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Illinois Football: Illini Mount Rushmore for the football program

By Rees Woodcock

(Original Caption) Red Grange, (extreme right in front), leading his warriors to battle the University of Chicago was the scene at Memorial Stadium. In the front row and left to right are-- Bubbles Mittenwallner, Chuck Kassel, and Earl Britton. Illinois won.
(Original Caption) Red Grange, (extreme right in front), leading his warriors to battle the University of Chicago was the scene at Memorial Stadium. In the front row and left to right are-- Bubbles Mittenwallner, Chuck Kassel, and Earl Britton. Illinois won. /
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(Original Caption) Famed Coach Bob zuppke of the University of Illinois returned to the campus here Thursday night (10/27) to be feted at a banquet. He is shown standing behind the backfield of his 1924 team. The men are (left to right) Harry Hall, who was quarterback; Wally McLwain, right half; Earl Britton, full; and Red Grange, left half..
(Original Caption) Famed Coach Bob zuppke of the University of Illinois returned to the campus here Thursday night (10/27) to be feted at a banquet. He is shown standing behind the backfield of his 1924 team. The men are (left to right) Harry Hall, who was quarterback; Wally McLwain, right half; Earl Britton, full; and Red Grange, left half.. /

1. Robert “Bob” Zuppke

I think there are a few easy picks to be up on the Illinois football Mount Rushmore. There has to be a head coach up there and the best option for the head coaching spot is none other than Robert C. Zuppke.

Zuppke was the head coach of the Orange and Blue for 29 years. He coached from 1913 through the 1941 season. The longevity of his coaching tenure was impressive but so was his ability to put wins on the board and win the big game when needing to.

Through the 29 seasons at the helm for the Illini, Zuppke had a career record of 131-81-13. He managed to only have nine losing seasons out of the 29 years he was in Champaign as well. That is a pretty good feat.

Besides for the tremendous record Zuppke boasts, his postseason accomplishments put him on the Illinois football Mount Rushmore as well. He won the 1914, 1915 (co-champion), 1918, 1919, 1923, 1927 and 1928 Big Ten titles. Beyond the conference championships, Zuppke led the Illini to four national titles in 1914, 1919, 1923 and 1927.

Zuppke is the winningest coach in program history. He has seven Big Ten titles and four national titles. He is front and center when it comes to the Mount Rushmore debate with the Illinois football team.

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