1968 Yale vs. Harvard football game
Encyclopedia
The 1968 Yale vs. Harvard football game was an American college football
game between the team of Yale University
and the team of Harvard University
played on November 23, 1968. The game ended in a tie
with a score of 29–29. It is the subject of the documentary Harvard Beats Yale 29-29
.
The Harvard team made what is considered a miraculous last-moment comeback, scoring 16 points in the final 42 seconds to tie a highly touted Yale squad. Yale came into the game with a 16-game winning streak
and its quarterback, Brian Dowling
, had only lost one game he started in since the sixth grade. Both schools entered the game undefeated 8–0 for the season. It was the first time both schools met when undefeated since the 1909 season.
The tie left both teams 8–0–1 for the season, inspiring the Harvard Crimson
student newspaper to print the headline "Harvard Beats Yale, 29-29". This headline was later used as the title for a 2008 documentary about the game
directed by Kevin Rafferty
. One of Harvard's offensive tackles was Tommy Lee Jones
, who later became a notable Hollywood
actor.
This game stands as the final tie in the series, as subsequent rule changes have eliminated ties from college football.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
game between the team of Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and the team of Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
played on November 23, 1968. The game ended in a tie
Tie (draw)
To tie or draw is to finish a competition with identical or inconclusive results. The word "tie" is usually used in North America for sports such as American football. "Draw" is usually used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Commonwealth of Nations and it is usually used for sports such as...
with a score of 29–29. It is the subject of the documentary Harvard Beats Yale 29-29
Harvard Beats Yale 29-29
Harvard Beats Yale 29-29 is a 2008 documentary by filmmaker Kevin Rafferty, covering the 1968 meeting between the football teams of Yale and Harvard in their storied rivalry...
.
The Harvard team made what is considered a miraculous last-moment comeback, scoring 16 points in the final 42 seconds to tie a highly touted Yale squad. Yale came into the game with a 16-game winning streak
Winning streak (sports)
In sports, a winning streak refers to a consecutive number of games won. A winning streak can be held by a team, as in baseball, football, basketball, hockey, or by an individual, as in tennis...
and its quarterback, Brian Dowling
Brian Dowling (football)
Brian John Dowling is a former college and professional football player and was the starting quarterback of the Yale University football team in the late 1960s. He set, and held for decades, a number of Yale passing records. Dowling finished 9th in vote for the 1968 Heisman Trophy, and was...
, had only lost one game he started in since the sixth grade. Both schools entered the game undefeated 8–0 for the season. It was the first time both schools met when undefeated since the 1909 season.
The tie left both teams 8–0–1 for the season, inspiring the Harvard Crimson
Harvard Crimson
The Harvard Crimson are the athletic teams of Harvard University. The school's teams compete in NCAA Division I. As of 2006, there were 41 Division I intercollegiate varsity sports teams for women and men at Harvard, more than at any other NCAA Division I college in the country...
student newspaper to print the headline "Harvard Beats Yale, 29-29". This headline was later used as the title for a 2008 documentary about the game
Harvard Beats Yale 29-29
Harvard Beats Yale 29-29 is a 2008 documentary by filmmaker Kevin Rafferty, covering the 1968 meeting between the football teams of Yale and Harvard in their storied rivalry...
directed by Kevin Rafferty
Kevin Rafferty
Kevin Rafferty is an American documentary film cinematographer, director, and producer, best known for his 1982 documentary The Atomic Cafe.-Background:...
. One of Harvard's offensive tackles was Tommy Lee Jones
Tommy Lee Jones
Tommy Lee Jones is an American actor and film director. He has received three Academy Award nominations, winning one as Best Supporting Actor for the 1993 thriller film The Fugitive....
, who later became a notable Hollywood
Cinema of the United States
The cinema of the United States, also known as Hollywood, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. Its history is sometimes separated into four main periods: the silent film era, classical Hollywood cinema, New Hollywood, and the contemporary period...
actor.
This game stands as the final tie in the series, as subsequent rule changes have eliminated ties from college football.
See also
- 1968 college football season1968 college football seasonIn the 1968 college football season, the system of "polls and bowls" changed. The Associated Press returned to its pre-1961 system of ranking the Top 20 rather than the Top 10, and voted on the national champion after the bowl games, rather than before. During the 20th Century, the NCAA had no...
- Harvard–Yale football rivalry
- List of Harvard–Yale football games