1995 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

1995 Illinois Fighting Illini football
1995 Illinois Fighting Illini football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	5–5–1 (3–4–1 Big Ten)
Head coach	Lou Tepper (4th season);
Offensive coordinator	Paul Schudel (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Denny Marcin (4th as DC, 8th overall season)
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
	Seasons ← 1994 1996 →

1995 Big Ten Conference football standings
v t e	Conf					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
No. 8 Northwestern $	8	–	0	–	0	10	–	2	–	0
No. 6 Ohio State	7	–	1	–	0	11	–	2	–	0
No. 13 Penn State	5	–	3	–	0	9	–	3	–	0
No. 17 Michigan	5	–	3	–	0	9	–	4	–	0
Michigan State	4	–	3	–	1	6	–	5	–	1
No. 25 Iowa	4	–	4	–	0	8	–	4	–	0
Illinois	3	–	4	–	1	5	–	5	–	1
Wisconsin	3	–	4	–	1	4	–	5	–	2
Purdue	2	–	5	–	1	4	–	6	–	1
Minnesota	1	–	7	–	0	3	–	8	–	0
Indiana	0	–	8	–	0	2	–	9	–	0

$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1995 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in the 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season. Illinois finished the season 5–5–1 (3–4–1 in Big Ten play) in Lou Tepper's fourth season as head coach.

The Illini's 3–3 tie with Wisconsin on November 25 is the last tie in FBS history as the NCAA implanted an overtime system following the season that eliminated the possibility of a tie.^[1]

Schedule[edit]

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 2	2:30 pm	No. 13 Michigan	No. 25	Memorial Stadium Champaign, Illinois (rivalry)	ABC	L 14–38	70,193
September 9	9:00 pm	at No. 24 Oregon*		Autzen Stadium Eugene, Oregon	SCC	L 31–34	44,201
September 16	11:30 am	No. 17 Arizona*		Memorial Stadium Champaign, Illinois	ESPN	W 9–7	57,134
September 23	1:00 pm	East Carolina*		Memorial Stadium Champaign, Illinois		W 7–0	60,545
October 7	12:00 pm	at Indiana		Memorial Stadium Bloomington, Indiana	ESPN2	W 17–10	38,098
October 14	11:00 am	Michigan State		Memorial Stadium Champaign, Illinois	Creative	L 21–27	65,653
October 28	11:00 am	No. 8 Northwestern		Memorial Stadium Champaign, Illinois (Sweet Sioux Tomahawk)	Creative	L 14–17	65,425
November 4	11:30 am	at Iowa		Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, Iowa	ESPN	W 26–7	70,397
November 11	2:30 pm	at No. 2 Ohio State		Ohio Stadium Columbus, Ohio (Illibuck)	ABC	L 3–41	92,639
November 18	1:00 pm	Minnesota		Memorial Stadium Champaign, Illinois		W 48–14	45,521
November 25	2:30 pm	at Wisconsin		Camp Randall Stadium Madison, Wisconsin	Creative	T 3–3	76,750
*Non-conference game Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Personnel[edit]

1995 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
TE	`86`	Matt Cushing	So
RB	`7`	Ty Douthard	Jr
WR	`83`	Jason Dulick	Jr
WR		Steve Harvard
RB	`35`	Robert Holcombe	So
QB		Johnny Johnson

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
LB	`51`	Kevin Hardy	Sr
DE	`97`	Simeon Rice	Sr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
K		Bret Scheuplein

Head coach

Lou Tepper

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Roster

Season summary[edit]

Michigan[edit]

Michigan Wolverines at Illinois Fighting Illini

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan	7	3	21	7	38
Illinois	0	0	0	14	14

at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

Date: September 2, 1995
Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 70,193
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

MICH - C Howard 13 pass from Dreisbach (Hamilton kick)

Second quarter

MICH - FG Hamilton 49

Third quarter

MICH - Biakabutuka 5 run (Hamilton kick)
MICH - Biakabutuka 11 run (Hamilton kick)
MICH - Biakabutuka 35 run (Hamilton kick)

Fourth quarter

MICH - A Williams 28 blocked punt return (Hamilton kick)
ILL - Smith 5 run (B Scheuplein kick)
ILL - L Willis 5 pass from Weaver (B Scheuplein kick)

At Oregon[edit]

Illinois Fighting Illini at Oregon Ducks

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Illinois	7	12	12	0	31
Oregon	7	0	13	14	34

at Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon

Date: September 9, 1995
Game time: 9:00 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 44,201
TV: ESPN
Box score and Game recap

Game information

First quarter

ORE - Whittle 24 run (J Smith kick)
ILL - Dulick 41 pass from J Johnson (B Scheuplein kick)

Second quarter

ILL - FG B Scheuplein 42
ILL - Douthard 3 run (kick failed)
ILL - FG B Scheuplein 27

Third quarter

ORE - Whittle 12 run (J Smith kick)
ILL - Douthard 1 run (two-point conversion failed)
ORE - Byrd 1 run (kick failed)
ILL - Holcombe 11 run (two-point conversion failed)

Fourth quarter

ORE - Whittle 3 run (Ricketts reception for two-point conversion)
ORE - Figueras recovered fumble in end zone (kick failed)

Arizona[edit]

Arizona Wildcats at Illinois Fighting Illini

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Arizona	0	0	0	7	7
Illinois	0	0	0	9	9

at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

Date: September 16, 1995
Game time: 11:30 a.m. CST
Game attendance: 57,134
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

No scoring

Second quarter

No scoring

Third quarter

No scoring

Fourth quarter

ILL - B. Scheuplein 47-yard field goal
ARIZ - R. Williams 17-yard pass from White (Prasuhn kick)
ILL - James 53-yard fumble return (kick failed)

East Carolina[edit]

East Carolina Pirates at Illinois Fighting Illini

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
East Carolina	0	0	0	0	0
Illinois	0	7	0	0	7

at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

Date: September 16, 1995
Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 60,545
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

No scoring

Second quarter

ILL - Robert Holcombe 1-yard run (B. Scheuplein kick)

Third quarter

No scoring

Fourth quarter

No scoring

At Indiana[edit]

Illinois Fighting Illini at Indiana Hoosiers

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Illinois	3	7	7	0	17
Indiana	3	7	0	0	10

at Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana

Date: October 28, 1995
Game time: 11:30 a.m. CST
Game attendance: 38,098
TV: ESPN
Box score and Game recap

Game information

First quarter

IND - FG Manolopoulos 45
ILL - FG B Scheuplein 46

Second quarter

ILL - McDonald 25 pass from Weaver (B Scheuplein kick)
IND - Stoner 65 pass from Dittoe (Manolopoulos kick)

Third quarter

ILL - Douthard 14 pass from Weaver (Mcdonald kick)

Fourth quarter

no scoring

Top Rushers

ILL - Havard - 17 rushes, 50 yards
IND - Batts - 20 rushes, 56 yards

Top Passers

ILL - Weaver - 16/28, 213 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs
IND - Dittoe 10/22, 148 yards, 1 TD

Top Receivers

ILL - Douthard 5 receptions, 52 yards
IND - Stoner 5 receptions, 123 yards

Michigan State[edit]

Michigan State Spartans at Illinois Fighting Illini

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan State	7	6	6	8	27
Illinois	7	0	7	7	21

at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

Date: October 14, 1995
Game time: 11:00 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 65,653
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

MSU - S. Greene 16-yard run (Gardner kick)
ILL - Douthard 1-yard run (Scheuplein kick)

Second quarter

MSU - S. Greene 3-yard run (kick failed)

Third quarter

ILL - Holcombe - 25-yard run (Scheuplein kick)
MSU - S. Greene 3-yard run (Gardner kick)

Fourth quarter

MSU - S. Greene 1-yard run (S. Greene run)
ILL - Dulick 14-yard pass from J. Johnson (Scheuplein kick)

Northwestern[edit]

#8 Northwestern Wildcats at Illinois Fighting Illini

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Northwestern	0	10	0	7	17
Illinois	7	7	0	0	14

at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

Date: October 28, 1995
Game time: 11:00 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 65,425
TV: SCC
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

ILL - Weaver 1-yard run (Scheuplein kick)

Second quarter

ILL - Robert Holcombe 7-yard run (Scheuplein kick)
NU - Brian Gowins 49-yard field goal
NU - D'Wayne Bates 43-yard pass from Steve Schnur (Gowins kick)

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

NU - Darnell Autry 1-yard run (Gowins kick)

At Iowa[edit]

Illinois Fighting Illini at Iowa Hawkeyes

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Illinois	3	7	6	10	26
Iowa	0	7	0	0	7

at Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa

Date: October 28, 1995
Game time: 11:30 a.m. CST
Game attendance: 70,397
TV: ESPN
Box score and Game recap

Game information

First quarter

ILL - Scheuplein 24-yard field goal ILL 3–0

Second quarter

IOWA - Tim Dwight 12-yard pass from Matt Sherman (Bromert kick) IOWA 7–3
ILL - Cushing 5-yard pass from Johnson (Scheuplein kick) ILL 10–7

Third quarter

ILL - Havard 35-yard run (run failed) ILL 16–7'

Fourth quarter

ILL - Scheuplein 19-yard field goal ILL 19–7
ILL - Douthard 3-yard run (Scheuplein kick) ILL 26–7

At Ohio State[edit]

Illinois Fighting Illini at Ohio State Buckeyes

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Illinois	0	0	3	0	3
Ohio State	14	3	21	3	41

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Date: November 11
Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
Game weather: Overcast, 37 °F (3 °C)
Game attendance: 92,639
Referee: Steve Pamon
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

OSU – Pepe Pearson 4-yard run (Josh Jackson kick), 8:27. Ohio St 7–0. Drive: 6 plays, 99 yards, 2:25.
OSU – Dimitrious Stanley 14-yard pass from Bobby Hoying (Josh Jackson kick), 1:35. Ohio St 14–0. Drive: 9 plays, 61 yards, 4:51.

Second quarter

OSU – Josh Jackson 20-yard field goal, 10:09. Ohio St 17–0. Drive: 10 plays, 57 yards, 5:20.

Third quarter

ILL – Bret Scheuplein 42-yard field goal, 10:44. Ohio St 17–3. Drive: 10 plays, 58 yards, 4:10.
OSU – Eddie George 64-yard run (Josh Jackson kick), 10:24. Ohio St 24–3. Drive: 1 play, 64 yards, 0:13.
OSU – Eddie George 13-yard run (Josh Jackson kick), 3:07. Ohio St 31–3. Drive: 7 plays, 38 yards, 3:11.
OSU – Eddie George 13-yard pass from Bobby Hoying (Josh Jackson kick), 0:58. Ohio St 38–3. Drive: 2 plays, 10 yards, 0:41.

Fourth quarter

OSU – Josh Jackson 26-yard field goal, 8:31. Ohio St 41–3. Drive: 12 plays, 43 yards, 6:20.

Top passers

ILL – Johnny Johnson – 11/18, 101 yards, INT
OSU – Bobby Hoying – 8/13, 109 yards, 2 TD, INT

Top rushers

ILL – Robert Holcombe – 14 rushes, 28 yards
OSU – Eddie George – 36 rushes, 314 yards, 2 TD

Top receivers

ILL – Steve Harvard – 3 receptions, 27 yards
OSU – Rickey Dudley – 2 receptions, 53 yards

Minnesota[edit]

Minnesota Golden Gophers at Illinois Fighting Illini

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Minnesota	0	7	7	0	14
Illinois	10	14	7	21	52

at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

Date: November 18, 1995
Game time: 1:00 pm CST
Game attendance: 45,521
Box score

Game information

Sources: Box score and Game recap

First quarter

ILL - 9:46-Cushing 40 pass from J. Johnson (Scheuplein kick)
ILL - 7:00-Scheuplein 44 FG

Second quarter

ILL - 14:23-M. Johnson 2 run (Scheuplein kick)
MIN - 3:06-Atwell 40 pass from Sauter (Chalberg kick)
ILL - 0:56-J. Johnson 6 run (Scheuplein kick)

Third quarter

ILL - 6:00-Scheuplein 29 FG
MIN - 1:10-Cooper 2 pass from Sauter (Chalberg kick)

Fourth quarter

ILL - 13:37-Dulick 6 pass from J. Johnson (Scheuplein kick)
ILL - 9:55-Rice 27 fumble return (Scheuplein kick)
ILL - 7:18-Holcombe 29 run (Scheuplein kick)

Top Rushers

MIN - Rafael Cooper - 29 rushes, 94 yards
MIN - Javon Jackson - 5 rushes, 34 yards
ILL - Robert Holcombe - 24 rushes, 206 yards, 1 TD
ILL - Ty Douthard - 8 rushes, 48 yards

Top Passers

MIN - Cory Sauter - 34/21, 242 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
ILL - Johnny Johnson - 22/11, 174 yards, 2 TDs

Receiving

MIN - Johnny Woodson - 6 receptions, 74 yards
MIN - Tutu Atwell - 4 receptions, 62 yards, 1 TD
ILL - Jason Dulick - 4 receptions, 61 yards, 1 TD
ILL - Matt Cushing - 2 receptions, 51 yards, 1 TD

At Wisconsin[edit]

Illinois Fighting Illini at Wisconsin Badgers

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Illinois	0	0	0	3	3
Wisconsin	0	0	3	0	3

at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin

Date: November 25, 1995
Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 76,750
Box Score

Game information

Third quarter

WIS - John Hall 29-yard field goal

Fourth quarter

ILL - Scheuplein 51-yard field goal

1996 NFL Draft[edit]

Two of the top three overall picks in the 1996 NFL Draft were from Illinois.

Player	Round	Pick	Position	Club
Kevin Hardy	1	2	Linebacker	Jacksonville Jaguars
Simeon Rice	1	3	Defensive end	Arizona Cardinals
Ken Blackman	3	69	Guard	Cincinnati Bengals

^[2]

Awards and honors[edit]

Kevin Hardy, Butkus Award^[3]

References[edit]

^ "Sometimes history isn't always pretty as the CFB's last tie shows". ESPN.com. November 10, 2016.
^ "1996 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.
^ "Past Winners".

[1] "Sometimes history isn't always pretty as the CFB's last tie shows". ESPN.com. November 10, 2016.

[2] "1996 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.

[3] "Past Winners".

[1]

[2]

[3]

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