Illinois Fighting Illini

Illinois Fighting Illini
University	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Conference(s)	Big Ten
NCAA	Division I
Athletics director	Mike Thomas
Location	Champaign-Urbana, IL
Varsity teams	21 (10 men's, 11 women's)
Football stadium	Memorial Stadium
Basketball arena	State Farm Center
Baseball stadium	Illinois Field
Nickname	Fighting Illini
Fight song	Illinois Loyalty, Oskee Wow Wow
Colors	Orange and Navy Blue
Homepage	fightingillini.com

The Fighting Illini (also known as The Illini) are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The University offers 10 men's and 11 women's varsity sports.

The University operates a number of athletic facilities, including Memorial Stadium for football, the State Farm Center for both men's and women's basketball, and the Atkins Tennis Center for men's and women's tennis. The Fighting Illini lay claim to over twenty-five National Championships dating back to 1900. However, the Illini have won just three National Championships since 1958 — Men's Tennis in 2003 and Men's Gymnastics in 1989 and 2012. The men's basketball team finished as National runner-up in 2005, falling just short in the championship game.

Organization

The University's Division of Intercollegiate Athletics administers the official athletics teams of the University. All of the University's athletics teams participate in the NCAA's Division I, and form the Big Ten Conference with 11 other primarily midwestern universities. The football team participates in a subdivision within the Division I known as the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

Men's Varsity Sports

Baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, gymnastics, tennis, track and field, and wrestling.

Women's Varsity Sports

Basketball, cheerleading, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, and track and field.

Club Sports

Men's ice hockey, women's ice hockey, men's rowing, women's rowing, men's rugby, women's rugby, tennis, men's volleyball, men's soccer, women's soccer, men's ultimate frisbee, and women's ultimate frisbee.

Varsity sports

Baseball

• NCAA Tournament Appearance: 1947-1948, 1962-1963, 1989-1990, 1998, 2000, and 2011
• Big Ten Champions: 1900, 1903-1904, 1906-1908, 1910-1911, 1914-1916, 1921-1922, 1927, 1931, 1934, 1937, 1940, 1947-1948, 1952-1953, 1962-1963, 1989-1990, 1998, 2005, and 2011
• Big Ten Tournament Champions: 1989-1990, 2000, and 2011

Basketball: Men

Main article: Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball

• National Champions: 1915 (awarded by the Helms Athletic Foundation in 1935)
• NCAA Final Four: 1949, 1951-1952, 1989, and 2005
• Big Ten Champions: 1915, 1917, 1924, 1935, 1937, 1942-1943, 1949, 1951-1952, 1963, 1984, 1998, 2001-2002, and 2004-2005
• Big Ten Tournament Champions: 2003 and 2005

Basketball: Women

Main article: Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball

• NCAA Sweet Sixteen: 1997-1998
• Big Ten Champions: 1997

Cross Country: Men

• Big Ten Champions: 1921, 1947, and 1984

Fencing: Men

• National Champions: 1956 and 1958

(Fencing was dropped as a varsity sport in 1993)

Football

Main article: Illinois Fighting Illini football

• National Champions: 1914, 1919, 1923, 1927, and 1951
• Big Ten Champions: 1910, 1914-1915, 1918-1919, 1923, 1927-1928, 1946, 1951, 1953, 1963, 1983, 1990, and 2001
• Bowl Game Victories: 1947 Rose Bowl, 1952 Rose Bowl, 1964 Rose Bowl, 1990 Florida Citrus Bowl, 1994 Liberty Bowl, 1999 MicronPC.com Bowl, 2010 Texas Bowl, 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

Golf: Men

• Big Ten Champions: 1923, 1927, 1930-1931, 1940-1941, 1988, and 2009-2011

Gymnastics: Men

• NCAA National Champions: 1939-1942, 1950, 1955-1956, 1958, 1989, and 2012
• Big Ten Champions: 1911-1912, 1929, 1935, 1939, 1941-1942, 1950-1960, 1981, 1983, 1988-1989, 2004, and 2009-2012

Gymnastics: Women

• Big Ten Champions: 1990

Soccer: Women

• NCAA Elite Eight: 2004
• NCAA Sweet Sixteen: 2004, 2006 and 2008
• NCAA Tournament Appearances: 2000-2001, 2003-2008, and 2010-2011
• Big Ten Tournament Champions: 2003 and 2011

Softball

• NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2003-2004 and 2009-2010

Swimming and Diving: Men

• Big Ten Champions: 1911-1913

(Men's swimming and diving was dropped as a varsity sport in 1993) It is also no longer an Illinois Sport but the woman's still is.

Tennis: Men

Main article: Illinois Fighting Illini men's tennis

• NCAA National Champions: 2003
• NCAA National Runner-up: 2007
• Big Ten Champions: 1914, 1917, 1922, 1924, 1926-1928, 1932, 1946, and 1997-2005
• Big Ten Tournament Champions: 1999-2000, 2002-2005, and 2012

Tennis: Women

• NCAA Tournament Appearances: 1996-1997, 1999-2001, 2003-2004, 2008, and 2010

Track and Field: Men

INDOOR

• NCAA National Champions: 1921, 1926, 1943, and 1945-1946
• Big Ten Champions: 1912, 1913, 1914, 1916, 1920, 1921, 1924, 1928, 1946, 1947, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1958, 1977, 1981, 1987, 1988, and 1989

OUTDOOR

• NCAA National Champions': 1921, 1927, 1944, 1946, 1947
• Big Ten Champions: 1907, 1909, 1913, 1914, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1934, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1975, 1977, 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1994

Track and Field: Women

INDOOR

• Big Ten Champions: 1989, 1992-1993, 1995, and 1996

OUTDOOR

• Big Ten Champions: 1988, 1989, 1992, 1995, 2005, and 2007

Volleyball: Women's

• NCAA Runner Up: 2011
• NCAA Final Four: 1987, 1988, and 2011
• NCAA Elite Eight: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, and 2011
• NCAA Sweet Sixteen: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1995, 1998, 2003, and 2008-2011
• NCAA Tournament Appearances: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011
• Big Ten Champions: 1986, 1987, 1988, and 1992

Wrestling

• Big Ten Champions: 1913, 1917, 1920-1922, 1924-1928, 1930, 1932, 1935, 1937, 1946-1947, 1952, and 2005

Club Sports

Ice hockey: Men's

Main article: Illinois Fighting Illini men's ice hockey

Ice hockey: Women's

See also: University of Illinois Ice Arena

Rowing: Men's and Women's

See also: Illini Rowing

Rugby: Men's

Founded in 1963, the University of Illinois Men's Rugby Football Club plays in Division 1-A in the Big Ten Universities conference. The Illini have experienced success in college rugby, including winning several Big 10 championships in the 1980s and reaching the national semifinals in 1980, 1983 and 1985. The Illini play their home matches in Urbana at the Complex Fields.

Athletic Directors

• Edward K. Hall - (1892-1894)
• Fred D. Dodge - (1894-1895)
• Henry H. Everett - (1895-1898)
• Jacob K. Shell - (1898-1901)
• George Huff - (1901-1936)
• Wendell S. Wilson - (1936-1941)
• Douglas R. Mills - (1941-1966)
• Leslie Bryan (interim) - (1966-1967)
• Ellis E. "Gene" Vance (interim) - (1967-1972)
• Charles Flynn (interim) - (1972)
• Cecil N. Coleman - (1972-1979)
• Ray Eliot (interim) - (1979)
• Neale R. Stoner - (1980-1988)
• Ronald E. Guenther - (interim) - (1988)
• Dr. Karol A. Kahrs - (interim) - (1988)
• John Mackovic - (1988-1991)
• Robert Todd (interim) - (1991-1992)
• Ronald E. Guenther - (1992-2011)
• Mike Thomas - (2011- )

Notable sports alumnae

Athletes

• Ron Acks - football, played professionally for the Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Boston Patriots and Green Bay Packers.
• Nick Anderson – basketball (1987–1989), played professionally for the NBA's Orlando Magic and Sacramento Kings
• James Augustine – basketball (2002–2006), played two seasons for the NBA's Orlando Magic, all-time leader in rebounds at Illinois
• Kenny Battle – basketball, played in 4 NBA seasons for the Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors
• Arrelious Benn – football, wide receiver for the National Football League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2010–present), holds freshman receiving record at Illinois.
• Lou Boudreau – baseball, played professionally for and managed the Cleveland Indians, and an enshrined member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
• Dee Brown – basketball (2002–2006), played two seasons for the Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards, 2005 Consensus All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year
• Aspen Burkett – track & field (1994–1998), Freshmen Athlete of the year 1995, multiple All-American Indoor and Outdoor Big Ten Champion, World Team 1995, Olympic Trials 1996
• Dick Butkus – football (1962–1964), played linebacker for the NFL's Chicago Bears, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Avery Brundage - basketball, Track and field (1905-1908), Fifth President of the International Olympic Committee, serving from 1952 to 1972, the only American to attain that position. Competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics in the pentathlon and decathlon
• Chuck Carney - basketball, football (1918-1921), First Big Ten athlete to be named a football and basketball All-American, Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year (1922), twice named a Helms Foundation All-American for baskteball (1920 & 1922)
• Jerry Colangelo - basketball (1958-1962), Former owner of the NBA's Phoenix Suns, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, the CISL's Arizona Sandsharks, the Arena Football League's Arizona Rattlers and MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks
• Brian Cook – basketball (1999–2003), Third all time scorer for the Illini, currently plays professionally for the Los Angeles Clippers
• Vontae Davis - football, cornerback for the National Football League's Miami Dolphins (2009–present) freshman all-American, 2x Jim Thorpe semifinalist (2007,2008)
• Ken Dilger – football (1991–1994), played professionally for the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers; starting Tight End in Super Bowl XXXVII
• Charles Carroll "Tony" Eason – football, (1979–1983) played professionally for the New England Patriots; led team to Super Bowl XX
• Dike Eddleman – football, basketball, and track and field (1947–49), also tied for 2nd at the 1948 Summer Olympics in the high jump
• Perdita Felicien - track and field, first female in Illinois history to win a gold medal in an individual event at the World Championships
• Darrin Fletcher - baseball, former catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays
• Jeff George – football, first overall pick of 1990 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts, also played for a variety of teams including the Atlanta Falcons, Oakland Raiders, and the Washington Redskins
• Kendall Gill – basketball (1986–1990), 1990 consensus All-American and Big 10 Player of the Year, played professionally for 15 seasons in the NBA
• Red Grange – football (1923–1925), played professionally for the NFL's Chicago Bears, and an enshrined member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• George Halas – football, professional player, coach, and owner of the NFL's Chicago Bears, and an enshrined member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Lowell Hamilton - basketball (1985–1989), played Professional Basketball in Greece.
• Kevin Hardy – football, played professionally for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, and Cincinnati Bengals
• Derek Harper – basketball (1980–1983), played professionally for 16 seasons in the NBA, ranked 11th all-time in steals and 17th in assists
• Luther Head – basketball (2001–2005), guard for the Sacramento Kings
• Brad Hopkins – football, first round pick in the 1993 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans and future all-pro.
• Eddie Johnson – basketball, played professionally for 17 seasons in the NBA, and the league's 35th all-time leading scorer
• Johnny "Red" Kerr – basketball, member of the 1952 Final Four team, played professionally for 11 seasons in the NBA, first head coach for both the Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns, and a former broadcaster for the Chicago Bulls.
• George Kerr - track & field (1958-1960), all-time Big Ten Olympian list, champion sprinter and 400/800 meter runner from Jamaica, 1960 Rome, Italy Summer Olympic bronze medal 800 meter winner
• Don Laz - track & field, record setting American pole vaulter and silver medalist in Pole Vault in the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland
• Herbert "Herb" Henry McKenley - track & field (1946–48), NCAA and Olympic champion sprinter and 400 meter runner from Jamaica.
• Rashard Mendenhall – football, running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• Doug Mills - basketball (1926-1930), University of Illinois Athletic Director (1941-1966), Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball Head Coach (1936-1947)
• Ray Nitschke – football, played professionally for the NFL's Green Bay Packers, and an enshrined member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Ken Norman – basketball (1984–1987), played professionally for 10 seasons in the NBA
• Don Ohl - basketball (1954-1958), played 10 seasons (1960-1970) in the NBA for three teams (Detroit Pistons, Baltimore Bullets, St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks ), 5xNBA All-Star
• Johnny Orr - basketball (1944-45), Named the National Coach of the Year for the 1976 season and Big Ten Coach of the Year in college basketball while coaching at Michigan
• Harold Osborn – track & field (1918–1922), won two gold medals in the 1924 Summer Olympics, charter member of U.S. Track & Field Hall of Fame
• Preston Pearson - basketball (1963-1967), Played 13 seasons in the NFL for the Colts, Steelers and Cowboys despite not playing college football
• Andy Phillip - basketball (1941–1943, 1946–1947), Member of the "Whiz Kids", played 11 seasons of professional basketball for the Chicago Stags, Philadelphia Warriors, Ft. Wayne Pistons and Boston Celtics (1947-1958), Head Coach of the St. Louis Hawks (1958-1959), 5xNBA All-Star, 2xConsensus All-American
• D. A. Points – golf, PGA Golfer (1999–present)
• Roger Powell, Jr. – basketball (2001–2005), played briefly for the Utah Jazz
• Marlon Primous – football, played briefly for the Chicago Bears
• Bogie Redmon – basketball, 1962–65
• Simeon Rice – football, played professionally for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Bob Richards – track & field, pole vaulter and decathlete, Olympic pole vault champion, 1952 and 1956
• Dave Scholz - basketball, former NBA player, All-American basketball player
• Scott Spiezio – baseball, has played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Oakland Athletics, Anaheim Angels, and Seattle Mariners
• Justin Spring – gymnastics (2002–2006), member of the bronze medal-winning men's gymnastics team at the 2008 Summer Olympics
• Cindy Stein – basketball, head women's basketball coach at the University of Missouri since 1998
• Steve Stricker – golf (1986–1990), PGA Golfer (1990–present)
• Marques Sullivan - football, Playboy All-American Tackle that played 4 season with NFL's Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, and New England Patriots
• Craig Virgin – track & field, long-distance runner, 1975 NCAA cross country champion, 1980 and 1981 world cross-country champion.
• Deron Williams – basketball (2002–2005), point guard for the Brooklyn Nets, third overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft.
• Frank Williams – basketball, has been part of the NBA's New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Chicago Bulls, and Los Angeles Clippers
• Isiah John "Juice" Williams - football (2006–2009), NFL Free Agent
• Ray Woods - basketball (1913-1917), Names Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year (1917), 3xHelms Foundation All-American (1915-1917), 3xFirst Team All-Big Ten

Other

• Lynn D. Stewart, Co-founder of the Hooters Restaurant chain

Men's Basketball

1988–1989 season

• Overall record: (31–5)
• Head coach: Lou Henson

Notable Players:

• Stephen Bardo
• Kenny Battle
• Kendall Gill
• Nick Anderson
• Lowell Hamilton
• Marcus Liberty
• PJ Bowman
• Larry Smith
• Earvin Small

Story: Ranked #1 during the regular season. Known for their athletic style. Defeated in the Final Four of the 1989 NCAA Tournament by the Michigan Wolverines even though they had defeated them twice during the regular season. Michigan went on to win the National Championship.

2004–2005 season

• Overall record (tournaments included): 37–2
• Regular season: 29–1
• Big Ten Conference play: 15–1
• Head coach: Bruce Weber

Starters:

• G – Deron Williams
• G – Dee Brown
• G – Luther Head
• F – Roger Powell, Jr
• F – James Augustine

Story: The first Illinois men's basketball team to be ranked number one in the polls since Lou Henson's "Flyin' Illini" of 1989. Illinois won the Big Ten Tournament and were the overall number one seed in the 2005 NCAA Tournament, eventually losing to the University of North Carolina, the number two overall seed, in the finals, 75–70. This Illinois team tied the NCAA record at that time for most wins in a season with 37 and was undefeated until losing the final game of the regular season at Ohio State by the score of 64–65, on a three pointer by Matt Sylvester in the final seconds of the game.

Controversy

Main article: Chief Illiniwek

The Chief Illiniwek symbol

A symbol of the University's athletic teams was, from 1926–2007, a Native American figure, Chief Illiniwek, who sparked significant controversy beginning in the 1980s. Critics of the Chief claimed that it was a racist stereotype and a symbol of the oppression to Native Americans that took place in past American history. Supporters claimed that it was inoffensive and a source of pride and reverence to the Native American heritage of Illinois Past Sioux elder, Frank Fools Crow, who made and sold an authentic ceremonial costume and headdress to the university; recently, the Oglala Sioux tribe demanded the costume and headdress back from the university, though this move was opposed by one of Fools Crow's descendants.

The University was (and is) deeply divided on this issue; while some of the faculty condemned the symbol, the administration remained supportive of it. The University Board of Trustees announced on February 16, 2007, that the Chief's last public performance would be the final home game of the 2006–2007 Men's Basketball season. The name "Fighting Illini" was retained, as the NCAA rescinded its criticism of the use of the term. The name "Fighting Illini" pre-dates the Chief Illiniwek symbol and was bestowed upon the team in honor of Illinoisans who fought in World War I; the use of the name "Illini" dates to the 19th century.

See also

• Marching Illini

External links

• U of I official athletics website