By April 1892, Amos Alonzo Stagg, a 30-year-old who had graduated from Yale University in 1888, had been hired to serve as an instructor and the head of the department of physical culture at the University of Chicago upon its opening in October 1892.

On October 1, 1892, the University of Chicago opened its doors for its first semester.
At 2:30 p.m. that day, at the university chapel, Prof. Stagg from the department of physical culture called to order a meeting of 600 incoming students for the purpose of adopting a "college yell".
After an hour of experimenting with yells, Stagg selected a number of students to form the university's first football team.
 Stagg took the chosen students to Washington Park for preliminary football practice.
 Stagg later recalled that he began with "about a dozen" inexperienced players.
 Because of the lack of student participation during the 1892 season, Stagg decided to participate as a player.
 He later recalled: "I had to do one-half the playing.
Our boys are so very green."
By April 1892, Amos Alonzo Stagg, a 30-year-old who had graduated from Yale University in 1888, had been hired to serve as an instructor and the head of the department of physical culture at the University of Chicago upon its opening in October 1892.
On October 1, 1892, the University of Chicago opened its doors for its first semester. At 2:30 p.m. that day, at the university chapel, Prof. Stagg from the department of physical culture called to order a meeting of 600 incoming students for the purpose of adopting a "college yell". After an hour of experimenting with yells, Stagg selected a number of students to form the university's first football team.  Stagg took the chosen students to Washington Park for preliminary football practice.  Stagg later recalled that he began with "about a dozen" inexperienced players.  Because of the lack of student participation during the 1892 season, Stagg decided to participate as a player.  He later recalled: "I had to do one-half the playing. Our boys are so very green."
1892 Chicago Maroons football team