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.
The bed-clothed boys went crazy in Columbia whenever their Tigers won big. They were in nightshirts in 1908 after beating Iowa and were transitioning to pajamas a few years later in 1912.
Some schools may retain this tradition from the 1900's era. If so, let us know.
Rushing the Field
In 1900, most stadiums had open areas around the field or places to squeeze fans in for big games. Even after adding temporary bleachers, most fields had standing-room areas encircling the rest of the field. The image below shows Boston's Huntington Avenue Grounds before Game 3 of the 1903 World Series. Some fans on the field before the game broke through the ropes until being beaten back with rubber hoses.
Football fans likely caused similar problems before games, but we know they rushed the field a few years earlier to celebrate during and after games.
When Princeton beat Yale in 1898, fans came onto the field from the sidelines and the grandstands while the game progressed and following Arthur Poe's 102-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
Old men and threw dignity aside for the time being and joined with the younger, but none the less enthusiastic football cranks in their cheers for Poe and Princeton. It was several minutes before the game could proceed because of the jubilant Tiger supporters crowding onto the field.
'Sons Of Eli Lost To Tigers,' Atlanta Constitution, November 13, 1898.
Harvard fans waited until after the Yale game to rush the field in 1899. So did the Princeton fans the next week,
Even the staid cadets felt the rush when Army beat Navy in 1899.
The moment the whistle blew the West Point boys poured over the fence and onto the field like a wild infantry charge and sweeping their plucky eleven onto their shoulders marched off the field to a grand medley of cheers and music.
'West Point Beats The Sailor Boys,' Philadelphia Inquirer, December 3, 1899.
I couldn't find an image of fans rushing the field during the years around 1900, but pictures of other activities fans enjoyed during and after games are available. We'll share those in Tidbits to be.
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Love the variety of fun topics, Tim.