The University of Chicago‘s previous football glory has always interested me so this year seeing that the Maroons were having a solid year we decided to head down to Hyde Park for their final home game against Carnegie Mellon University. Julie and I have several friends who are alumni so we put out the word and were able to round up a total of eight people (two children) to attend.
We made a morning out of it meeting at Salonica for breakfast before taking a walk across campus checking out a couple of the buildings and seeing the site of the original Stagg Field where the current Regenstein Library now stands. As part of the Manhattan Project, the first man-made self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction was initiated in CP-1 on 2 December 1942, under the supervision of Enrico Fermi below the stadium grand stands.
There was a decent crowd at the game with an attendance of 1,058. Chicago started off strong and pulled away with a 28-7 win. Carnegie Mellon was shutout until the final minutes of the game. It was the final home game of the season and senior night so there were a good amount of player parents sitting in our section. Carnegie Mellon actually traveled with a large group of parents as well. Chicago finished the season 8-1 with their only loss coming against Bethel University.
After the game we walked over to Jimmy’s (i.e. the Woodlawn Tap). It was a great overall day in Hyde Park.
Side Notes:
* The original Stagg Field, which held 50,000 people was demolished in 1957. The entry gate to the current Stagg Field is the only part of the structure that remains.
