Jersey Numbers and Old Dame Fortune (1915)

I’ve recently done housekeeping on the Uniform Timeline. And thanks to the Michigan Daily archives, we have new additions in the early periods. Here’s one:

Previously noted on the Timeline, numbers on uniforms first appeared in 1915, exclusively on back of the jersey until 1930. We also know that coach Fielding Yost actually objected to the notion of players wearing numbers in 1910, telling reporters, “I do not like the idea because it brings the individuals into too much prominence.” Apparently by 1915 Yost softened on this.

Digging deeper recently, I found more details on the introduction of Michigan football wearing numbers in 1915:

As the Daily notes, the new numbers were specifically…