The University of Illinois Fighting Illini Football Team in the 2015-2016 Season
Betting Odds For Illinois To Win National Title In 2015/2016 Season: +250000 - That's $100 to win a quarter million - wow.
A promising 3-1 start by the Illinois Fighting Illini in 2014 soon gave way to reality when they dropped five of their first six Big Ten contests and ended up finishing 6-7 on the year. While they did play in a bowl game, it was the nominal Heart of Dallas Bowl, which they lost to Louisiana Tech, 35-18, on December 26. Still, the six wins marked a two-victory increase for the second year in a row by third-year head coach Tim Beckman. At quarterback, Wes Lunt and Reilly O'Toole saw the bulk of the action, with Lunt the more accurate when it came to passing with 1,763 yards and 14 touchdown passes.
Lunt's unfortunate injury led to O'Toole entering the lineup and the senior's footwork helped him gain 263 yards on the ground, along with 1,344 through the air. Josh Ferguson was the go-to back who also served as a viable passing option. Ferguson gained 735 yards rushing and eight touchdowns and added 50 catches for 427 yards with two scores. The main receiving target, Mike Dudek, grabbed 76 passes for 1,038 yards and six touchdowns. Meanwhile, Geronimo Allison nearly gained 600 yards on his 41 receptions, scoring five times.
After a regular season of struggles on defense, the Illini rebounded during the team's final two Big Ten clashes by allowing under 200 yards of offense in each game and forcing six turnovers, half of their total for the first 10 games. In addition, their three interceptions in the regular season finale was just one less than their season total. The result was victories over Penn State and Northwestern. Still, defensive problems were evident from the following numbers: 456 yards allowed per game and 6.01 yards per play. Still, those are drops from last year.
University of Illinois Football - the Championship Years
In recent years the Illinois Fighting Illini football team has had a few high spots, but has not been competitive consistently. The team has also routinely failed to make its mark in the tough Big Ten West. But that was not always the case. In 1914 head coach Bob Zuppke led Illinois to a 6 - 0 Big Ten record, a 7 - 0 overall record and the school's first National Championship. That team was led by college Hall of Famer Bart Macomber (Halfback 1914 - 1916). The Fighting Illini returned for national Collegiate Championships under Zuppke in 1919, 1923 and 1927, compiling an overall record of 21 - 1 - 1 during those 3 years. Head coach Ray Eliot piloted Illinois to a Big Ten Championship and National Championship in 1951, defeating Stanford by a score of 40 - 7 in the Rose Bowl in 1952.
Illini Pro Football Hall of Famers
The University of Illinois claims 6 Pro football Hall of Famers. Harold Edward "Red" Grange was nicknamed "The Galloping Ghost" and was named to both the Pro and College Football Hall of Fames. George Stanley Halas, Sr. was affectionately known as "Papa Bear". But he was also given the name of "Mister Everything", since he was a player, coach and owner in college and/or pro football, also known as inventor, producer, philanthropist and Major League Baseball player. He is probably best known as the longtime owner of the Chicago Bears. Hugh "Shorty" Ray was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966, and middle linebacker Ray Nitschke achieved Hall of Fame status in 1978 after playing all 14 of his seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Dick Butkus, HOF Class of 1979, is known along with Nitschke as one of the toughest and best linebackers of all time, in college or pro football. He was named as the Most Feared Tackler of All Time by NFL.com in 2009. Illini RB Bobby Mitchell became a Pro Football Hall of Famer in 1983.
News & Articles About the Fighting Illini Football Team
Big Plays Make the Difference for Bulldogs Defeat of Fighting Illini in 2014 Dallas Bowl
Resources for Illinois Fighting Illini Football Fans
Fighting Illini Official Website
NCAAF Official Website
