The Chicago Circle Chikas football team represented the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle (UICC) (now known as the

University of Illinois Chicago The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) is a public research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its campus is in the Near West Side community area, adjacent to the Chicago Loop. The second campus established under the Universi ...

) from the

1965 Events January–February * January 14 – The First Minister of Northern Ireland and the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland meet for the first time in 43 years. * January 20 ** Lyndon B. Johnson is Second inauguration of Lynd ...

through 1973 season. Between 1950 through 1964, UICC was known as University of Illinois Chicago Undergraduate Division located at Navy Pier, and competed as a

junior college A junior college is a type of post-secondary institution that offers vocational and academic training that is designed to prepare students for either skilled trades and technical occupations or support roles in professions such as engineering, a ...

. Known as the Chicago Illini during their years competing at Navy Pier, with the move to their new campus, the athletic teams were inspired by the

Chickasaw The Chickasaw ( ) are an Indigenous people of the Southeastern Woodlands, United States. Their traditional territory was in northern Mississippi, northwestern and northern Alabama, western Tennessee and southwestern Kentucky. Their language is ...

and renamed Chikas. UICC played its home games at multiple stadiums throughout their history with the most recent being

Soldier Field Soldier Field is a multi-purpose stadium on the Near South Side, Chicago, Near South Side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Opened in 1924 and reconstructed in 2003, the stadium has served as the home of the Chicago Bears from the National ...

. The Chikas program was dropped by the University at the conclusion of their 1973 season.

Strnad era (1965–1968)

George Strnad served as head coach of the Chikas from 1964 to 1968, and played as a member of the first team at Navy Pier in 1950. During his tenure as head coach after becoming a four-year school, the Chikas compiled an overall record of 13 wins, 18 losses, and one tie ( winning percentage).

1965

The 1965 Chicago Circle Chikas football team was an

American football American football, referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular American football field, field with goalposts at e ...

team that represented the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle (UICC) (now known as the

) as a member of the Gateway Conference during the

1965 NAIA football season The 1965 NAIA football season was the tenth season of college football sponsored by the NAIA. The season was played from August to November 1965, culminating in the 1965 NAIA Championship Bowl, played this year again at ARC Stadium in Augusta ...

. In their second season under head coach George Strnad, UICC compiled a 1–7 record. After losing three consecutive games to open the season, the Chikas defeated

Eureka College Eureka College is a private college in Eureka, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1855, it is related by covenant to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The college enrolled approximately 559 students in 2023. Eureka College was founde ...

for their only win of the season. Their 47–6 loss against Northwestern College late in the season clinched the 1965 Gateway Conference championship for the Trojans.

1966

The 1966 Chicago Circle Chikas football team was an

team that represented the University of Illinois at Congress Circle (UICC) (now known as the

) as a member of the Gateway Conference during the

1966 NAIA football season The 1966 NAIA football season was the eleventh season of college football sponsored by the NAIA. The season was played from August to November 1966, culminating in the 1966 NAIA Championship Bowl, played this year on December 10, 1966 in Tuls ...

. In their third season under head coach George Strnad, UICC compiled a 3–4 record. The 1966 season featured the first Chikas game played at

where they defeated Lakeland College 20–17 on

homecoming Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni or other former members of an organization to celebrate the organization's existence. It is a tradition in many high schools, colleges, and churches in the United States and Canada. United St ...

1967

The 1967 Chicago Circle Chikas football team was an

team that represented the University of Illinois at Congress Circle (UICC) (now known as the

) as an independent during the

1967 NAIA football season The 1967 NAIA football season was the 12th season of college football sponsored by the NAIA. The season was played from August to November 1967, culminating in the 1967 NAIA Championship Bowl, played this year on December 9, 1967 at Mountaine ...

. In their fourth season under head coach George Strnad, UICC compiled a 5–3–1 record. For the 1967 season, the Chikas played their four home games at four different facilities: Winnemac Park, Gately Stadium,

, and Hanson Park. As UICC did not have an on-campus facility, playing in four stadiums across Chicago was viewed as a means to grow the profile of the fledgling program Their 5–3–1 record for the season marked the first and only winning season for the Chikas as a four-year school.

1968

The 1968 Chicago Circle Chikas football team was an

team that represented the University of Illinois at Congress Circle (UICC) (now known as the

) as an independent during the

1968 NAIA football season The 1968 NAIA football season was the 13th season of college football sponsored by the NAIA. The season was played from August to November 1968, culminating in the 1968 NAIA Championship Bowl, played this year on December 14, 1968 at the Cra ...

. In their final season under head coach George Strnad, UICC compiled a 4–4 record. In their game against Wayne State, the Tartars linebacker Ron Solack sustained a double-puncture to his intestine that resulted in his death on October 25.

Nemoto era (1969–1973)

Harold Nemoto was named as head coach of the Chikas in July 1969 to replace George Strnad. Nemoto previously spent 12 years as an assistant coach at Circle/Navy Pier, and was considered the best lineman to ever play at the University as a student in the 1950s. During his tenure as head coach, the Chikas compiled an overall record of 3 wins and 37 losses ( winning percentage).

1969

The 1969 Chicago Circle Chikas football team was an

team that represented the University of Illinois at Congress Circle (UICC) (now known as the

) as an independent during the

1969 NAIA football season The 1969 NAIA football season was the 14th season of college football sponsored by the NAIA. The season was played from August to November 1969, culminating in the 1969 NAIA Championship Bowl, played this year on December 13, 1969 in Kingsvil ...

. In their first season under head coach Harold Nemoto, UICC compiled a 1–7 record.

1970

The 1970 Chicago Circle Chikas football team was an

team that represented the University of Illinois at Congress Circle (UICC) (now known as the

) as an independent during the

1970 NAIA Division II football season The 1970 NAIA Division II football season was the 15th season of college football sponsored by the NAIA and the first season of play of the NAIA's lower division for football. Prior to the season, the NAIA split its football competition into tw ...

. In their third season under head coach Harold Nemoto, UICC compiled an 0–8 record.

1971

The 1971 Chicago Circle Chikas football team was an

team that represented the University of Illinois at Congress Circle (UICC) (now known as the

) as an independent during the

1971 NAIA Division II football season * The year 1971 had three partial solar eclipses (February 25, July 22 and August 20) and two total lunar eclipses (February 10, and August 6). The world population increased by 2.1% this year, the highest increase in history. Events Janu ...

. In their third season under head coach Harold Nemoto, UICC compiled a 2–6 record.

1972

The 1972 Chicago Circle Chikas football team was an

team that represented the University of Illinois at Congress Circle (UICC) (now known as the

) as an independent during the

1972 NAIA Division II football season Year 197 ( CXCVII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Magius and Rufinus (or, less frequently, year 950 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denomination 197 for this y ...

. In their fourth season under head coach Harold Nemoto, UICC compiled an 0–8 record.

1973

The 1973 Chicago Circle Chikas football team was an

team that represented the University of Illinois at Congress Circle (UICC) (now known as the

) as an independent during the

1973 NCAA Division III football season The 1973 NCAA Division III football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division III (NCAA), Division III level, began in August 1973, and concluded with the NCAA ...

. In their final season under head coach Harold Nemoto, UICC compiled an 0–8 record. In early November the University stated the Chikas football program was to be dropped by the university at the conclusion of the season.

Notes

References

External links

Intercollegiate football at the University of Illinois at Chicago
from the University of Illinois at Chicago University Library {{DEFAULTSORT:Chicago Circle Chikas football * American football teams established in 1950 American football teams disestablished in 1973 1950 establishments in Illinois 1973 disestablishments in Illinois