2001 Illinois Fighting Illini football team
American college football season
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The 2001 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 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fifth season under head coach Ron Turner, the Illini compiled a 10–2 record (7–1 in conference games), won the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 356 to 238. They were invited to the 2002 Sugar Bowl, losing to LSU, 47–34. The Illini were ranked No. 7 at the end of the regular season, but dropped to No. 12 in the final poll issued after the bowl games.[1]
| 2001 Illinois Fighting Illini football | |
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Big Ten champion | |
Sugar Bowl, L 34–47 vs. LSU | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 12 |
| AP | No. 12 |
| Record | 10–2 (7–1 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive scheme | Pro-style |
| Defensive coordinator | Mike Cassity (1st season) |
| Base defense | 4–3 |
| Home stadium | Memorial Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 12 Illinois $ | 7 | – | 1 | 10 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 20 Michigan | 6 | – | 2 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ohio State | 5 | – | 3 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 4 | – | 4 | 6 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Penn State | 4 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 4 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan State | 3 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Senior quarterback Kurt Kittner led the Big Ten with 2,944 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He completed 207 of 374 passes for a 55.3% completion percentage.[2] The team's other statistical leaders included wide receiver Brandon Lloyd (60 receptions for 1,006 yards), running back Antoineo Harris (626 rushing yards), and kicker Peter Christofilakos (61 points, 12 of 13 field goals, 25 of 25 extra points).[2]
Ten Illinois players were recognized on the 2001 All-Big Ten Conference football team: guard Jay Kulaga (Coaches-1, Media-1); tackle Tony Pashos (Coaches-1, Media-1); Kittner at quarterback (Coaches-2, Media-2); Lloyd at receiver (Coaches-2, Media-2); center Luke Butkus (Coaches-2, Media-2); linebacker Jerry Schumacher (Media-2); defensive backs Bobby Jackson (Coaches-2), Christian Morton (Media-2), and Eugene Wilson; and kicker Christofilakos (Media-2).[3]
The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 1 | 2:30 pm | at California* | FSN | W 44–17 | 38,160 | [4] | ||
| September 8 | 11:00 am | Northern Illinois* | ESPN Plus | W 17–12 | 45,674 | [5] | ||
| September 22 | 11:00 am | No. 25 Louisville* |
| ESPN | W 34–10 | 43,232 | [6] | |
| September 29 | 2:30 pm | at No. 17 Michigan | No. 22 | ABC | L 20–45 | 107,085 | [7][8] | |
| October 6 | 11:00 am | Minnesota |
| ESPN Plus | W 32–14 | 53,225 | [9] | |
| October 13 | 12:00 pm | at Indiana | W 35–14 | 31,116 | [10] | |||
| October 20 | 11:00 am | Wisconsin |
| ESPN | W 42–35 | 70,904 | [11] | |
| November 3 | 11:00 am | at No. 20 Purdue | No. 21 | ESPN | W 38–13 | 61,568 | [12] | |
| November 10 | 2:30 pm | Penn State | No. 15 |
| ABC | W 33–28 | 70,904 | [13] |
| November 17 | 11:00 am | at No. 25 Ohio State | No. 12 | ESPN | W 34–22 | 104,407 | [14][15] | |
| November 22 | 11:00 am | Northwestern | No. 10 |
| ESPN2 | W 34–28 | 45,755 | [16] |
| January 1 | 7:30 pm | vs. No. 12 LSU* | No. 7 | ABC | L 34–47 | 77,688 | [17][18] | |
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Roster
| 2001 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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