- It's just the difference between playing the game well and changing the game. Chicago Econ was very good at the latter at one point.
Regarding athletics, I seem to recall an admissions officer saying that UChicago was known for major innovations in the game of football once upon a time. And then, Alonzo Stagg did coach the inventor of basketball, James Naismith, but it was at another school. That was all a long time ago.