Colorful Characters — The Shoeless Wonders

Back in the 1920s there was a High School football team in Lynchburg, VA that went undefeated for 8 years.

And oh yeah. They played barefooted.

Here’s a little blurb about them, from the 1941 “Strange as it seems”. (“Strange as it seems” was kind of like “Ripley’s Believe it or not.)

Strange As It Seems, 1941

As you can see, they weren’t so much a high school as an orphanage. However, they were of high school age and did their schooling at the orphanage. Here’s a story (and picture) about them from 1926.

      Clean Heels Shown by Unshod “Dogs” on Gridiron

Lynchburg, Va., Nov. 6.—The Presbyterian orphanage here has the world’s only barefootball team.

Just how effective they are against opponents who play merely football, and make the ridiculous mistake of wearing shoes on the gridiron, is shown by their season’s score—118 points so far to 0 for the six other teams they have played.

The barefootball team never ran rough shod over the opposition, but their backs certainly can show clean heels to pursuers. No one has ever been able to down them.

For the whole eleven players, there is only one shoe. That is donned by the quarterback for kicks. When the play is finished, off comes the shoe. The cleated boot adds weight to drive the ball down the field, the team admits, but they kick at shoes for all other plays. The orphanage “Shoeless Wonders” have created a stir in Virginia football circles this season. Theirs is not a desire for freakishness, nor is their shoelessness due to an orphanages poverty. The boys play without shoes from choice, to increase their speed. Their play has all the lightfooted pep which little boys display in the springtime when they first discard their shoes for barefoot freedom.

The Shoeless Wonders

What’s really nice about this is that they are not barefoot with the “poverty” excuse, which is what you might expect when you hear the word “orphanage”. This is a choice on their part. It’s because they like it, and it helps them play better.

In another article from 1927, one of the scoring runs of their fullback, George Branham, is described.

Fullback George Branham

What is so refreshing is the acknowledgement of how healthy it is for them to be barefoot. (Just try that today.)

The Episcopal School team was heavier and perhaps better coached than the orphanage boys—the “Shoeless Wonders” do not have means to hire a professional coach—but they lacked the strong bare feet, wind and fighting heart, which combined to make the mountaineer youngsters renowned throughout the state.

It remained for George Branham, 16-year-old full back, to show the Episcopal boys what feet unhampered by shoes can doe. Branham was playing well back when the Episcopal team was held for downs and punted. The pigskin went soaring through the air and landed in Branham’s outstretched arms.

For an instant he surveyed the charging Episcopal warriors, a smile flitted over his freckled face and he started running. He didn’t need interference. Two Episcopal players dove at his brown, bare legs. They hit the ground where he had been a second before. Other Episcopal tacklers dived and missed, it was like attempting to catch a shadow.

Before the astonished Episcopal players could collect their wits, Branham was sitting under their goal post with the ball under him. He had scored his goal after the 120-yard run through the entire opposing team.

In another article from 1927, after a description of the team, there was a long paeon to their bare feet from a “Noted Orthopedist”.

Chicago, Ill.—Dr. Wm. M. Scholl, noted foot orthopedist of Chicago was deeply interested in learning of the barefoot team. For years he has preached that healthy feet make strong bodies and that no one can afford to neglect his feet. “I dare say that these youngsters will never have any serious foot troubles,” said Dr. Scholl. “The exercise given their bare feet is the finest possible. The arch of the foot is developed, a fast lithe step is the result and from what I learn it seems that the lack of shoes has enabled the team to work. If foot sufferers would only take a lesson from these little youngsters who have not the means to buy footgear but do not let that restrict their sport, they would find little cause to worry about their feet. Good legs and feet are essential to athletes. A strong foot keeps one always on balance enables him to stop and start quickly. Rapid turning and dodging are impossible with bad feet. The ‘Shoeless Wonders’ can dart and weave around their opponents with catlike agility because their feet get plenty of good rational exercise. It is possible now to take a “Daily Dozen” for the feet which exercise every muscle and helps to make a strong healthy foot. I have found that healthy feet contribute more to a man’s activity than perhaps any other bodily medium. With aching feet one cannot do his or her best. Let us take the example set by these Lynchburg boys and look after our feet.”

Yes, it is that Dr. Scholl. He may have gotten into orthotics, but it was to help those who insisted on always wearing shoes.

But it is too bad that his last words of advice about taking the example set by the Lynchburg boys is “look after our feet” instead of what what really illustrated by them and what really makes sense: “Go barefoot!”

Let me finish with part of one more story (also from 1927) about the “Shoeless Wonders” (in case it wasn’t obvious, the “Shoeless Wonders” was actually their team name). In this case, one of their games had to be postponed because heavy rains had turned the field into a near-pond. And who do you think that was a problem for?

‘Shoeless Wonder’ Grid Team Cheated of Chance to Win Game by Rains

Lynchburg, Va., Oct. 13—Rain Wednesday deprived the “shoeless wonders” football team, of the Presbyterian Orphanage here, of a possible victory over the Virginia Episcopal school eleven.

The sturdy 17-year old urchins of the orphanage found the rain-soaked field, which squashed between their toes, much to their liking but their cleated-shoe, “Dude” opponents could not stand up on the slick grass so the game was postponed.

Finally here’s the “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” vignette on the “Shoeless Wonders”, from 1929.

Believe It Or Not

I’m afraid I just don’t see anything like this happening these days. Some busybody or another would raise too much of a fuss and decide it was dangerous (probably more dangerous than all the head and knee injuries that football currently generates).