SCHENECTADY, NY -- It was 1886. Grover Cleveland was the President of the United States, and his predecessor was Union College graduate Chester Arthur. President Cleveland was raised in upstate New York. On November 19, 1886, in upstate New York, a football game was played in Albany, between members of the Union College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute teams.

The gentlemen who contested on the gridiron on that date began one of the nation's best collegiate football traditions. In 1950, a unique trophy, "The Dutchman's Shoes," was added to be awarded to the victor of this rivalry.

On November 10, 2007,  the men who wear the uniforms of the two institutions will provide the 105th meeting of the game. For the second time in three seasons, there are playoff and Liberty League title implications for both squads.

Game time is 12 p.m. and the game will be live in the Capital District on Time Warner Cable Channel 3. Fans can also follow the game with the webcast from Time Warner and live stats, as well as TEAMLINE for the Union radio broadcast, with links to all sites located on www.unionathletics.com.

In NCAA Division III, only four other rivalries have preceded the Union-RPI series. Amherst-Williams (1881), Williams-Wesleyan (also 1881), Amherst-Wesleyan (1882) and Trinity (CT)-Wesleyan (1885) continue their rivalries to this day. The Shoes Trophy is one of 50 awarded nationally for rivalry games in Division III. and it is the 15th oldest trophy.

The players of 1886 may not have had the game televised, there were no live statistics or a webcast. But no doubt they will be looking down on this year's contest, enjoying it with the rest of us.

Game Notes

LIVE WEBCAST featuring Time Warner audio and video

Live statistics

RPI Coach Joe King and Union Coach John Audino with The Trophy.