Illinois Fighting Illini

The Fighting Illini (also known as The Illini) are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The University offers 10 men's and 11 women's varsity sports.

The University operates a number of athletic facilities, including Memorial Stadium for football, the Assembly Hall for both men's and women's basketball, and the Atkins Tennis Center for men's and women's tennis. The Fighting Illini lay claim to over twenty-five National Championships dating back to 1900. However, the Illini have won just two National Championships since 1958—Men's Tennis in 2003 and Men's Gymnastics in 1989. The men's basketball team finished as National runner-up in 2005, falling just short in the championship game.

Organization
The University's Division of Intercollegiate Athletics administers the official athletics teams of the University. All of the University's athletics teams participate in the NCAA's Division I, and form the Big Ten Conference with 11 other primarily midwestern universities. The football team participates in a subdivision within the Division I known as the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

Men's Sports
Baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, gymnastics, tennis, track and field, and wrestling.

Women's Sports
Basketball, cheerleading, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.

Baseball

 * NCAA Tournament Appearance: 1947, 1948, 1962, 1963, 1989, 1990, 1998, 2000, 2011
 * Big Ten Champions: 1900, 1903, 1904, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1910, 1911, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1921, 1922, 1927, 1931, 1934, 1937, 1940, 1947, 1948, 1952, 1953, 1962, 1963, 1989, 1990, 1998, 2005, 2011
 * Big Ten Tournament Champions: 1989, 1990, 2000, 2011

Basketball: Men

 * National Champions: 1915 awarded by the Helms Athletic Foundation in 1935)
 * NCAA Runner Up: 2005
 * NCAA Final Four: 1949, 1951, 1952, 1989, 2005
 * Big Ten Champions: 1915, 1917, 1924, 1935, 1937, 1942, 1943, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1963, 1984, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005
 * Big Ten Tournament Champions: 2003, 2005

Basketball: Women

 * NCAA Sweet Sixteen: 1997, 1998
 * Big Ten Champions: 1997

Cross Country: Men

 * Big Ten Champions: 1921, 1947, 1984

Fencing: Men

 * National Champions: 1956, 1958

Football

 * National Champions: 1914, 1919, 1923, 1927, 1951
 * Big Ten Champions: 1910, 1914, 1915, 1918, 1919, 1923, 1927, 1928, 1946, 1951, 1953, 1963, 1983, 1990, 2001
 * Bowl Game Victories: 1947 Rose Bowl, 1952 Rose Bowl, 1964 Rose Bowl, 1990 Florida Citrus Bowl, 1994 Liberty Bowl, and the 1999 MicronPC.com Bowl, 2010 Texas Bowl

Golf: Men

 * Big Ten Champions: 1923, 1927, 1930, 1931, 1940, 1941, 1988, 2009, 2010, 2011

Gymnastics: Men

 * NCAA National Champions: 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1950, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1989
 * Big Ten Champions: 1911, 1912, 1929, 1935, 1939, 1941, 1942, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1981, 1983, 1988, 1989, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2011

Gymnastics: Women

 * Big Ten Champions: 1990

Softball

 * NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010

Swimming and Diving: Men

 * Big Ten Champions: 1911, 1912, 1913

Tennis: Men

 * NCAA National Champions: 2003
 * NCAA National Runner-up: 2007
 * Big Ten Champions: 1914, 1917, 1922, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1932, 1946, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
 * Big Ten Tournament Champions: 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

Tennis: Women

 * NCAA Tournament Appearances: 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2010

Track and Field: Men
INDOOR
 * NCAA National Champions: 1921, 1926, 1943, 1945, 1946
 * Big Ten Champions: 1912, 1913, 1914, 1916, 1920, 1921, 1924, 1928, 1946, 1947, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1958, 1977, 1981, 1987, 1988, 1989

OUTDOOR
 * NCAA National Champions': 1921, 1927, 1944, 1946, 1947
 * Big Ten Champions: 1907, 1909, 1913, 1914, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1934, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1975, 1977, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994

Track and Field: Women
INDOOR
 * Big Ten Champions: 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996

OUTDOOR
 * Big Ten Champions: 1988, 1989, 1992, 1995, 2005, 2007

Volleyball

 * NCAA Final Four: 1987, 1988
 * NCAA Elite Eight: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992
 * NCAA Sweet Sixteen: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1995, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010
 * NCAA Tournament Appearances: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010
 * Big Ten Champions: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992

Women's Soccer

 * NCAA Elite Eight: 2004
 * NCAA Sweet Sixteen: 2004, 2006, 2008
 * ''NCAA Tournament Appearances: 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010
 * Big Ten Tournament Champions: 2003

Wrestling

 * Big Ten Champions: 1913, 1917, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1930, 1932, 1935, 1937, 1946, 1947, 1952, 2005

Famous athletes

 * Ron Acks - football, played professionally for the Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Boston Patriots and Green Bay Packers.
 * Nick Anderson – basketball (1987–1989), played professionally for the NBA's Orlando Magic and Sacramento Kings
 * James Augustine – basketball (2002–2006), played two seasons for the NBA's Orlando Magic, all-time leader in rebounds at Illinois
 * Kenny Battle – basketball, played in 4 NBA seasons for the Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors
 * Arrelious Benn – football, wide receiver for the National Football League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2010–present), holds freshman receiving record at Illinois.
 * Lou Boudreau – baseball, played professionally for and managed the Cleveland Indians, and an enshrined member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
 * Dee Brown – basketball (2002–2006), played two seasons for the Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards, 2005 Consensus All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year
 * Aspen Burkett – Track and Field (1994–1998), Freshmen Athlete of the year 1995, Multiple All-American Indoor and Outdoor Big Ten Champion, World Team 1995, Olympic Trials 1996
 * Dick Butkus – football (1962–1964), played linebacker for the NFL's Chicago Bears, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
 * Brian Cook – basketball (1999–2003), Third all time scorer for the Illini, currently plays professionally for the Los Angeles Clippers
 * Vontae Davis- football, cornerback for the National Football League's Miami Dolphins (2009–present) freshman all-american, 2x Jim Thorpe semifinalist (2007,2008)
 * Ken Dilger – football (1991–1994), played professionally for the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers; starting Tight End in Super Bowl XXXVII
 * Charles Carroll "Tony" Eason – football, (1979–1983) played professionally for the New England Patriots; led team to Super Bowl XX
 * Dike Eddleman – football, basketball, and track and field (1947–49), also tied for 2nd at the 1948 Summer Olympics in the high jump
 * Perdita Felicien, track and field, first female in Illinois history to win a gold medal in an individual event at the World Championships
 * Darrin Fletcher-Former catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays
 * Jeff George – football, first overall pick of 1990 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts, also played for a variety of teams including the Atlanta Falcons, Oakland Raiders, and the Washington Redskins
 * Kendall Gill – basketball (1986–1990), 1990 consensus All-American and Big 10 Player of the Year, played professionally for 15 seasons in the NBA
 * Red Grange – football (1923–1925), played professionally for the NFL's Chicago Bears, and an enshrined member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
 * Don Laz- Record Setting American Pole Vaulter and Silver Medalist in Pole Vault in the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland
 * George Halas – football, professional player, coach, and owner of the NFL's Chicago Bears, and an enshrined member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
 * Lowell Hamilton (1985–1989)- Basketball, Played Professional Basketball in Greece.
 * Kevin Hardy – football, played professionally for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, and Cincinnati Bengals
 * Derek Harper – basketball (1980–1983), played professionally for 16 seasons in the NBA, ranked 11th all-time in steals and 17th in assists
 * Luther Head – basketball (2001–2005), guard for the Sacramento Kings
 * Brad Hopkins – football, first round pick in the 1993 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans and future all-pro.
 * Eddie Johnson – basketball, played professionally for 17 seasons in the NBA, and the league's 35th all-time leading scorer
 * Johnny "Red" Kerr – basketball, member of the 1952 Final Four team, played professionally for 11 seasons in the NBA, first head coach for both the Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns, and a former broadcaster for the Chicago Bulls.
 * Herbert "Herb" Henry McKenley (1946–48), NCAA and Olympic champion sprinter and 400 meter runner from Jamaica.
 * Rashard Mendenhall – American Football Running Back for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
 * Ray Nitschke – football, played professionally for the NFL's Green Bay Packers, and an enshrined member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
 * Ken Norman – basketball (1984–1987), played professionally for 10 seasons in the NBA
 * Harold Osborn – track & field (1918–1922), won two gold medals in the 1924 Summer Olympics, charter member of U.S. Track & Field Hall of Fame
 * Roger Powell, Jr. – basketball (2001–2005), played briefly for the Utah Jazz
 * Marlon Primous – football, played briefly for the Chicago Bears.
 * Bogie Redmon – basketball, 1962–65
 * Simeon Rice – football, played professionally for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
 * Bob Richards – pole vaulter and decathlete, Olympic pole vault champion, 1952 and 1956
 * Scott Spiezio – baseball, has played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Oakland Athletics, Anaheim Angels, and Seattle Mariners
 * Justin Spring – gymnastics (2002–2006), member of the bronze medal-winning men's gymnastics team at the 2008 Summer Olympics
 * Cindy Stein – basketball, head women's basketball coach at the University of Missouri since 1998
 * Steve Stricker – golf (1986–1990), PGA Golfer (1990–present)
 * Frank Williams – basketball, has been part of the NBA's New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Chicago Bulls, and Los Angeles Clippers
 * Marques Sullivan, football, Playboy All-American Tackle that played 4 season with NFL's Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, and New England Patriots
 * Deron Williams – basketball (2002–2005), point guard for the New Jersey Nets, third overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft.
 * Craig Virgin – long-distance runner, 1975 NCAA cross country champion, 1980 and 1981 world cross-country champion.
 * D. A. Points – PGA Golfer (1999–present)
 * Isiah Williams-Football (2006–2009) NFL Free Agent

Men's Basketball: 1988–1989 season

 * Overall record: (31–5)
 * Head coach: Lou Henson

Notable Players:
 * Stephen Bardo
 * Kenny Battle
 * Kendall Gill
 * Nick Anderson
 * Lowell Hamilton
 * Marcus Liberty
 * PJ Bowman
 * Larry Smith
 * Earvin Small

Story: Ranked #1 during the regular season. Known for their athletic style. Defeated in the Final Four of the 1989 NCAA Tournament, by the Michigan Wolverines even though they had defeated them twice during the regular season. Michigan went on to win the National Championship.

Men's Basketball: 2004–2005 season

 * Overall record (tournaments included): 37–2
 * Regular season: 29–1
 * Big Ten Conference play: 15–1
 * Head coach: Bruce Weber

Starters:
 * G – Deron Williams
 * G – Dee Brown
 * G – Luther Head
 * F – Roger Powell, Jr
 * F – James Augustine

Story: The first Illinois men's basketball team to be ranked number one in the polls since Lou Henson's "Flyin' Illini" of 1989. Illinois won the Big Ten Tournament and were the overall number one seed in the 2005 NCAA Tournament, eventually losing to the University of North Carolina, the number two overall seed, in the finals, 75–70. This Illinois team tied the NCAA record at that time for most wins in a season with 37 and was undefeated until losing the final game of the regular season at Ohio State by the score of 64–65, on a three pointer by Matt Sylvester in the final seconds of the game.

Controversy
A symbol/mascot of the University's athletic teams was, from 1926–2007, a Native American figure, Chief Illiniwek, who sparked significant controversy beginning in the 1980s. Critics of the Chief claimed that it was a racist stereotype and a symbol of the oppression to Native Americans that took place in past American history. Supporters claimed that it was inoffensive and a source of pride and reverence to the Native American heritage of Illinois Past Sioux elder, Frank Fools Crow, made and sold an authentic ceremonial costume and headdress to the university; recently, the Oglala Sioux tribe demanded the costume and headdress back from the university, though this move was opposed by one of Fools Crow's descendants.

The University was (and is) deeply divided on this issue; while some of the faculty condemned the symbol, the administration remained supportive of it. The University Board of Trustees announced on February 16, 2007, that the Chief's last public performance would be the final home game of the 2006–2007 Men's Basketball season. The name "Fighting Illini" was retained, as the NCAA rescinded its criticism of the use of the term. The name "Fighting Illini" pre-dates the Chief Illiniwek symbol and was bestowed upon the team in honor of Illinoisans who fought in World War I; the use of the name "Illini" dates to the 19th century.