1918 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1918 Illinois Fighting Illini football 1918 Illinois Fighting Illini football team.jpg 285 Big Ten Conference Big Ten 5–2 4–0 Robert Zuppke 6th I formation Burt Ingwersen Illinois Field Big Ten co-champion The 1918 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois during the 1918 Big Ten Conference football season. In their sixth season under head coach Robert Zuppke, the Illini compiled a 5–2 record and tied for the Big Ten Conference championship.1918 Illinois Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football December 16, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1918-schedule.html Center Jack Depler was a consensus first-team All-American.2014 NCAA Football Records: Consensus All-America Selections National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2014 August 16, 2014 4 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2014/Awards.pdf December 22, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141222163944/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2014/Awards.pdf dead Depler was selected as a first-team center by the Frank Menke Syndicate.ESPN College Football Encyclopedia, p. 1153 He was the only Big Ten player to be named a consensus All-American in 1918. Tackle Burt Ingwersen, guard Albert Mohr, and halfback Jesse Kirkpatrick received first-team All-Big Ten honors.Eckersall Picks "All Star" Eleven of the Big Ten Chicago Tribune Walter Eckersall December 8, 1918 2–4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8976074/eckersall_picks_allstar_eleven_of_the/ Newspapers.com ESPN Big Ten Football Encyclopedia ESPN Books 2007 978-1-933060-49-1 191 Ingwersen was also the acting 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 Schedule October 4 w y y Chanute Air Force Base Chanute Field Rantoul, IL 3–0 October 12 l y Great Lakes Navy Illinois Field Champaign, IL 0–7 2,535 October 26 l y Chicago Naval Reserve Illinois Field Champaign, IL 0–7 November 2 w Iowa Iowa Field Iowa City, IA 19–0 November 9 w y Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 22–0 7,000 November 16 w y Ohio State Illinois Field Champaign, IL rivalry 13–0 2,786 November 23 w y Chicago Stagg Field Chicago, IL 29–0 Game summaries On October 5, 1918, Illinois opened its season with a victory over the team from Chanute Aviation Field from Rantoul, Illinois. The Illini won, 3–0, before a crowd of 2,500 in Urbana, Illinois. The game's only points were scored by Illinois guard Leitsch on a field goal from the 38-yard line. The Chanute team was led by Archie Weston, who had played for Michigan in 1917. Eleven planes from the Chanute Field flew over the game.Illini Register Aerial Victory Over Flyers, 3–0 Chicago Tribune October 6, 1918 2–4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8934088/illini_register_aerial_victory_over/ Newspapers.com Illinois had originally been scheduled to play Iowa State on the date, but that game was canceled due to travel restrictions.To Open Season Today: Eight of First Big Ten Play First Games Today The Fort Wayne News and Sentinel October 5, 1918 4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8994464/to_open_season_today_eight_of_first/ Newspapers.com On October 12, 1918, Illinois lost to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station team, 7–0, in Urbana, Illinois. Great Lakes scored a touchdown in the first quarter, and both teams were held scoreless thereafter. Paddy Driscoll returned the kickoff at the start of the second half for 65 yards.Great Lakes Is Victor Over Illinois Team in Hard-Fought Game, 7–0 St. Louis Post-Dispatch October 13, 1918 11 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8935390/great_lakes_is_victor_over_illinois/ Newspapers.com The 1918 Great Lakes Navy Bluejackets football team compiled a 3–0–1 record against Big Ten opponents, went on to win the 1919 Rose Bowl, and featured three players (George Halas, Jimmy Conzelman, and Paddy Driscoll) who were later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Charlie Bachman, who was hired as Northwestern's coach after the season and was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, also played for the 1918 Great Lakes team. On October 26, 1918, Illinois lost, 7–0, against Chicago Naval Reserve a team from the United States Naval Reserve School at Chicago's Municipal Pier. The game was played in Urbana, Illinois. Due to health concerns, "the gates were barred and the spectators limited to coaches, water carriers, officials, and the few others necessary to pull off a contest."One Pass Gives Pier Win Over Illinois, 7 to 0: Zuppke's Men Lack Punch Three Times When on Verge of Score Chicago Tribune October 27, 1918 2–5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8937944/one_pass_gives_pier_win_over_illinois/ Newspapers.com On November 2, 1918, Illinois defeated Iowa, 19–0, at Iowa City. Illinois scored touchdowns in the second, third, and fourth quarters. The Des Moines Register credited Illinois' victory to "perfectly executed forward passes and machinelike teamwork."Illinois Defeats Hawkeyes, 19 to 0 The Des Moines Register November 3, 1918 14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8941222/illinois_defeats_hawkeyes_19_to_0/ Newspapers.com Illinois' Open Play, Puzzling Hawkeyes, Gives 19–0 Victory Chicago Tribune November 3, 1918 2–5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8941307/illinois_open_play_puzzling_hawkeyes/ Newspapers.com On November 9, 1918, Illinois defeated Wisconsin, 22–0, before a crowd of 7,000 at Camp Randall Field in Madison, Wisconsin. According to the Chicago Daily Tribune, the Badgers were "outclassed and outweighed" while the Illini "fought like wildcats" and had the Badgers on the defensive through most of the game.Hard Playing Illini Put Out Badgers In Big Ten Race, 22–0 Chicago Daily Tribune November 10, 1918 2–5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8950194/hard_playing_illini_put_out_badgers_in/ Newspapers.com On November 16, 1918, Illinois defeated Ohio State, 13–0, on a muddy field in Champaign, Illinois. Kirkpatrick and Sabo scored touchdowns for Illinois.Illinois Pounds Line For Victory Over Ohio: Urbana Boys Make Their First Touchdown Within Five Minutes After Opening of Game; Second in Third Quarter The Decatur Herald November 17, 1918 8 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8951928/illinois_pounds_line_for_victory_over/ Newspapers.com On November 23, 1918, Illinois defeated Chicago, 29–0, at Stagg Field in Chicago.Illini Crush Maroon Team and Claim Title of Big Ten Chicago Tribune November 24, 1918 5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8930082/illinois_crush_maroon_team_and_claim/ Newspapers.com Roster PlayerPositionBurt Ingwersen (captain)TackleWilliam KoppFullbackJohn C. DeplerCenterRobert FletcherQuarterbackRalph FletcherHalfback, kickerChuck CarneyEnd, punterLawrence WalquistHalfback, quarterbackAlbert MohrGuardMilton OlanderGuard, tackleGeorge BuchheitEndRalph LanumFullbackNeil LeitchGuardC. Ernest LovejoyEndFred HanschmannGuardJohn Sabo Jr.HalfbackJesse KirkpatrickHalfback Head coach: Robert Zuppke (6th year at Illinois) Awards and honors Jack Depler, center First-team selection by the Frank Menke Syndicate for the 1918 College Football All-America Team Second-team selection by Walter Camp for the 1918 All-America teamCamp's All American: Football Dean Names Three Teams from Last Season's Records The New York Times 1918-12-31 https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1918/12/31/97058136.pdf PDF References Illinois Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons Category:Big Ten Conference football champion seasons Illinois Fighting Illini football