1983 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1983 Illinois Fighting Illini football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 10 10 10–2 9–0 Mike White 4th Tim Brewster Joe Miles Don Thorp Memorial Stadium Big Ten champion Rose Bowl L 9–45 vs. UCLA The 1983 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented the University of Illinois as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the Big Ten football season. In their fourth year under head coach Mike White, the Fighting Illini compiled a 10–2 record (9–0 in conference games), won the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 338 to 168. Illinois represented the Big Ten in the 1984 Rose Bowl, losing to UCLA by a 45–9 score. The Illini were ranked No. 4 in the AP poll at the end of the regular season, but dropped to No. 10 in the final poll after losing the Rose Bowl.1983 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 24, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1983-schedule.html Quarterback Jack Trudeau led the Big Ten with 203 complete passes, a 62.7% completion percentage, and 2,446 passing yards. The team's other statistical leaders included running back Thomas Rooks (842 rushing yards), wide receiver David Williams (59 receptions for 870 yards), and kicker Chris White (78 points, 39 of 40 extra points, 13 of 22 field goals).1983 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 24, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1983.html Defensive end Don Thorp was selected as the team's most valuable player and also received the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy as the most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference.Fighting Illini Football Record Book University of Illinois 2015 December 29, 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 The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Schedule 1983 AP Central September 10 1:30 pm l y y Missouri Faurot Field Columbia, MO rivalry 18–28 53,744 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-bad-start-wrecks-i/166545369/ The Rock Island Argus Bad start wrecks Illinois September 11, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com September 17 6:00 pm w y Stanford Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 17–7 72,852 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-illinois-discovers-runnin/166496516/ The Pantagraph Illinois discovers running game in victory September 18, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com September 24 11:30 am w y Michigan State Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI ABC 20–10 75,867 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-herald-spartans-lose-1st-illi/166612592/ The Times Herald Spartans lose 1st; Illinois ends MSU streak September 25, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com October 1 1:00 pm w Iowa 4 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 33–0 73,351 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-illini-pay-back-hawks-with/166612814/ The Dispatch Illini pay back Hawks with shutout October 2, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com October 8 1:30 pm w y 19 Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 27–15 78,307 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-mistakes-critical/166612929/ The La Crosse Tribune Mistakes critical for Wisconsin October 9, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com October 15 1:00 pm w 19 Ohio State 6 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL Illibuck 17–13 73,414 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-late-illinois-ma/166613083/ The Des Moines Register Late Illinois march sinks Buckeyes, 17–13 October 16, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com October 22 1:30 pm w y 11 Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN rivalry 35–21 69,328 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-illini-top-purdu/166613208/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Illini top Purdue, eye Michigan October 23, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com October 29 11:30 am w 9 Michigan 8 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry CBS 16–6 76,127 Illinois on the road to Roses after dominating U-M, 16-6 Detroit Free Press Joe Lapointe October 30, 1983 1F, 7F https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42495478/illinois_on_the_road_to_roses_after/ Newspapers.com November 5 7:00 pm w y 6 Minnesota Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN 50–23 35,514 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-illini-explode-after-sca/166613357/ Chicago Tribune Illini explode after scare November 6, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com November 12 1:00 pm w 5 Indiana Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 49–21 73,612 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-news-democrat-illinois-of/166613484/ The Belleville News-Democrat Illinois officially wraps up Rose Bowl bid November 13, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com November 19 1:00 pm w y 4 Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL rivalry 56–24 52,333 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-illinois-brushes-aside-n/166613589/ Chicago Tribune Illinois brushes aside NU November 20, 1983 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com January 2 4:00 pm l y y 4 UCLA Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA Rose Bowl NBC 9–45 103,217 https://www.newspapers.com/article/usa-today-neuheisel-leads-ucla-past-stun/166489656/ USA Today Neuheisel leads UCLA past stunned Illini 45–9 January 3, 1984 February 24, 2025 Newspapers.com Illinois Yearly Results: 1980–1984 David DeLassus http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/bigten/illinois/yearly_results.php?year=1980 College Football Data Warehouse March 23, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20120503183431/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/bigten/illinois/yearly_results.php?year=1980 May 3, 2012 dead Awards and honors Don Thorp (defensive end) Chicago Tribune Silver Football (Big Ten MVP) All-American, (defensive end) Jim Juriga, (tackle) All-American, (tackle) Craig Swoope, (defensive back) All-American, (defensive back) Seven Illinois players received first-team honors on the 1983 All-Big Ten Conference football team: running back Dwight Beverly (AP-1, UPI-1); guard Jim Juriga (AP-1, UPI-1); tackle Chris Babyar (AP-1, UPI-1); defensive linemen Mark Butkus (AP-1, UPI-1) and Don Thorp (AP-1, UPI-1); defensive back Craig Swoope (AP-1, UPI-1); and kicker Chris White (AP-2, UPI-1).Hawkeyes represented well on AP all-Big 10 football teams The Daily Reporter December 1, 1983 6 https://books.google.com/books?id=l3dhAAAAIBAJ&dq=All-Big+Ten+Conference+football+team&pg=PA4&article_id=4839,4310816All-Big Ten The Bryan Times (UPI story) Barry Minkoff November 22, 1983 12 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19631122&id=baZhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5ocDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3162,5187647&hl=en References Illinois Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons Category:Big Ten Conference football champion seasons Illinois Fighting Illini football