Athletic Director Neale Stoner and football coach Mike White, both Californians, arrived in Champaign in late 1979 determined to quickly turn around a football program short of victories and cash in the coffers.
White`s first signee before the 1980 season, quarterback Dave Wilson, had suffered a broken wrist on his first play at Fullerton (Calif.) Junior College. He dropped out of school without attending class, then petitioned for two years of junior-college eligiblity, which was granted. When he enrolled at Illinois, the Big 10 faculty representatives ruled that because he had spent three seasons in junior-college ball, Wilson had but one season of eligibility at Illinois. Although he did not have enough academic credit hours, for purposes of competition he should be classified a senior; this meant he would not be eligible until 1981.
That sent Wilson to court, petitioning for eligibility in 1980.
Wilson played in 1980, but his court maneuvers continued until July 1981 when he lost his final appeal for another season of eligibility. Wilson signed a $1.6 million contract with the New Orleans Saints and the Big 10, which had threatened heavy sanctions against Illinois` entire men`s program for as much as three years, softened that stance so that it only slapped the wrist of the football program, barring the Illini from any postseason appearance for one season.
