Hall of Fame
Position: Fullback
Years: 1897-1899
Place of Birth: San Francisco, CA
Date of Birth: Oct 25, 1878
Place of Death: Brookline, MA
Date of Death: Sep 28, 1976
Height: 5-10
Weight: 178
High School: Belmont, CA (Belmont HS)
Bill Reid lived and played through the blood-and-brutality days of football, yet it would be his efforts in later years which would save the game from a governmental ban and establish a more civilized style of play. Reid was an outstanding fullback for Harvard just before the turn of century, and later, became the Crimson's head coach. While serving in that capacity, Reid and fellow coaches from Yale, Princeton and Dartmouth were called to Washington, D.C. President Theodore Roosevelt was incensed over the violence in the game and was threatening to ban the sport. However, during the meeting, Reid urged the Chief Executive to reconsider. He drew up an agreement, signed by all present, directing collegiate football teams to abide by the spirit and letter of the rules. President Roosevelt was satisfied and the game, tempered to a finer competitive edge, flourished. As a player, Reid became the first Harvard player to score two touchdowns against arch rival Yale in a single game. The Crimson was unbeaten through his two varsity seasons and again, in 1901, during his first year as head coach. Reid was on Harvard's freshman team in 1897 and the varsity in 1898-99. He could not play in 1900 because of a pulled muscle, and he spent the year as Harvard's head cheerleader. He was Harvard's coach in 1901 and 1905-06 with a 30-3-1 record.
