); and Fullback, William L. Metz_

Livingstone College:

Ends, Henry Rives and Cornelius Garland; Tackles, J.B.A. Yelverton and Charles H. Patrick; Guards, R.J. Rencher and Jesse R. Dillard; Center, John J. Taylor; Quarterback, Wade Hampton; Halfbacks, Captain John W. Walker and William J. Trent; and Fullback, F.H. Cumming.

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SITE CREATION DATE: March 31, 2003