1989 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

1989 Illinois Fighting Illini football
Florida Citrus Bowl champion
Florida Citrus Bowl, W 31–21 vs. Virginia
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 10
AP	No. 10
Record	10–2 (7–1 Big Ten)
Head coach	John Mackovic (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Gene Dahlquist (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Lou Tepper (2nd season)
MVPs	Mike Bellamy Moe Gardner
Captains	Craig Schneider Steve Glasson Mike Bellamy Moe Gardner
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons ←  1988 1990  →

1989 Big Ten Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 7 Michigan $	8	–	0	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
No. 10 Illinois	7	–	1	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
No. 16 Michigan State	6	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
No. 24 Ohio State	6	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Minnesota	4	–	4	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Indiana	3	–	5	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Iowa	3	–	5	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Purdue	2	–	6	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Wisconsin	1	–	7	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
Northwestern	0	–	8	–	0			0	–	11	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1989 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second year under head coach John Mackovic, the Fighting Illini compiled a 10–2 record (7–1 in conference games), finished in second place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 301 to 161. Illinois concluded its season in the 1990 Florida Citrus Bowl, defeating Virginia by a 31–21 score. They were ranked No. 10 in the final AP and UPI polls. ^[1]

Quarterback Jeff George led the Big Ten with 216 completions, 348 pass attempts, 2,417 passing yards, and 19 passing touchdowns. George won the Sammy Baugh Trophy as the best quarterback in college football. The team's other statistical leaders included fullback Howard Griffith (654 rushing yards, 66 points scored) and wide receiver Mike Bellamy (51 receptions for 761 yards). ^[2]

Nine Illinois players received first-team honors from the Associated Press (AP) or United Press International (UPI) on the 1989 All-Big Ten Conference football team: George at quarterback (AP-1, UPI-1); Bellamy at wide receiver (AP-2, UPI-1); center Curt Lovelace (AP-1); defensive linemen Mel Agee (AP-1, UPI-1) and Moe Gardner (AP-1, UPI-1); linebacker Darrick Brownlow (AP-1, UPI-1): and defensive backs Henry Jones (AP-1, UPI-1) and Marlon Primous (AP-2, UPI-1). ^{[3] [4]}

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 4	2:30 pm	at No. 5 USC *	No. 22	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA	ABC	W 14–13	54,622	[5]
September 16	2:30 pm	at No. 8 Colorado *	No. 10	Folsom Field Boulder, CO	CBS	L 7–38	46,747	[6]
September 23	1:00 pm	Utah State *	No. 20	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL		W 41–2	61,553	[7]
October 7	2:30 pm	Ohio State	No. 18	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (Illibuck)	ABC	W 34–14	69,088	[8]
October 14	1:00 pm	at Purdue	No. 16	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN (rivalry)		W 14–2	41,101	[9]
October 21	11:30 am	at Michigan State	No. 13	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	ESPN	W 14–10	76,216	[10]
October 28	1:00 pm	Wisconsin	No. 8	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL		W 32–9	64,856	[11]
November 4	2:30 pm	at Iowa	No. 8	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA	ABC	W 31–7	67,700	[12]
November 11	2:30 pm	No. 3 Michigan	No. 8	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (rivalry)	ABC	L 10–24	73,069	[13]
November 18	2:30 pm	Indiana	No. 12	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (rivalry)	ABC	W 41–28	53,368	[14]
November 25	2:00 pm	at Northwestern	No. 11	Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL (rivalry)		W 63–14	31,017	[15]
January 1	12:30 pm	vs. No. 16 Virginia *	No. 11	Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL (Florida Citrus Bowl)	ABC	W 31–21	60,016	[16]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Rankings

Main article: 1989 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Game summaries

Ohio State

See also: Illibuck

Ohio State Buckeyes (2–1) at #18 Illinois Fighting Illini (2–1)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio St	0	7	7	0	14
Illinois	7	3	14	10	34

at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

• Date: October 7
• Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
• Game weather: Sunny, 54 °F (12 °C)
• Game attendance: 69,088
• Referee: Gil Marchman
• TV: ABC
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter ILL – Howard Griffith 1-yard run (Doug Higgins kick), 1:01. Illinois 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 45 yards, 1:59. Second quarter OSU – Carlos Snow 7-yard run (Pat O'Morrow kick), 13:31. Tie 7–7. Drive: 7 plays, 66 yards, 2:30. ILL – Doug Higgins 26-yard field goal, 9:07. Illinois 10–7. Drive: 11 plays, 49 yards, 4:24. Third quarter ILL – Howard Griffith 5-yard run (Chris Siambekos kick), 8:57. Illinois 17–7. Drive: 8 plays, 56 yards, 3:49. OSU – Jeff Graham 66-yard punt return (Pat O'Morrow kick), 4:22. Illinois 17–14. ILL – Mike Bellamy 34-yard pass from Steve Williams (Chris Siambekos kick), 3:30. Illinois 24–14. Drive: 3 plays, 60 yards, 0:52. Fourth quarter ILL – Chris Siambekos 36-yard field goal, 14:49. Illinois 27–14. Drive: 7 plays, 11 yards, 2:26. ILL – Ken Thomas 36-yard run (Chris Siambekos kick), 3:27. Illinois 34–14. Drive: 10 plays, 99 yards, 4:17. Top passers OSU – Greg Frey – 13/25, 137 yards, INT ILL – Jeff George – 12/20, 130 yards, 2 INT Top rushers OSU – Carlos Snow – 21 rushes, 97 yards, TD ILL – Howard Griffith – 20 rushes, 117 yards, 2 TD Top receivers OSU – Jeff Graham – 5 receptions, 71 yards ILL – Mike Bellamy – 10 receptions, 152 yards, TD

At Purdue

See also: Purdue Cannon

#16 Illinois Fighting Illini (3–1) at Purdue Boilermakers (1–3)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Illinois	7	0	0	7	14
Purdue	0	0	0	2	2

at Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

• Date: October 14, 1989
• Game attendance: 41,101

Jeff George made his first appearance at Purdue since transferring following the 1986 season ^{[17] [18] [19]}

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois	Passing	Jeff George	24/42, 254 Yds, TD
	Rushing	Howard Griffith	24 Rush, 94 Yds, TD
	Receiving
Purdue	Passing	Jeff Lesniewicz	9/22, 82 Yds
	Rushing
	Receiving

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP ILL PUR 1 9:49 16 80 Illinois Frank Hartley 3-yard touchdown reception from Jeff George, kick good 7 0 4 12:13 Purdue Safety, Craig Davisson blocked punt by Brian Menkhausen out of end zone 7 2 4 0:36 80 Illinois Howard Griffith 1-yard touchdown run, kick good 14 2 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 14 2

Florida Citrus Bowl (vs. Virginia)

Illinois vs. Virginia

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
•No. 11 Fighting Illini	7	10	7	7	31
No. 16 Cavaliers	0	7	7	7	21

• Date: January 1
• Location: Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida
• Game attendance: 60,016
• Television network: ABC

Main article: 1990 Florida Citrus Bowl

See also: 1989 Virginia Cavaliers football team

Roster

1989 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class RB Kameno Bell WR 2 Mike Bellamy Sr RB Victor Bowlay-Williams RB Darren Boyer TE Dan Donovan RB Steve Feagin TE Jeff Finke QB 11 Jeff George Jr RB 29 Howard Griffith Jr TE 82 Frank Hartley Jr OT 79 Brad Hopkins So QB Jeff Kinney OL Tony Laster RB Wagner Lester OL Curt Lovelace WR Gus Palma OL Cam Pepper WR Luke Petraitis RB Alfred Pierce WR Dino Pollock OL Craig Schneider RB Errol Shavers WR Dave Silva C 69 Tim Simpson So RB Art Slowinski RB Ken Thomas QB Jason Verduzco WR Shawn Wax WR Steve Williams	Defense Pos. # Name Class DT 96 Mel Agee Jr LB Romero Brice LB Julyon Brown LB 48 Darrick Brownlow Jr DT 95 Moe Gardner Jr LB Steve Glasson DB 33 Chris Green Jr LB Jason Guard DB Mike Hopkins DB 18 Henry Jones Jr DB 37 Steve Nelson Jr DB Quintin Parker DB Marlon Primous DL Sean Streeter LB Brian Williams	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K Doug Higgins P Brian Menkhausen K Chris Siambekos	Head coach John Mackovic Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

Awards and honors

• Jeff George, Sammy Baugh Trophy ^[20]

1990 NFL draft

Player	Round	Pick	Position	Club
Jeff George	1	1	Quarterback	Indianapolis Colts
Mike Bellamy	2	50	Wide receiver	Philadelphia Eagles

^[21]

References

1. "1989 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
2. "1989 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
3. "Indiana's Thompson heads All-Big Ten team". The Daily Reporter (AP story). November 30, 1989. p. 5.
4. "UPI All-Big Ten team". Detroit Free Press. November 30, 1989. p. 6F.
5. "Illinois rally jolts Southern California". The Courier-News. September 5, 1989. Retrieved June 9, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
6. "Colorado hopes to climb after scaling Illinois". The Tennessean. September 17, 1989. Retrieved June 9, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
7. "Illini have it their way with Aggies". Quad-City Times. September 24, 1989. Retrieved June 9, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
8. "Illini pass-and-catch whips Buckeyes, 34–14". Sunday Herald-Times. October 8, 1989. Retrieved June 9, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
9. "Positive Akers pleased with his Boilermakers". The Kokomo Tribune. October 15, 1989. Retrieved June 9, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
10. "Spartan's fumble sets up Illini victory". The Saginaw News. October 22, 1989. Retrieved June 9, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
11. "Illinois remains on top". Star Tribune. October 29, 1989. Retrieved June 9, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
12. "Illini get well-rounded effort in win over Iowa". The Pantagraph. November 5, 1989. Retrieved June 9, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
13. "Victory puts Michigan in driver's seat". Wisconsin State Journal. November 12, 1989. Retrieved June 9, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
14. "By George, IU whipped". The Republic. November 19, 1989. Retrieved June 9, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
15. "Illini roar into Citrus Bowl bid". Herald and Review. November 26, 1989. Retrieved June 9, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
16. "Illinois just too strong for Virginia in 31–21 win". St. Petersburg Times. January 2, 1990. Retrieved February 3, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
17. Slater, Jim (October 14, 1989). "Illinois 14, Purdue 2". UPI Archives. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
18. Tatlock, David (October 16, 1989). "Purdue Defense Shines in Loss". The Purdue Exponent Archives. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
19. Youmans, Matt (October 16, 1989). "Boiler Defense Goes to Waste as Illinois Wins". The Purdue Exponent Archives. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
20. "Awards". www.touchdownclubofcolumbus.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011.
21. "1990 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on December 20, 2007.