Fighting Illini Football
An Illini Decade
The Fighting Illini rolled into the much anticipated Army game 3-1-1 and a favorite to win their 3rd straight conference title to close off a highly successful decade in football. In their fifth season at Memorial Stadium, the Illini under head coach Bob Zuppke had become one of the best teams in the nation. During the “Roaring 20s” the Illini piled up 55 wins against only 19 losses. The Illini won three conference titles (1923, 1927, 1928) and two National Championships in 1923 and 1927.
1929 Football Campaign
Just three weeks before the Army Game, Illinois played the University of Iowa Hawkeyes in the dedication game of Iowa Stadium (today Kinnick Stadium). The Illini battled in
the mud to a 7-7 tie. This football from that game was donated to the museum in 2018 by the family of former two-term Urbana Mayor Olin Browder (1913-1917).
