1951 Illinois Fighting Illini football team American college football season
The 1951 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois during the 1951 Big Ten Conference football season . In their 10th year under head coach Ray Eliot , the Illini compiled a 9–0–1 record, finished in first place in the Big Ten Conference , was ranked #4 in the final AP Poll , and defeated Stanford 40–7 in the 1952 Rose Bowl . The lone setback was a scoreless tie with Ohio State .[ 1] Illinois defeated Stanford 40 to 7 in the 1952 Rose Bowl , the first nationally televised college football game.[citation needed ] The team was named co-national champion by Boand , which split its selection with Georgia Tech .[ 2]
Al Brosky had an NCAA career record 29 interceptions, including an NCAA record 15-game streak covering the entire 1951 season.[ 3] He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
Halfback Johnny Karras was a consensus first-team pick on the 1951 College Football All-America Team .[ 4] Linebacker Chuck Boerio was selected as the team's most valuable player.[ 5]
Schedule
Date Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance September 29 UCLA * No. 10 W 27–1353,265
October 6 Wisconsin No. 8 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL W 14–1056,207
October 13 at Syracuse * No. 7 W 41–2030,000
October 20 at No. 20 Washington * No. 8 W 27–2054,000
October 27 at Indiana No. 4 W 21–033,000
November 3 No. 15 Michigan No. 3 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (rivalry ) W 7–071,119
November 10 Iowa No. 2 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL W 40–1356,444
November 17 at Ohio State No. 3 T 0–079,457
November 24 at Northwestern No. 6 W 3–052,000
January 1 No. 7 Stanford * No. 4 W 40–796,825
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
Players
Chuck Boerio , center (1st-team All-America pick by NEA; 1st-team All-Big Ten pick by AP)
Al Brosky , halfback (1st-team All-America pick by AP and Football Writers)
Johnny Karras , halfback (consensus 1st-team All-American; 1st-team All-Big Ten pick by AP and UP)
Rex Smith, end (1st-team All-Big Ten pick by AP)
Chuck Studley , tackle (1st-team All-Big Ten pick by AP and UP)
Chuck Ulrich , tackle (1st-team All-America pick by INS; 1st-team All-Big Ten pick by AP and UP)
Bill Tate Rose Bowl MVP
Roster
Head coach: Ray Eliot (10th year at Illinois)
References
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
Western Conference Big Ten Big Nine Big Ten National championships in bold