CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — "The Galloping Ghost" is returning to Memorial Stadium for Year 2 of the Freaky Fast 77 Yard Dash presented by Jimmy John's. The popular race between Red Grange and a University of Illinois student will once again be ran between the third and fourth quarters of Fighting Illini football games.
The contestants will begin at the 23-yard line, racing 77 yards across the field to honor the legendary No. 77 worn by Red Grange during his three All-American seasons at Illinois from 1923-25. The student racing the modern-day version of Red will have a chance to win free Jimmy John's for a year.
Last season, it proved to be a difficult task for the student contestants lining up against one of college football's all-time greats. Harold "Red" Grange ran for over 2,000 yards and scored 34 touchdowns during his three seasons in Champaign. He was a charter member of the Pro (1963) and College (1951) Football Halls of Fame and was named to The Sporting News All-Time Team, the Big Ten Diamond Anniversary Team, the Walter Camp All-Century Team, the Illinois All-Century Team and the Big Ten Network's No. 1 'Icon'. Grange's famous No. 77 was retired after the completion of his final game at Illinois on Nov. 21, 1925, and he has a 12-foot statue outside of Memorial Stadium.
Nominate Student Contestants
Illinois Athletics is asking fans and students to nominate student contestants for the Freaky Fast 77 Yard Dash. University of Illinois students can nominate themselves or other students by completing the nomination form here.
Contestants must be University of Illinois students. Contestants will have the opportunity to bring a select group of friends and family to the field to watch them race Red.
