andathe:

This was one of the earliest sports videos ever made - it was filmed by Thomas Edison at the end-of-season game between the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago, in 1904 (erroneously says 1903 in the title, but 1903 was played in Chicago and this is played in Ferry Field, Ann Arbor.)  The history in Ann Arbor is incredible - I’ve passed by Ferry Field countless times (it’s sort of behind the IM building) and never knew it used to be the football grounds before the Big House was built.  

What really gets me is the little kids in the crowd with Maize-and-Blue striped hats and banners.  Isn’t it weird to think that they’re almost a hundred years older than you?  Their entire rest of their lifetime occurred between that game and the 60s or 70s or even 80s.  There are Michigan fans who are that old, who have watched the team for so long.  Crazy.  Oh, by the way, Michigan won 22-12 and garnered the title “Champions of the West”.  They also were awarded the 1904 National Championship.