Rugby football
- Early versions
- Noble deeds of gallantry
- First varsity team
- Enthusiasm grows
- King of sports
- Men of the gridiron
- War years
Noble Deeds of Gallantry
The earliest reference to "football" at Mount Allison occurred in the April 1876 issue of The Argosy, which referred to a game between students of the Academy and University. Another game was played in autumn 1876, and involved at least one University faculty member. The Argosy (November 1876) described the match as being "full of moving accidents," and that the “presence of the ladies gave tone to the occasion, and prompted the young gentlemen to noble deeds of gallantry.” An elongated ball, which would have been used for carrying, is pictured in the first photograph of the Male Academy football team, in 1878 [see right].
Dr. William L. Goodwin, a student at the Academy (1870-1) and University (1876), was credited specifically by The Argosy (22 October 1932) for introducing rugby football to Mount Allison when he arrived as professor of science at the University in 1882. Following his studies at Mount Allison, he had continued to study and teach in England and Scotland between 1879 and 1882, making it possible that he acquired knowledge of the game while there. The same article also claimed that Dr. Goodwin was Mount Allison’s first rugby football coach.
Mount Allison Academy rugby football team, 1878
William L. Goodwin, ca. 1880 (detail from class picture)
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