April 6, 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. In anticipation of the reunion, there will be a five-part series on the era.
Part Three
1990: "The Centennial Celebration"
By Libby Knight, Illinois Sports Information
There was much to be excited about entering the 1990 season, as the Illini were coming off a win in the Florida Citrus Bowl the previous year and had a strong nucleus returning.
The University of Illinois held a centennial celebration with football getting its start for the Fighting Illini 100 years prior in 1890. Fans voted on an all-century team, bought videos and books commemorating the tradition of Illinois football, and were anticipating another special season to add to the proud history. Former players and coaches were planning a trip back to campus with reunions for each era planned throughout the home schedule. Players and coaches were ready to fight for the Big Ten title that had eluded them the year before.
Despite opening the season with a loss to Arizona, the Illini quickly bounced back the following game against eventual national champion Colorado, which had topped Illinois the previous year. It took a late rally, but the Illini were able to avenge their prior loss, as touchdowns by Jason Verduzco and Howard Griffith and a Doug Higgins field goal capped an impressive comeback and keyed Illinois to a 23-22 victory.
Next up was in-state rival Southern Illinois, which took an early 21-7 lead after the first quarter and set the stage for a record-setting performance by Griffith. After recording his first touchdown of the game in the opening stanza, Griffith closed out the half with three more to give Illinois a 28-21 lead heading into the break.
"It was totally unexpected," All-America linebacker Darrick Brownlow said. "We really weren't trying to go out and see how many times we could let Howard score. He was just being the athlete that he was and our go-to guy."
The Illini defense held the Salukis scoreless the rest of the way to claim a 56-21 win, while Griffith continued his dominance with four more touchdowns in the third quarter to bring his total to eight for the game en route to setting a new NCAA record for touchdowns in a game.
"It was really exciting watching the offense go down and score and put the ball in his hands and allow him to do that," Brownlow said. "It wasn't something that we set out to do. It was pretty much an afterthought after we got into the game and Southern Illinois put up the fight that they did. It was quite exciting and fun to be a part of."
Illinois continued its winning ways to open the Big Ten season and captured four straight wins. The win streak included a second straight win in Columbus over the Ohio State Buckeyes and a 15-13 victory over Michigan State on a Chris Richardson fourth quarter field goal.
"Our defense as a whole, I believe we had maybe six or seven of those guys go on to play in the NFL," Brownlow says. "We definitely had talent there. Moe Gardner and I played in high school together, so I was very aware of his abilities early on. Moe, the late Mel Agee, Romero Brice, Henry Jones, Chris Green, Marlon Primous, all those guys were very key to our success. It was 11 guys out there getting it done and we fed off each other."
As a result, Illinois jumped to No. 5 in the nation heading into its meeting with No. 13 Iowa with potential Big Ten Championship implications on the line. Unfortunately, the Hawkeyes took control early and never looked back, taking the game, 54-28.
"We felt like we were prepared going into the game," Brownlow said. "Our defense didn't play as well as we had in the past, but it definitely was a good feeling to have played for the outright Big Ten Championship."
Illinois sustained another tough loss the following game at Michigan, 22-17, but victories over Indiana and Northwestern to close out the season put Illinois back in position to have a chance to play in the Rose Bowl.
"Unfortunately, we didn't win the outright Big Ten Championship, but our experiences that year were second to none," Brownlow said. "The camaraderie and friendships that were made throughout my whole career at Illinois were unbelievable and definitely something I'll cherish for a lifetime."
The Illini claimed a share of the Big Ten Championship for the first time since the 1983 season and accepted an invitation to the Hall of Fame Bowl in Tampa, Fla., to play Clemson. Though the Tigers came away with the win, the experience was something Brownlow will never forget.
"Every athlete's goal when they get into college football is to try to get to a bowl game at the end of the season," Brownlow said. "We were trying to get to the Rose Bowl, but to be able to attend a Jan. 1 bowl was definitely something we were proud of."
Illinois finished the season ranked No. 25 in the country, while individually, Moe Gardner earned All-America honors for the second consecutive year and Brownlow finished second in voting for the Butkus Award. Gardner and Brownlow shared the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honor. Griffith ended his career at Illinois with 33 touchdowns, including 15 during his senior season, which were both Illinois all-time records at the time.
"If you're fortunate enough to be able to play college football and be around a special group of guys that have a common bond and goal...it's something that I wish every kid could have," says Brownlow. "The whole experience at Illinois was amazing. The campus and the University were outstanding. The facilities were second-to-none and my entire college education and football career was unbelievable."
