1973 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1973

| team = Illinois Fighting Illini

| sport = football

| image =

| image_size =

| conference = Big Ten Conference

| short_conf = Big Ten

| record = 5–6

| conf_record = 4–4

| head_coach = Bob Blackman

| hc_year = 3rd

| off_coach =

| oc_year =

| off_scheme =

| def_coach =

| dc_year =

| def_scheme =

| mvp = Eddie Jenkins

| mvp2 = Octavus Morgan

| captain = John Gann

| captain2 = Ken Braid

| stadium = Memorial Stadium

}}

The 1973 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois in the 1973 Big Ten Conference football season. In their third year under head coach Bob Blackman, the Illini compiled a 5–6 record and finished in a four-way tie for fourth place in the Big Ten Conference.{{cite web|title=1973 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=December 16, 2015|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1973-schedule.html}}

The team's offensive leaders were quarterback Jeff Hollenbach with 916 passing yards, running back George Uremovich with 519 rushing yards, and wide receiver Garvin Roberson with 416 receiving yards.{{cite web|title=1973 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=December 16, 2015|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1973.html}} Halfback Eddie Jenkins and defensive end Octavus Morgan were selected as the team's most valuable players.{{cite web|title=Fighting Illini Football Record Book|publisher=University of Illinois|year=2015|access-date=December 29, 2016|page=155|url=http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/fightingillini.com/documents/2015/8/3/3_History_7_30.pdf}}

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1973

| poll = AP

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 15

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Indiana

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Bloomington, IN

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 28–14

| attend = 51,433

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 22

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = California

| site_stadium = California Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Berkeley, CA

| score = 27–7

| attend = 22,000

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 29

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| opponent = West Virginia

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| score = 10–17

| attend = 48,107

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-west-virginia-deal/139556840/|work=Lansing State Journal|title=West Virginia deals Illini first loss, 17–10|date=September 30, 1973|accessdate=January 25, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 6

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Stanford

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| score = 0–24

| attend = 45,383

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 13

| w/l = w

| opponent = Purdue

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 15–13

| attend = 54,252

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 20

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Michigan State

| site_stadium = Spartan Stadium

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| score = 6–3

| attend = 63,303

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 27

| w/l = w

| opponent = Iowa

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| score = 50–0

| attend = 48,864

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 3

| w/l = l

| opponent = Ohio State

| opprank = 1

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename = Illibuck Trophy

| score = 0–30

| attend = 60,707

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 10

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Michigan

| opprank = 4

| site_stadium = Michigan Stadium

| site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 6–21

| attend = 76,461

| source = {{cite news|title=U-M Beats Illinois' 21–6: Overcomes 6 Fumbles|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|author=Curt Sylvester|date=November 11, 1973|page=1E, 5E|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5647397/um_beats_illinois_216_overcomes_6/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 27, 2016}} {{Open access}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 17

| w/l = l

| opponent = Minnesota

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| score = 16–19

| attend = 34,438

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 24

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Northwestern

| site_stadium = Dyche Stadium

| site_cityst = Evanston, IL

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 6–9

| attend = 26,117

}}

Personnel

{{American football roster/Header|year=1973|team=Illinois Fighting Illini|teamcolors=y

|offensive_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=19|class=Jr|first=Jeff|last=Hollenbach|pos=QB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=23|class=Sr|first=Eddie|last=Jenkins|pos=RB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=11|class=Sr|first=Tom|last=McCartney|pos=QB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=33|class=Jr|first=Lonnie|last=Perrin|pos=RB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Garvin|last=Roberson|pos=WR}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=George|last=Uremovich|pos=RB}}

|defensive_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=40|class=Sr|first=Octavius|last=Morgan|pos=DL}}

|special_teams_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=|class=|first=Phil|last=Vierneisel|pos=P}}

}}

{{American football roster/Footer|roster_url= https://fightingillini.com/sports/2015/7/18/football_alltimerosters_1950_1974.aspx?#1973|accessdate=

|head_coach=

Bob Blackman

|asst_coach=

}}

References

Illinois

Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons

Illinois Fighting Illini football