History (Pages 111-132) - UTC Athletics

2013 Mocs Football
chamberlain field
Chattanooga’s Football Home from 1908 to 1997
The University and the City of Chattanooga
communities said a fond farewell
to Historic Chamberlain Field on Oct. 4,
1997. On that day, the nation’s secondoldest
on-campus stadium closed its
gates forever, and the University of Tennessee
at Chattanooga helped send it off
with a 20-17 victory over Wofford before
a Homecoming crowd of 9,102.
Chamberlain Field served as the
Mocs’ home for 86 seasons. From 1908
through the final day at Chamberlain, the
Chamberlain Field circa 1930
school’s football program compiled an all-time record of 301-133-25, a winning
percentage of .683.
Chamberlain Field’s historic past is as storied as many of the great players that
have displayed their talents at the scenic stadium. Prior to 1907, UTC was known
as Grant University. However, in 1907, its name was changed to the University of
Chattanooga. One of the men making up the 1907 team had some land surveyed
on the campus north of Oak Street. At that time, the land was used as a pasture
by the Chattanooga Transfer Company for its horses and mules. Student support
rallied behind the athletes and secured the assistance of some influential trustees,
and plans for a football field on campus were approved. A dressing room and showers
were installed in the science building next to the field. The stadium was given
the name Chamberlain Field in honor of Captain Hiram S. Chamberlain, president
of the board of trustees.
The Stadium officially opened on Oct. 17, 1908, as Chattanooga shut out Athens
School of the University 11-0. Over the years, the program posted 16 undefeated
home seasons at Chamberlain.
In 1925, after the University of the South defeated the Moccasins 28-0, some of
the wooden grandstands were damaged by fire. When the 1927 season opened, a
brick structure seating 5,000 had been erected along Oak Street. The Moccasins
lost their first game in their improved stadium, 44-18 to Vanderbilt. In 1935, the
first-ever night game at Chamberlain Field was played with the Moccasins defeating
Oglethorpe, 44-0.
On April 18, 2008, the University held its spring game and a football reunion at
Chamberlain Field for the first time since closing the facility.
History
ALL-TIME RECORD AT CHAMBERLAIN FIELD
YEAR W L T YEAR W L T
1908 4 1 0 1954 5 0 0
1909 2 2 1 1955 4 2 0
1910 4 1 0 1956 4 1 0
1911 3 0 0 1957 3 1 1
1912 4 1 0 1958 4 1 0
1913 3 1 0 1959 3 2 0
1914 3 0 0 1960 4 1 0
1915 3 1 2 1961 3 2 0
1916 2 2 0 1962 3 2 0
1917 No Team (WWI) 1963 3 3 0
1918 No Team (WWI) 1964 5 0 0
1919 3 3 0 1965 4 1 0
1920 2 1 1 1966 4 1 0
1921 3 1 0 1967 4 1 0
1922 6 0 1 1968 5 0 0
1923 1 2 2 1969 1 4 0
1924 1 4 1 1970 2 3 0
1925 3 2 0 1971 1 4 0
1926 5 1 2 1972 1 4 0
1927 7 1 0 1973 2 3 0
1928 4 2 0 1974 3 2 0
1929 7 1 0 1975 4 0 1
1930 5 2 1 1976 3 2 0
1931 6 1 0 1977 4 1 1
1932 2 4 0 1978 3 1 0
1933 2 0 2 1979 5 1 0
1934 2 1 2 1980 4 1 0
1935 3 2 1 1981 4 0 1
1936 4 0 1 1982 4 1 0
1937 3 1 2 1983 4 1 0
1938 4 1 0 1984 4 2 0
1939 4 1 0 1985 4 1 0
1940 6 0 1 1986 2 3 0
1941 6 0 0 1987 3 3 0
1942 6 1 0 1988 3 2 0
1943 No Team (WWII) 1989 3 1 1
1944 No Team (WWII) 1990 2 4 0
1945 4 2 0 1991 6 0 0
1946 4 2 0 1992 0 6 0
1947 3 3 0 1993 2 3 0
1948 3 2 0 1994 2 4 0
1949 5 1 0 1995 4 2 0
1950 1 5 0 1996 2 3 0
1951 6 0 0 1997 3 0 0
1952 6 0 0 86 Yrs. 301 133 25
1953 3 3 0 .683 Winning %
CHAMBERLAIN FIELD FAST FACTS
YEAR OPENED:......................................... 1908
FIRST GAME:................................Oct. 17, 1908
........................ University of Chattanooga 11,
.................. Athens School of the University 0
FIRST VICTORY:...........................Oct. 17, 1908
........................ University of Chattanooga 11,
.................. Athens School of the University 0
FIRST DEFEAT:.............................Oct. 27, 1908
..................................... Central University 24,
........................... University of Chattanooga 0
LARGEST CROWD:........................Nov. 14, 1981
........................... 12,003 vs. Tennessee State
ALL-TIME RECORD:..............301-133-25 (.683)
WINNING SEASONS:..................................... 63
UTC students carry off one of the goalposts at the last game ever played at Chamberlain Field.
STADIUM CAPACITY:............................. 10,501
123