University Athletic Association

[formerd3db]

maritn:
Thanks for the clarification and follow-up on the history at U of C.  Certainly, the U of C media guide and the administrators of that regarding  the history of the logo, et al you relate is the official history.  However, I would just add, if I may, that there are some sources from Stagg's time that do attribute the C logo to him.  Stagg visited Alma College back in about 1902, speaking at their athletic banquet, and the program/yearbook of the year mentions that he was responsible for the "C", with regard to the the awarding of letters, etc.  If the official Chicago archives do not have anything regarding this, then certainly the writer (at Alma) was wrong.  A lot of hyperbole back then in writing styles to say the least.  Yet, there are past football historians and published aspects that have attributed this to Stagg.  I've had the opportunity several years ago to view some of that material, but admittedly cannot relate to you anything about this topic per se as I was not looking for that specifically.  Regardless, Stagg was indeed responsible for many developments in the game along those lines and among those you have nicely related for us.  Thanks again for the info.

[formerd3db]

Addendum:  The material I had the opportunity to review which I was referring to is the archives at U of C and the library regarding the football history.  Doesn't matter, however.

[BDTartan]

Interesting......while you guys are discussing U of C I will actually be in Chicago with my Grandfather to go to the Greek Consolate

[ADL70]

BDTartan... even that clue doesn't help identify your brother.

[ADL70]

While upclose I really like the new CWRU logo, from a distance it almost looks like PacMan.

It still beats the University's "fat man carrying surfboard" logo.

[ADL70]

Interesting stat of last week.  CMU was 7 for 9 passing in first quarter; 3 for 4 the rest of the game.

[formerd3db]

BDTartan:

Don't know how your time schedule will be, however, if you get a chance, you should try and squeeze in a visit to U of C and their football museum at Bartlett Hall with the original Heisman Trophy (Jay Berwanger) and Stagg "stuff".  Wouldn't take long, but a worthwhile visit.  I'm assuming all that is still kept at Barlett Hall, unless they've moved it to the new Athletic building.

[martin]

Bartlett Hall is now a dining facility - no longer a gym.  The UofC Athletic HOF and related memorabilia are now at the Ratner Center.

[scotty]

it's getting way too crowded here...i must seek a quieter abode...if time will let me...

[formerd3db]

martin:

Thanks for the update.  I thought perhaps that they had moved the collections to the RC - it has been a few years since I've visited U of C.  Bartlett Hall - a great old historic building - a dining hall now, well, at least they have kept it and not torn it down.   

[formerd3db]

Addendum:

BTW, martin, do you think U of C will ever put in the new style synthetic turf?  I'm surprised with the recent renovations and expansion of their athletic facilities that they didn't put that in.  Just curious.  Also, I've always like that they kept a set of the old Stagg Stadium doors for the entry gate to the current New Stagg Field - nice touch.  Too bad they don't add more such as iron fencing.

[79jaybird]

My Great-Grandfather was a Chicago Alum and went to many Big 10 games.  He was a DDS.
Chicago is filled with many "antiques" and history throughout the University, and not just sports/athletics wise.
Ah yes,  the original Stagg doors is something special.  When  you walk through the gates, you can feel the history and envision what it was like for Jay Berwanger to win the Heisman on that same soil.

[frank uible]

But why was the original Stagg Field bulldozed rather than renovated?

[martin]

Frank -

Probably because a gym can be turned into a dining facility but it would be hard to make a decrepit old stadium into a library.

I am not sure when the stands at Stagg Field were torn down.  Someone told me in the late 1950's.  Others say they were still standing until work began on Regenstein Library.  Planning for the Reg began in 1964, site work began in 1967, official ground breaking in 1968 and the library opened in 1970.

Stagg Field is probably most famous for being the site (under the West Stand) of the first sustained nuclear reaction in Dec 1942.  The project was moved to New Mexico - I think they were afraid of blowing up most of Chicago.  The stand was already in disrepair - as you can see in this picture:
http://www.mbe.doe.gov/me70/history/met_lab.htm

Chicago dropped football in 1939.  It returned in 1969 - during construction of the library.  But Stagg Field was used for other sports - including baseball.  There is a great collection of pictures from the visits of Waseda University (Japan) to Chicago at:
http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=25550

Chicago and Waseda played a lot - both in Chicago and Japan - from 1910 to 1933.  In Chicago, the games were played at Marshall Field (renamed Stagg Field in 1915).  Stagg himself is in a couple of the pictures.  Also in some of the pictures is Pat Page, a basketball HOFer.  Here is his bio from the Chicago Hall of Fame.

Harlan (Pat) Page was the first Chicago athlete to star on Big Ten Conference championship teams in three sports.  He was an end on the Chicago Big Ten football title teams on 1907 and 1908, a guard on the Maroon Big Ten champion basketball teams from 1908-10, and a pitcher on the Chicago Big Ten champion baseball squad in 1909.  He returned to his alma mater as head baseball and basketball coach and led the Maroons to Big Ten titles in both sports.

[martin]

Former3db -

Stagg Field is being renovated.  This from the facilities page:

The Stagg Field outdoor track and field will be closed from June 27 - September 30, 2006. During this time, the track and field will be a restricted area - access will be prohibited. Renovation work in this area will include the track being releveled and resurfaced, and the field being converted to an artificial sports turf field. This project will be completed in phases over the next 14 months with an anticipated completion date of September 1, 2007.

I think the track will be done this month and work on the field will begin after the football season.  Longer term plans include a new parking structure - probably wiping out the tennis courts on Cottage Grove.