On Sunday, I appeared on the great Rick Kogan’s WGN radio show to talk about my book “Eckie: Walter Eckersall and the Rise of Chicago Sports,” by @univnebpress.bsky.social. Check it out here: wgnradio.com/after-hours-...

I know it interferes with Bears-Packers, but turn your TVs to “mute” and turn your radios up to listen to me on Rick Kogan’s radio show on Sunday, 5-630 pm, where we’ll talk about my new book “Eckie: Walter Eckersall and the Rise of Chicago Sports.” www.instagram.com/p/DR7EEOAETi...

120 years ago today – November 30, 1905, which was also Thanksgiving Day – undefeated University of Chicago hosted undefeated University of Michigan in the first “Game of the Century,” for the @b1gfootball.bsky.social title and the de facto national championship.

Had the opportunity to do a guest post for University of Illinois-Springfield Prof. Jacob Friefeld’s blog, “Middle West US,” about Walter Eckersall’s greatest game, the 120th anniversary of which is this Sunday. Enjoy! @univnebpress.bsky.social @b1gfootball.bsky.social middlewest.us/eckies-great...

Check it out, fellow sports history and Chicago history lovers! The first few pages of “Eckie” are now publicly available. (Spoiler alert, the story just gets better from here on out!)

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to appear on the podcast of my fellow football history buff, Darin Hayes, to talk about “Eckie” (@univnebpress.bsky.social). My end of the video gets a bit pixelated at points but the audio stays strong throughout. Enjoy! pigskindispatch.com/rediscoverin...

120 years ago today, on November 18, 1905, University of Chicago football dominated Illinois, 44-0. Walter Eckersall had one of his best college games with 5 drop-kicked field goals (tying a major-college record that still stands) and a 30-yard TD run, along with several 50-plus-yard punts.

chicago.suntimes.com/books/2025/1... @univnebpress.bsky.social @b1gfootball.bsky.social

Best day ever, and the foundation for all good things that followed...15 years ago now. Happy anniversary my love!

120 years ago today, on November 7, 1905, scandal hit the University of Chicago football program. The first installment of “Buying Football Victories,” a four-part expose on crooked recruiting, academic fraud, and other shady dealings in Big Nine football, appeared in Collier’s magazine.

ECKIE is @kelloggfireman.bsky.social's biography of overlooked early University of Chicago football star and prominent sports journalist Walter “Eckie” Eckersall. Save 40% when you order now: bit.ly/3Jw23vw

Check out my guest post on the University of Nebraska Press's blog! It's something of a short synopsis of the third and final part of my new book "Eckie," covering Walter Eckersall's third act as a prominent and influential Chicago-based sportswriter. unpblog.com/2025/10/24/f...

120 years ago today, on October 21, 1905, the Chicago Maroons played their first road football game of the year against Wisconsin, on a suspiciously muddy field. Madison hadn’t had rain for two days, yet the ground was soaked. Coach Stagg blamed both the coaching staff and grounds crew.

120 years ago, on October 14, 1905, University of Chicago football coach Amos Alonzo Stagg skipped his game against @indianafootball.bsky.social to scout an upcoming opponent, Wisconsin. Skipping a “lesser” game was fairly common practice at the time, but this turned out to be a near-fatal mistake.

Some early publicity for my @univnebpress.bsky.social book, "Eckie!" Story by @robertloerzel.bsky.social and appearing in Chicago Magazine's November issue, which will be on newsstands around October 20. The online version went live this morning: www.chicagomag.com/chicago-maga...

After serving as distributor, play-caller, & occasional kicker in Chicago's "minor" games, Walter Eckersall finally scored a TD of his own on October 7, 1905, in the team’s first @b1gfootball.bsky.social game against Iowa, on a 70-yard punt return. But the game’s star was Eckie’s regular backup.

Back to Sam Ransom and Walter Eckersall. They became fast friends in January 1900, when Sam arrived at Hyde Park High School as a midyear entry, one semester behind Eckersall. The pair both excelled in football, baseball, and track; Sam also starred in basketball.

120 years ago today, on a October 4, 1905, University of Chicago played its last “minor” football game of the season, against Beloit College. Beat up from his unexpectedly tough game against Wabash College a few days earlier, Walter Eckersall sits out this game with a minor knee injury.

The long-awaited day is here! My new book "Eckie: Walter Eckersall and the Rise of Chicago Sports" is officially published! Thanks to all who helped me in this five-plus year journey, especially my wife and daughters for their support and patience! www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/978...

On 9/30/1905, the Chicago Maroons football team squared off against Wabash College, which frequently played much larger programs from @b1gfootball.bsky.social and earned the nickname “Little Giants.” Later in 1905, Wabash famously handed Notre Dame its only home loss in an almost-30-year stretch.

On 9/23/1905, Chicago took on Lawrence University of Appleton, WI, in the season's 2nd game. For the 2nd week in a row, Walter Eckersall only played the first half & never attempted a rush. He kicked one PAT, but missed two others, in a comfortable 33-0 win. www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/978...

A few days ago, I introduced University of Chicago football star Walter Eckersall. He & most of his 1905 Maroons teammates are largely forgotten today. But the original “Monsters of the Midway” were folk heroes, much like the 1985 Chicago Bears (a franchise which co-opted the “Monsters” nickname!)

Hello BlueSky! First-time poster here. With the pending publication of "Eckie" & the 120th anniversary of the greatest season for University of Chicago football, this seems a good time to revisit 1905. On 9/16/1905, Chicago opened play against North Division High School (today's Lincoln Park H.S.).