| 1983Illinois Fighting Illini football | |
|---|---|
Big Ten champion | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 10 |
| AP | No. 10 |
| Record | 10–2 (9–0 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
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| Captains |
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| Home stadium | Memorial Stadium |
Seasons | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 10Illinois $ | 9 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 8Michigan | 8 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 14Iowa | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 9Ohio State | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 3 | – | 5 | – | 1 | 3 | – | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan State | 2 | – | 6 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 9 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 0 | – | 9 | – | 0 | 1 | – | 10 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The1983 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented theUniversity of Illinois as a member of theBig Ten Conference during theBig Ten football season. In their fourth year under head coachMike White, the Fighting Illini compiled a 10–2 record (9–0 in conference games), won the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 338 to 168. Illinois represented the Big Ten in the1984 Rose Bowl, losing toUCLA by a 45–9 score. The Illini were ranked No. 4 in the AP poll at the end of the regular season, but dropped to No. 10 in the final poll after losing the Rose Bowl.[1]
QuarterbackJack Trudeau led the Big Ten with 203 complete passes, a 62.7% completion percentage, and 2,446 passing yards. The team's other statistical leaders included running back Thomas Rooks (842 rushing yards), wide receiverDavid Williams (59 receptions for 870 yards), and kicker Chris White (78 points, 39 of 40 extra points, 13 of 22 field goals).[2]
Defensive endDon Thorp was selected as the team's most valuable player and also received theChicago Tribune Silver Football trophy as the most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference.[3]
The team played its home games atMemorial Stadium inChampaign, Illinois.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 10 | 1:30 pm | atMissouri* | L 18–28 | 53,744 | [4] | |||
| September 17 | 6:00 pm | Stanford* | W 17–7 | 72,852 | [5] | |||
| September 24 | 11:30 am | atMichigan State | ABC | W 20–10 | 75,867 | [6] | ||
| October 1 | 1:00 pm | No. 4Iowa |
| W 33–0 | 73,351 | [7] | ||
| October 8 | 1:30 pm | atWisconsin | No. 19 | W 27–15 | 78,307 | [8] | ||
| October 15 | 1:00 pm | No. 6Ohio State | No. 19 |
| W 17–13 | 73,414 | [9] | |
| October 22 | 1:30 pm | atPurdue | No. 11 | W 35–21 | 69,328 | [10] | ||
| October 29 | 11:30 am | No. 8Michigan | No. 9 |
| CBS | W 16–6 | 76,127 | [11] |
| November 5 | 7:00 pm | atMinnesota | No. 6 | W 50–23 | 35,514 | [12] | ||
| November 12 | 1:00 pm | Indiana | No. 5 |
| W 49–21 | 73,612 | [13] | |
| November 19 | 1:00 pm | atNorthwestern | No. 4 | W 56–24 | 52,333 | [14] | ||
| January 2 | 4:00 pm | vs.UCLA* | No. 4 | NBC | L 9–45 | 103,217 | [15] | |
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Seven Illinois players received first-team honors on the1983 All-Big Ten Conference football team: running backDwight Beverly (AP-1, UPI-1); guardJim Juriga (AP-1, UPI-1); tackle Chris Babyar (AP-1, UPI-1); defensive linemen Mark Butkus (AP-1, UPI-1) andDon Thorp (AP-1, UPI-1); defensive backCraig Swoope (AP-1, UPI-1); and kicker Chris White (AP-2, UPI-1).[17][18]