     |
1921 team's lone setback rated one of century's finest college football contests
RELEASED: July 18, 2002
DANVILLE, KY—When ranking the greatest Centre College football games, the upset of mighty No. 1-ranked Harvard in 1921 is usually at the top of the list.
But College Football News Web site (www.collegefootballnews.com) doesn't include the contest that many have called the greatest upset of the 20th century. In 1921, Centre beat Harvard 6-0 in front of 50,000 fans at Harvard Stadium. It was the first time Harvard had fallen in five years. To this day, the winning formula C6H0 (Centre 6, Harvard 0) can be found written on buildings on Centre's campus.
The Web site, which ranked the top 100 college games in history, lists Texas A&M's upset victory against Centre on Jan. 2, 1922, in the Dixie Classic, at No. 84.
Centre entered the game a perfect 10-0 but fell for the first time, losing 22-14.
The game was cited because of an interesting Texas A&M tradition that started that day.
Texas A&M student E. King Gill played both basketball and football for the Aggies. That day he didn't suit up for the contest, as he was known more for his basketball skills than his football prowess. Texas A&M coach Dana X. Bible spotted Gill on his way to the game dressed in street clothes. Bible asked Gill to sit in the press box and help a local newspaper reporter.
During the game Texas A&M suffered several injuries. Bible sent word to Gill to leave the press box, put on a uniform and report to the sideline.
As it turned out, Gill wasn't needed that day. But the tradition of Texas A&M's "12th man" was born. Ever since, A&M students stand throughout every football game in memory of Gill and to show that they're up and ready if needed.
Miami's 31-30 win against Nebraska in the 1984 Orange Bowl was ranked No. 1 on the College Football News list.
To learn more on the Centre-Texas A&M game, visit www.collegefootballnews.com/Top_100_Games/Top_100_Games_84_80.htm. To learn more about Centre's upset of Harvard, go to www.centre.edu/web/news/c6ho01.html.
Visit the Centre football Web Site: http://www.centre.edu/web/sports/football/football.htm
- end -
Communications Office
Centre College
600 W. Walnut Street
Danville, KY 40422
Public Information Coordinator: Telephone 859-238-5714