The 1979 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois during the 1979 Big Ten Conference football season. In their third year under head coach Gary Moeller, the Illini compiled a 2–8–1 record and finished in ninth place in the Big Ten Conference.[1]
The team's offensive leaders were quarterback Lawrence McCullough with 1,254 passing yards, running back Mike Holmes with 792 rushing yards, and wide receiver John Lopez with 296 receiving yards.[2] McCullough was selected as the team's most valuable player.[3]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
|---|
| September 8 | at No. 10 Michigan State | | L 16–33 |
| September 15 | No. 11 Missouri* | | L 6–14 |
| September 22 | at Air Force* | | W 27–19 |
| September 29 | Navy* | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| L 12–13 |
| October 6 | Iowa | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| L 7–13 |
| October 13 | at No. 20 Purdue | | L 14–28 |
| October 20 | No. 11 Michigan | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| L 7–27 |
| October 27 | at Minnesota | | T 17–17 |
| November 3 | No. 5 Ohio State | | L 7–44 |
| November 10 | Indiana | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| L 14–45 |
| November 17 | at Northwestern | | W 29–13 |
- *Non-conference game
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
|
Roster
| 1979 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster
|
|---|
| Players
|
Coaches
|
|---|
Offense
| Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
|---|
| T
|
71
|
Lou Belmont
|
So
| | C
|
63
|
Greg Boeke
|
Jr
| | TE
|
80
|
Lee Boeke
|
Jr
| | QB
|
9
|
Tim McAvoy
|
Jr
| | C
|
53
|
Mike McBeth
|
Sr
| | G
|
76
|
Bob McClure
|
Sr
| | QB
|
11
|
Lawrence McCullough
|
Sr
| | G
|
62
|
Troy McMillin
|
Jr
| | G
|
78
|
Ray Pavesic
|
Sr
| | C
|
51
|
John Scott
|
Jr
| | WR
|
12
|
Kenny Shaw
|
So
| | TE
|
81
|
Mike Sherrod
|
Sr
| | QB
|
10
|
Nick Sowa
|
Sr
| | FB
|
42
|
Calvin Thomas
|
So
| | QB
|
14
|
Rich Weiss
|
Jr
|
|
Defense
| Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
|---|
| DB
|
15
|
Bonji Bonner
|
So
| | DT
|
73
|
Reggie Brown
|
Jr
| | OLB
|
31
|
Pete Burgard
|
So
| | OLB
|
58
|
Tab Carmien
|
Jr
| | LB
|
90
|
Chris Carr
|
Sr
| | DB
|
35
|
Bill Forrester
|
So
| | DB
|
6
|
Rick George
|
So
| | LB
|
38
|
John Gillen
|
Jr
| | LB
|
45
|
Bob Hauser
|
Sr
| | DB
|
48
|
Tim Holm
|
Sr
| | LB
|
89
|
Dan MacLean
|
Sr
| | DT
|
86
|
Stanley Ralph
|
Sr
| | LB
|
85
|
Jerry Ramshaw
|
Sr
| | LB
|
34
|
Jack Squirek
|
So
| | CB
|
16
|
Tyron Worthy
|
So
| | DB
|
39
|
Mark Zimmer
|
So
|
|
Special teams
| Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
|---|
| K
|
3
|
Cliff Jones
|
Jr
|
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
 Injured Redshirt
Roster
|
References
