Thread by @p_emory

Went to some college football history material to see how coaches responded to the flu pandemic during the 1918 season. Knute Rockne did not disappoint:

"I am having quite a time down here, our asinine doctor has called off all practice for this week for no reason whatsoever."

To add some more context:
this was from a private letter Rockne sent to fellow football coach Amos Alonzo Stagg.

Along with the canceled practices, Notre Dame’s game against a Naval Reserve team had been abruptly canceled the Saturday before.

More on football and the flu that week from the South Bend News-Times (left) and the Norte Dame Scholastic (right)

After the game was canceled football supporters argued that the game was essential to military preparedness and American morale.

Here’s Walter Eckersall—sportswriter and ref, which is a whole other thread—making that case and then using the canceled game to sell clothes (!) 🤷🏻‍♂️

Although football boosters wanted the games played there also seemed to be deference to authority (it was during a war after all). Rockne complained in private but not so much in public.

Here’s the South Bend newspaper describing Rockne as in full support of the cancellations.

Ultimately, Notre Dame’s entire October slate of games was canceled or postponed. But they were able to play in November, including a season-ending Thanksgiving matchup against my beloved Cornhuskers.

It ended in a 0-0 tie with frequent use of the “punt on first down” strategy