First contested | 1884 Williams 15, Amherst 2 |
---|---|
Number of meetings | 132 |
Most recent meeting | November 10, 2018 Amherst 45, Williams 14 |
Next meeting | 2019 |
All-time series | Williams leads, 72–56–5[1] |
Current streak | Amherst, 1 (2018–present) |
The Biggest Little Game in America is an American college football rivalry featuring the Amherst Mammoths (formerly known as the Lord Jeffs) and the Williams Ephs. Both programs play in the Division III New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). With the exception of a few hiatuses, the series has been played annually since 1884, making it the most played Division III rivalry game, and the fourth most played NCAA game at any level. Williams leads the all-time series 72–56–5.[2]
History[]
![]() | This section's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. (March 2015) |
The rivalry between Amherst College and Williams College predates football. It began with the founding of Amherst in 1821. Zephaniah Swift Moore, the president of Williams, had long determined that Williamstown was too remote. Unable to ensure the relocation of the college, he instead set out with a portion of the professors and student body to found a new school in Amherst, MA. Relations between the two schools have been heated ever since.[3] The two schools, in addition to Wesleyan University, also compete in a series known as the "Little Three,"[4] a play on the term "Big Three" traditionally referring to Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.
The November 10, 2007 contest between the two schools in Williamstown, MA was selected as the location for ESPN's College GameDay.[5] This was the first time the program had been hosted by a Division III school. Additionally, in 2003 the rivalry was included in ESPN's Page 2 bracket of the best college football rivalries.[6]
On November 11, 2017, Williams College defeated Amherst at Weston Field, Williamstown, Massachusetts. Williams won the game 31–24 in overtime, only the second time an Amherst–Williams game went into overtime since 1884.
Other sports[]
The first intercollegiate baseball game was played between Amherst and Williams in 1859. In that game, which lasted nearly four hours, Amherst defeated Williams by the score of 73–32.[7]
Game results[]
Amherst victories | Williams victories | Tie games |
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See also[]
References[]
- ↑ "NESCAC Champs! Amherst Finishes 8-0, Defeats Williams, 17-7". 14 November 2015. http://athletics.amherst.edu/sports/fball/2015-16/releases/20151114o5elas. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- ↑ "127th Meeting in 'The Biggest Little Game in America' Williams at Amherst 11/10". D3football.com. 2012-11-09. http://www.d3football.com/seasons/2012/contrib/20121109gixd3i. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
- ↑ Reynolds, Lauren (July 23, 2007). "Sibling rivalry: Williams-Amherst remains heated". ESPN. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2945751. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
- ↑ [1][dead link]
- ↑ "'GameDay' goes off the beaten path to find the biggest little rivalry". ESPN. 2007-11-08. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=fowler_chris&id=3099894. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
- ↑ "Page2 - Sworn enemies: Vote for best rivalry". ESPN. 2003-11-21. http://espn.go.com/page2/s/bracket/collegefootball/rivalry.html. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
- ↑ Timanus, Eddie (2009-04-30). "Amherst, Williams continue baseball series of 150 years". USAToday. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/college/baseball/2009-04-30-amherst-williams_N.htm. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
- ↑ "AMHERST BEATS RIVAL; Williams College Loses Battle Through Madden's Field Goal.". 22 November 1908. https://www.nytimes.com/1908/11/22/archives/amherst-beats-rival-williams-college-loses-battle-through-maddens.html. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- ↑ "Amherst vs Williams (MA)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on May 15, 2016. https://www.webcitation.org/6hW1ZyyXX?url=http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/a/amherst/opponents_records.php?teamid=3574. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
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