1928 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1928 Illinois Fighting Illini football 1928 Illinois Fighting Illini football team.jpg 285 Big Ten Conference Big Ten 7–1 4–1 Robert Zuppke 16th Butch Nowack Memorial Stadium 20silliniuniform.png Big Ten champion 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 16.1928 Illinois Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football December 16, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1928-schedule.html The team was ranked No. 6 in the Dickinson System ratings released in December 1928.Trojans Rated as Leading College Team in Country The Brooklyn Daily Eagle December 9, 1928 42 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98582943/dickinson-ratings/ Newspapers.com Tackle Butch Nowack was the team captain.Fighting Illini Football Record Book University of Illinois 2015 December 28, 2016 156 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 Nowack also received first-team honors from the AP, UP, and Walter Eckersall on the 1928 All-Big Ten Conference football team.Western Loop 'All' Team Is Hard To Pick Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian (AP story) December 5, 1928 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1893&dat=19281205&id=lvMoAAAAIBAJ&sjid=29MEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3714,4373045Frank Getty Three Minnesota Stars Named On All-Big Ten Selections Decatur Herald December 1, 1928 21 https://www.newspapers.com/image/90176784/?terms=fesler%2Bhovde%2Bpommerening%2B%22united%2Bpress%22Eckersall Places Pommerening on Big Ten Lineup but Moves Him to Guard Detroit Free Press December 2, 1928 22 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5216005/big_tens_best_walter_eckersall/ Guard Russ Crane received second-team All-Big Ten honors from Eckersall. Schedule Central October 6 2:30 p.m. w y Bradley Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 33–6 21,477 Bradley Gridders Hope To Uphold Reputation https://www.newspapers.com/article/belleville-daily-advocate/127065282/ Belleville Daily Advocate Belleville, Illinois Associated Press September 22, 1928 5 June 25, 2023 Newspapers.com Bradley Opens With Win Over Macomb, 25 To 6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-and-review/127065355/ Decatur Herald Decatur, Illinois Associated Press September 30, 1928 1 June 25, 2023 Newspapers.com October 13 w y 1928 Coe Kohawks Coe Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 31–0 8,562 Illini Parade To Easy Victory Over Coe, 31 to 0: Nickol Gallops 80 Yards for Touchdown Chicago Tribune October 14, 1928 5 (part 2) https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-illini-parade-to-easy-vi/177404254/ Newspapers.com October 20 w Indiana Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 13–7 26,683 Illinois, 13; Indiana, 7: Pagemen Flash Brilliant Rally in Final Frame The Indianapolis Star October 21, 1928 31, 37 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-illinois-13-indi/177403898/ Newspapers.com October 27 w y y Northwestern Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 6–0 59,871–63,000 Illinois Takes Homecoming Tilt From Northwestern Before 63,000: Timm Scores Winning Touchdown On 24 Yard Run In Second Period Decatur Herald Willard Hansen October 28, 1928 1 (section IV) https://www.newspapers.com/article/decatur-herald-illinois-takes-homecoming/177403473/ Newspapers.com November 3 l Michigan Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry 0–3 78,229 Gembis's Place Kick Win For Michigan Over Illinois, 3 to 0: Intercepted Pass Boon To Michigan Detroit Free Press Harry Bullion November 4, 1928 19, 20 https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-gembiss-place-kick-w/177399359/ Newspapers.com November 10 w y y 1928 Butler Bulldogs Butler Butler Bowl Indianapolis, IN 14–0 9,448–14,000 Illinois, 14; Butler, 0: Bulldogs Wage Plucky Battle on Muddy Field The Indianapolis Star W. Blaine Patton November 11, 1928 37, 41 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-illinois-14-butl/177397951/ Newspapers.com November 17 w Chicago Stagg Field Chicago, IL 40–0 48,714 Illini's Long Runs Topple Maroons, 40-0: Mills Runs 71 Yards for Touchdown Chicago Tribune Harvey Woodruff November 18, 1928 1, 2 (part 2) https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-illinis-long-runs-toppl/177397282/ Newspapers.com November 24 w y Ohio State Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL Illibuck 8–0 35,712 Illinois Wins Big Ten Title; Beats Ohio, 8-0; Zuppke's Team Outplays Foes as Rivals Lose Chicago Tribune Irving Vaughan November 25, 1928 1 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-illinois-wins-big-ten-ti/177397602/ Newspapers.com Roster PlayerPositionButch Nowack (Captain)Tackle, KickerRuss CraneGuardOliver M. 'Pete' LanghorstJudson TimmHalfbackFritz HumbertFullbackRinquistDwight StuessyQuarterbackDoug MillsFullback, PunterFrank WalkerFullbackTom NickolFullbackJohn TarwainEndJames LewisForrest 'Frosty' PetersKicker, QuarterbackWalter JolleyEndCarl H. BergesonKeston J. DeimlingGuardRouseKen FieldsQuarterbackLouis GordonGuardL. J. WietzTackleL. S. BurdickTackleNorman McClureGuardChuck HallHalfbackRobert Z. HickmanH. E. RichmanOtto R. HillsOlaf RobinsonHalfbackLou GordonTackle, Guard, End July 2025 Head coach: Robert Zuppke (15th year at Illinois) References Illinois Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons Category:Big Ten Conference football champion seasons Illinois Fighting Illini football