"Down the Field" is the title of two different fight songs in college football. One is used by Yale University and the University of Tennessee; the other is used by Syracuse University.

Yale’s "Down the Field" was written in 1904 by Yale undergraduate Stanleigh P. Friedman, the manager of Yale’s orchestra (music);[1] and Yale law student Caleb W. O’Connor (lyrics).[2] According to Yale Bands, the song is "played at the end of every Yale athletic event, win or lose."[3]

The Yale fight song was adapted with new lyrics by Robert Clayton "Red" Matthews, an engineering professor at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. Matthews’ version became the official fight song of the university.[4] However, "Rocky Top" is frequently played at the university, making it the unofficial fight song, and is a favorite among fans. Whenever the Volunteers score a touchdown, "Down the Field" is played first, followed by "Rocky Top".[5]

"Down the Field" is also the title of the official fight song for Syracuse University, in Syracuse, New York.[6] However, this is an entirely different song, written in 1914. The words were written by Ralph Murphy, Class of 1916; the music was composed by C. Harold Lewis, Class of 1915.[7] It was first performed by the Syracuse University Marching Band on November 14, 1913. The band would play the song the following day during the Syracuse Orangemen football game against the Colgate team, which Syracuse lost 35-13.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Undergraduate Applications for Harvard Game". Yale Daily News Historical Archive. November 4, 1903. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  2. ↑ William E. Studwell & Bruce R. Schueneman (1998). College Fight Songs: An Annotated Anthology. Taylor & Francis. p. 40. ISBN 9781136384608.
  3. ↑ "Yale Fight Songs". Yale Bands. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  4. ↑ Sproles, Cassandra (March 20, 2017). "Tennessee Songs". Torchbearer. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  5. ↑ William E. Studwell & Bruce R. Schueneman (1998). College Fight Songs: An Annotated Anthology. Taylor & Francis. p. 34. ISBN 9781136384608.
  6. ↑ "Syracuse University History: Syracuse University Songs". archives.syr.edu. Archived from the original on 20 May 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  7. ↑ Randazzo, Ryan (March 14, 2018). "New York Series: Syracuse Fight Song 'Down The Field'". NYSMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  8. ↑ Hasselstrom, Sherman (4 December 2008). "HISTORY > Beginnings: 1901-1921". Syracuse University Bands. Archived from the original on 2008-12-04. Retrieved 10 November 2023.


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