Today's Tidbit... Traditional Post-Game Fan Celebrations

When the next-to-last century turned, the nation's colleges were filled with wild and crazy guys. And some gals. They celebrated victories in ways both familiar and strange. Like us, they had cheerleaders, marching bands, and yells. Other activities they enjoyed died out. Maybe they didn't like those activities enough to continue them, while others dropped off the map for a specific reason.

Either way, we'll take a few Tidbits to review post-game celebrations from around 1900, some of which are unique to their time and others that carry on today. Let's start with one that did not carry on.

Nightshirt Celebrations

Pajamas came to Victorian England from India and eventually made their way to the U.S. Nevertheless, in 1900, most American men still went to bed in a nightshirt, not pajamas. So, what could have been more exciting than celebrating a big victory by parading around town or campus wearing your nightshirt? It had to be such fun.

I don't know if they were the first, but an early group of nightshirt paraders showed up after Purdue beat Indiana 39-0 in 1902, their first victory of the Hoosiers in four years.

('Big Nightshirt Parade,' Indianapolis Journal, November 17, 1902.)