Francis Field, from its creation through the present.

Once upon a time, the Washington University football program was of the highest national prominence. The Bears played against the University of Missouri and the University of Nebraska. Their famous Olympic stadium, Francis Field, was scheduled for a major renovation, including an increased capacity of 50,000 people.

It’s almost a fairy tale, as Francis Field fits just 4,000 today. Much like the University’s fade into athletic anonymity, the stadium’s storied past has been forgotten. In its 105th year of existence, this U.S. National Historic Landmark stands as a reminder of achievement and pride.

“I’m a little bit of a history buff, so there’s a feel for me when I go out there. There’s no question I feel it,” said Larry Kindbom, head coach of the football team. “I certainly make [the players] aware of the history and the proud tradition.”

David Rowland Francis, a prominent St. Louis figure and Wash. U. graduate, commissioned the building of the field in 1902 for the 1904 Olympics Games. The stadium was one of the first using reinforced concrete stands.

Following the Olympics and the 1904 World’s Fair, Francis Field had a new spotlight: Wash. U. football.

The Bears and Francis Field grew in popularity and success throughout the next three decades, joining the Missouri Valley Conference in 1907. Crowds of up to 20,000 witnessed games against such teams as Notre Dame and Army, greats of the early college football years. Campus pride skyrocketed.

With this enthusiasm came plans for a 50,000-capacity horseshoe stadium. Its implementation would have cemented Wash. U.’s place as a football powerhouse.

What happened? On October 29, 1929, the stock markets crashed.

“They had drawn up the plans and everything…with the Depression, it was put on the shelf and never returned for review and/or serious consideration,” Athletic Director John Schael said. “If they had gone ahead with the building and the construction of that stadium, then the face of Washington University athletics might be completely different than it is today.”

Arthur Holly Compton, famed physicist and Washington University chancellor from 1945 to 1953, reestablished the football program in 1946 after a four-year hiatus. Compton decided that the University needed a different focus.

“The intent at that time, after the war, was that ‘We will have athletics, but it will be athletics with student-athletes who meet the same standards as other students entering Washington University,” Schael said. “[Athletes] would have to compete for scholarships on the same basis that all other students had to compete for.”

The decision was extremely controversial, upsetting students and the community alike. Washington University began its path to academic excellence while football and the field took a permanent back seat.

By 1978, the year Schael came to Wash. U., the stadium could hold around 10,000 people. St. Louis’ professional soccer team of the ’70s, the Stars, shared Francis Field, but the big crowds and the excitement for Bears football were gone.

“[Francis Field] was often referred to as a cabbage patch because you never knew where the ball was going to bounce. Student athletes at that time were subject to injury,” Schael said. “The stands themselves were collapsing and very old, seeing as they were built back in 1902 and 1903.”

In 1984, the last remnants of Francis Field’s former glory were taken down. Distinctive seating that had existed for nearly 80 years was demolished, reducing the capacity to 4,000. A new track, a new press box, concession stands and a ticket window were added, but the field’s characteristic “wing” seating was gone.

Many argue that these changes were for the best. Kindbom, who took over the program in 1989, believes this whole-heartedly.

“We really wouldn’t put 20,000 people in a stadium, and when you have a stadium of that magnitude and fewer people in it, it’s almost more lonesome,” Kindbom said. “It’s just about the right size.”

Even more renovations took place in 2003 and 2004 with safety in mind. The stadium was resurfaced with new concrete replacing a dilapidated and cracked structure. Artificial turf replaced the blend of grasses on the field.

“You’re faced with this picture of, ‘Here’s this stadium that has such great and rich tradition, and it has a little bit of that rustic look to it, but in the same light, it’s probably a little unsafe and what we need to do is change it without changing it,’” Kindbom said.

The Bears have had much success under Kindbom, having a string of 15 consecutive winning seasons. But the stadium continues to be relatively empty for Saturday morning games.

“It’s hard to get people motivated to come out to a game when you don’t have that big, giant, Division I huge-stadium feel to it…which is unfortunate,” said senior Matt Glen, co-captain of the football team. “We definitely love having fans.”

“When you go into a night game, and you see [Francis Field] packed, it’s an interesting feeling when you’re down below because it’s very loud,” Kindbom said. “When we get going, more and more students are going to want to come.”

Athletes of all calibers, from Olympic runners to intramural participants, have entered through Francis Field’s historic gates. But the field goes relatively unnoticed by the general Wash. U. student population.

Runners compete in the 1904 Summer Olympics on Francis Field. The 1904 Olympics in St. Louis was the first Olympic Games to be held in the western hemisphere.

Francis Field, built for the 1904 Olympic Games, has changed significantly over the years and lost much of its former glory. (Matt Mitgang | Student Life).

“There are a lot of stories on campus, that’s for sure, and there are a lot of buildings that were built that are tied to those stories that students are not aware of,” Schael said. “The faculty and staff probably aren’t aware either…lots of times people don’t pay attention to history, even if it’s pretty interesting history.”