KrushCow31
Former Krush Cow
- Chicago, IL
Saw this on reddit, and I thought it would be fun to hear what other people's opinion is. Define biggest as most memorable, most important, most influential, or whatever you describe biggest as.
I would agree with this Iowa game if I was limited to my lifetime...The 24-7 win over #16 Iowa in 1981. The first huge win of the Mike White era that kicked off the decade and a half run of relevance. If you're looking for a program changing game (in the positive sense), this is probably it.
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but this win over Michigan is bigger if considering the history of Illinois football. That we even know of this game over 90 years later is telling of how big this win really was.Defeating Michigan in 1924
1983 football at home vs Michigan. On our way to the Rose Bowl. I was still in high school and remember listening to the game on the radio at work. I remember it being the first time thinking of Illinois being an equal with Michigan and Ohio State that you would see on TV a lot of Saturday’s back then. Looking at pictures and video of the crowd in the stadium that day really shows what is possible here.
2005 Elite Eight vs Arizona was certainly most memorable basketball game for me. 1989 Elite Eight vs Syracuse has to be up there too. Two victories over Louisville (89 S16 & 05 F4) also stand out. Sad to remember when we stood toe to toe with top programs in the country and how far we seem from that now.
Should also mention 1979 Eddie Johnson jumper beating Magic Johnson and #1 Michigan St. I remember the highlight making the National nightly news the next day. I had watched the high school state tournament on that floor for several years so it was pretty impressive to see it on the national news.
I was at that game sitting in the top row of the C section. The place was packed and went nuts after the win. For a brief moment we were #1. Of course losing 4 of the next 5 ended the hope.
WOW!! You guys bring back some very dear and heartwarming memories.
The biggest and most significant win in school history, football or basketball, arguably is the "comeback" win in '05. If it's not the biggest, it's deeply in the conversation.
The two wins I harbor the most affection for are the Rose Bowl clinching victory at home in '83, and the Sugar Bowl clinching Thanksgiving Day game. Reason being I attended both of those games and the feeling was, to this day, indescribable!! In '83 it was the 49-21 win over Indiana on the afternoon of Nov. 12th. When the final gun sounded they played a parody of the Beach Boys '60's hit "Little Old Lady (From Pasadena)" on the Memorial Stadium PA system. It was a cutesy little tune by Captain Rat & the Blind Rivets "The Fighting Illini In Pasadena"! The whole stadium seemed to go out onto the field and celebrate. I remember our group of friends standing on the 50 toasting the score board. In those days it was possible to sneak a beer or two into the games if you were at least mildly discreet! No one wanted that day to end!
KoiDog, this is the problem when the basketball fans invade our football forum "safe space."I think you have the wrong year. In 1983, we lost a total of two games -- the first against Mizzou in Columbia and the thrashing by UCLA in the Rose Bowl. In between we went 10-0 including big wins against Iowa at home (33-0), Michigan (again at home - 16 -6 with our final two points coming on a safety by Joe Miles of Evan Cooper on a punt return) and tOSU, also at home where we rallied on a late Thomas Rooks 21-yard TD run. That last one put us into the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1964. To me, that win over the Buckeyes might very well be both my favorite and best Illini victory in my lifetime.
I attended both losses that year and all three of the cited wins while living in Colorado. Has there been a year since where, home or away, we have beaten tOSU, UM and Iowa in the same season? Not many, if so.