1941 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1941 Illinois Fighting Illini football 1941 Illinois Fighting Illini football team.jpg 285 Big Ten Conference Big Ten 2–6 0–5 Robert Zuppke 29th Nate Johnson Game captains Memorial Stadium The 1941 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois during the 1941 Big Ten Conference football season. In their 29th and final season under head coach Robert Zuppke, the Illini compiled a 2–6 record and finished in last place in the Big Ten Conference.1941 Illinois Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football December 16, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1941-schedule.html Illinois was ranked at No. 71 (out of 681 teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System for 1941.Gophers Grid Kings Over 6-Year Span: Tennessee 2d, Pitt 3d Over Period Litkenhous Ratins Are Published The Courier-Journal Dr. E. E. Litkenhous December 26, 1941 Sports 4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123088221/gophers-grid-kings-over-6-year-span/ Newspapers.com Tackle Nate Johnson was selected as the team's most valuable player.Fighting Illini Football Record Book University of Illinois 2015 December 28, 2016 155 http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/fightingillini.com/documents/2015/8/3/3_History_7_30.pdf November 29, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201129040612/http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/fightingillini.com/documents/2015/8/3/3_History_7_30.pdf dead Other notable players included Alex Agase. The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Schedule AP October 4 w y Miami (OH) Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 45–0 20,585–21,500 Illinois Wins Opener; Beats Miami U., 45 to 0 Chicago Tribune October 5, 1941 II-2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35811976/illinois_wins_opener_beats_miami_u/ Newspapers.com October 11 l y Minnesota Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 6–34 50,435 Gophers Crush Illini, 34-6: Minnesota Tallies 4 Times in First Half Minneapolis Sunday Tribune and Star Journal Charles Johnson October 12, 1941 Sports 1–2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35795890/gophers_crush_illini_346_minnesota/ Newspapers.com October 18 w y Drake Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 40–0 12,000–12,193 Illinois Whips Drake, 40 to 0; Griffin Stars Chicago Tribune Charles Bartlett October 19, 1941 II-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35812034/illinois_whips_drake_40_to_0_griffin/ Newspapers.com October 25 l y y Notre Dame 7 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN 14–49 45,000–48,000 Irish Run Up 28 Points in Last Quarter To Rout Illinois, 49-14 Chicago Tribune Edward Burns October 26, 1941 II-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35812249/irish_run_up_28_points_in_last_quarter/ Newspapers.com November 1 l Michigan 7 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 0–20 30,101 Westfall and Kuzma Score for Michigan in Battle of Fumbles Edward Burns Chicago Tribune November 2, 1941 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35812309/westfall_and_kuzma_score_for_michigan/Michigan Downs Illinois, 20 to 0; 30,000 See Westfall Pace the Wolverines to Smashing Conference Victory The New York Times November 2, 1941 https://www.nytimes.com/1941/11/02/archives/michigan-downs-illinois-20-to-0-30000-see-westfall-pace-the.html November 8 l Iowa Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 0–21 14,339 Dad's Day Becomes Farmer's Day As Iowa Routs Illinois, 21 to 0 Chicago Tribune Charles Bartlett November 9, 1941 II-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35806703/dads_day_becomes_farmers_day_as_iowa/ Newspapers.com November 15 l y Ohio State 20 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH Illibuck 7–12 41,544 Buckeyes Use Long Pass, Hard Plunges To Beat Illinois, 12-7 Chicago Tribune Arch Ward November 16, 1941 II-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35808042/buckeyes_use_long_pass_hard_plunges_to/ Newspapers.com November 22 l y Northwestern 10 Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL rivalry 0–27 26,000 Northwestern Whips Illinois, 27-0: DeCorrevont's 3 Touchdowns Lead Wildcats Chicago Tribune Irving Vaughan November 23, 1941 II-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35805712/northwestern_whips_illinois_270/ Newspapers.com Roster At the end of the season, the following 25 players received varsity letters on the 1941 Illinois team: Alex Agase, Evanston, IL Lavere Astroth, Alton, IL Anthony Butkovich, St. David, IL Ken Cheeley, Foley, MN Robert Cherry, Girard, IL Walter Correll, Lincoln, IL Elmer Engel, La Salle, IL John Genis, Chicago Richard Good, South Bend, IN Maurie Gould, Bronxville, NY Ray Grierson, Champaign, IL Don Griffin, Chicago Nathan Johnson, Benton, IL Dominic Mattiazza, Oglesby, IL James McCarthy, Lockport, IL Thomas McCullough, Aurora, IL Paul Milosevich, Ziegler, IL Clifford Niedzelski, Foley, MN Isaiah Owens, Gary, IN Joseph Pawloski, Aurora, IL Myron Pfeifer, Illiopolis, IL James Smith, Murphysboro, IL Wes Tregoning, La Salle, IL Richard Tumilty, Lincoln, IL Robert Wilson, Champaign, IL Illinois Picks Jimmy Smith as Captain for '42 Moline Dispatch November 27, 1941 26 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-illinois-picks-jimmy-smith/177723161/ Newspapers.com References Illinois Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons Illinois Fighting Illini football