April 19, 2011

The Varsity "I" Association is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the five-year bowl streak for the University of Illinois football program from 1988-92. All past players, managers, coaches, and support staff are invited back for a reunion held in conjunction with the annual Football BBQ Bash and Orange and Blue Spring Game on April 22-23. This is the final feature in the five-part series on the era.

Part Five
1992: "Fighting Illini Land a Holiday!"

Illinois entered the 1992 season with one game of experience under its new head coach, Lou Tepper, who brought a new mindset to Illinois. The team was now defensive-minded and Coach Tepper was more hands-on than Mackovic.

"They were polar opposites as leaders," flanker John Wright said. "John Mackovic was a system coach. He was more of a technician and offensive guy. Coach Tepper was a defensive guy, much more in the trenches and motivational."

The season wasn't as smooth as previous seasons, but the results were the same. The high-powered Mackovic offenses were gone, and Jason Verduzco's offense was transitioning to new offensive coordinator Tom Beck's style. Illinois produced another bowl-game appearance that year and another win against Ohio State.

"Coach Tep was loose and relaxed and I think that allowed the team to play a little better," Verduzco said. "With the defensive-minded philosophy, we wanted to keep it close and win it on defense."

After a 2-2 start, Illinois traveled to Columbus, Ohio, attempting to win a fifth straight game against Ohio State, and third consecutive in Columbus.

"We went into the Ohio State game as underdogs, at least that was the national perception," tackle Brad Hopkins said. "But you couldn't tell that to anyone in our locker room because we knew what we could do against those guys."

Illinois played strong on defense, including a 100-yard fumble return, and won the game, 18-16. The fifth straight win against Ohio State is the longest streak in Illinois history. It was also the third straight win in Columbus, making Illinois only the second team since 1920 to accomplish the feat.

"I love telling Ohio State fans that I never lost to the Buckeyes," Wright said. "They can't believe it."

After the Ohio State win, Illinois fell to Iowa and Northwestern. The Wildcats came from behind in the fourth quarter to stun the Illini, 27-26.

"That was a really low point, a valley," Wright said. "But then we turned it around."

Illinois rebounded for a comeback win at Wisconsin. After struggling in the first half of the season, Verduzco turned it around by taking over the play calling and leading the team on a last-minute march to beat the Badgers, 13-12.

"That was a highlight of my career," Wright said. "Running that two-minute drill was a lot of fun. We competed hard and came back and won and it was the make-or-break game of the season. If we lose that game, we don't go to a bowl game."

The win also marked the sixth straight win against Wisconsin and added to Illinois' run of 11 wins in 12 contests against the Badgers. Verduzco earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors for the second time that season.

Verduzco continued his late-game heroics a week later against Purdue, throwing a game-winning touchdown pass for another close victory, 20-17.

"He always had the confidence and the backing of the unit," Hopkins said. "We knew he was a great quarterback, even when he was backing up Jeff George. We knew he was going to get a shot, and with that big arm of his, he was going to overcome the fact that he wasn't the tallest guy. He was tough. He was smart. It wasn't any surprise that he kept the program where we wanted it to be."

Illinois' season was far from saved, however, as Illinois traveled to Ann Arbor, Mich., the following week for a matchup against the No. 3 Wolverines. For all their success against Ohio State, the Illinois seniors had yet to beat Michigan.

"Our rivals were different depending on where you grew up," Hopkins said. "I always wanted to beat Iowa. Kids from the east side of the state wanted to match up against Purdue and Indiana. But we all wanted to beat Michigan. We knew if we wanted to win the Big Ten Championship, we had to beat Bo Schembechler and the guys in the silly helmets."

The Illini went into the Big House as 28-point underdogs, but they played the Wolverines to a tie at 22-22 after they made a last-minute field goal.

"I remember being up three points late in the game and thinking, `These guys are third in the country and now they're going to have to prove it.' And they did," Verduzco said. "It's fun to play in a game like that when both teams are playing well when it counts."

The tie set up a showdown with Michigan State in the regular-season finale. The winner was headed to San Diego, Calif., for the Holiday Bowl and the loser's season was finished. Illinois pulled out a 14-10 win, the season's seventh game--and fifth straight--decided by fewer than five points.

"It was big for us as a senior class," Verduzco said. "We wanted to keep that bowl streak going. Whatever the sport is, it's fun to play in games where something is truly at stake. It was fun, not only just extending that streak, but the way we did it, stringing wins together at the end of the year against some pretty good teams, both at home and on the road."

Dana Howard recorded 23 tackles and earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors.

"Dana was a fireplug," Hopkins said. "You have to be hard-nosed to play in the Big Ten, especially as a linebacker and he did it. He hustled, he was aggressive and he wasn't afraid to play with emotion. Emotion is what separates the good players from the great players, and Dana was a great player."

Illinois finished the season fourth in the Big Ten, marking the fifth straight year in the top half of the Big Ten, second only to Michigan. The season also was the start of Simeon Rice's career. Rice was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year by the media and second-team All-Big Ten by coaches and media.

"He was a scary guy," Hopkins said. "No one in the Big Ten wanted to see him lining up across from them. He was one of the most formidable defensive ends that I went against, even in the pros."

The Illini lost in the Holiday Bowl to Hawai'i, 27-17, but the senior class left a lasting mark on Illinois football. The bowl appearance was the program's fifth straight, making Illinois one of just nine schools that appeared in five consecutive bowl games from 1988-92.

Verduzco was named team MVP and finished his career second in Illinois history in career passing yards.

Hopkins was a consensus first-team All-Big Ten tackle. He was selected 13th overall in the NFL draft and played 13 seasons in the NFL, earning All-Pro honors in 2000 and two Pro Bowl selections.

"I wouldn't trade those years for anything," Hopkins said. "It was one of the most rewarding parts of my life. I got to go to a great institution and was surrounded by great players and coaches. I don't think I would have been able to achieve what I did if I would have gone to any other program."

Wright redshirted in 1988, making him a part of all five bowl teams from 1988-1992.

"Illinois had some great years in the 60s," Wright said. "The Zuppke and Red Grange years were probably the platinum years, but 1988-1992 was a golden era. We had a great run."