Andy Wyant was one of the most amazing figures in the free wheel’n, early days of football. An imposing figure at 6’ 3” with long hair, and a big mustache, he was nicknamed ‘Polyphemus’ after the giant Cyclops of greek mythology. He began playing for Bucknell, in 1887, while still in high school at Bucknell Prep. Playing at center and guard, Wyant played eight seasons of college football: five at Bucknell, and three at Chicago. He set a record that will never be broken. Wyant played 73 games in a row without being substituted, including a grueling twenty-three game season at Chicago, in 1894.

In spite of his many years of college football, Andy Wyant was not a dumb jock by any means. Wyant was a dedicated student and a man of many accomplishments. He earned five degrees including a Doctor of Medicine. He was a teacher, a minister, an author, a lecturer, a financier, as well as a physician. He served with distinction in the Red Cross during both world wars.

Walter Eckersall was the best player of his time. He only weighed 142 pounds, but in spite of his small size, ‘Eckie’ was a giant on the field. He was a gifted athlete, a great kicker, and a brilliant leader who knew how to bring out the full potential of his team. The Chicago native had been a legend since high school. Knute Rockne, Notre Dame’s greatest coach, would credit Eckersall for inspiring him to devote himself to the sport of football. By watching Eckersall, Rockne could see the creative possibilities of the sport.

As Quarterback of the Chicago Maroons, Eckersall was named to Walter Camp’s All-American team three times. In 1905, he led the Maroons to the national championship. The Maroons went undefeated, and ended the season with a win over Michigan, snapping the Wolverines 56 game unbeaten streak. After his playing days were over, Eckersall would go on to have a successful dual career as a sportswriter for the Chicago Tribune, and as a referee. As an official, Eckersall was considered one of the best.

One of college football’s most coveted awards is named in honor of Bob Maxwell. Maxwell played guard at Chicago in 1902. At 6’ 0” and 240 pounds, ‘Tiny’ Maxwell was a giant in his day. He helped lead the Maroons to a record of 11 -1, with the lone loss to mighty Michigan. Maxwell only played one year at Chicago before transferring to Swarthmore College. In addition to playing guard, he was a track star, participating in discus and hammer throw. The versatile Maxwell was also a Shakespearean actor, and a song writer.

Maxwell played professional football for the Canton Bulldogs and the Massillon Tigers. He served as an assistant coach at Swarthmore and Pennsylvania. Bob Maxwell was sports editor of the Philadelphia Public Ledger, as well as a highly regarded football official. He died as the result of an auto accident in 1922. The Maxwell Club was named in his memory. In 1937 the club began awarding the Maxwell Trophy. It is awarded annually to the nation's top player.

Walter Steffen played for Chicago 1906 -1908. In spite of his size, at 158 pounds, he earned All-American honors every year. He played halfback in his first year along side the great Walter Eckersall. After Eckersall finished his career, Steffen took over the quarterback position. He was the fastest player in the west, and an elusive, intelligent runner. Steffen began his varsity career the same year that the forward pass was legalized. His talents were well suited for the more open style of play. In three years he scored 156 points as he led Chicago to many lopsided victories. After his playing days were over, he stayed on at Chicago as an assistant coach, as he earned a law degree.

Steffen went on to have two careers simultaneously in two different cities. He was a judge in Chicago, and a head football coach at Carnegie Tech. in Pittsburgh. Steffen would serve as a

Amos Alonzo Stagg was one of the most amazing figures in the history of college football. A charter member of the College Football Hall of Fame, he is the only man to be elected as both a player and a coach. He played five years at Yale and was selected as an end on the very first All-American team, in 1889. After his playing days were over he began a long career as a head coach. He organized the first team at Springfield College.

Among his players at Springfield was James Naismith, the inventor of basketball. Stagg assisted Naismith as he invented the game of basketball. The first basketball game ever played was between the students and faculty of Springfield. The students won by a score of 5 - 1. Stagg scored the only point for the faculty.

When the University of Chicago was founded, in 1892, Stagg was hired to build the physical education program. Starting form scratch, Stagg built the Chicago Maroons into one of the most powerful teams in the nation. His teams won seven Western Conference titles, and one national title. He coached at the University of Chicago until 1932, when he was forced into mandatory retirement, at the age of 70.

After he left Chicago, Stagg coached at the College of Pacific from 1933 - 1946. In 1943 at the age of 81, he was named national coach of the year by the American Football Coaches Association. As a head coach Stagg won 314 games. He continued to work as an assistant, working with his son, Amos Alonzo Stagg Jr. at Susquehanna from 1947 - 1952, and as kicking coach at Stockton Junior College 1953 - 1958. Amos Alonzo Stagg was continuously involved in coaching from 1890 - 1958. He died March 17, 1965, at the age of 102.

Stagg was one of the great innovators who developed football into the game we know today. He brought motion and creativity to the game. Among his many contributions were: the backfield shift, the end-around, man-in-motion, fake punt, quick-kick, double reverse, Statue of Liberty play, as well as padded goal post, and numbers on uniforms. Although he did not use it often, he was the first coach to use the huddle. Nine of Stagg’s former players would join him in the Hall of Fame, six as players and three more as coaches. In his honor the Division III championship game is named the Stagg Bowl.

Clark Shaughnessy took over the Chicago program in 1933, after Amos Alonzo Stagg was forced into retirement. With restrictions placed on him by an administration that was openly hostile to football, Shaughnessy did not have much success at Chicago. His record there was a disappointing, 17 - 34 - 4. The bright spot of his time at Chicago was the performance of Heisman Trophy winner, Jay Berwanger.

After Chicago abolished football in 1939, Clark Shaughnessy took the reigns at Stanford. He immediately turned around a struggling program, and in the process revolutionized the game of football. Shaughnessy install a modernized version of the T formation. His 1940 team went 10 - 0 - 0 including a 21 -13 victory over Nebraska in the Rose Bowl. For his efforts, Clark Shaughnessy was recognized by the AFCA as national coach of

Jesse Harper coached at Alma College 1906 -1907, and Wabash 1909 - 1912. His Wabash team played Notre Dame tough, and earned him the job as head coach at Notre Dame in 1913. He coached at Notre Dame 1913 - 1917. He returned to Notre Dame as Athletic Director in 1931 following the death of Knute Rockne.

Under Jesse Harper, Notre Dame stunned the nation in 1913 by upsetting Army. The win over the Cadets solidified Notre Dame’s reputation on a national basis. Changes in the passing rules that year opened up the game. Notre Dame used a passing attack that kept the cadets off balance and immortalized Gus Dorais and Knute Rockne. Harper also recognized the genius of Knute Rockne, and kept him on as his assistant coach after he graduated.

As a former Chicago quarterback, Harper brought a thorough understanding of Amos Alonzo Stagg’s shifting offense to Notre Dame. Together, Harper and Rockne developed an offense that would come to be known as the Notre Dame Shift. Notre Dame became the biggest draw in football, dazzling audiences across the nation. After Harper resigned, Knute Rockne replaced him and went on to be the most celebrated football coach of all time. In spite of his own fame, Rockne paid homage to the influence of the Chicago Maroons’ legendary leader. Rockne said “All football comes from Stagg.”

Hugo Bezdek played fullback at Chicago, and was a key member of Stagg’s national championship team of 1905. He was the main workhorse in Chicago’s win over Michigan that year. He was also a talented baseball player. Bezdek went on to have a career coaching both football and baseball.

As a football coach he amassed a record of 127 - 58 - 16, and took three different teams to the Rose Bowl. He began as a head coach the year after he finished playing at Chicago, taking the helm at Oregon in 1906. He then moved to Arkansas 1908 - 1912. While at Arkansas, Bezdek referred to his team as “a wild band of razorbacks.” His phrase caught on and became the school's official nickname.

Bezdek returned to Oregon in 1913, leading the Ducks to the Rose Bowl in 1916. The following year he coached the Mare Island Marines in the Rose Bowl. It was at Penn State where Bezdek had his biggest impact. From 1918 -1929 he coached the Nittany Lions’ football team. From 1919 - 1922, he lead Penn State to a record of 30 - 0 - 3 before losing to USC in the Rose Bowl. He served as Penn States baseball coach from 1920 - 1930, and as Athletic Director 1930 - 1936.

Bezdek coached in the pro ranks with the Cleveland Rams from 1937 -1938. He returned to college football for one year in 1949, as the head coach at Delaware Valley. From 1917 - 1919, Bezdek managed in the major leagues and coached football. During the summer Bezdek managed the Pittsburgh Pirates and in the fall he would coach at Penn State.

Fritz Crisler played end at Chicago 1919-1921. Like his mentor, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Crisler made a fundamental contribution to the game of football. He is considered the father of two platoon football, where players only play on offense or defense. He also designed the University of Michigan's football helmet.

Fritz Crisler had a long successful career as a coach and administrator. He was head coach at Minnesota 1930 -1931, Princeton 1932 - 1937, and Michigan 1938 - 1947. He stayed at Michigan long after he was through as a coach, serving as Athletic Director 1941 - 1968. Respected by his peers, he was a member of the rules committee for forty-one years, and served as its chairman for nine years. 1947, his last year as a coach was his best. He led Michigan to a 10 - 0 record, including a 49 - 0 win over Southern California, in the Rose Bowl. For his efforts he was named national coach of the year.