University of St. Thomas Athletics
Student newspaper from September 1930
Throwback Thursday: Lights, camera, action in 1930
9/17/2020 11:03:00 AM | Athletics
Later this month will mark the 90th anniversary of the addition of stadium lights on St. Thomas' campus at the O'Shaughnessy field.
Back in 1930, that news was kind of a big deal. In fact, the St. Thomas campus boasted the first lighted outdoors field in the Twin Cities.
Few upper Midwest colleges or high schools had lighted outdoor fields in that era, as outdoor competitions were played in the afternoons. Marquette University had installed lights just one year earlier for its football team, and St. Thomas decided to follow suit in 1930.
College officials said that many of their alumni and fans were busy when afternoon games kicked off. Many had work conflicts on Fridays or others attended Minnesota Gophers home games on Saturdays. Officials hoped that offering this chance to play some night games on Fridays and Saturdays under the lights would boost the Tommies' attendance and interest in their football program.
Colleges were under pressure financially in that era, immediately after a stock market crash of 1929 that disrupted the national economy and led to the Great Depression. St. Thomas reached out to alumni and fans and offered a three-year season ticket package for $10 to help cover the cost of the lights. That averaged about 60 cents per game. Converted for inflation in today's dollars, that $10 investment from 90 years back converts to $150 in 2020 money.
The Purple and Grey student newspaper printed a story in the spring of 1930 explaining the fundraising idea:
"Our experience has led us to the belief that it would place athletics at the college on a sound basis and would afford many an opportunity to support their team. Under the present plan of playing games Friday or Saturday afternoons, we find that many old grads and friends are unable to attend because of business duties. Other followers of the game, usually go to the University of Minnesota contests. These groups, we feel confident would attend the St. Thomas games, if played at night. There are thousands of football lovers in the Twin Cities who would gladly avail themselves of the opportunity of attending games, if the time element would permit. This problem would be solved by night football. The plan of season tickets calls for such a nominal price that it is within reach of every alumnus. The sale of these tickets would not be made for a mercenary profit, but to pay for the installation of the lights. Athletics at St. Thomas, like all other institutions, is a heavy drain on the finances of the institution, especially so when money is so much in need for improvement of campus and academic departments. The school does not feel free to further incur these expenses. The sale of the tickets would solve this problem. Your cooperation in this matter would put St. Thomas in its rightful athletic place. Let us get behind the move."
In late September 1930, St. Thomas played River Falls Teachers College (now UW-River Falls) on a cold night with an 8 p.m. kickoff. Here's how the Purple and Gray reported this unique event, noting a Tuesday night run-through practice under the lights:
"St. Thomas football fans will flock to the Cadet field this (Friday) evening to see the first night game ever staged in the Twin Cities. Joe Boland's Purple Wave will clash with the powerful River Falls Normal eleven in the opener. Forty huge bulbs, supported by ten giant poles, were lighted for the first time Tuesday night. The brilliant glow cast over the field equalled the brightness of a sunny September afternoon. The varsity scampered out on the field, which looked rather artificial with the grass a bright green, and began an intensive drill, consisting of passing and kicking a white ball. After the boys were accustomed to the brilliance of one million two hundred and fifty thousand candle power, a brisk scrimmage with Ray Mock's Frosh squad showed that the varsity were pleased with the artificial sunlight, for they looked more like a college team than in previous workouts with the yearlings. The lighting plant, installed on the Cadet field at a tremendous cost, is very modern. The lights were given the final "once over" by different focusing last night, so everything is in readiness for a capacity crowd this evening. And now, who will win the game? That is a big question to answer. The dope makes the Tommies slight favorites to come through victorious by a one touchdown margin. The Teachers capped the game two years ago by a 20 to 13 score. The teams did not meet last year, but River Falls is expected to have a better club this Fall than the husky aggregation that downed St. Thomas in 1928."
The Purple and Gray post-game story reported a 12-7 River Falls win, and noted:
"Football fans woke up last Friday to a day of such unusually inclement weather that it got headlines in Twin City newspapers. Prospects for an agreeable first night game were very dark, until late in the afternoon. In spite of the cold, people turned out in such large numbers that the attitude of the public towards night football seems entirely favorable... The excellent representation of Twin City fans indicates, beyond shadow of a doubt, the attendance that may be expected at the games to come. Sports promoters have done well to have taken a leaf from the book of the theatre men, and to so arrange their schedules that almost anyone may attend the games. Coaches, players, "dopesters" and sports writers agree with the verdict the public gave so enthusiastically on night football last Friday, 'It's the thing'."
St. Thomas hosted some night football games for more than 40 seasons. But by the 1970s the college had gradually moved all varsity home games into the Saturday afternoon time slot.
Tuesday, May 19
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