Andover–Exeter rivalry explained

Wide:yes
Andover–Exeter rivalry
Firstmeeting:1878
Andover 22, Exeter 0
Mostrecent:2024
Exeter 42, Andover 21
Alltimerecord:Andover leads,
Largestvictory:Exeter, 78–7 (1914)
Longeststreak:Andover 8 (1905–1912)
Currentstreak:Exeter 4 (2021–present)
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The Exeter–Andover rivalry (also known as the Andover–Exeter rivalry) is an academic and athletic rivalry between Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter) and Phillips Academy (Andover), two New England boarding schools founded by members of the Phillips family during the Revolutionary era. The teams have competed in sports since 1861, and in football and baseball since 1878. In particular, they contest the nation's second-oldest high school football rivalry and the oldest private school rivalry.

History

Background

Institutionally, the Andover-Exeter rivalry bears certain similarities to the Harvard–Yale rivalry. Due to religious differences between the two schools (Andover was Calvinist,[1] Exeter Unitarian[2]), they traditionally focused on sending students to Calvinist Yale and Unitarian Harvard, respectively.[3] Since then, the religious distinctions have faded but the academies continue to compete for prestige and prospective students.[4] In 2022, Andover reportedly used Niche's high school rankings (Andover was #1, Exeter was not) to taunt Exeter students during a game.[5]

According to Andover, the academies have played each other in sports since 1861,[6] although another source asserts that students did not organize Andover-Exeter games until 1865 and the academies did not formally sponsor competition until 1873.[7] The baseball rivalry began when Exeter defeated Andover 11–1 on May 22, 1878; Andover returned the favor 10 days later, beating Exeter 10–8.[8] The following school year, the football series began when Andover beat Exeter 22–0 on on November 2, 1878; it is the nation's second-oldest high school football rivalry and oldest private school rivalry.[9] In addition, Andover, Exeter, and Lawrenceville were the first secondary schools to sponsor lacrosse teams, starting in 1882.[10] [11]

Football

Due to their age and early adoption of organized football, the academies have made extensive contributions to American college football. An early flashpoint in amateurism rules took place in 1889, when Andover paid a player $200 (roughly $6,800 in 2024 dollars) to play football, and Exeter convinced him to change teams by offering him $300; the resulting controversy prompted the cancellation of the 1889 game.[12] Most notably, in 1893, Exeter beat Andover after hiring 27-year-old professional athlete Pooch Donovan to play football; the following week, Donovan played college football for Georgetown. In retaliation, Andover stopped playing football with Exeter (even though Andover's quarterback was allegedly a professional himself), and Teddy Roosevelt called for Exeter to be banned from high school sports. After a short-lived attempt to make New Jersey's Lawrenceville School its rival, Andover agreed to play Exeter again in 1896.

According to Exeter football coach Panos Voulgaris, Exeter has educated ten members of the College Football Hall of Fame, more than any other high school in the nation.[13] Amos Alonzo Stagg (1865) was one of the first football pioneers at the University of Chicago, back when Chicago played top-level college sports.[14] Six-time national championship-winning coach Howard Jones (1905)[15] attended Exeter for a year after transferring from Ohio's Middletown High School.[16] The other Exonians in the Hall of Fame are four-time All-American Marshall Newell (1890),[17] 1927 national championship-winning coach Tad Jones (1905; Howard's brother), three-time All-American James Hogan (1901),[18] Ed Hart (1907),[19] Eddie Casey (1915),[20] Lee McClung (1888),[21] Jim McCormick (1904),[22] and Donold Lourie (1918).[23]

Andover has also produced several notable football figures, including at least nine College Football Hall of Famers, such as four-time All-American Frank Hinkey,[24] three-time All-American Eddie Mahan,[25] [26] 1903 national championship-winning coach Art Hillebrand,[27] John Kilpatrick[28] (also a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame), Murray Shelton,[29] Ted Coy,[30] Bob Fisher,[31] Dick Duden,[32] and Belford West.[33] In addition, Andover alumnus William G. Little founded the Alabama Crimson Tide football team,[34] [35] and longtime New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick attended Andover for a year.[36]

Football matches

YearAndoverExeterWinner
1878220Andover
1879018Exeter
188088Tie
188160Andover
1882120Andover
1883176Andover
1884118Andover
18851133Exeter
1886026Exeter
1887444Exeter
1888100Andover
1889 No Game
1890160Andover
18912610Andover
18921828Exeter
18931026Exeter
1894 No Game
1895 No Game
1896289Andover
18971418Exeter
189800Tie
1899170Andover
1900010Exeter
190105Exeter
1902291Andover
19031114Exeter
19041035Exeter
1905280Andover
190660Andover
190796Andover
1908120Andover
190930Andover
1910210Andover
1911235Andover
191270Andover
1913059Exeter
1914778Exeter
1915737Exeter
191606Exeter
191703Exeter
1918726Exeter
1919190Andover
192063Andover
1921334Exeter
1922312Exeter
192377Tie
1924010Exeter
YearAndoverExeterWinner
192500Tie
1926203Andover
192700Tie
1928180Andover
1929714Exeter
19302016Andover
19311215Exeter
193206Exeter
193367Exeter
193476Andover
193507Exeter
1936127Andover
19372015Andover
1938146Andover
1939612Exeter
1940220Exeter
19411413Andover
1942120Andover
1943612Exeter
1944200Andover
1945187Andover
194676Andover
1947612Exeter
1948287Andover
19493421Andover
1950627Exeter
195177Tie
1952590Andover
1953147Andover
1954316Andover
19551412Andover
1956645Exeter
1957456Andover
1958406Andover
1959166Andover
19601818Tie
1961188Andover
196266Tie
196389Exeter
1964731Exeter
196508Exeter
1966626Exeter
1967206Andover
19681222Exeter
1969270Andover
1970348Andover
19712030Exeter
YearAndoverExeterWinner
1972196Andover
1973320Andover
1974728Exeter
19753320Andover
1976015Exeter
1977286Andover
1978814Exeter
1979247Andover
1980146Andover
1981712Exeter
1982176Andover
1983286Andover
19841226Exeter
1985721Exeter
1986015Exeter
19871413Andover
19882112Andover
19891412Andover
1990160Andover
19913314Andover
199260Andover
19932128Exeter
19942020Tie
199563Andover
199630Andover
1997350Andover
1998712Exeter
1999197Andover
2000613Exeter
20014815Andover
20021414Tie
2003044Exeter
20041228Exeter
2005248Andover
20064314Andover
20072414Andover
20081321Exeter
20091431Exeter
20103356Exeter
2011639Exeter
2012935Exeter
20131312Andover
20141312Andover
20152914Andover
2016167Andover
20171714Andover
2018140Andover
YearAndoverExeterWinner
20191413Andover
2020No Game
2021637Exeter
2022742Exeter
20232047Exeter
20242142Exeter

Notes and References

  1. Book: Allis Jr., Frederick S. . Youth from Every Quarter: A Bicentennial History of Phillips Academy, Andover . University Press of New England . 1979 . Hanover, NH . 55-57.
  2. Book: Williams, Myron R. . The Story of Phillips Exeter . Phillips Exeter Academy . 1957 . Exeter, NH . 14.
  3. Allis, p. 148.
  4. Web site: Browning . Emmie Martin, Lauren . The 50 Most Elite Boarding Schools In The US . 2023-08-13 . Business Insider . en-US.
  5. Web site: Editorial Board . 2022-11-11 . “Prep School’s Oldest Rivalry” . 2024-12-04 . The Phillipian.
  6. Web site: History . 2024-03-16 . Andover An independent and inclusive coed boarding high school . en-US.
  7. Web site: Mitchell . Andrew . 2008-11-06 . Rivals Since 1865 . 2024-12-04 . The Phillipian.
  8. Web site: Zhang . William . Yue . Alex . 2019-11-09 . Andover/Exeter Rivalry Continues in 142nd Year . 2024-12-04 . The Phillipian.
  9. Web site: Moreno . Eric . The oldest high school football rivalries in the U.S. . 2023-10-25 . blogs.usafootball.com.
  10. Web site: Phillips Academy, Andover (Massachusetts), Phillips Exeter Academy (New Hampshire) and the Lawrenceville School (New Jersey) were the nation's first high school teams in 1882. . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081120190027/http://www.uslacrosse.org./the_sport/index.phtml . 2008-11-20.
  11. Web site: Club . Spotsylvania County Lacrosse . LACROSSE HISTORY . 2017-07-10 . www.spotsylacrosse.org . en-US.
  12. Web site: Morris . Amy . 2013-11-07 . Pride, professionals and a man named ‘Pooch’ . 2024-12-04 . Phillips Academy . en-US.
  13. Voulgaris . Panos . Fall 2023 . Strength and Character: The Life of Ernest J. Marshall, Class of 1904, Exeter's First Black Sports Captain . The Exeter Bulletin . 25, 29 . Issuu.
  14. Web site: Amos Alonzo Stagg (1951) - Hall of Fame . 2024-12-04 . National Football Foundation . en.
  15. Web site: Howard Jones (1951) - Hall of Fame . 2024-12-04 . National Football Foundation . en.
  16. Web site: Tad Jones (1958) - Hall of Fame . 2024-12-04 . National Football Foundation . en.
  17. Web site: Marshall Newell (1957) - Hall of Fame . 2024-12-04 . National Football Foundation . en.
  18. News: March 20, 1910 . James J. Hogan Dead . June 26, 2023 . . 1 . newspapers.com.
  19. Web site: Ed Hart (1954) - Hall of Fame . 2024-12-04 . National Football Foundation . en.
  20. Web site: Eddie Casey (1968) - Hall of Fame . 2024-12-04 . National Football Foundation . en.
  21. Web site: Lee "Bum" McClung (1963) - Hall of Fame . 2024-12-04 . National Football Foundation . en.
  22. Web site: Jim McCormick (1954) - Hall of Fame . 2024-12-04 . National Football Foundation . en.
  23. Web site: Don Lourie (1974) - Hall of Fame . 2024-12-04 . National Football Foundation . en.
  24. Web site: Frank Hinkey (1951) - Hall of Fame . 2024-12-04 . National Football Foundation . en.
  25. Web site: Eddie Mahan (1951) - Hall of Fame . 2024-12-04 . National Football Foundation . en.
  26. Web site: Belluche . David . 2012-05-17 . Nine Alumni Inducted into Andover Athletic Hall of Fame . 2024-12-04 . The Phillipian.
  27. Web site: Art "Doc" Hillebrand (1970) - Hall of Fame . 2024-12-04 . National Football Foundation . en.
  28. Web site: John Kilpatrick (1955) - Hall of Fame . 2024-12-04 . National Football Foundation . en.
  29. Web site: Murray Shelton (1973) - Hall of Fame . 2024-12-04 . National Football Foundation . en.
  30. Web site: Ted Coy (1951) - Hall of Fame . 2024-12-04 . National Football Foundation . en.
  31. Web site: Bob Fisher (1973) - Hall of Fame . 2024-12-04 . National Football Foundation . en.
  32. Web site: Dick Duden (2001) - Hall of Fame . 2024-12-04 . National Football Foundation . en.
  33. Web site: Belford West (1954) - Hall of Fame . 2024-12-04 . National Football Foundation . en.
  34. Web site: History of Alabama Football . https://web.archive.org/web/20081205041602/http://rolltidebama.com/history.htm . December 5, 2008 . November 8, 2008 . The University of Alabama.
  35. Web site: The Father of Alabama Football: William G. Little . 2024-12-04.
  36. Web site: Burt . Bill . 2015-02-02 . 'I owe this school a lot;' Belichick holds 1 year at Phillips in high regard . 2024-12-04 . The Andover Townsman . en.

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