Luncheon Program | The Opening Kickoff | Dave Revsine

The football clash was beyond sold out and scalpers were raising their prices by the minute. An opportunist had bought the rights to a bluff overlooking the field and was selling standing room on the muddy surface. Fans were streaming into the stadium and betting lavishly on the outcome. This was collegiate powerhouse football. The year was 1893. The schools were Yale and Princeton.

The Regenstein Library’s site used to be home to Stagg Field, which hosted U of Chicago football elevens that laid claim to two national titles. Harvard and Yale players raked in All America honors. Penn was a power.

All at a cost. There were players with only the vaguest notion of where the classrooms were, coaches willing to twist the rules, win-at-all-cost boosters, and universities gone football mad — all egged on by cigar chomping reporters.

Dave Revsine, author of The Opening Kickoff will tell the fascinating story of college football’s early days. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Northwestern, Revsine serves as the lead studio host for the Big Ten Network. He’ll spin a lively tale that is sure to delight — whether you’re an arm-chair quarterback or think a forward pass is a cheeky line from some guy in a bookstore.

June 7 Luncheon: Union League Club, 65 W. Jackson Boulevard. Buffet opens at 11:30 am; program 12:30-1:30. Luncheon is $35. Program free but please let us know you’re coming. Reservations or cancellations for lunch by noon Wednesday the week of the luncheon. Reserve at caxtonclub.org, call 312-255-3710, or e-mail caxton-club@newberry.org .