1928 Illinois Fighting Illini football team
| 1928 Illinois Fighting Illini football | |
|---|---|
 | |
Big Ten champion | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Record | 7–1 (4–1 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
|
| Captain | Butch Nowack |
| Home stadium | Memorial Stadium |
Uniform | |
 | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 6 $ | 4 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 4 Wisconsin | 3 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 7 | – | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 6 Iowa | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ohio State | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 2 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chicago | 0 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1928 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 1928 Big Ten season. In their 16th season under head coach Robert Zuppke, the Illini compiled a 7–1 record (4–1 in conference games), won the Big Ten championship, shut out five of eight opponent, and outscored all opponents by a total of 145 to 16.[1] The team was ranked No. 6 in the Dickinson System ratings released in December 1928.[2]
Tackle Butch Nowack was the team captain.[3] Nowack also recived first-team honors from the AP, UP, and Walter Eckersall on the 1928 All-Big Ten Conference football team.[4][5][6] Guard Russ Crane received second-team All-Big Ten honors from Eckersall.[6]
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 6 | 2:30 p.m. | Bradley* | W 33–6 | 21,477 | [7][8] | |
| October 13 | Coe* |
| W 31–0 | 8,562 | [9] | |
| October 20 | Indiana |
| W 13–7 | 26,683 | [10] | |
| October 27 | at Northwestern |
| W 6–0 | 59,871–63,000 | [11] | |
| November 3 | Michigan | L 0–3 | 78,229 | [12] | ||
| November 10 | at Butler* | W 14–0 | 9,448–14,000 | [13] | ||
| November 17 | Chicago | W 40–0 | 48,714 | [14] | ||
| November 24 | at Ohio State |
| W 8–0 | 35,712 | [15] | |
| ||||||
Roster
| Player | Position |
| Butch Nowack (Captain) | Tackle, Kicker |
| Russ Crane | Guard |
| Oliver M. 'Pete' Langhorst | |
| Judson Timm | Halfback |
| Fritz Humbert | Fullback |
| Rinquist | |
| Dwight Stuessy | Quarterback |
| Doug Mills | Fullback, Punter |
| Frank Walker | Fullback |
| Tom Nickol | Fullback |
| John Tarwain | End |
| James Lewis | |
| Forrest 'Frosty' Peters | Kicker, Quarterback |
| Walter Jolley | End |
| Carl H. Bergeson | |
| Keston J. Deimling | Guard |
| Rouse | |
| Ken Fields | Quarterback |
| Louis Gordon | Guard |
| L. J. Wietz | Tackle |
| L. S. Burdick | Tackle |
| Norman McClure | Guard |
| Chuck Hall | Halfback |
| Robert Z. Hickman | |
| H. E. Richman | |
| Otto R. Hills | |
| Olaf Robinson | Halfback |
| Lou Gordon | Tackle, Guard, End |
- Head coach: Robert Zuppke (15th year at Illinois)
References
- ^ "1928 Illinois Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
- ^ "Trojans Rated as Leading College Team in Country". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. December 9, 1928. p. 42 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Fighting Illini Football Record Book" (PDF). University of Illinois. 2015. p. 156. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
- ^ "Western Loop 'All' Team Is Hard To Pick". Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian (AP story). December 5, 1928.
- ^ Frank Getty (December 1, 1928). "Three Minnesota Stars Named On All-Big Ten Selections". Decatur Herald. p. 21.
- ^ a b "Eckersall Places Pommerening on Big Ten Lineup but Moves Him to Guard". Detroit Free Press. December 2, 1928. p. 22.
- ^ "Bradley Gridders Hope To Uphold Reputation". Belleville Daily Advocate. Belleville, Illinois. Associated Press. September 22, 1928. p. 5. Retrieved June 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com
.
- ^ "Bradley Opens With Win Over Macomb, 25 To 6". Decatur Herald. Decatur, Illinois. Associated Press. September 30, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved June 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Illini Parade To Easy Victory Over Coe, 31 to 0: Nickol Gallops 80 Yards for Touchdown". Chicago Tribune. October 14, 1928. p. 5 (part 2) – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Illinois, 13; Indiana, 7: Pagemen Flash Brilliant Rally in Final Frame". The Indianapolis Star. October 21, 1928. pp. 31, 37 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Willard Hansen (October 28, 1928). "Illinois Takes Homecoming Tilt From Northwestern Before 63,000: Timm Scores Winning Touchdown On 24 Yard Run In Second Period". Decatur Herald. p. 1 (section IV) – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Harry Bullion (November 4, 1928). "Gembis's Place Kick Win For Michigan Over Illinois, 3 to 0: Intercepted Pass Boon To Michigan". Detroit Free Press. pp. 19, 20 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ W. Blaine Patton (November 11, 1928). "Illinois, 14; Butler, 0: Bulldogs Wage Plucky Battle on Muddy Field". The Indianapolis Star. pp. 37, 41 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Harvey Woodruff (November 18, 1928). "Illini's Long Runs Topple Maroons, 40-0: Mills Runs 71 Yards for Touchdown". Chicago Tribune. pp. 1, 2 (part 2) – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Irving Vaughan (November 25, 1928). "Illinois Wins Big Ten Title; Beats Ohio, 8-0; Zuppke's Team Outplays Foes as Rivals Lose". Chicago Tribune. p. 1 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.