Good morning college football and Illinois Fighting Illini fans. Just four more days until the Reliaquest Bowl kicks off in Tampa! This will be Illinois' 20th bowl appearance, and they are 8-11 in their previous 19 postseason games. We'll run all this down for you, in two parts, starting with the minor bowls, which we defined as non-traditionally on New Year's Day and/or … [Read more...] about Illinois Fighting Illini: Bowl Game History Part 2/2: Major Bowls
Texas Bowl
Illinois Fighting Illini: Bowl Game History Part 1/2: Minor Bowls
Good morning college football and Illinois Fighting Illini fans. Just four more days until the Reliaquest Bowl kicks off in Tampa! This will be Illinois' 20th bowl appearance, and they are 8-11 in their previous 19 postseason games. We'll run all this down for you, in two parts, starting here with the minor bowls, which we defined as non-traditionally on New Year's Day … [Read more...] about Illinois Fighting Illini: Bowl Game History Part 1/2: Minor Bowls
Illinois Removing 2,200 Bleacher Seats from Memorial Stadium
The University of Illinois announced today that they will permanently remove close to 2,200 seats from Memorial Stadium because they've outlived their usage. Illini SID Kent Brown said removal of the bleacher seats will drop stadium capacity from 62,870 to about 60,600. These bleacher seats in the south end zone were intended to be temporary when they were installed 29 … [Read more...] about Illinois Removing 2,200 Bleacher Seats from Memorial Stadium
Mikel Leshoure to Rashard Mendenhall Comparisons Running Wild Now
Given that they are/were both Illinois Fighting Illini, wore the same jersey number, played the same position, and didn't break out until their junior year (and when they broke out, they really did it in style) it's inevitable to compare current Illini tailback Mikel Leshoure to current Pittsbrugh Steelers star running back Rashard Mendenhall. Heck, I wrote a column about it … [Read more...] about Mikel Leshoure to Rashard Mendenhall Comparisons Running Wild Now
Texas Bowl Sees Illinois and Baylor Break Numerous Records
Last night's college football match-up won38-14 by the Illinois Fighting Illini over Baylor broke a bunch of Texas Bowl, bowl history in the city of Houston, as well as Illinois and Baylor records. Seriously, there were a ton, but here are some of the most notable. -The Illini tied the Texas Bowl record for most points scored 38 and most net yards gained at 533. -Leshoure … [Read more...] about Texas Bowl Sees Illinois and Baylor Break Numerous Records
Scheelhaase, Illini Put Texas (Bowl) Sized Whooping on Baylor
It was exactly like the first (and only) time Chicago and Houston met in a major postseason sporting event. Granted the stakes in the college football Texas Bowl were much lower than that of the 2005 MLB World Series between the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros; and Baylor University is about as geographically far from Houston as the University of Illinois is from … [Read more...] about Scheelhaase, Illini Put Texas (Bowl) Sized Whooping on Baylor
Texas Forever! Illini vs. Baylor: Brutally Honest Bowl Game Preview
Like they say in Dillon, deep in the heart of Texas, "Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. CAN'T LOSE!" Yes, the Illinois Fighting Illini best adopt the philosophy of fictional football Coach Erik Taylor and his East Dillon Lions in the dramatic television series "Friday Night Lights." The Illini have their work cut out for them, only 1.5 point underdogs, but they're playing in enemy … [Read more...] about Texas Forever! Illini vs. Baylor: Brutally Honest Bowl Game Preview
Evaluating Illinois’ Bowl Chances
Yes, I was incredibly wrong about the Illini's chances at a bowl this season, because it would certainly appear they are headed towards the postseason, and I actually predicted they would win one, yes one game in the preseason. At 4-3 overall, and 2-2 in the Big Ten with a very favorable schedule remaining, the Illini could be headed towards a very good bowl. So let's … [Read more...] about Evaluating Illinois’ Bowl Chances
