# Chicago Circle Chikas football

The Chicago Circle Chikas football team represented the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle (UICC) (now known as the University of Illinois Chicago) from the 1965 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. 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 and renamed Chikas. UICC played its home games at multiple stadiums throughout their history with the most recent being Soldier Field. 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 (.422 winning percentage).

### 1965

The 1965 Chicago Circle Chikas football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle (UICC) (now known as the University of Illinois Chicago) as a member of the Gateway Conference during the 1965 NAIA football season. 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 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.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 25 | at Lakeland (WI) | Sheboygan, WI | L 6–25 |
| October 2 | Milton | Gately StadiumChicago, IL | L 7–31 |
| October 9 | at Indiana Central* | Indianapolis, IN | L 6–22 |
| October 23 | at Eureka | Eureka, IL | W 7–0 |
| October 30 | Milwaukee* | Gately StadiumChicago, IL | L 7–48 |
| November 6 | Illinois College* | Gately StadiumChicago, IL | L 12–52 |
| November 13 | Northwestern (WI) | Gately StadiumChicago, IL | L 6–47 |
| November 20 | at Concordia (IL)* | River Forest, IL | L 14–20 |
| *Non-conference game |||||

### 1966

The 1966 Chicago Circle Chikas football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois at Congress Circle (UICC) (now known as the University of Illinois Chicago) as a member of the Gateway Conference during the 1966 NAIA football season. 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 Soldier Field where they defeated Lakeland College 20–17 on homecoming.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 24 | Northland (WI)* | Gately StadiumChicago, IL | L 12–13 |
| October 7 | Indiana Central* | Gately StadiumChicago, IL | W 21–2 |
| October 15 | Wayne State* | Gately StadiumChicago, IL | W 39–36 |
| October 22 | at Milwaukee* | Milwaukee, WI | L 49–7 |
| October 29 | Lakeland (WI) | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | W 20–17 |
| November 5 | at Illinois College* | Jacksonville, IL | L 7–14 |
| November 12 | at Concordia (IL)* | River Forest, IL | L 26–34 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecoming |||||

### 1967

The 1967 Chicago Circle Chikas football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois at Congress Circle (UICC) (now known as the University of Illinois Chicago) as an independent during the 1967 NAIA football season. 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, Soldier Field, 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.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 23 | at Indiana Central | Indianapolis, IN | W 7–6 |
| September 30 | Illinois State | Winnemac ParkChicago, IL | L 14–16 |
| October 7 | at Wayne State | Wayne StadiumDetroit, MI | L 5–31 |
| October 14 | Illinois College | Gately StadiumChicago, IL | W 21–7 |
| October 21 | Milwaukee | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | W 20–6 |
| October 28 | at Lakeland (WI) | Sheboygan, WI | L 19–41 |
| November 4 | Eastern Illinois | Hanson ParkChicago, IL | T 6–6 |
| November 11 | at Northland (WI) | Ashland, WI | W 27–7 |
| November 18 | at Concordia (IL) | River Forest, IL | W 26–13 |
| Homecoming |||||

### 1968

The 1968 Chicago Circle Chikas football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois at Congress Circle (UICC) (now known as the University of Illinois Chicago) as an independent during the 1968 NAIA football season. 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.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 21 | Indiana Central | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | W 35–14 |
| September 28 | at Illinois State | Hancock StadiumNormal, IL | L 14–26 |
| October 4 | Wayne State | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | W 13–0 |
| October 12 | at Southwest Missouri State | SMS StadiumSpringfield, MO | W 21–14 |
| October 19 | at Milwaukee | Milwaukee County StadiumMilwaukee, WI | W 19–3 |
| November 2 | Eastern Illinois | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | L 7–8 |
| November 9 | at St. Procopius | Lisle, IL | L 34–35 |
| November 16 | at Concordia (IL) | River Forest, IL | L 13–20 |

## 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 (.075 winning percentage).

### 1969

The 1969 Chicago Circle Chikas football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois at Congress Circle (UICC) (now known as the University of Illinois Chicago) as an independent during the 1969 NAIA football season. In their first season under head coach Harold Nemoto, UICC compiled a 1–7 record.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 20 | Winona State | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | L 7–36 |
| September 27 | at Eastern Illinois | Lincoln FieldCharleston, IL | L 6–52 |
| October 4 | at Delta State | Delta FieldCleveland, MS | L 0–84 |
| October 10 | Missouri–Rolla | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | L 6–14 |
| October 18 | Milwaukee | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | L 13–15 |
| October 25 | at Missouri Valley | Marshall, MO | L 24–28 |
| November 1 | at Wayne State | Wayne StadiumDetroit, MI | L 0–33 |
| November 8 | St. Procopius | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | W 20–7 |

### 1970

The 1970 Chicago Circle Chikas football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois at Congress Circle (UICC) (now known as the University of Illinois Chicago) as an independent during the 1970 NAIA Division II football season. In their third season under head coach Harold Nemoto, UICC compiled an 0–8 record.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 26 | Eastern Illinois | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | L 6–20 |
| October 2 | Southwest Missouri State | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | L 13–26 |
| October 10 | at Missouri–Rolla | Jackling FieldRolla, MO | L 0–53 |
| October 17 | at Milwaukee | Milwaukee County StadiumMilwaukee, WI | L 6–51 |
| October 24 | at Ferris State | Big Rapids, MI | L 0–47 |
| October 31 | Wayne State | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | L 8–24 |
| November 7 | Luther (IA) | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | L 13–55 |
| November 14 | at Winona State | Maxwell FieldWinona, MN | L 0–54 |

### 1971

The 1971 Chicago Circle Chikas football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois at Congress Circle (UICC) (now known as the University of Illinois Chicago) as an independent during the 1971 NAIA Division II football season. In their third season under head coach Harold Nemoto, UICC compiled a 2–6 record.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 24 | Grand Valley State | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | W 27–7 |
| October 2 | at Eastern Illinois | O'Brien FieldCharleston, IL | L 21–43 |
| October 9 | at Carthage | Kensoha, WI | L 7–47 |
| October 16 | Milwaukee | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | L 0–41 |
| October 23 | Ferris State | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | L 21–24 |
| October 30 | at Wayne State | Wayne StadiumDetroit, MI | L 0–37 |
| November 6 | at Luther (IA) | Decorah, IA | L 0–55 |
| November 13 | Winona State | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | W 19–11 |

### 1972

The 1972 Chicago Circle Chikas football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois at Congress Circle (UICC) (now known as the University of Illinois Chicago) as an independent during the 1972 NAIA Division II football season. In their fourth season under head coach Harold Nemoto, UICC compiled an 0–8 record.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 23 | at Winona State | Maxwell FieldWinona, MN | L 0–13 |
| September 30 | Eastern Illinois | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | L 13–28 |
| October 7 | Mankato State | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | L 0–60 |
| October 14 | at Milwaukee | Shorewood StadiumShorewood, WI | L 0–28 |
| October 21 | at Ferris State | Big Rapids, MI | L 0–63 |
| October 28 | Wayne State | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | L 0–34 |
| November 4 | at Wisconsin–Platteville | Pioneer StadiumPlatteville, WI | L 6–31 |
| November 11 | Hope | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | L 14–32 |

### 1973

The 1973 Chicago Circle Chikas football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois at Congress Circle (UICC) (now known as the University of Illinois Chicago) as an independent during the 1973 NCAA Division III football season. 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.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 21 | Grand Valley State | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | L 8–40 |
| September 29 | at Eastern Illinois | O'Brien FieldCharleston, IL | L 8–40 |
| October 6 | at Mankato State | Blakeslee StadiumMankato, MN | L 7–55 |
| October 13 | Milwaukee | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | L 0–32 |
| October 19 | Ferris State | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | L 0–58 |
| October 27 | at Wayne State | Wayne StadiumDetroit, MI | L 14–46 |
| November 3 | Wisconsin–Platteville | Soldier FieldChicago, IL | L 6–53 |
| November 10 | at Hope | Riverview ParkHolland, MI | L 16–48 |