The first sport that was established by students at East Carolina Teachers Training School was baseball. It began as a club in 1910. The school colors were officially chosen in 1909 as gold and royal purple through a general consensus of the student body. By 1913, the school administration formally established the intramural program for the entire school body. The program was meant to encourage activity and improve the health of the the ladies of the school. The intramural sports that the ladies could participate in were basketball, tennis, and cross country walking.
As of 1913, there were 10 intramural basketball teams and tennis was played so often that it was hard to find an open court in the afternoon.
One of the highlights of the fall in 1913 and 1914 was the Thanksgiving Day Basketball tournament. The tournament winner was usually decided between the Junior and Senior classes, however there were instances where the Sophomores succeeded in playing against the upper classes. In 1915, the administration added an additional basketball tournament in January. In 1916, volleyball was added to the intramural sports program.
Every May there was a Field Day where the classes competed against all the rest to receive bragging rights for their class. Bragging rights included the “Loving Cup” that was given to the winning class.
In the fall of 1918, all athletics were suspended due to the war effort and later the influenza epidemic. Athletics resumed in the fall of 1919. By 1919, there were only women attending the school.
By 1931, male enrollment was great enough to compete in intercollegiate games. The first organized male sports in the 1930’s were basketball, baseball, and then in the fall of 1932, football.
- Baseball and Club Sports, 1910
- Who’s Who in Baseball
- The First Baseball Team
- Baseball Practice Opens for Season
- Baseball Has Come Long Way At College
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