1973 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

1973 Illinois Fighting Illini football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record5–6 (4–4 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPs
  • Eddie Jenkins
  • Octavus Morgan
Captains
  • John Gann
  • Ken Braid
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
1973 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 2 Ohio State +7–0–110–0–1
No. 6 Michigan +7–0–110–0–1
Minnesota6–2–07–4–0
Illinois4–4–05–6–0
Michigan State4–4–05–6–0
Purdue4–4–05–6–0
Northwestern4–4–04–7–0
Wisconsin3–5–04–7–0
Indiana0–8–02–9–0
Iowa0–8–00–11–0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1973 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1973 Big Ten season. In their third year under head coach Bob Blackman, the Fighting Illini compiled a 5–6 record (4–4 in conference games), finished in a four-way tie for fourth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 164 to 157.[1]

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Jeff Hollenbach (916 passing yards, 43.8% completion percentage), running back George Uremovich (519 rushing yards, 3.7 yards per carry), and split end Garvin Roberson (25 receptions for 416 yards, 16.6 yards per reception).[2] Halfback Eddie Jenkins and defensive end Octavus Morgan were selected as the team's most valuable players.[3] Roberson, defensive lineman Octavus Morgan, and defensive back Mike Gow received first-team honors on the 1973 All-Big Ten Conference football team.[4][5]

The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 15at Indiana
W 28–1451,433[6]
September 223:30 p.m.at California*
W 27–722,000[7]
September 29West Virginia*
L 10–1748,107[8]
October 62:57 p.m.Stanford*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
L 0–2445,383[9]
October 13Purdue
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL (rivalry)
W 15–1354,252[10]
October 20at Michigan State
W 6–363,303[11]
October 27Iowa
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
W 50–046,864[12]
November 3No. 1 Ohio State
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL (Illibuck)
L 0–3060,707[13]
November 10at No. 4 Michigan
L 6–2176,461[14]
November 17Minnesota
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
L 16–1934,438[15]
November 24at Northwestern
L 6–926,117[16]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

[17]

Personnel

1973 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
QB 19 Jeff Hollenbach Jr
RB 23 Eddie Jenkins Sr
QB 11 Tom McCartney Sr
RB 33 Lonnie Perrin Jr
WR Garvin Roberson
RB George Uremovich
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DL 40 Octavius Morgan Sr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
P Phil Vierneisel
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • Injured Injured
    • Redshirt Redshirt

    Roster

    References

    1. ↑ "1973 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
    2. ↑ "1973 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
    3. ↑ "Fighting Illini Football Record Book" (PDF). University of Illinois. 2015. p. 155. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 29, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
    4. ↑ "1973 AP All Big Ten Football Team". Piqua Daily Call. November 27, 1973. p. 11.
    5. ↑ "Bucks, Wolves Dominate: Buckeyes Place 10 On All-Big Ten Team". The Times Recorder (Zanesville, Ohio). November 28, 1973. p. 11B.
    6. ↑ "Illinois turns Indiana's Big 10 opener sour in 28–14 loss". The Kokomo Tribune. September 16, 1973. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    7. ↑ "Illinois dumps Cal Bears, 27–7". The Sacramento Union. September 23, 1973. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    8. ↑ "West Virginia deals Illini first loss, 17–10". Lansing State Journal. September 30, 1973. Retrieved January 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
    9. ↑ "Cardinals blank Illini". Independent Press-Telegram. October 7, 1973. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    10. ↑ "Field goals win for Illini". Southern Illinoisan. October 14, 1973. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    11. ↑ "Beavers kicks by Spartans, 6–3". Evansville Courier & Press. October 21, 1973. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    12. ↑ "Illini 50, Iowa 0 – Ouch! 467 on ground". The Des Moines Register. October 28, 1973. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    13. ↑ "Buckeyes pin Illini". Quad-City Times. November 4, 1973. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    14. ↑ Curt Sylvester (November 11, 1973). "U-M Beats Illinois' 21–6: Overcomes 6 Fumbles". Detroit Free Press. p. 1E, 5E. Retrieved June 27, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
    15. ↑ "Gophers steal a victory, clinch third". Star Tribune. November 18, 1973. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    16. ↑ "Northwestern downs Illinois". The Indianapolis Star. November 25, 1973. Retrieved September 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
    17. ↑ "Schedule/Results (1973 Illinois)". NCAA Statistics. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
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