Notable Rally for the 1923 Game vs. Springfield with the game played north of the Admin Building

The November 1923 rally for the Bearcats-Bears football game, then described as the biggest in Maryville history, was notable for several reasons.  The rally, which was held at both the courthouse and the steps of the Elks Club on Main, where Congressman Charles L. Faust gave a speech.  Coach T.E. Lawrence, who in 1922 had coached the very first high school team formally named the Spoofhounds, was on hand as head coach of Northwest.  The marching Spoofhound band had met the Springfield team at the Burlington station and serenaded them in a parade through town and during supper.  There was drama involving a statue at the Admin building, which had been painted green for Halloween.  

The story about the rally mentions a statue at the Admin Building that had been painted green on Halloween before the game.  I was hunting for a pix and saw this in the 1924 Tower yearbook.  In AI-enhancing it, I painted it green.  The photo is interesting because it predates the Standing Lincoln that stood for years at the entrance to the Admin Building Auditorium.  I was trying to find a history of that statue and could only find a 1910 Northwest interest in the original Standing Lincoln Statue at Lincoln Park, Chicago, but no formal mention of it being moved to the Auditorium.  The Lincoln statue is iconic with the Admin Building’s history because it survived the fire.  The caption in the Yearbook calls the statue Hebe.  In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Hebe (/ˈhiːbiː/; Ancient Greek: Ἥβη, lit. ‘youth‘) is the goddess of youth or of the prime of life. She was the cup-bearer for the gods of Mount Olympus, serving their nectar and ambrosia. On Sicyon, she was worshipped as a goddess of forgiveness or mercy. She was often given the epithet Ganymeda (‘Gladdening Princess‘).

This is a really good photo from the 1924 Tower Yearbook showing the football with Springfield, which was played on the original football field just north of the Admin Building. I have AI-enhanced to improve the low-resolution online original.  Northwest lost the game 14-7.  Football games were played north of the Admin Building until 1930, when what became called Bearcat Stadium opened.

Below is the story about the rally.

Congressman Faust Real Bearcat Booster Representative spoke to the students following the mass meeting and the Biggest Pep Meet Ever Staged Here.

The Maryville Daily Forum, November 2, 1923, Page 1. via Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-maryville-daily-forum-bearcat-rally/196719952/

Congressman Charles L. Faust made a pep speech to the students of the State Teachers College from the steps of the Elks Club last night, following the best mass meeting ever held by the local school. W. A. Blagg delivered the principal address at the meeting held in the courthouse.

The meeting was held in the court last night, preparatory to the Maryville Springfield game held this afternoon. Talks were made by A. P.Allison, President W. Lamkin, Miss Margaret Frankin, W. N. Deatherage, W. A. Binge, C. T. Richards, and Hugh Graham. The meeting was conducted by M. E. Seleeman of the information department of the State Teachers College.

A parade, led by the Maryville High School band under the direction of Loren Schnabel, was staged on the streets before the meeting. The pep band escorted the Springfield team from the train to town and serenaded the Bears while they were eating supper.

The students went to the Elks club following the meeting, and Congressman Faust delivered a mighty effective talk. Mr. Faust was very much pleased with the spirit of the students and commended the rooters in their efforts in pushing the Bearcat squad to the front.

A large number of College students replaced the statue of the wooden cigar store Indian, which had been moved from the place in the hall of the college that it had occupied the night of Halloween, on its pedestal before the entrance. The huge statue had been painted green overnight and was trimmed in white this morning.

The students of the College met between each class period for a two-minute pep session this morning, during which yells and songs were led by Ellis, Raines, and Peoples.

Northwest was 3-3-1 on the season:

Jokes About Maryville High School Serenading the Springfield College Football Bears team

1. The Spoofhound Band met the Springfield Bears at Burlington Station — the Bears expected a warm welcome, but all they got was a brass section.

2. Coach spotted the band and asked, “Which side do they play for?” The band replied, “Both — we’ll play you on the way in and the Bearcats on the way out.”

3. The Bears asked if the train stop had a locker room. The band said, “No, but we have plenty of instrument cases.”

4. When the band serenaded the Bears through town, the Bears complained their helmets were dented from applause.

5. The Bears thought they were arriving to scout the field. Instead, they were scouted for rhythm.

6. A Bear asked for directions to the stadium. The band marched him there, and he arrived with perfect cadence.

7. The tuba’s first note hit so deep the Bears checked their playbook for a seismic update.

8. The bandleader announced, “Form on me!” The Bears spent the rest of the month trying to form a better defense.

9. Locals said the Bears came for the game and stayed for the encore.

10. The Bears practiced tackling; the Spoofhounds practiced tempos. At kickoff, only one side had trouble keeping time.

11. After the march, a Bear asked if the music could be turned down. The band replied, “We only play fortissimo — it’s 1923, son.”

12. The Spoofhound drummer kept perfect time — the Bears blamed their fumbles on being out of step, not out of skill.

13. One Bear tried to sing along and got recruited as a backup cymbal-crasher.

14. The band handed the Bears a schedule: “Arrival, serenade, march, bewilderment, repeat.”

15. When asked if they could play the alma mater, the band said, “Of course — which one, yours or the Bearcats’?”

Jokes About Greek Goddess Hebe Being Replaced by a Statue of Standing Lincoln at the Entrance to the Northwest Missouri Auditorium

1. They replaced Hebe with Lincoln — now the fountain serves speeches instead of ambrosia.

2. Hebe handed out youth; Lincoln handed out Gettysburg addresses — attendance went way up.

3. Tourists asked where Hebe went. The guide said, “She retired — Lincoln needed the bench.”

4. Hebe used to keep things youthful. Lincoln’s first act was to institute a very dignified dress code.

5. The sculptor said it was an upgrade — Lincoln stands for liberty; Hebe just stood for refills.

6. Students wanted a selfie with Hebe; now they get a selfie with someone who’s been a head of state longer than their GPA.

7. Hebe’s replacement solved parking disputes — nobody argues with Honest Abe.

8. The amphitheater put up a sign: “No ambrosia beyond this point. Lincoln prefers cookies.”

9. Hebe was light on history; Lincoln carries one. Suddenly, every tour group brings a notepad.

10. They swapped immortality for integrity — Hebe looked timeless, Lincoln looked like he’d call a meeting.

11. After the swap, pep band rehearsals became debates on Civil War-era tempi.

12. Hebe was known for hospitality; Lincoln was famous for speeches — now visitors leave inspired and slightly confused.

13. Somebody asked if Lincoln could pour water. The answer: “Only if it’s in the name of liberty.”

14. The auditorium brochure now reads: “Come for the show, stay for the emancipation-adjacent ambiance.”

15. Hebe’s fans complained until they learned Lincoln never asks for a tip jar.

Jokes about Northwest playing football games on a lawn north of the Administration Building until a real stadium was built in 1930

1. They called it home-field advantage — the lawn had the best grass in town and the worst bleachers: a picnic blanket.

2. Opponents complained about the slope — turnover rates went up, and so did the mower bills.

3. Pep rallies doubled as gardening lessons: “How to fertilize a winning season.”

4. Visiting teams checked in with Groundskeeping before kickoff: “Any sprinklers we should avoid?”

5. The scoreboard was a chalkboard on the Administration steps, and halftime was chalk-erase time.

6. The pressbox was a borrowed window from the Admin building — best seat in the house if you liked drafts.

7. Coin tosses were polite: “Care to plant that side of the field?”

8. Tailgate parties were literal — alumni brought lawn chairs and lawn gnomes for moral support.

9. When it rained, they played mud football; when it snowed, they called it conditioning.

10. Home advantage meant knowing where the molehills were hidden — offense: avoid; defense: exploit.

11. The only luxury suites were the upper-story offices — great views, limited concessions.

12. Players warmed up by dodging faculty members walking to class: multitasking practice.

13. The referee doubled as the groundskeeper — yellow flag for holding, red flag for trampled petunias.

14. Recruiting pitch: “We can’t promise a stadium, but we do guarantee fresh-cut turf.”

15. By 1930, they got a real stadium — the lawn sighed with relief, finally off the hook for halftime fireworks.