1916 Bearcats Football Team

• • Vertical Stripes/Friction Strips: A notable trend in the 1910s was the “Grip-Sure” jersey, which added strips of material (cloth, canvas, or leather) to the front of jerseys and inside sleeves to reduce fumbles.
  • Uniform Components: Uniforms typically included long-sleeved wool jerseys, canvas or leather padding, leather helmets (which began to see wider use after 1896), and no numbers on the front, as front numbers did not become standard until much later.
  • Early Helmet Styling: 1916 was also the era when the first striped helmets appeared, used for visibility and identification.

These uniforms were a mix of function and early-20th-century fashion, with wool as the dominant material for jerseys.

Jokes About Football Fashion

1. Those 1920s shoulder pads were so big, the linemen were drafted as weather balloons.
2. Helmets back then? More like leather beanies that said, “I tackle first, think later.”
3. The uniforms were so woolly, halftime felt like a knitting convention.
4. Their cleats had more studs than a hat shop — and about as much traction.
5. In the 1910s, they played in ties — literally. Coach said, “Dress for success.” They took it literally.
6. The team motto: if you can’t outrun the opponent, outrun your itchy sweater.
7. Their jerseys were so plain, fans thought they were playing in a uniform of blank checks.
8. Those era-end suits meant half the team showed up to the game ready for a funeral or a dance — you never knew which.
9. When they upgraded helmets in the ’30s, the players called it “modern comfort”; the fans called it “slightly less crunchy.”
10. Their fashion advice: always tuck the jersey in — gravity is a defensive lineman’s best friend.
11. The band wore fedoras, the players wore caps, and the mascot just wore bewilderment.
12. Vintage team photos prove the real opponent was the wardrobe.

Jokes About Losing Big

1. They tried to split the difference—lost 102–0 and 92–0, so the average score against them was “yikes.”
2. The Bearcats’ first season motto: “Go big or go home”—they went home, very quickly.
3. Opponents didn’t run plays; they ran clinics.
4. After those games the scoreboard operator applied for overtime—on compassion grounds.
5. The team photo caption read: “We came, we saw, we learned humility.”
6. They didn’t get shut out—they just gave the other teams a very long welcome speech.
7. The coach asked for a playbook; the players handed him a map to the end zone.
8. At halftime, the opponents were polite enough to call a timeout so the Bearcats could catch their breath.
9. Kirksville and William Jewell planned a joint birthday party—turns out the Bearcats were the surprise piñata.
10. Fans bought tickets to see football; they left with a masterclass in scoring.
11. The team introduced a new offense: the disappearing act.
12. The referee mistook the Bearcats for the visiting cheer squad.
13. Their scouting report was just a calendar: “Week 1: survive.”
14. After those scores, the team considered changing its mascot to “The Practically Undefeated.”
15. Optimism remained: at least they were consistent—consistently outscored.

Jokes about the team only having 15 players

1. Fifteen players? That’s not a team — that’s a group text.
2. Their depth chart had one name repeated 15 times.
3. Opponents called it a game; the Bearcats called it cross‑training.
4. Halftime huddle: “Okay, who hasn’t played every position yet?”
5. Their substitute bench was a single folding chair with commitment issues.
6. The coach doubled as waterboy, medic, and motivational speaker.
7. Special teams meant whoever could still stand.
8. They didn’t have a roster limit — they had a stamina limit.
9. Every practice ended with a trust fall.
10. Opposing coaches scouted them and worried about their own injury lists.
11. Team motto: “If you can breathe, you can play.”
12. The playbook was two plays and one handshake.
13. They didn’t rotate players — they rotated blisters.
14. After the fourth quarter, the team roster read: “Also available: spirit.”
15. On game day, the trainer packed an extra uniform and a sleeping bag.