1972 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

The 1972 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois during the 1972 Big Ten Conference football season. In their second year under head coach Bob Blackman, the Illini compiled a 3–8 record and finished in a tie for sixth place in the Big Ten Conference.[1]

1972 Illinois Fighting Illini football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record3–8 (3–5 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPLarry McCarren, Larry Allen
CaptainLarry McCarren, John Wiza
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1971
1973 →
1972 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 6 Michigan + 7 1 0 10 1 0
No. 9 Ohio State + 7 1 0 9 2 0
Purdue 6 2 0 6 5 0
Michigan State 5 2 1 5 5 1
Minnesota 4 4 0 4 7 0
Indiana 3 5 0 5 6 0
Illinois 3 5 0 3 8 0
Iowa 2 6 1 3 7 1
Wisconsin 2 6 0 4 7 0
Northwestern 1 8 0 2 9 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The team's offensive leaders were quarterback Mike Wells with 837 passing yards, running back George Uremovich with 611 rushing yards, and wide receiver Garvin Roberson with 569 receiving yards.[2] Center Larry McCarren and defensive end Larry Allen were selected as the team's most valuable players.[3]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 16Michigan StateL 0–2455,493
September 23No. 1 USC*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
L 20–5561,277
September 30at No. 14 Washington*L 11–3160,200
October 7No. 16 Penn State*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
L 17–3560,349
October 14at No. 4 Ohio StateL 7–2686,298
October 21No. 6 Michigan
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL (rivalry)
L 7–3164,290[4]
October 28at PurdueL 14–2061,754
November 4at NorthwesternW 43–1335,235
November 11Indiana
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL (rivalry)
W 37–2055,077
November 18Wisconsin
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
W 27–745,703
November 25at IowaL 14–1525,000
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

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1972 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
OT 54 Larry McCarren Sr
QB 12 Mike Wells Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt

References

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  1. ^ "1972 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  2. ^ "1972 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  3. ^ "Fighting Illini Football Record Book" (PDF). University of Illinois. 2015. p. 155. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  4. ^ Curt Sylvester (October 21, 1972). "U-M Rips Illinois for 6th in Row, 31–7". Detroit Free Press. p. 1E, 4E – via Newspapers.com.