The 1947 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois during the 1947 Big Nine Conference football season . In their sixth year under head coach Ray Eliot , the Illini compiled a 5–3–1 record and finished in a three-way tie for third place in the Big Ten Conference . The team played #5-ranked Army to a scoreless tie and narrowly lost by a 14–7 score to undefeated national champion Michigan .[1] Ike Owens was selected as the team's most valuable player.[2]
Schedule [ ] Date Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance Source September 27 Pittsburgh * W 14–022,079 [3] October 4 at Iowa W 35–1252,294 [4] October 11 at No. 5 Army * No. 6 T 0–065,000 [5] October 18 No. 13 Minnesota No. 6 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL W 40–1356,048 [6] October 25 at Purdue No. 5 L 7–1442,000 [7] November 1 No. 2 Michigan No. 11 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL L 7–1471,119 [8] November 8 Western Michigan * No. 11 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL W 60–1424,012 [9] November 15 at Ohio State No. 11 W 28–770,036 [10] November 22 Northwestern No. 12 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (rivalry ) L 13–2852,158 [11] *Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
References [ ]
↑ "1947 Illinois Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1947-schedule.html . Retrieved December 16, 2015 .↑ "Fighting Illini Football Record Book" . University of Illinois. 2015. p. 155. http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/fightingillini.com/documents/2015/8/3/3_History_7_30.pdf . Retrieved December 28, 2016 .↑ Irving Vaughan (September 28, 1947). "Illini Whip Pitt, 14-0: Eddleman Scores Both Illinois Touchdowns in Fourth Quarter" . Chicago Tribune : p. II-1. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28434608/illini_whip_pitt_140_eddleman_scores/ . ↑ Tony Cordaro (October 5, 1947). "Illinois Crushes Iowa, 35-12" . The Des Moines Register : p. 17. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28434779/illinois_crushes_iowa_3512/ . ↑ Gene Ward (October 12, 1947). "Cadets Play 0-0 Draw; Illini Miss Field Goal" . The Daily News (New York City) : p. 102. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28434939/cadets_play_00_draw_illini_miss_field/ . ↑ Charles Johnson (October 19, 1947). "Illinois' Superior Speed, Passing Snap Fighting Gophers' Winning Streak 40-13" . Minneapolis Sunday Tribune : pp. Sports 1-2. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28435122/illinois_superior_speed_passing_snap/ . ↑ Max Greenwald (October 26, 1947). "Purdue, Notre Dame Conquer Gridiron Rivals: Riveters Hand Illinois' Big Nine Champs First Defeat of Season, 14-7" . The Indianapolis Star : pp. 41-42. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28435566/purdue_notre_dame_conquer_gridiron/ . ↑ Charles Chamberlain (November 2, 1947). "Elliott Sparks Michigan To 14-7 Win Over Illinois: Bump Scores On 75 Yard Run In First Quarter" . The Pantagraph : p. 8. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28436193/elliott_sparks_michigan_to_147_win/ . ↑ "Illinois Routs West. Michigan Eleven, 60 To 14" . Chicago Tribune : p. II-5. November 9, 1947. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28326606/illinois_routs_west_michigan_eleven/ .↑ Maurice Shevlin (November 16, 1947). "Illini Defeat Ohio State in Rain, 28 to 7" . Chicago Tribune : pp. II-1, II-7. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28436386/illini_defeat_ohio_state_in_rain_28_to/ . ↑ Charles Chamberlain (November 23, 1947). "2 Wildcat Rallies Bring 28-13 Victory Over Illini" . The Pantagraph : p. 11. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28434212/2_wildcat_rallies_bring_2813_victory/ .
