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1982 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1982 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1982 Big Ten season. In their third year under head coach Mike White, the Illini compiled a 7–4 record (6–3 in conference games), finished in fourth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 323 to 208. They concluded the season with a loss to Alabama in the 1982 Liberty Bowl, which was Hall of Famer Bear Bryant's final game as Alabama's head coach.[1]

ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record7–5 (6–3 Big Ten)
Headcoach
MVPTony Eason
Quick facts Illinois Fighting Illini football, Liberty Bowl, L 15–21 vs. Alabama ...
1982 Illinois Fighting Illini football
Liberty Bowl, L 15–21 vs. Alabama
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record7–5 (6–3 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPTony Eason
Captains
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1981
1983 →
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More information Conf., Overall ...
1982 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Michigan $8–1–08–4–0
No. 12 Ohio State7–1–09–3–0
Iowa6–2–08–4–0
Illinois6–3–07–5–0
Wisconsin5–4–07–5–0
Indiana4–5–05–6–0
Purdue3–6–03–8–0
Northwestern2–7–03–8–0
Michigan State2–7–02–9–0
Minnesota1–8–03–8–0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll
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Quarterback Tony Eason led the Big Ten with 278 completions, 450 passes, 3,248 passing yards, and 17 touchdowns. Wide receiver Mike Martin led the conference with 69 receptions and 941 receiving yards. Kicker Mike Bass was the Big Ten in scoring with 101 points and 23 field goals made. Running back Dwight Beverly led the team with 390 rushing yards, an average of 5.3 yards per carry.[2] Eason was selected as the team's most valuable player.[3] Eason, Martin, and Bass won first-team honors on the 1982 All-Big Ten Conference football team.[4][5]

The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.

Schedule

More information Date, Opponent ...
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 4Northwestern
W 49–1367,036[6]
September 11Michigan State
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
W 23–1666,152[7]
September 18at Syracuse*
W 47–1030,128[8]
September 25No. 3 Pittsburgh*No. 19
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
L 3–2071,547[9]
October 2at No. 19 Minnesota
W 42–2463,684[10]
October 9PurdueNo. 20
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL (rivalry)
W 38–3471,232[11]
October 16Ohio StateNo. 15
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL (Illibuck)
L 21–2673,488[12]
October 23at Wisconsin
W 29–2878,406[13]
October 30at Iowa
L 13–1459,922[14]
November 6No. 15 Michigan
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL (rivalry)
L 10–1675,256[15][16]
November 13at Indiana
W 48–738,471[17]
December 29vs. Alabama*
L 15–2154,123[18]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
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Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...
1982 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
QB 3 Tony Eason Sr
C 55 Adam Lingner Sr
RB 42 Thomas Rooks Fr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt
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