title: Davidson football, 1896–1899
text: # Davidson football, 1896–1899
  
  The Davidson football team (later known as the Davidson Wildcats) represented Davidson College in American football. The football program started in 1896 with a game against the Charlotte YMCA. After not fielding a team in 1897, the program played two games in 1898 and a six-game schedule in 1899. The team did not hire a coach until 1900 when John A. Brewin began his four-year tenure as head coach. This article covers the program's early years prior to the hiring of Brewin as the school's first head football coach.
  
  ## 1896
  
  The 1896 Davidson football team was an American football team represented Davidson College as an independent during the 1896 college football season. The team compiled a 0–1 record and played just one match against the Charlotte YMCA on their own campus.
  
  | Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Source |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | October 19 | Charlotte YMCA | Davidson, NC | L 4–12 | |
  
  ## 1898
  
  The 1898 Davidson football team was an American football team represented Davidson College as an independent during the 1898 college football season. The team compiled a 1–1 record and played both games at Charlotte, North Carolina. After a loss to North Carolina, Davidson secured their first win in program history against South Carolina by a score of 5–0.
  
  | Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Source |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | November 5 | vs. North Carolina | Latta Park Baseball FieldCharlotte, NC | L 0–11 | |
  | November 24 | vs. South Carolina | Latta Park Baseball FieldCharlotte, NC | W 5–0 | |
  
  ## 1899
  
  The 1899 Davidson football team was an American football team represented Davidson College as an independent during the 1899 college football season, and the team compiled a 1–3–1. After they opened the season with three consecutive losses, Davidson had their first all time tie in program history with a scoreless game against North Carolina A&M.
  
  | Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | October 14 | vs. Clemson | Rock Hill, SC | L 0–10 |
  | October 21 | vs. North Carolina | Latta Park Baseball FieldCharlotte, NC | L 0–10 |
  | November 11 | Oak Ridge Institute | Davidson, NC | L 2–6 |
  | November 17 | vs. North Carolina A&M | Latta Park Baseball FieldCharlotte, NC | T 0–0 |
  | November 30 | vs. South Carolina | Latta Park Baseball FieldCharlotte, NC | W 5–0 |
  