In the 40s and 50s there was a picture that hung on the wall near the offices in the "New" building. It was a photo taken from the end zone in Soldier Field of Austin playing St.Leo for the city championship. The year was 1938 or 1939 and the crowd was estimated at 120,000. The Austin star was Bill Decoravant who drew much attention from all over America. That crowd is still recognized by most to be the largest crowd EVER to watch a football game of ANY kind.

On Monday, November 24, 2008 CPS Sports Administration will host their Annual Chicago Prep Bowl Gala at the Hyatt Regency Chicago and the Chicago Prep Bowl Game at Soldier Field on Friday, November 28, 2008. This year’s gala honorees’ will include the 2008 Chicago Public League Representative .vs. the 2008 Chicago Metropolitan Catholic League Representative. Other honorees include: the 1958 Austin High School Football Team and 1958 Fenwick High School Team; the 1983 Simeon High School Football Team and 1983 Mt. Carmel High School Football Team. To celebrate the 75th Anniversary we will also recognize the “All Decade Football Teams” which include: 1930’s—Austin High School; 1940’s—Tilden High School; 1950’s—Mt. Carmel High School; 1960’s—Chicago Vocational High School; 1970’s—St. Laurence High School; 1980’s—Julian High School; 1990’s—Dunbar High School; 2000—Brother Rice High School. Since its inception in 1934, the Chicago Prep Bowl has enjoyed a special place in the hearts of high school football enthusiasts in Illinois. From the days when record crowds would turn out to watch a high school football team to the present, the Chicago Prep Bowl has always been a magical stage on which young athletes have felt honored to perform. Over the past 74 years, many storied games, athletes, and coaches have been to the mountain top of Chicagoland prep football. Players such as Budd Young; Abe Woodson; Keena Turner; Ronald Pennick; Kevin King; Jim Grabowski; Mickey Pruitt; Donovan McNabb; Rausell Harvey; Dennis Lick and Andre Gilbert have been the talk of the town among high school football fans throughout the years. Legendary coaches like Bernie O’Brien, Tom Winecki, J.W. Smith, Joe Magee, Roy Curry, Al Scott and many others have inspired thousands of young men to be the best they could be on and off the field. We proudly congratulate this year’s honorees as we celebrate the Chicago Prep Bowl: A Lakefront Tradition. For ticket information contact CPS Sports at, 773-535-8040.