Today's Tidbit... The 1908 Olympics and Oxygen Use in Football

Chicago coach Amos Alonzo Stagg was a significant figure in U.S. track and field before WWI, organizing top amateur competitions, particularly at the prep level. Several Chicago track athletes competed in the 1908 Olympics in London, leading Stagg to travel to the games. While in England, Stagg learned that English athletes and high society folks took oxygen treatments before competitions or whenever they needed a boost.

Stagg aboard the S.S. Philadelphia on his way to the London Olympics in 1908 with his wife, Stella, and two Chicago faculty members, Sophonisba Preston Breckinridge (far left) and Marion Talbot (2nd from left). (University of Chicago Photographic Archive, (apf1-0779), Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.)

Upon returning, Stagg worked with the team physician to test the effectiveness of oxygen use among football players. He told his former player and Iowa coach Mark Catlin of the results since Iowa also had oxygen on their sideline during the 1908 season.

The oxygenated 1908 Chicago football team won the conference championship, just as they had in 1907.. (University of Chicago Photographic Archive, (apf5-03239), Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.)

After reading this Tidbit, you can now impress your friends or win a bar bet with your staggering knowledge.

Florida players using oxygen on the sideline during the 1948 season. (1949 Florida Tower)

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