By Mike Pearson
FightingIllini.com
Forty years after their momentous season, Coach Mike White and members of the University of Illinois' 1983 football team will be gathering in Champaign-Urbana for their 40-year reunion the weekend of Sept. 1-2, when the Fighting Illini take on Toledo in their season opener. The following is the first of a four-part series that recounts the details about the men who had a role in that incomparable season. Our first story recalls the circumstances that eventually led to a performance the Big Ten Conference had never before experienced.
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There were a multitude of obstacles facing Illinois head football coach Mike White and his staff as they prepared for what would ultimately become a historic 1983 season.
From the loss of significant personnel to graduation, to the prospects of shifting the offensive and defensive game plans, to a brutal schedule that would include all nine Big Ten opponents, White knew that the task at hand would be difficult.
No longer available to the fourth-year head coach were 25 seniors who had accumulated 63 total varsity letters during their careers. Foremost among them were Tony Eason, 1982's first-team All-Big Ten quarterback; Mike Bass, the conference's most celebrated placekicker; Mike Martin, a first-team all-conference pass catcher who had set school season records for receptions and yards gained; Dan Gregus, a celebrated defensive tackle; and Charles Armstead, a veteran defensive back.
Other key departures included Adam Lingner, a four-year long snapper; receiver Oliver Williams and running back Joe Curtis, 1982's third- and fifth-leading scorers, respectively; and several key members of a defense that had sacked opposing quarterbacks 35 times, held its opponents without scoring on 42 of the 73 times they got across midfield, and intercepted at least one pass in all but one game the year before: Jim Erlandson, Ken Gillen, Mark Jones, Pete Mulchrone, Tom Varrige, Kirby Wilson, Craig Zirbel, and others.
Who, White pondered, could step into his graduates' cleats and perhaps even exceed their individual achievements?
He knew that his program's talent cupboard was still well-stocked. Several untested underclassmen and successful recruiting classes in consecutive years had built the program's talent pool to its highest level since 1963, the Illini's last championship season.
"Our overall defense will be the mainstay of our squad with the experience of the guys who have been here since freshmen," he said prior to the 1983 campaign. "The likes of Terry Cole, Mark Butkus, Don Thorp, Mike Weingrad, Craig Swoope, Mike Heaven, and David Edwards will give us an opportunity to rely on their experience. However, aside from their experience, there is quite a bit of talent throughout our linebacking corps and our defensive secondary. The makeup of our defense has very good seasoning."
White's offensive scheme – which had relied on the arm of Eason, their first-round NFL draft pick quarterback who totaled 3,248 passing yards and 17 aerial touchdowns – was about to experience an overhaul.
As Decatur Herald & Review sportswriter Mark Tupper wrote, "The forward pass will no longer be thrown around like rice at a wedding."
White had plans to change gears on Illinois' offensive attack, one that had depended upon the forward pass in his first three seasons.
"Our transition is coming back the other way, toward the running game," White told reporters. "When we first came to Illinois, we felt that we had to pass. The wide-open style stimulated interest. It was an attention-getter."
But now, White teased the thought that Eason's replacement would be handing off much more than "Champaign Tony" ever did.
"In the past, we had great quarterbacks and receivers, and they needed to be in the focus," White said. "This coming season, we'll have inexperienced quarterbacks and receivers. We have depth at running back, so you'll see us run more."
He was referring to Dwight Beverly and Richard Ryles, who had combined for nearly 750 rushing yards in 1982. White also predicted that Illinois could have emerging stars in 1983, including freshman speedster Thomas Rooks, incoming junior college star Larry Ashley, and rising sophomore Ray Wilson.
Providing holes for them would be three returning offensive line starters: tackle Jim Juriga and guards Rick Schulte and Chris Babyar, along with tight end Tim Brewster. White predicted that Bob Stowe, Bob Miller, and Mike McQuinn would each see additional time on the field.
But who would replace Eason at quarterback? Kris Jenner had thrown only three total passes the year before, while redshirts Ken Cruz and Jack Trudeau were the other candidates. Clearly, the field was wide open.
Another big question for White was who would step in for graduated seniors Williams and Martin at wide receiver. Those candidates included converted running back Mitchell Brookins, redshirt sophomore David Williams, and seniors Cam Benson and Scott Golden.
Illinois' punting game was in good hands with senior Chris Sigourney, but replacing Bass with a capable foot was crucial. The candidates were freshman Daren DePew and the head coach's son, Chris White.
Competition for the Big Ten title would undoubtedly be stiff. Defending champ Michigan, coached by Bo Schembechler, was the preseason favorite. The Wolverines' lineup was stacked with all-stars, including quarterback Steve Smith and All-American guard Stefan Humphries. Coach Earle Bruce's Ohio State Buckeyes were also given a great chance to challenge for the title, thanks to players like Keith Byars, Mike Tomczak, John Frank, and Shaun Gayle. The Iowa Hawkeyes with quarterback Chuck Long couldn't be overlooked either. The major advantage that Illinois held over those three programs was that all would have to play the Illini in Champaign in 1983.
Illini fans were optimistic about their upcoming team, with season ticket sales doubling from 25,000 in 1982 to about 50,000 in 1983. Memorial Stadium was certain to host capacity crowds.
