Last year saw the Illinois Fighting Illini football team have their best season since the 10-2 Big Ten title, Champaign campaign of 2001. And a big part of that was due to the defensive front seven. While yes, it was an overall team effort, across the board, the defensive line and linebackers position group was critical. With the Illini returning a very high percentage of their … [Read more...] about Illini Football: Front Seven, Led by Gabe Jacas, Key to 2025 Success
illinois football news
Illinois Football Enters Season with Highest Expectations in a Generation
The annual spring and summer sports lull is about to end! Yes, the "we have no revenue college sports going on at the moment" dead zone of the calendar concludes...now. The Illinois football team began their training camp on Friday at Memorial Stadium, with Illinois football coach Bret Bielema holding a press conference on Thursday to preview fall practice. And the current … [Read more...] about Illinois Football Enters Season with Highest Expectations in a Generation
Illini Football News and Notes: Josh McCray, Recruiting Rankings
It has been a very eventful off-season for the Illini football program. In 2025, they'll return 18/22 starters from a team that went 10-3, won the Citrus Bowl and finished #16 (one spot ahead of Alabama) in the final AP poll. Obviously, the outlook for this team is very positive, as it should be, as spring football nears its conclusion. Lots of Illini football news and notes … [Read more...] about Illini Football News and Notes: Josh McCray, Recruiting Rankings
Former Illini Star Trulon Henry Charged with Child Sex Crimes
This has got to be one of the more disturbing stories of the college football offseason. Former University of Illinois linebacker Trulon Henry, who was injured in a off-campus shooting his senior year of college, has been charged with child sex crimes. According to WGN-TV, Henry, 39, was officially charged with three counts of criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal … [Read more...] about Former Illini Star Trulon Henry Charged with Child Sex Crimes
Illini Football Media Day highlights
New Illinois football head coach Tim Beckman takes over for the fired Ron Zook. The rookie head coach (on a Big Ten level) from Toledo addressed the media yesterday (Here is the link to the 25 minute video) after a week at Camp Rantoul; the Illini train on the former Chanute air force base. Here are some of the highlights of what he had to say … [Read more...] about Illini Football Media Day highlights
Illini get much needed boost to the return game in NIU transfer
Illini Coach Tim Beckman landed a pretty important although bound to be somewhat overlooked recruit today. It's the ultimate needs-based pick up. Yuo can easily say without hyperbole that Illinois had the worst special teams in all of college football last year. Aside from the placekicking, it was all around atrocious and cost them a win at Penn State, and probably another two … [Read more...] about Illini get much needed boost to the return game in NIU transfer
Illinois Alumni Association takes shot at Northwestern marketing slogan
I received a mass email today from the Illinois Alumni Association. The subject heading: ILLINOIS: Chicago's Big Ten University The message content: Illinois alumni don't need an expensive roadside billboard to let people know we're the best public Big Ten university in Chicago! Instead, make your case in your office space by displaying your loyalty for everyone to … [Read more...] about Illinois Alumni Association takes shot at Northwestern marketing slogan
Can Tim Beckman keep Illini Defensive Dominance going?
The Illini started to get defensive, real defensive in the 2010 Texas Bowl. In that 38-14 trouncing of Robert Griffin III and Baylor, they held RG3 and the Bears in check. The man who would win the Heisman trophy and become the #2 overall pick in the NFL Draft the very next season was out of rhythm, out of sync versus the Illini in Houston. And that D carried over into 2011, … [Read more...] about Can Tim Beckman keep Illini Defensive Dominance going?
New 2012 Illini Football slogan unveiled
Illinois football coach Tim Beckman revealed the 2012 Illinois “Loyal-Tee” shirt design Tuesday in front of Foellinger Auditorium in Champaign. The winning design, featured on the front of the shirt, was voted on by thousands of Illini fans out of four designs based on the winning fan-submitted slogan, “A New Era BECKons.” Get it? Cuz of Tim Beckman, beckons..."STEAKS … [Read more...] about New 2012 Illini Football slogan unveiled
Illini Coach Tim Beckman: motivation through food
STEAKS AND CAKES!!! There's food on the line yet again surrounding Illini football. Earlier this week it was announced that this Illinois football spring game would have a couple culinary twists. Newly installed coach Tim Beckman decided that the losing team would have to eat frank and beans as their postgame meal. Not sure what the winners got, but I'm assuming it's … [Read more...] about Illini Coach Tim Beckman: motivation through food