The Little Three

Williams • Amherst • Wesleyan

There are at least two athletic seasons for each Williams varsity team, the regular season and the Little Three.

The three schools first formally banded together in 1899 as the Triangular League. The Triangular League broke up over an argument concerning the eligibility of college baseball players who received pay during summer league play. As a result of the ill feelings, Williams and Amherst did not play from 1902 to 1904.

In 1905 the Williams Athletic Council voted to consider the games against Amherst and Wesleyan as championship contests. When Amherst and Wesleyan resumed competition in 1910 the Little Three as we know it today began in earnest. Once referred to as "The Triumvirate," the exact origin of the term "Little Three" is not known. One of the earliest references appeared in John Hallahan’s Football in New England Colleges in 1923. Said Hallahan, "Williams College again won the championship of the "Little Three" which includes Wesleyan and Amherst..."

The Little Three is believed to be America’s oldest, continuous intercollegiate athletic conference without a membership change. Little Three championships are contested in 26 sports throughout the academic year.

Since 1985-86 Williams has had great success in Little Three competitions, winning the most Little Three titles each year and frequently winning more in one year than Amherst and Wesleyan combined! In the 1990s the Ephs averaged 19 Little Three titles per year.

In recent years Williams has won more Little Three titles outright each year than the combined success of Amherst and Wesleyan. Overall in 2006-07 Williams posted a Little Three record of 48-14-1, while Amherst was 32-27-1 and Wesleyan finished 12-51-2.

Summary of 2007-08 Little Three Championships courtesy of Wesleyan University.