1979 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

1979 Illinois Fighting Illini football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record2–8–1 (1–6–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPLawrence McCullough
Captains
  • Lawrence McCullough
  • Stanley Ralph
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
1979 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 4 Ohio State $ 8 – 0 – 0 11 – 1 – 0
No. 10 Purdue 7 – 1 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
No. 18 Michigan 6 – 2 – 0 8 – 4 – 0
No. 19 Indiana 5 – 3 – 0 8 – 4 – 0
Iowa 4 – 4 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Minnesota 3 – 5 – 1 4 – 6 – 1
Michigan State 3 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Wisconsin 3 – 5 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
1 – 6 – 1 2 – 8 – 1
Northwestern 0 – 9 – 0 1 – 10 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1979 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 1979 Big Ten season. In their third year under head coach Gary Moeller, the Illini compiled a 2–8–1 record (1–6–1), finished in ninth place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 266 to 156.[1]

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Lawrence McCullough (1,254 passing yards, 57.0% completion percentage), running back Mike Holmes (792 rushing yards, 5.4 yards per carry, 36 points scored), and wide receiver John Lopez (296 receiving yards).[2] McCullough was selected as the team's most valuable player.[3]

The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 8at No. 10 Michigan State
L 16–3371,125[4]
September 15No. 11 Missouri*
L 6–1449,049[5][6]
September 22at Air Force*
W 27–1918,178[7]
September 29Navy*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
L 12–1353,825[8]
October 6Iowa
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
L 7–1351,044[9]
October 13at No. 20 Purdue
L 14–2869,413[10]
October 20No. 11 Michigan
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL (rivalry)
L 7–2743,370[11][12]
October 27at Minnesota
T 17–1747,406[13]
November 3No. 5 Ohio State
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL (Illibuck)
L 7–4441,870[14]
November 10Indiana
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL (rivalry)
L 14–4530,874[15]
November 17at Northwestern
W 29–1319,217[16]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

1979 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
OT 71 Lou Belmont So
C 63 Greg Boeke Jr
TE 80 Lee Boeke Jr
QB 9 Tim McAvoy Jr
C 53 Mike McBeth Sr
G 76 Bob McClure Sr
QB 11 Lawrence McCullough Sr
G 62 Troy McMillin Jr
G 78 Ray Pavesic Sr
C 51 John Scott Jr
WR 12 Kenny Shaw So
TE 81 Mike Sherrod Sr
QB 10 Nick Sowa Sr
FB 42 Calvin Thomas So
QB 14 Rich Weiss Jr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DB 15 Bonji Bonner So
DT 73 Reggie Brown Jr
OLB 31 Pete Burgard So
OLB 58 Tab Carmien Jr
LB 90 Chris Carr Sr
DB 35 Bill Forrester So
DB 6 Rick George So
LB 38 John Gillen Jr
LB 45 Bob Hauser Sr
DB 48 Tim Holm Sr
LB 89 Dan MacLean Sr
DT 86 Stanley Ralph Sr
LB 85 Jerry Ramshaw Sr
LB 34 Jack Squirek So
CB 16 Tyron Worthy So
DB 39 Mark Zimmer So
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 3 Cliff Jones Jr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

References

  1. ^ "1979 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  2. ^ "1979 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  3. ^ "Fighting Illini Football Record Book" (PDF). University of Illinois. 2015. p. 155. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  4. ^ "MSU rolls over Illini 33–16 as Andersen, Vaughn star". The Lima News. September 9, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Richardson, Steve (September 16, 1979). "MU Defense Saves Day At Goal Line". The Kansas City Star. Kansas City, Missouri. p. 1S. Retrieved March 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  6. ^ Richardson, Steve (September 16, 1979). "Running of Ellis Puts Tigers in Gear (continued)". The Kansas City Star. Kansas City, Missouri. p. 9S. Retrieved March 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  7. ^ "Holmes leads Illinois by Air Force, 27–19". The Pantagraph. September 23, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Landlubber Middies top Illini". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. September 30, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Hawkeyes halt Illini". Journal and Courier. October 7, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Hermann lifts Purdue". Tulsa World. October 14, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Mick McCabe (October 21, 1979). "'Winded' U-M offense awakens in 2d half against Illinois, 27-7". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1F, 16F – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Billy Neff (October 21, 1979). "Blue blows past game Illinois, 27-7". The Michigan Daily. pp. 1, 12.
  13. ^ "Illini fight Gophers to tie". Quad-City Times. October 28, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Buckeyes storm past Illini, 44–7". Detroit Free Press. November 4, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Hoosier steamroller flattens Illini, 45–14". The Indianapolis Star. November 11, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Sub leads Illini to 29–13 victory". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. November 18, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
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