On This Day

Columbia beats Yale 21-18 in football, then loses the next 44 games

The 1983 Yale Bulldogs football team represented Yale University in the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA football season.

The 1983 Yale Bulldogs football team represented Yale University in the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Bulldogs were led by 19th-year head coach Carmen Cozza, played their home games at the Yale Bowl and finished last in the Ivy League with a 1–6 record, 1–9 overall.

By finishing last in the Ivy League, this Yale team would be the last team for the next five years to place below Columbia in the standings, as the Lions embarked on a 44-game losing streak, at the time the longest in NCAA Division I history. Columbia's October 15 date at the Yale Bowl would also serve as the program's final win before the start of the streak, which would encompass all of the 1984–1987 seasons. Columbia would not win another game until October 8, 1988.

Historical Significance

The 1983 Yale Bulldogs football team represented Yale University in the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA football season.

Events Before

  1. The "Epic in Miami," played in 85°F heat, sees the San Diego Chargers defeat the Miami Dolphins 41-38 in overtime in the

    The "Epic in Miami," played in 85°F heat, sees the San Diego Chargers defeat the Miami Dolphins 41-38 in overtime in the AFC Divisional Playoff, setting numerous playoff scoring records

  2. Paul Belmondo dies

    Paul Belmondo dies

  3. "Thirtysomething" stars Ken Olin and Patricia Wettig meet; they later marry

    "Thirtysomething" stars Ken Olin and Patricia Wettig meet; they later marry

  4. American singer Barbra Streisand and hairdresser/film producer Jon Peters' romantic relationship ends

    Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand is an American singer, actress, songwriter, producer, and director.

  5. NFC Championship, Candlestick Park, SF: San Francisco 49ers defeat Dallas Cowboys 28-27; "The Catch," an iconic moment i

    NFC Championship, Candlestick Park, SF: San Francisco 49ers defeat Dallas Cowboys 28-27; "The Catch," an iconic moment in NFL history, Dwight Clark makes a fingertip touchdown catch from Joe Montana with 58 seconds remaining; SF goes on to win the Super Bowl

Events After

  1. AT&T's 22 owned Bell System companies divest into seven independent companies

    The Bell System was a system of telecommunication companies, led by the Bell Telephone Company and later by AT&T, that dominated the telephone services industry in North America for over 100 years…

  2. "Night Court," starring Harry Anderson and created by comedy writer Reinhold Weege, premieres on NBC; runs for nine seas

    "Night Court," starring Harry Anderson and created by comedy writer Reinhold Weege, premieres on NBC; runs for nine seasons

  3. Supreme Court rules 5-4 that private home use of VCRs to record TV programs for later viewing does not violate federal c

    Supreme Court rules 5-4 that private home use of VCRs to record TV programs for later viewing does not violate federal copyright law

  4. Apple Computer Inc. unveils its revolutionary Macintosh personal computer in a Super Bowl TV ad directed by Ridley Scott

    Apple Inc. is an American multinational technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California, in Silicon Valley, best known for its consumer electronics, software and online services.

  5. Britain's Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean famously dominate ice dancing at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics, performing t

    Britain's Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean famously dominate ice dancing at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics, performing to Maurice Ravel's "Bolero" in their free dance routine and recording 9-of-9 perfect scores for artistic impression [1]

More from the 1980s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on October 15, 1983?
The 1983 Yale Bulldogs football team represented Yale University in the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Bulldogs were led by 19th-year head coach Carmen Cozza, played their home games at the Yale Bowl and finished last in the Ivy League with a 1–6 record, 1–9 overall. By finishing last in the Ivy League, this Yale team would be the last team for the next five years to place below Columbia in the standings, as the Lions embarked on a 44-game losing streak, at the time the longest in NCAA Division I history.
Why is Columbia beats Yale 21-18 in football, then loses the next 44 games significant?
The 1983 Yale Bulldogs football team represented Yale University in the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA football season.

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