****Favorite all-time Illinois Fighting Illini****

[MeetTheFerentz]

We did something like this some years ago and it was pretty fun. With the school year out, spring football in the rearview mirror and football season still well ahead of us, this is a time of year when something different is needed on this board. We'll cover all 13 of our B1G brethren as well as a few others this summer. There will be 4 categories, but you don't need an answer for all if you don't want:

1) Football player
2) Basketball player or other sport
3) Female athlete
4) Non-athlete

I'll start for this one, but since I don't want to "take the best answers" being first to select every time, for most schools I'll let others go first. Have fun and be cordial.

1) Dick Butkus
2) Kendall Gill
3) Tonja Buford-Bailey
4) Hugh Hefner

 

[TheTruthTheWholeTruth]

1 Simeon Rice
2 Nick Anderson
3 ?
4 Hugh Hefner and it ain’t even close

 

[rchawk]

Red Grange for football, the Galloping Ghost. Also known as the Wheaton Iceman.

 

[hawkfeever]

C'mon ya Dick Butkus!!!!

 

[thecarls]

Jason Ford......

 

[rchawk]

C'mon ya Dick Butkus!!!!

I know it's a tough call. Butkus was one of the greatest middle linebackers to ever play the game. If somebody says he was the greatest, I won't argue with that.

Grange was a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In the fledgling days of the NFL George Halas signed him with the Chicago Bears, 1925 I think. Halas and the Bears went on what I've seen called a Barnstorming Tour. Grange paid a lot of bills for Halas that needed paying, and helped the young NFL.

Link: http://galleries.apps.chicagotribune.com/chi-red-grange-football-history-photos-20141008/

 

[Hayes_30]

Juice Williams

 

[DutchyFunStar]

Kendall Gill is the one that stands out from my youth.

 

[hawk halen]

In the mid-70s Illinois had a defensive lineman named John DeFeliciantonio. When the Illini came to Kinnick, P.A. announcer Reverend Bob correctly pronounced his name after his first tackle. From that point on, Rev. Bob would say "Tackle by Johnny-D." The crowd loved it.

 

[anon_gjzkhykcp9iuj]

Marcus Liberty

 

[NevadaHawk]

Champagne Tony Eason.

 

[somebody once]

FB Jason Verduzco
BB Kenny Battle

 

[blhawk]

How can you have a favorite illini anything when it comes to men's sports? Or any other conference rival? I know it's may but no thanks....have fun

 

[rchawk]

How can you have a favorite illini anything when it comes to men's sports? Or any other conference rival? I know it's may but no thanks....have fun

Respect.

 

[Hawks4Life86]

Eddie McGee for that pick he threw in the end zone.

 

[rchawk]

Eddie McGee for that pick he threw in the end zone.

Is he the QB who threw the nice pass to Brett Greenwood? I had crappy seats for the game but it happened right in front of me.

 

[hawkfeever]

Jeff George.

 

[MikeT2425]

Red Grange
Lou Do

 

[darylhawk]

Certainly NOT Andy effing Kaufmann!!!

 

[Obviously Oblivious]

1. Dick Butkus
2. Deron Williams
3. Tonja Buford-Bailey
4. Three way tie: Andy Richter, Roger Ebert and Ron Popeil

 

[final_flashx]

I actually respected J Leman and liked watching him play.... also Dee Brown was a legit player too... trying to think of hot Illini chicks but can't at the moment

 

[bumpstock]

1) Jim Grabowski
2) Kendrick Nunn
3) Tonya Williams
4) Gene Hackman (attended, but graduated Pasadena Playhouse)

 

[Aleister_Crowley]

Jon Beutjer

 

[TCOOL]

Football- Simeon Rice
Basketball- Luther Head

 

[Hawks4Life86]

Is he the QB who threw the nice pass to Brett Greenwood? I had crappy seats for the game but it happened right in front of me.

Yes.

 

[fezzador]

I didn't know this until this morning, but The Chief from Carmen Sandiego went to UI-UC.

CSB, I know.

 

[pacnorthhawkeye]

How bout none?

 

[LarryMullenJr.]

I didn't realize they could also put a great list together of "Cool Sounding Names" from their programs.

 

[4IUSox2]

Howard Griffith
Doug Altenberger
No Clue

 

[CAhawki]

Juice or Benn.

 

[pocha444444]

Eddie McGee for that pick he threw in the end zone.

I think you mean "The Closer"

 

[hammer742000]

What nobody is gonna pick Deon Thomas for basketball.

 

[VicHawkeye]

Butkus/Grange
Ben Wilson (my friend went to Simeon and was one of his best friends)

Hef. My grandma graduated from the same hs as Hef, Steinmetz in Chicago.

I realize that Wilson never got to play for them. Such a horrible tragedy.

 

[Born Hawkeye]

I love me some Lovie Smith. He deserves a lifetime contract.

 

[NevadaHawk]

I think the Illinois had a RB by the name of Mendenhall who played in the NFL? Maybe with the Patriots?

 

[IAROY]

Isiah Martinez

 

[CP84]

Lere Oladipo

 

[Cougar63]

I think the Illinois had a RB by the name of Mendenhall who played in the NFL? Maybe with the Patriots?

Steelers, I believe

 

[IamHawkeye]

We did something like this some years ago and it was pretty fun. With the school year out, spring football in the rearview mirror and football season still well ahead of us, this is a time of year when something different is needed on this board. We'll cover all 13 of our B1G brethren as well as a few others this summer. There will be 4 categories, but you don't need an answer for all if you don't want:

1) Football player
2) Basketball player or other sport
3) Female athlete
4) Non-athlete

I'll start for this one, but since I don't want to "take the best answers" being first to select every time, for most schools I'll let others go first. Have fun and be cordial.

1) Dick Butkus
2) Kendall Gill
3) Tonja Buford-Bailey
4) Hugh Hefner

J C Caroline

 

[HawkIDrummer]

Juice Williams