Victory against Harvard ranked as one of 10 greatest college football upsets

RELEASED: Aug. 29, 2002

DANVILLE, KY—Ivan Maisel, senior college football reporter for Sports Illustrated, ranked Centre's win against mighty Harvard in 1921 as the ninth biggest upset in college football history. Centre was mentioned in his article that appeared in the 2002 College Football Preview for the CNN/Sports Illustrated Web site.

In front of an estimated 50,000 fans in Harvard Stadium, Centre did the unimaginable on Oct. 29, 1921, by downing Harvard 6-0. Centre won on a second-half touchdown run by legendary quarterback Bo McMillin. They were all the points Centre would need as it was the gridiron version of Truman defeating Dewey. No. 1-ranked Harvard had not been defeated in five seasons prior to the contest.

Maisel wrote:

"The Praying Colonels came north from Kentucky to shock the Crimson, the Miami of its day (think about that for a minute). Harvard entered the contest with a 25-game unbeaten string, but Centre was no slouch. Quarterback Bo McMillin, who would lead the Praying Colonels to an undefeated (regular) season, scored the game's only touchdown on a 32-yard run early in the third quarter."

Maisel ranks Navy's win over Army in 1950 as the greatest upset of all time.

For Maisel's article, go to CNNSI's Web site at http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/college/2002/preview/maisel_upsets/.

To learn more about Centre's win against Harvard, go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/c6ho01.html.

For more on Centre's football team, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/sports/football/football.htm.

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