By Woodrow Carroll
Illinois’ three major college football programs, Illinois, Northwestern and Northern Illinois, all showed a decided lack of offensive punch last Saturday. Combined the three teams scored only 30 points. Fortunately, Illinois had 21 of those points and, along with a stout defense, the Fighting Illini came away with a 21-7 victory over Michigan in a key Big Ten game.
The Illinois victory over the Michigan Wolverines took place before a sellout crowd in Memorial Stadium in Champaign. Also notable was the fact that the game was 100 years and one day after Illinois’, 39-14, victory over Michigan back in 1924. The legendary Red Grange was instrumental in the Illini’s victory, with five touchdowns.
Notable! The Michigan coach the day of Grange’s greatest collegiate game was George Little. Little only lasted one season in Ann Arbor and ended up 6-2. However, Little will be remembered for what Grange did to his Wolverines and (Little) else.
The Illini victory last Saturday means that Michigan now leads the series between the two schools, 72-24-2. That fact alone is reason for Illinois fans to celebrate.
Before moving on, we must point out that with the victory over Michigan, the Fighting Illini are now 6-1 overall and bowl eligible! Last season Illinois finished 5-7 and didn’t qualify for a bowl game.
No time to rest! Next up for the Illini, 6-1 and 3-1, will be at Oregon Saturday, Oct. 26 at 2:30 p.m.. Oregon is undefeated and is No. 1 in the polls.
•It was homecoming for Northern Illinois when they took on Toledo. It was a key MAC game for both teams and Northern Illinois took the opening kickoff and were able to get an early 3-0 lead. After that solid start, the Northern Illinois Huskies struggled offensive from that point on.
After a Toledo touchdown in the second quarter, Northern Illinois closed the gap to 7-6 with a field goal just before just before halftime. But, that field goal proved to be the last points Northern Illinois could generate.
The second half of last Saturday’s game was not pretty for Northern Illinois. The Huskies had seven possessions in the second half against Toledo. What the fans saw in the final 30 minutes was Northern Illinois with four punts and then three failures to convert a first down. Toledo showed very little on offense, but just enough to claim victory with a score of 13-6.
Next on the schedule of Northern Illinois is two road games: Ball State Saturday, Oct. 26 at 2:30 p.m., followed by Western Michigan Saturday, Nov. 6. If Northern Illinois is to get back in the hunt for the MAC Championship, victories are a must for the next two contests.
This will be a strange segue for sure, yet, with Toledo in DeKalb and Illinois bring up the memory of Red Grange. Here we go.
Even as a senior at Wheaton (Central) High School, the legend of Red Grange had reached near mythic proportions. As such, Wheaton was invited to play Ohio prep power Toledo Scott. A bad move for Grange and company! Scott beat Grange and company 39-0 and Grange ended up spending time in the hospital. Fortunately, the injury was not permanent and Grange went on to glory at Illinois, in the pros and as a respected broadcaster.
•Northwestern, coming off a 37-10 victory over Maryland the prior week, showed little fight in falling 23-3 to Wisconsin last Saturday. The Northwestern Wildcats, 3-4 and 1-3, will play Iowa, Saturday, Oct. 26 at 2:30 p.m..