1947 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

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 No. 5 Army to a scoreless tie and narrowly lost by a 14–7 score to undefeated national champion Michigan.[1] End Ike Owens was selected as the team's most valuable player.[2]

1947 Illinois Fighting Illini football
ConferenceBig Nine Conference
Record5–3–1 (3–3 Big Nine)
Head coach
MVPIke Owens
CaptainArt Duffelmeier
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
1947 Big Nine Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 2 Michigan $ 6 –0 –010 –0 –0
Wisconsin 3 –2 –15 –3 –1
Minnesota 3 –3 –06 –3 –0
Illinois 3 –3 –05 –3 –1
Purdue 3 –3 –05 –4 –0
Indiana 2 –3 –15 –3 –1
Iowa 2 –3 –13 –5 –1
Northwestern 2 –4 –03 –6 –0
Ohio State 1 –4 –12 –6 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Illinois was unranked in the final AP poll but was ranked at No. 8 in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1947.[3]

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 27Pittsburgh*
W 14–022,079[4]
October 4at Iowa
W 35–1252,294[5]
October 11at No. 5 Army*No. 6
T 0–065,000[6]
October 18No. 13 MinnesotaNo. 6
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
W 40–1356,048[7]
October 25at PurdueNo. 5
L 7–1442,000[8]
November 1No. 2 MichigandaggerNo. 11
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
L 7–1471,119[9]
November 8Western Michigan*No. 11
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
W 60–1424,012[10]
November 15at Ohio StateNo. 11
W 28–770,036[11]
November 22NorthwesternNo. 12
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL (rivalry)
L 13–2852,158[12]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References
  1. "1947 Illinois Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  2. "Fighting Illini Football Record Book" (PDF). University of Illinois. 2015. p. 155. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  3. Dr. E. E. Litkenhous (December 18, 1947). "Michigan National Champion in Final Litkenhous Ratings". Times. p. 47 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Irving Vaughan (September 28, 1947). "Illini Whip Pitt, 14-0: Eddleman Scores Both Illinois Touchdowns in Fourth Quarter". Chicago Tribune. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Tony Cordaro (October 5, 1947). "Illinois Crushes Iowa, 35-12". The Des Moines Register. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Gene Ward (October 12, 1947). "Cadets Play 0-0 Draw; Illini Miss Field Goal". The Daily News (New York City). p. 102 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Charles Johnson (October 19, 1947). "Illinois' Superior Speed, Passing Snap Fighting Gophers' Winning Streak 40-13". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune. pp. Sports 1–2 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. 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 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. 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 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Illinois Routs West. Michigan Eleven, 60 To 14". Chicago Tribune. November 9, 1947. p. II-5 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. Maurice Shevlin (November 16, 1947). "Illini Defeat Ohio State in Rain, 28 to 7". Chicago Tribune. pp. II-1, II-7 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. Charles Chamberlain (November 23, 1947). "2 Wildcat Rallies Bring 28-13 Victory Over Illini". The Pantagraph. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.


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