1924 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

1924 Illinois Fighting Illini football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record6–1–1 (3–1–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive schemeSingle-wing
CaptainFrank E. Rokusek
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Uniform
1924 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 11 Chicago $ 3 – 0 – 3 4 – 1 – 3
No. 4 3 – 1 – 1 6 – 1 – 1
No. 6 Iowa 3 – 1 – 1 6 – 1 – 1
Michigan 4 – 2 – 0 6 – 2 – 0
Purdue 2 – 2 – 0 5 – 2 – 0
Minnesota 1 – 2 – 1 3 – 3 – 2
Ohio State 1 – 3 – 2 2 – 3 – 3
Indiana 1 – 3 – 0 4 – 4 – 0
Northwestern 1 – 3 – 0 4 – 4 – 0
Wisconsin 0 – 2 – 2 2 – 3 – 3
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from Dickinson System

The 1924 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1924 Big Ten season. In their twelfth year under head coach Robert Zuppke, the Fighting Illini compiled a 6–1–1 record (3–1–1 in conference games), tied for second place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 204 to 71.[1] The team was ranked No. 4 in the final Dickinson System rankings for 1924.[2]

After an undefeated season in 1923, and with the return of halfback Red Grange, expectations were high for the Illini in 1924. In a 39–14 victory over Michigan, Grange scored five touchdowns and gained 402 yards on 21 plays. The Illini also defeated Nebraska (9–6), Iowa (36–0), and Ohio State (7–0), tied with Chicago (21–21), and lost to Minnesota (7–20).

Grange, known as "The Galloping Ghost", was a unanimous pick on the 1924 All-America team. He also received the inaugural Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the most valuable player in the Big Ten. Eight Illinois players received honors on the 1924 All-Big Ten Conference football team.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
October 42:00 p.m.at Nebraska*
W 9–622,355[3]
October 11Butler*
W 40–1012,599[4][5]
October 18Michigan
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL (rivalry)
W 39–1466,609[6][7][8]
October 25DePauw*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
W 45–012,196[9][10]
November 1Iowa
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
W 36–031,330[11][12]
November 8at Chicago
T 21–2132,543[13]
November 15at Minnesota
L 7–2035,341–40,000[14]
November 22Ohio State
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL (rivalry)
W 7–027,378[15][16]
  • *Non-conference game

Game summaries

Michigan

Michigan at Illinois
Team 1 234Total
Michigan 0 707 14
• Illinois 27 066 39

Illinois defeated Michigan on October 18, 1924, by a score of 39–14. The game was played before 66,609 spectators, the largest crowd of Illinois' 1924 season. Red Grange gained national notoriety for his performance in the game. Grange returned the opening kick-off 95 yards for a touchdown and scored four touchdowns in the first quarter to give Illinois a 27–0 lead. Grange scored five touchdowns in the game and gained 402 yards on 21 plays. The New York Times reported: "Unbiased experts agree that his performance was among the greatest ever seen on an American gridiron."[17][8]

Awards and honors

Halfback Red Grange received the inaugural Chicago Tribune Silver Football award as the most valuable player in the Big Ten.[18] He was also a unanmous pick amonf the major selectors for the 1924 All-America team,[19] including first-team honors from Walter Camp,[20] All-America Board,[21] Football World,[21] International News Service (INS),[21] Liberty magazine,[21] Newspaper Enterprise Association,[21] Norman E. Brown,[22] Lawrence Perry,[23] Billy Evans,[24] and Walter Eckersall.[25] Grange was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.[26]

End Frank Rokusek was also the team captain.[27]

Eight other Illinois players received honors from at least one selector for the 1924 All-Big Ten Conference football team:

[35]

References

  1. ^ "1924 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  2. ^ Dickinson, Frank G. (February 1941). "Minnesota is the Top Team in Recent Ten Year Rankings". Dickinson's Football Ratings — from Grange to Harmon. Omaha, Nebraska: What's What Publishing Company. p. 4–5.
  3. ^ "Illinois Noses Out Narrow Victory Over Cornhuskers, 9 to 6: Britton's Toe Is Deciding Factor". Sunday State Journal. Lincoln, Nebraska. October 5, 1924. p. A9 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Tom Morrow (October 12, 1924). "Illini Show Improved Form As Fast Backs Tear Through Butler For 40-10 Victory: Pass Attack Effective for Both Elevens; Grange Runs, Passes in Stellar Style; McIlwain Makes Long Gains". The Daily Illini. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Illinois and Chicago Win: Grange, Starring Leads, Team to Easy Victory Over Butler; Illinois, Vastly Improved, Score Almost at Will}". Decatur Herald. October 12, 1924. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ James Crusinberry (October 19, 1924). "Illinois Buries Wolverines 39 to 14: Grange Thrills Huge Crowd by Racing to 5 Touchdowns". Chicago Tribune. p. 1 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Illini Smash Michigan, 39 to 14: Machine-Like Interference Aids Red in 5 Touchdowns". The Daily Illini. October 19, 1924. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b "Grange Races 402 Yards in Michigan Tilt". The Daily Illini. October 19, 1924. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Ray Gallivan Stars in Illini Victory, 45-0: Five Regulars, Including Grange, Out of Lineup at Start". Decatur Herald. October 26, 1924. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Illinois Second String Rampages Through DePauw, 45-0; Hawk Onslaught Jolts Gophers, 13-0". The Daily Illini. October 26, 1924. pp. 1, 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Eleven-Man Illini Machine Smears Iowa, 36-0: Grange Shows Best in Line Plunging, Passing; M'Ilwain Plays with Smashed Hand". The Daily Illini. November 2, 1924. pp. 1, 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Larry Dailey (November 2, 1924). "Grange Leads Illini to 36 to 0 Victory Over Hawkeyes: 'Red' Scores First Two Touchdowns But Fails To Make Long Dashes". Decatur Herald. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Robert M. Lee (November 9, 1924). "Chicago-Illinois Tie: 21-21; M'Carty and Grange Share Hero Honors; 32,000 Cheering Fans Jam Stadium". Chicago Tribune. pp. 1 (main), 1 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ George A. Barton (November 16, 1924). "Minnesota Triumphs Over Illinois, 20 to 7: Clarence Schutte Outshines Grange". The Minneapolis Tribune. pp. 1, 2 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Illini Win, 7-0". Decatur Sunday Herald and Review. Associated Press. November 23, 1924. p. 19. Retrieved July 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Fighting Illini Beat Ohio; Chicago Wins Title". The Daily Illini. November 23, 1924. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "67,000 See Illinois Beat Michigan, 39 to 14: Red Grange Makes Five of Six Touchdowns Registered by Victors at Urbana". The New York Times. October 19, 1924.
  18. ^ Harvey T. Woodruff (December 21, 1924). "Tribune Trophy Goes To "Red" Grange: Illinois Flash Voted "Of Most Value To Team"". Chicago Tribune. p. 1 (part 2) – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. p. 6. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  20. ^ "Walter Camp Slights Big Three In Naming All-America Eleven: Football Expert Neglects To Name Princeton, Harvard or Yale Man on His First Team". Appleton Post-Crescent. December 30, 1924.
  21. ^ a b c d e ESPN College Football Encyclopedia, p. 1156
  22. ^ Norman E. Brown (December 8, 1924). "Brown Picks All-American Team for the Journal". Hamilton Evening Journal.
  23. ^ Lawrence Perry (December 14, 1923). "Lawrence Perry's All-American Teams Announced". Oakland Tribune.
  24. ^ "Evans Names Hancock On Second All-American". Iowa City Press-Citizen. December 11, 1924.
  25. ^ "Eckersall Picks All-American Team". Chicago Tribune. December 14, 1924. p. 1 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Red Grange". National Football Foundation. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  27. ^ George Chapin (August 25, 2025). "Omaha Boy Leads Illinois Eleven: Frank Rokusek Captain of Illini -- Zuppke Will Try for Another Big Ten Title -- Fourteen Letter Men Back". Lincoln State Journal – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Billy Evans' All-Western Conference Selections". The News-Palladium (Benton Harbor, Michigan). December 1, 1924. p. 5.
  29. ^ "Ingram Names Two Hawks On All-Conference". Iowa City Press-Citizen. November 25, 1924. p. 11.
  30. ^ a b c "Illinois Student Paper Picks All Conference Team". The Journal News (Hamilton, Ohio). December 1, 1924. p. 34.
  31. ^ a b c "Sports Writers Pick Stars of Big Ten Season: Capital Times Dopester Fails to Name Single Badger on First Squad". The Post-Crescent (Appleton, Wisconsin). November 26, 1924. p. 17.
  32. ^ a b c d e W. F. Fox, Jr. (November 29, 1924). "The News' All Conference Selections, 1924". The Indianapolis News. p. 16.
  33. ^ a b c d Larry Dailey (November 30, 1924). "Grange Only Illini on Dailey's All-Conference Eleven". Decatur Herald. p. 26.
  34. ^ a b c d "Eckie Selects Big 10 Honor Grid Teams". Chicago Tribune. November 30, 1924.
  35. ^ "Fighting Illini Football Record Book" (PDF). University of Illinois. 2015. p. 156. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
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