The 1930 Thanksgiving Day football game at the University of Virginia made history on and off the field.

For weeks, U.Va. football fans eagerly awaited the milestone contest. It was the final game of the last full football season at Lambeth Field, site of U.Va. home games since 1902.

Football would leave the venerable old playing field for greener pastures with the 1931 dedication of the $300,000 Scott Stadium.

With clear, cold weather forecast for the day, the university expected thousands to descend on Charlottesville to relish an intense game between U.Va. and the University of North Carolina. It would be the 35th time since 1892 that the schools faced each other in the gridiron rivalry.

Two days before Thanksgiving, Gov. John Garland Pollard gave U.Va. football fans another reason to remember the day.

Prohibition was the law of the land in 1930, and Pollard was a staunch supporter. The governor issued an order that turned the day's high spirits into no spirits.

Virginia Attorney General John R. Saunders announced that he had notified U.Va. President Edwin A. Alderman, Charlottesville police and the Albemarle County sheriff that the governor was sending Prohibition agents to monitor sideline activity at the game. Seven state agents would watch for liquor violations and make arrests.

Saunders said Pollard had acted on a complaint from an unidentified distinguished Virginian, who reported seeing flagrant liquor violations at the last U.Va. home football game.

In response to Saunders' announcement, Alderman said he had been present for the last home game.

"I did not see any drinking. In fact, I saw only one man who appeared to have been drinking. We will cooperate with the legal authorities in discouraging violations."

Outside the university, indignation greeted Pollard's action. The Charlottesville Chamber of Commerce called an emergency meeting and sent the governor a telegram of protest.

"We feel this action is unwarranted and without proper investigation of charges," the chamber wired.

"The attendant publicity is exceedingly unfair to the city of Charlottesville and the University of Virginia."

Pollard's response was conciliatory in tone but unyielding in intent.

"Charlottesville should not take offense," the governor answered. "There are no finer people in the state than the people of Charlottesville, and I am sure they will not expect exemption from the operation of those state forces frequently used in other parts of Virginia."

As expected, Thanksgiving Day was cold and clear in Charlottesville. Grandstand and bleacher seats were sold out, but many remained empty because of frigid temperatures.

Virginia had won 20 games in the series against UNC. Both sides expected victory. The Cavaliers were in "tip-top shape for the contest," The Times-Dispatch said.

But the next day's Times-Dispatch held a different perspective. "Virginia put forth its best foot and its best foot looked like nothing at all."

U.Va. lost 41-0.

The score off the field was more impressive. The long, cold day was drier than expected. "The soberest Thanksgiving on record," was The Times-Dispatch's assessment.

State Prohibition agents arrested 12 spectators for possessing alcohol, none for consuming. None of those charged was a student.