Dan
Gary Moeller dies at 81
RIP Moe. There was a lot of excitement when he came in and he inherited a pretty talented roster - definitely upper half of the Big 10. Unfortunately he wasn't ready to be a HC at that time and was quite honestly a disaster here. Did a much better job at UM when he took over for Bo.
I think we averaged around 35k fans that year
My senior year. Went to that Dad's Day game. As I recall, Illini scored at the end of the fourth quarter to make the score 12-13. Moeller couldn't get a play in time to go for the 2 point conversion (or even for a PAT) and we lost without ever getting a final chance.
BTW, I have all of the football posters (1976, 77, 78 and 79). They ARE awesome.
alamocityillini
- San Antonio
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
wasnt Rich Weiss, probably the last player from New Trier to get a schollie from us, our starting QB that year ?
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
it was an annual thing put on by the state pork farmers co-op for years
big pig roast and all
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
RIP Moe. Seemed like a really good football dude.
Lawrence McCullough
I didn't realize we no longer had pork day - it was always in November. I remember watching a game back in the 90's Keith Jackson was doing in which he said he was going to be in Champaign the following week - it might have been for the '94 Penn St game - and Keith said something to the effect of "it's going to be cold, it's going to be windy, and it's probably going to be Pork Day."
I was at that Navy game. I recall a Navy punt returner was camped under a punt and it bounced off the top of his helmet. I remember seeing a Moeller-coached Illini team lose at least one close game as the clock ran down to 0:00 while the red-zone offense waited for a play-call.
Similarly, I recall Illini having a chance to beat Iowa on the game’s final play, only to have Lawrence McCullough get blown up on a naked bootleg in the red zone. Had to be carried off the field, and Memorial Stadium was silent.
My brother attended Edison at the same time as Moeller’s kid Andy did. Said Andy got mocked a lot over how bad his father’s coaching was. Then when Bo Schembechler hired Gary and eventually recruited Andy it all helped to cement the permanent chip on Michigan’s shoulders towards Illinois.
Including the uniforms......O-B-W. I know this is not the "Uniform" thread but had to say it. And I know a lot of folks don't like the white pants but I've always thought Auburn's uniforms are the best in college football, and the difference of an orange helmet is enough for me.
Neale Stoner Fan Club
Tailgreat
- Chiraq
my first game was one of his six wins, in 1977 vs. Indiana coached by Lee Corso
illini80
- Forgottonia
I was there for every one of his games. It was a dark time. I forget the exact details, but Northwestern at the time was ranked something like the worst D1 team in the nation just prior to that game.
I made a brief appearance but spent most of the game at a tailgate just outside the stadium, and could hear the groans from the crowd. I was 14, visiting my brother for the weekend, so wasn't a fan yet.
In the late '80s/early '90s, there was some attraction basically for each home game. Dad's Day and Homecoming were the biggest, so they'd be against the worst teams. Band day would bring in a lot of high schoolers. Pork Day didn't sell any tickets beyond a few members of the Illinois Pork Producers Association or whatever, and perhaps a few lobbyists. So Pork Day would usually be the game against the best opponent, which often meant a national Keith Jackson ABC broadcast.
My first college game as a freshman. My roommate and I looked at each other and said "my God, we bought season tickets". In West Block I, by the way.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
We opened the season at home vs Michigan in his first year - 1977. “The Mo vs Bo Show”. Huge hype. Mo vs his mentor.
May even have been a prime time night game as I recall. We lost big but started that season 3-4 before the levee broke.
Proud of my perfect football and basketball home attendance over 4-1/2 (very lean) sports years, including all three of Moeller’s.
May even have been a prime time night game as I recall. We lost big but started that season 3-4 before the levee broke.
Proud of my perfect football and basketball home attendance over 4-1/2 (very lean) sports years, including all three of Moeller’s.