1928 Illinois Fighting Illini football
Big Ten champion
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record7–1 (4–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
CaptainButch Nowack
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Uniform
Seasons
← 1927
1929 →
1928 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 6 Illinois $ 4 – 1 – 0 7 – 1 – 0
No. 4 Wisconsin 3 – 1 – 1 7 – 1 – 1
Minnesota 4 – 2 – 0 6 – 2 – 0
No. 6 Iowa 3 – 2 – 0 6 – 2 – 0
Ohio State 3 – 2 – 0 5 – 2 – 1
Purdue 2 – 2 – 1 5 – 2 – 1
Northwestern 2 – 3 – 0 5 – 3 – 0
Michigan 2 – 3 – 0 3 – 4 – 1
Indiana 2 – 4 – 0 4 – 4 – 0
Chicago 0 – 5 – 0 2 – 7 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from Dickinson System

The 1928 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois during the 1928 college football season. In their 16th season under head coach Robert Zuppke, the Illini compiled a 7–1 record and finished in first place in the Big Ten Conference.[1] Tackle Albert J. Nowack was the team captain.[2] The team was ranked No. 6 in the nation in the Dickinson System ratings released in December 1928.[3]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
October 62:30 p.m.Bradley*
W 33–621,477[4][5]
October 13Coe*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
W 31–08,562
October 20Indiana
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
W 13–726,683
October 27at Northwesterndagger
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL (rivalry)
W 6–059,871
November 3Michigan
L 0–378,229
November 10at Butler*
W 14–09,448
November 17Chicago
W 40–048,714
November 24at Ohio State
W 8–035,712

Roster

Player Position
Butch Nowack (Captain) Tackle, Kicker
Russ Crane Guard
Oliver M. 'Pete' Langhorst
Judson Timm Halfback
Fritz Humbert Fullback
Rinquist
Dwight Stuessy Quarterback
Doug Mills Fullback, Punter
Frank Walker Fullback
Tom Nickol Fullback
John Tarwain End
James Lewis
Forrest 'Frosty' Peters Kicker, Quarterback
Walter Jolley End
Carl H. Bergeson
Keston J. Deimling Guard
Rouse
Ken Fields Quarterback
Louis Gordon Guard
L. J. Wietz Tackle
L. S. Burdick Tackle
Norman McClure Guard
Chuck Hall Halfback
Robert Z. Hickman
H. E. Richman
Otto R. Hills
Olaf Robinson Halfback
Lou Gordon Tackle, Guard, End

References

  1. ^ "1928 Illinois Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  2. ^ "Fighting Illini Football Record Book" (PDF). University of Illinois. 2015. p. 156. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  3. ^ "Trojans Rated as Leading College Team in Country". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. December 9, 1928. p. 42 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Bradley Gridders Hope To Uphold Reputation". Belleville Daily Advocate. Belleville, Illinois. Associated Press. September 22, 1928. p. 5. Retrieved June 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  5. ^ "Bradley Opens With Win Over Macomb, 25 To 6". Decatur Herald. Decatur, Illinois. Associated Press. September 30, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved June 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.


Categories