In Game
If you’re a big college football fan, then you won’t want to miss the opportunity to catch a game at historic Harvard Stadium. Harvard Stadium not only was the first stadium to feature reinforced concrete it also played a large part in shaping the game as it is today. In the early 1900s, football was almost outlawed due to its dangerous nature before uniform rules were established. During the drafting of the rules, it was proposed that the width of the field be expanded to give players more room. Harvard had just built Harvard Stadium and as a result, could not accommodate a larger field, so instead the committee decided to legalize the forward pass and standardize the field dimensions to those of Harvard Stadium.
In addition to the history, you’ll also enjoy the pageantry on display when attending a Crimson game. Harvard-Yale games are especially full of traditions making every visit by the Bulldogs a must-see. If you can only attend one Harvard game a year, then make sure it’s The Game between Harvard and Yale.
Finally, enjoy cheering on the Crimson with fellow Harvard fans. While it may not look like it at first glance, the Crimson have plenty of diehard fans who love to come out and cheer on their team. The diehards at Harvard are just like those anywhere and love to talk ball, so don’t hesitate to start up a conversation with your neighbor.
You’ll have an excellent time taking in a game at historic Harvard Stadium, so plan your trip to see the Crimson play today.
Things to check out
Dedication Plaque and 50th Anniversary Plaque
Take some time before the game to see the dedication plaque and 50th anniversary plaque. Both plaques are fun to check out for any Harvard or college football fans, so don’t miss them during your visit to Harvard Stadium.
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Little Red Flag
Keep an eye out for the Little Red Flag when attending The Game. The flag is waved by Harvard’s “most loyal fan” after each score against Yale and is a must-see part of any Harvard-Yale game.
Harvard-Yale Pranks
If attending a Harvard-Yale game, then look out and enjoy any pranks that may take place during the game. The two schools have a long history of pranking each other over the years, and nearby MIT has even gotten into the action over the years as well.
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Marching Band
The marching band is a big part of any Harvard football game as they provide the majority of the atmosphere at Harvard Stadium. The band plays a variety of school songs and pop songs, so enjoy their performance during the game.
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Student Section
No one gets behind the Crimson like the student section. No matter what the score, the student section will be on their feet and cheering on the team making them one of the best parts of any Crimson game.
Cheer and Dance Squads
Don’t miss the performances of the Harvard cheer and dance squads during your trip to Harvard Stadium. The spirit squads put on impressive routines and will keep you entertained during stoppages in play, so make sure to enjoy the show.
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Fight Songs
-
Ten Thousand Men of Harvard
Illegitimum non carborundum;
Domine salvum fac.
Illegitimum non Carborundum;
Domine salvum fac.
Gaudeamus igitur!
Veritas non sequitur?
Illegitimum non carborundum — ipso facto!Ten thousand men of Harvard want vict’ry today,
For they know that o’er old Eli
Fair Harvard holds sway.
So then we’ll conquer old Eli’s men,
And when the game ends, we’ll sing again:
Ten thousand men of Harvard gained vict’ry today! -
Harvardiana
With Crimson in triumph flashing
‘Mid the strains of victory,
Poor Eli’s hopes we are dashing
Into blue obscurity.
Resistless our team sweeps goalward
With the fury of the blast;
We’ll fight for the name of Harvard
‘Til the last white line is passed.
Harvard! Harvard! Harvard! -
Veritas
We say hooray! Hooray! Hooray!
There’s never an Eli can teach us to play!
Harvard! Harvard! Harvard!
See how the bleachers blue turn pale with fright;
Send a cheer across to bleach ’em nice and white!
Oh, look at the way we smash and rip ’em through
While the blue bulldog howls “Boo-la, boo-la, boo!”
Let out your voices now so loud and hale,
‘Tis a fun’ral ode we sing to Eli Yale.
Oh, give us a yell ‘Hi! Hi!’ for Harvard,
For the Crimson today! -
Score
No hope for Eli,
Here’s where we score!
Come twist the bulldog’s tail;
We’ll win once more,
For Harvard’s back at New Haven;
Hark to their mournful wail.
It might be worse, boys, call up a hearse
For poor old yale! -
Soldiers Field
O’er the stands of flaming Crimson
Harvard banners fly.
Cheer on cheer like volleyed thunder
Echo to the sky.
See the Crimson tide is turning,
Gaining more and more,
Then fight! fight! fight! for we win tonight
Old Harvard forevermore. -
Gridiron King
Then hit the line for Harvard,
For Harvard wins today!
We will show the sons of Eli
That the Crimson still holds sway.
Sweep down the field again,
Victory or die!
And we’ll give the grand old cheer boys,
When the Harvard team goes by. -
Yo-Ho
Yo ho! The good ship Harvard
Is goalward bound again;
All the crew are at the halyards,
Here’s a hail for Johnny Harvard’s men!
Bright Crimson at the forepeak
Rides high above the foam.
While we sweep through the deep blue,
Harvard strikes home! -
Onward Crimson
Onward Crimson, staunch defenders
Of the emblem we hold dear,
Marching dauntless through the gauntlets
While the Elis quake with fear!
Stay the course now, might Crimson,
For the glory and the pride!
Undefeated, foes retreated,
Harvard’s vict’ry sanctified. -
Fair Harvard
Fair Harvard! we join in thy jubilant throng,
And with blessings surrender thee o’er
By these festival rites, from the age that is past,
To the age that is waiting before.
O Relic and type of our ancestors’ worth,
That hast long kept their memory warm,
First flow’r of their wilderness! Star of their night!
Calm rising through change and through storm. -
RAD
R-A-D-C-L-I-F-F-E
Oh Radcliffe, our alma mater
We sing your glories to the sun
We are your grateful daughters
Our voices raised as one
You gave us joys and wisdom
To set our goals and values true
Radcliffe, our alma mater
We pledge our loyalty to you. -
Fight Fiercely Harvard
Fight fiercely, Harvard!
Fight, fight, fight!
Demonstrate to them our skill.
Albeit they possess the might,
Nonetheless we have the will.
How we shall celebrate our victory?
We shall invite the whole team
Up for tea! How jolly!
Hurl that spheroid down the field
And fight! Fight! Fight!
