The answer is "yes."
Chartered in 1858 as McMinnville College, Linfield started playing football in 1896.
But, as important as it is now, statements by two presidents during the college’s early years painted a bleak picture for the sport.
McMinnville College President Harry L. Boardman
Dec. 4, 1897, published in the Oregonian, Dec. 12, 1897
FOOTBALL TOO DANGEROUS
Estimate of President Boardman, of McMinnville College
"I believe in college athletics. I am heartily of the opinion that the sports commonly indulged in by the students of the colleges are beneficial, and that the athletic sport in the colleges ought to be encouraged within reasonable limits and with proper restrictions.
"Football as played at the present time I do not consider to come within the limits of reason and propriety. I consider the game too rough and too dangerous to be unconditionally encouraged. I have not seen my way clear as yet to positively discourage the game, and in the case of our own institution, I can testify that the most enthusiastic participants in the sport are usually the men who do the best work in the classes. Yet I am of the opinion that the game must undergo radical modifications before it can rightly claim for itself general support. I should most gladly see the introductions of such modifications in the rules governing the game as will tend to lessen the chances of serious injury to players. I believe the growing popular sentiment against the game as played at present will necessitate such changes in the near future."
McMinnville College President Leonard W. Riley
Dec. 11, 1909, published in Oregonian, Dec. 12, 1909
"GAME MUST BE ELIMINATED"
McMinnville College Head Puts Football on Blacklist.
McMINNVILLE, Or., Dec. 11-- (Special) -- Leonard W. Riley, president of McMinnville College, says:
"I am bold enough to make the assertion that in order to eliminate the objectionable features of football, the entire game as played in American college must be eliminated. With the danger to life and limb, the brutality and the rowdyism taken from the American game, the remaining features of the game itself would not be sufficient to attract attention. The same amount of morbid curiosity that attracts a crowd of people to a street brawl or to a prizefight brings them together to witness the great American game, with blood and broken bones as the anticipated finale. Early in 1906 the faculty of McMinnville College, with common consent, eliminated football. The result has been apparent in better discipline in the college, better recitations, more gentlemanly deportment in and out of college, and a better moral tone throughout. The physical energies of the student body have been centered on basketball and track work to an extent that resulted in the building up of winning teams of athletes. McMinnville College believes in athletics, and would welcome a return to the Rugby or association game, but it does not believe the American game of football is a proper form out outdoor exercise. We took a long step in becoming the college in the Northwest to place the stamp of disapproval on football. But the results have been so satisfactory that that there is no likelihood of this order ever being rescinded."
Historical info:
--Harry L. Boardman was the college's first president. He served 1896-1903.
--Leonard W. Riley served as president 1906-1931.
--Riley took office March 1, 1906. On March 27, 1906, McMinnville College's board of trustees met and suspended football. Linfield Athletics says, "Football suspended by the Board of Trustees in the summer of 1906." The statement above from Riley says the faculty eliminated football. Perhaps both the trustees and faculty approved football's elimination?
--Riley is the namesake of Linfield's Riley Student Center which was the college's home basketball court ("Riley Gym") before Ted Wilson Gym in the HHPA (Health, Human Performance, and Athletics) opened in 1989. Information at the Linfield Athletics website says, "In 1920, Riley Gym was built adjacent to historic Pioneer Hall at a cost of just over $25,000. Riley Gym served as the basketball home of the Wildcats for 67 seasons. A granddaddy of small college gyms, Riley played host to its first game in December, 1921, and its last game in February, 1989." Oh, did you know that the ashes of Riley and his wife, Julia Pearce Riley, are buried on campus, beneath the Melrose Hall office window of the college's president.
--In a special afternoon chapel on Jan. 10, 1922, Riley announced that football would resume in the fall and that the name of McMinnville College was now Linfield College. The name change was approved by unanimous vote of the trustees that morning.
--On Nov. 24, 1922, as part of Linfield’s Homecoming the college football team lost 36-0 to Willamette in the first Linfield football game to be played in 16 years.
--The 2014 season will be Linfield's 100th season of football.
Chartered in 1858 as McMinnville College, Linfield started playing football in 1896.
But, as important as it is now, statements by two presidents during the college’s early years painted a bleak picture for the sport.
McMinnville College President Harry L. Boardman
Dec. 4, 1897, published in the Oregonian, Dec. 12, 1897
FOOTBALL TOO DANGEROUS
Estimate of President Boardman, of McMinnville College
"I believe in college athletics. I am heartily of the opinion that the sports commonly indulged in by the students of the colleges are beneficial, and that the athletic sport in the colleges ought to be encouraged within reasonable limits and with proper restrictions.
"Football as played at the present time I do not consider to come within the limits of reason and propriety. I consider the game too rough and too dangerous to be unconditionally encouraged. I have not seen my way clear as yet to positively discourage the game, and in the case of our own institution, I can testify that the most enthusiastic participants in the sport are usually the men who do the best work in the classes. Yet I am of the opinion that the game must undergo radical modifications before it can rightly claim for itself general support. I should most gladly see the introductions of such modifications in the rules governing the game as will tend to lessen the chances of serious injury to players. I believe the growing popular sentiment against the game as played at present will necessitate such changes in the near future."
McMinnville College President Leonard W. Riley
Dec. 11, 1909, published in Oregonian, Dec. 12, 1909
"GAME MUST BE ELIMINATED"
McMinnville College Head Puts Football on Blacklist.
McMINNVILLE, Or., Dec. 11-- (Special) -- Leonard W. Riley, president of McMinnville College, says:
"I am bold enough to make the assertion that in order to eliminate the objectionable features of football, the entire game as played in American college must be eliminated. With the danger to life and limb, the brutality and the rowdyism taken from the American game, the remaining features of the game itself would not be sufficient to attract attention. The same amount of morbid curiosity that attracts a crowd of people to a street brawl or to a prizefight brings them together to witness the great American game, with blood and broken bones as the anticipated finale. Early in 1906 the faculty of McMinnville College, with common consent, eliminated football. The result has been apparent in better discipline in the college, better recitations, more gentlemanly deportment in and out of college, and a better moral tone throughout. The physical energies of the student body have been centered on basketball and track work to an extent that resulted in the building up of winning teams of athletes. McMinnville College believes in athletics, and would welcome a return to the Rugby or association game, but it does not believe the American game of football is a proper form out outdoor exercise. We took a long step in becoming the college in the Northwest to place the stamp of disapproval on football. But the results have been so satisfactory that that there is no likelihood of this order ever being rescinded."
Historical info:
--Harry L. Boardman was the college's first president. He served 1896-1903.
--Leonard W. Riley served as president 1906-1931.
--Riley took office March 1, 1906. On March 27, 1906, McMinnville College's board of trustees met and suspended football. Linfield Athletics says, "Football suspended by the Board of Trustees in the summer of 1906." The statement above from Riley says the faculty eliminated football. Perhaps both the trustees and faculty approved football's elimination?
--Riley is the namesake of Linfield's Riley Student Center which was the college's home basketball court ("Riley Gym") before Ted Wilson Gym in the HHPA (Health, Human Performance, and Athletics) opened in 1989. Information at the Linfield Athletics website says, "In 1920, Riley Gym was built adjacent to historic Pioneer Hall at a cost of just over $25,000. Riley Gym served as the basketball home of the Wildcats for 67 seasons. A granddaddy of small college gyms, Riley played host to its first game in December, 1921, and its last game in February, 1989." Oh, did you know that the ashes of Riley and his wife, Julia Pearce Riley, are buried on campus, beneath the Melrose Hall office window of the college's president.
--In a special afternoon chapel on Jan. 10, 1922, Riley announced that football would resume in the fall and that the name of McMinnville College was now Linfield College. The name change was approved by unanimous vote of the trustees that morning.
--On Nov. 24, 1922, as part of Linfield’s Homecoming the college football team lost 36-0 to Willamette in the first Linfield football game to be played in 16 years.
--The 2014 season will be Linfield's 100th season of football.
