Detroit College Tigers football, 1896–1909

The Detroit College Tigers football teams (later known as the Detroit Titans) represented Detroit College (renamed the University of Detroit in 1911) in American football. The team played its home games at various locations in Detroit, including the grounds of the Detroit Athletic Club.

Highlights of the school's first 13 years of intercollegiate football include the following:

• The team played its first game on October 15, 1896, defeating the Detroit School for Boys by a 20–0 score.
• The team played its first intercollegiate game on November 26, 1896 against St. Ignatius College Chicago, losing by a 20–0 score. Detroit did not play another intercollegiate game until November 29, 1900. In a rematch with St. Ignatius, the Detroit team won by an 11–0 score.
• The 1899 team compiled a 5–1–1 and outscored opponents by a total of 101 to 15. The first four games were played against local high schools, and the last game was played against the college's alumni.
• In 1901, the team played its first game against Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University).
• On October 10, 1903, the team played its first game against the Michigan State Normal School (now Eastern Michigan University) from Ypsilanti. The Detroiters won by a 6–0 score.
• In November 1905, after only one game had been played, the college president, Rev. Kellinger, declared that football was "too rough" and too expensive. The team was then disbanded. In October 1906, the college faculty voted to allow students to resume competition in intercollegiate football.
• In 1909, the school played its first season exclusively against other college teams. Prior to 1909, the school's opponents had consisted largely of local high schools, clubs, alumni, and other institutions.