www.sportillinois.com http://www.sportillinois.com Sun, 24 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 The History of Sports at the University of Illinois http://www.sportillinois.com/2013/03/24/the-history-of-sports-at-the-university-of-illinois/ http://www.sportillinois.com/2013/03/24/the-history-of-sports-at-the-university-of-illinois/#comments Sun, 24 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.sportillinois.com/?p=17 The University of Illinois first burst on the college sports scene with the arrival of coaching legend Robert C. Zuppke. From 1914 to 1928 Zuppke led the Fighting Illini to four National Championships, posting a record in those years of 28-1-1. They captured an additional National Championship in 1951 under head coach Ray Eliot.
Football laid the foundation for a number of long-standing, successful sports programs. Illinois athletic teams have won 25 National Championships, most recently in men’s tennis (2003) and men’s gymnastics (1989, 2012).
Today the Fighting Illini feature a total of 21 programs that compete on the NCAA Division I level. As a founding member of the Big 10, Illinois counts Indiana University, Ohio State and Northwestern among its biggest rivals.
Famous Illini alumnus include college football and NFL all-time greats George Halas, Red Grange, Dick Butkus and Ray Nitschke, golfer Steve Stricker and baseball Hall of Famer Lou Boudreau. Illinois also boast a number of Olympians, including Harold Osborn, who won a gold medal in the high jump and decathlon (1924), Daniel Kinsey, a gold medalist in the 110 hurdles (1924) and Bob Richards, who took home a gold in the pole vault (1952).

]]> http://www.sportillinois.com/2013/03/24/the-history-of-sports-at-the-university-of-illinois/feed/ 0 What are the accomplishments of Teams at the University? http://www.sportillinois.com/2012/05/26/what-are-the-accomplishments-of-teams-at-the-university/ http://www.sportillinois.com/2012/05/26/what-are-the-accomplishments-of-teams-at-the-university/#comments Sat, 26 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.sportillinois.com/?p=14 The most noted sport in the history of the University of Illinois, is the men’s basketball team, and the sweet 16 appearances they have made, as well as taking it all in a few tournament years. There are other sports, including women’s basketball, and the football team, which have performed well throughout the year of the school’s history, but for the overall run in school sports, the men’s basketball team, has been the most note worthy team in the schools history. They have taken 3 championships at the NCAA tournament, and have made several appearances into the tournament, making it quite far, but not being able to finish the tournament off with a victory for the school and the fans.

The women’s team has also reached a couple of tournaments, but have yet to win a title for the school, at least not in the past 15 years or so. And, the men’s football team has made a few great season runs, but have never taken a bowl title, and have never brought a championship back to the school. Although they do have a great athletic division, the school has not been the msot note worthy team in many sports.

]]> http://www.sportillinois.com/2012/05/26/what-are-the-accomplishments-of-teams-at-the-university/feed/ 0 The History of the Sports Played at the University http://www.sportillinois.com/2012/05/25/the-history-of-the-sports-played-at-the-university/ http://www.sportillinois.com/2012/05/25/the-history-of-the-sports-played-at-the-university/#comments Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.sportillinois.com/?p=13 The University of Illinois is a NCAA Division 1 school, Big Ten Conference, with athletic facilities in football, tennis, basketball, baseball, cross country, fencing, golf, gymnastics, softball, cheerleader, swimming and diving, track and field, volleyball, soccer and wrestling. The school has also won and competed in many NCAA championships taking home over 160 Big Ten Championships in all of the various sports. Volleyball, wrestling, outdoor track and field, men’s tennis, men’s gymnastics, men’s basket ball and baseball are the school’s top championship winning sports throughout the years.

Many famous athletes once played for the University of Illinois, like Harold Osborn who competed in the 1926 Olympics and brought home two gold medals, or Derek Harper who played 16 seasons in the NBA and holds the 11th place ranking for steals, and 17th for assists. George Halas, Sr. also was an NFL player, coach and eventual owner of the Chicago Bears. It was in fact Halas who moved the team to Chicago Illinois, and in 1922 renamed the team in honor of the Cubs, who had allowed them to play on their field. This great iconic man, who will be remembered by Illinois Alumni, and Bears fans alike, went to The University of Illinois, and played baseball, football, and basketball.

]]> http://www.sportillinois.com/2012/05/25/the-history-of-the-sports-played-at-the-university/feed/ 0 A Look into Where Famous University ayers are now http://www.sportillinois.com/2012/05/21/a-look-into-where-famous-university-ayers-are-now/ http://www.sportillinois.com/2012/05/21/a-look-into-where-famous-university-ayers-are-now/#comments Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 www.sportillinois.com http://www.sportillinois.com/?p=12 The University of Illinois has turned out some great players, and has sent many players into the pros. One of the most notable stars from the university is Dick Butkus, which was not only a player early on in his career, but also one of the most prolific NFL coaches that has gone throught the league. Although his playing career in the NFL was brief, Butkus coached in the league for nearly 20 years, and when playing at the University of Illinois, was also a star player for the team. Didn’t catch that? This explains it.

Another well known star from the school is Seattle Seahawks great Brandon Lloyd, who was a leading rusher when playing at the university, and is still a great back playing for the Seahawks in the NFL today. Pierre Thomas is another one of the most notable running backs to make it out of Illinois, and was a member of the New Orleans Saints Superbowl Championship team in recent years.

Alan Ball and Vontae Davis are two other big name alumni from the university. The school has turned out some great NFL stars, many of which are still playing for their respective teams in the NFL today, and are big name players in the league.

]]> http://www.sportillinois.com/2012/05/21/a-look-into-where-famous-university-ayers-are-now/feed/ 0 Which Sports are Played at the University? http://www.sportillinois.com/2012/05/17/which-sports-are-played-at-the-university/ http://www.sportillinois.com/2012/05/17/which-sports-are-played-at-the-university/#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.sportillinois.com/?p=11 The University of Illinois is widely known as a powerhouse athletic program in intercollegiate competition, featuring an impressive roster of athletic squads. Most likely you are already familiar with the exploits of the Fighting Illini football and men’s basketball teams, who are often nationally ranked. However, the university also fields many other varsity teams that you may be less familiar with.

In fact, on the varsity level the University of Illinois competes in ten different men’s sports, and eleven women’s sports. On the men’s side of things, the Fighting Illini compete in baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, gymnastics, tennis, track and field and wrestling. Meanwhile, in women’s sports the Fighting Illini compete in basketball, cheerleading, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field and volleyball.

All of the university’s teams compete in NCAA Division I, and are members of the Big Ten conference. Additionally, if you are looking for even more sports action, the university also fields club teams in a wide range of other exciting sports, including hockey, rugby, lacrosse, water polo and rowing, to name just a few. No matter what sport interests you, you are sure to find a Fighting Illini team to go out and cheer for!

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