1892 Chicago Maroons football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1892 Chicago Maroons football Uchicago football stagg 1892.jpg 285 The first team fielded by the University of Chicago Independent 8–4–1 Amos Alonzo Stagg 1st 7–2–2 none The 1892 Chicago Maroons football team represented the University of Chicago during the 1892 college football season. Former Yale All-American, Amos Alonzo Stagg, was the team's head coach and also played (at age 30) at the end position. On October 8, 1892, one week into the university's first semester, the football team played its first game, defeating Hyde Park High School, 14–0. The team won its first six games in eleven days, playing matches against local high schools and the Englewood YMCA. Starting on October 22, the team played seven intercollegiate games, compiling a 2–4–1 record in those games. The two victories against college teams were games with 1892 Lake Forest Foresters Lake Forest and Illinois.1892 Chicago Maroons Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football August 20, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/chicago/1892-schedule.html The team featured three older players. Stagg, at age 30, had previously played college football at Yale; Andy Wyant, at age 25, had played for Bucknell dating back to 1887; and Joseph Raycroft, at age 24, was Stagg's assistant athletic director and also played quarterback. Stagg and Wyant were both later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Schedule October 8 4:30 p.m. w Hyde Park High School Washington Park Chicago, IL 14–0 October 10 w Englewood High School Washington Park Chicago, IL 12–8 1,000 Chicago 'Varsity Defeats Englewood The Chicago Tribune October 11, 1892 7 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-chicago-varsity-defeats/158843609/ Newspapers.com October 11 w Hyde Park High School Chicago, IL 16–10 October 12 w Englewood YMCA Chicago, IL 18–4 October 17 w Hyde Park High School Chicago, IL 26–0 October 19 w Englewood YMCA Chicago, IL 18–12 October 22 3:30 p.m. t Northwestern South Side Ball Park Chicago, IL 0–0 300 Neither Side Could Make a Point: Chicago and Northwestern Football Teams Play a Tie Game Chicago Tribune October 23, 1892 7 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-neither-side-could-make/158844594/ Newspapers.com November 2 l y Northwestern Evanston, IL 4–6 November 5 w 1892 Lake Forest Foresters Lake Forest South Side grounds Chicago, IL 18–16 November 12 l y Michigan Olympic Park Toledo, OH rivalry 10–18 November 16 w Illinois Chicago, IL 10–4 November 19 l y Purdue Stuart Field West Lafayette, IN rivalry 0–38 November 24 l y Illinois Champaign, IL 12–28 Season summary Preseason thumb|150px|Amos Stagg served as both, player and coach By April 1892, Amos Alonzo Stagg, a 30-year-old who had graduated from Yale University in 1888, had been hired to serve as an instructor and the head of the department of physical culture at the University of Chicago upon its opening in October 1892.Is a Good All-Round Athlete: Record of A. A. Stagg of the New University of Chicago The Chicago Daily Tribune April 13, 1892 3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3052097/is_good_allround_athlete/He Is A Noted Athlete The Daily Inter Ocean April 13, 1892 2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3052121/he_is_a_noted_athlete/ On October 1, 1892, the University of Chicago opened its doors for its first semester. At 2:30 p.m. that day, at the university chapel, Prof. Stagg from the department of physical culture called to order a meeting of 600 incoming students for the purpose of adopting a "college yell". After an hour of experimenting with yells, Stagg selected a number of students to form the university's first football team. Stagg took the chosen students to Washington Park for preliminary football practice.Ready for Work: The University Opens Its Doors Without Formality The Sunday Inter Ocean October 2, 1892 1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3052049/ready_for_work/ Stagg later recalled that he began with "about a dozen" inexperienced players.Robin Lester Stagg's University: The Rise, Decline, and Fall of Big-Time Football at Chicago 22 University of Illinois Press 1999 Because of the lack of student participation during the 1892 season, Stagg decided to participate as a player. He later recalled: "I had to do one-half the playing. Our boys are so very green."Robin Lester, p. 22. Game 1: Hyde Park High School On Saturday, October 8, 1892, Chicago played its first football game, defeating the team from Hyde Park High School by a 14–0 score at Washington Park. The game was played in two 15-minute periods in a drizzling rain at Washington Park. The Chicago Tribune described the play as "brisk and sharp", featuring good runs by Stagg, Dyas, and Knapp.Stagg on Athletics The Chicago Tribune October 9, 1892 27 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-stagg-on-athletics/158842586/ Newspapers.com The lineup for Chicago consisted of Rapp, Stagg, Dyas, Hanson, Chase, Wyant, Smith, Loeb, Olson, Knapp, and Lamay.Stagg On Athletics The Chicago Tribune October 9, 1892 27 http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1892/10/09/page/27/article/stagg-on-athletics Game 2: Englewood High School On Monday, October 10, 1892, Chicago played its second football game, defeating the team from Englewood High School by a 12–8 score. Nearly 1,000 spectators watch the game at Washington Park. In its account of the game, the Chicago Daily Tribune credited Knapp (a former Wisconsin football player), Wyant, Olson, Chase and Stagg for their "splendid work".Chicago 'Varsity Defeats Englewood Chicago Daily Tribune October 11, 1892 7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3055415/chicago_varsity_defeats_englewood/ Game 7: Northwestern On October 22, 1892, Chicago played its first intercollegiate football game, playing a scoreless tie with Northwestern. The game was played starting at 3:30 p.m. before 300 students at the South Side Ball Park. In the second half, Stagg had a long run for a touchdown, but the referee ruled that "the ball had not touched the third man," and the touchdown did not count. Chicago's lineup in the game was Rulkoetter (center), Smith (left guard), Knapp (right guard), Brenneman (left tackle), Wyant (right tackle), Allen (left end), Chase (right end), Raycrof (quarterback), McGillorey (left halfback), Stagg (right halfback), and Rapp (fullback).Neither Side Could Make a Point: Chicago and Northwestern Football Teams Play a Tie Game Chicago Daily Tribune October 23, 1892 7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3055483/neither_side_could_make_a_point/Neither Side Could Make a Point: Chicago and Northwestern Football Teams Play a Tie Game (part II) Chicago Daily Tribune October 23, 1892 7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3055491/neither_side_could_make_a_point_part_2/ Game 8: at Northwestern On November 2, 1892, Chicago sustained its first loss, falling to Northwestern by a 6 to 4 score in a game played at Evanston, Illinois. The game began at 3:50 p.m. and was played in the rain. In the first half, Kennicott scored a touchdown on a long run and then kicked for the goal after touchdown to give Northwestern a 6 to 0 lead. In the second half, Chicago scored a touchdown, but Stagg's kick for the goal after touchdown was wide to the left.Defeated Stagg's Team: Northwestern Wins the Foot-Ball Match with Chicago by 6 to 4 The Daily Inter Ocean November 3, 1892 6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3051991/defeated_staggs_team/ Game 9: Lake Forest On November 5, 1892, Chicago secured its first victory in an intercollegiate football game, defeating the team from Lake Forest College by an 18–16 score. The game began at 3:30 p.m. and was played at the South Side grounds. The Chicago Daily Tribune reported that Chicago's captain, Stagg, "played a game of strategy like the wizard he is." Chicago's second touchdown was scored on a trick play. The ball was passed to Stagg who ran to the left and then passed to a teammate running in the opposite direction who ran through a clear field for a touchdown. The Chicago Daily Tribune called it "one of those surprising plays that causes the onlooker to wonder why it was not done oftener."Chicagos Show Well Chicago Daily Tribune November 6, 1892 7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3055563/chicagos_show_well/ Game 10: vs. Michigan On November 13, 1892, Chicago played Michigan in the first chapter of what became the Chicago–Michigan football rivalry. The game was played on a wet and muddy field in front of a crowd estimated by various accounts at between 700 and 1,500 spectators at Toledo's Olympic Park. For Stagg, the game presented an opportunity to play the best football team in the West, and for the University of Chicago's president William Rainey Harper, it was "an opportunity to advertise the university in northern Ohio."Robin Lester, p. 23." Michigan won the inaugural match by a score of 18 to 10. Amos Alonzo Stagg was both the coach and starting right halfback for the 1892 Chicago Maroons. Chicago's full starting lineup was Conover (left end), Brenneman (left tackle), Smith (left guard), Rulkoelter (center), Knapp (right guard), Allen (right tackle), Chase (right end), Raycroft (quarterback), McGillivray (left halfback), Stagg (right halfback), Rapp (fullback).The U. of M. Downed Stagg's Eleven Detroit Free Press November 13, 1892 6 https://secure.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1725753672.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+13%2C+1892&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&edition=&startpage=6&desc=YALE+BEAT+PENNSYLVANIA. https://archive.today/20121217175443/https://secure.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1725753672.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+13,+1892&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&edition=&startpage=6&desc=YALE+BEAT+PENNSYLVANIA. dead December 17, 2012Michigan' Men Win: University of Chicago Football Team Goes Down Chicago Daily Tribune November 13, 1892 6 http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1892/11/13/page/6/article/michigans-men-win Game 11: Illinois On Wednesday, November 16, 1892, Chicago defeated Illinois by a 10–4 score in Chicago. Each team scored a touchdown but missed the goal after touchdown, and the first half ended in a 4–4 tie. In the second half, Stagg ran around the left end for a touchdown and kicked the goal after touchdown to give Chicago its 10–4 advantage. Illinois protested the legitimacy of Chicago's second touchdown and contended the game had rightfully ended in a tie. Chicago's lineup was Allen (left end), Brunerman (left tackle), Knapp (left guard), Rulkoetter (center), Smith (right guard), Wyant (right tackle), Chase (right end), Raycroft (quarterback), McGillivray (left halfback), Stagg (right halfback), and Rapp (fullback).Stagg's Chicagos Beat Illinois: A Sharp and Well-Fought Game, with a Referee that Wabbled Chicago Daily Tribune November 17, 1892 7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3055706/staggs_chicagos_beat_illinois/ Game 12: at Purdue On November 19, 1892, Chicago lost to Purdue by a 38–0 in a game played on Stuart Fieldl in West Lafayette, Indiana. Left tackle Finney scored five touchdowns for Purdue. Chicago's starting lineup against Purdue was Conover (left end), Brenman (left tackle), Knapp (left guard), Ruelkoepper (center), Smith (right guard), Allen (right tackle), Chase (right end), Raycroft (quarterback), Stagg (right halfback), McGillivray (left halfback), and Rapp (fullback).Purdue Beats Stagg's Chicagos Chicago Daily Tribune November 20, 1892 2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3055742/purdue_beats_staggs_chicagos/ Game 13: at Illinois On November 24, 1892, Chicago played in its first Thanksgiving Day game, losing to Illinois by a 28–12 score in Champaign, Illinois. Stagg was unable to play in the game due to injury.Illinois Won From the Chicagos: Stagg Was Disabled and His Men Missed Him Chicago Daily Tribune November 25, 1892 1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3055780/illinois_won_from_the_chicagos/ Chicago's lineup against Illinois was O'Conner (left end), Breman (left tackle), Smith (left guard), Pullkaetter (center), Knapp (right guard), Wyant (right tackle), Chase (right end), Raycroft (quarterback), McGillivrey (halfback), Allen (halfback), Rapp (fullback).Lose to Champaign: Defeat for the Eleven of Chicago University The Daily Inter Ocean November 25, 1892 7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3055825/lose_to_champaign/ Players thumb|150px|Right tackle Andy Wyant, later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame Charles William Allen - right tackle, left end, halfback Richard E. Brendeman - left tackle Henry Thurston Chase - right end W. B. Conover - left end John V. Fradenburg Henry Gordon Gale George Knapp - right guard John Lemay Clifford B. McGillivray - left halfback William John Rapp - fullback Joseph Raycroft - quarterback W. Ruhlkoetter - center William Rufus Smith - guard Amos Alonzo Stagg - right halfback (College Football Hall of Fame) Andy Wyant - right tackle; a football player at Bucknell before playing for Stagg at Chicago (College Football Hall of Fame) References Chicago Category:Chicago Maroons football seasons Chicago Maroons football