At the height of the worst pandemic in American history – the Spanish flu of 1918 – cities across the country did something, modern America would find familiar. They issued mandatory mask mandates and punished anyone who didn’t comply. “The man or woman or child who will not wear a mask now is a dangerous slacker,” read a typical announcement from the Red Cross. 

The city of San Francisco, took the rules so seriously that a city health agent shot a man who refused to wear a mask – he hit the two bystanders who happened to be standing behind the man. That seemed a bit much to some people, but many others went along with it. They were afraid of the virus. They wanted to do their part to stop it. Most of all, they trusted their leaders. If their leaders put a mandate in place, they assumed it was for a good reason and they wanted to help. (Fox News)

But then something happened that shook the American public from their blind obedience. A photograph surfaced from a boxing match in San Francisco. Among those attending were several high-ranking public officials—all unmasked and having fun. 

“The photograph went national. Americans were shocked to discover that the people making and enforcing the rules had no intention of following those rules,” Carlson said. “Mask mandates across the country ended shortly after. The public was willing to endure inconvenience, but not hypocrisy.”

Deja’ Vu all over again

 All warring nations in WWI chose to suppress the news of a mysterious and deadly unnamed disease. Soldiers were dying by the thousands from bullets, bombs, poisonous gas, and diseases associated with trench warfare, but dying from a respiratory ailment was never mentioned as a reason for death. American leadership chose to conceal the cause of these deaths for morale reasons. Really? Death in whatever form is never a morale booster.

The pandemic, later to be named the Spanish Flu**, killed more than 50 million people worldwide, including 675,000 in the U.S. The first recorded infection was on March 4, 1918, by a U.S. Army private stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas.

More than a century later the world faces another pandemic and 2020 American decision-makers have chosen to follow the lead of 1918 decision makers to stop the Covid-19 Pandemic. Masks, social distancing, closures of schools and theaters are the tools used in 2020 to flatten the curve of Covid. The late Yankees catcher Yogi Berra was right when he famously said, “It is like deja vu all over again.”

In 1918 Major League Baseball considered canceling the whole season, but President Woodrow Wilson decided the nation needed sports as an outlet. So, the players wore masks — even in the batter’s box — as did the umpires, coaches and fans. It was “PLAY BALL!”

Johnny Smith a prominent writer said “People (in 1918) really want to get back to their lives. Sports is all about the human experience, human connection. We’re not meant to be isolated.” Those who live in 2020 agree with their ancestors from 1918.

In late August of 1918, a perfect storm of events reignited the Flu virus

The Spanish flu came in three waves — spring of 1918, autumn of 1918, and winter of 1918. During the summer, the spread of the illness slowed, but it reappeared in Boston during Fall as a more virulent strain.

A perfect storm of bad decisions reignited the flu virus.

1. Use of mask and social distancing were no longer considered necessary by many.

2. WWI Soldiers and sailors were returning from Europe. They docked at the Commonwealth Pier in Boston.

3. The baseball World Series was held in Boston.

Sports and the Spanish Flu

Those institutions that tried to field teams were forced to deal with travel restrictions, health concerns, and logistical issues. The lone postseason game was the 1919 Tournament East-West game in Pasadena, California, a game better known today as the Rose Bowl. 

In 1918, teams either canceled the whole seasons or played abbreviated schedules. Most schools cut their football schedules in half playing only five games.

All seven members of the Missouri Valley Conference — which would become the Big 8 — completely shut down football. Eight other schools did the same thing. The storied Army-Navy game was also canceled. 

Penn coach Bob Folwell, better known as the first coach of the New York Giants, was hospitalized with Spanish flu and missed six weeks during the 1918 season. 

West Virginia failed to field a team, and at least one player died when he ignored a cold that morphed into the virus. 

In 1918 Pittsburgh and Michigan shared the national championship, but each only played 5 games with 4 of those games played in November.

In March of 1919, the Stanley Cup Finals was canceled due to player illnesses.

1918- 9-0 – Longhorn football Coach Bill Juneau- The influenza pandemic

The 1918 Texas football team produced a undefeated season with few fans attending the games. It’’s unclear if social-distancing guide-lines necessitated the small crowds, or if fans were were scared to cram into the bleachers, but the result is the same. The spirit of the game was lost.

The Longhorns were named national champions by the Cliff Morgan Rating Service, but these achievements came with a heavy price. Spanish flu claimed the life of Longhorn starting guard Joe Spence. It is difficult to fully reconcile – or even to celebrate — an undefeated season when a teammate is lost.

The Texas – OU game was cancelled in 1918

2020

COVID-19 has dealt a severe blow to teams – high school, college and professional — trying to schedule a full season.

Decision-makers in 2020 are wrestling with the same questions faced in 1918. {Shakespeare, please forgive me, but I cannot resist.}

“TO PLAY OR NOT TO PLAY, THAT IS THE QUESTION”  

Most Americans who died from the influenza outbreak of 1918 died between September and December. Covid is not near as deadly as the Spanish Flu, but we are left to wonder if a similar challenge is coming later in 2020.

Even though history suggests we should not play sports in 2020 , passionate fans and other less altruistic motives say “take me out to the ball game”. After all, when it comes to sports, we are dealing with the very spirit and morale of the American people. 

By David Cobb

While Junior college football nationwide has been postponed until next March 2021, Las Vegas bets that Division I sports will start in September 2020. This very month, Big 12 Conference leaders continue to ponder options. As of today August 1, 2020 the Texas Longhorns plan to play football with contingency plans in place.

Here is hoping history does not repeat itself “all over again.”

**Spain got a bad rap for spawning the deadly ailment. America, not Spain, was the country of origin for the Spanish Flu. Spain was neutral in WWI and did the world a favor by reporting the flu epidemic when the warring nations concealed its existence. As the saying goes, “let no good deed go unpunished.” So, the world conveniently blamed Spain for the pandemic.