http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-sports...l-history/

1905 University of Chicago
1913 University of Chicago
1927 Illinois
1951 Illinois
1983 Illinois
1995 Northwestern
1996 Northwestern
2012 Northern Illinois
2012 Northwestern
2013 Northern Illinois

Our 1963 National Championship?

(12-13-2013 10:29 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  Our 1963 National Championship?

That wasn't a major college championship...

1923 U of I undefeated (8-0) National Champs, with Red Grange not near top.... NOT EVEN RANKED?

Now you're on the trolley! That team was the bee's knees! Now if you'll excuse me sport I have to get back to dancing the Charleston with Charlie Chaplin on the Empire State Building.

(12-13-2013 09:51 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  1923 U of I undefeated (8-0) National Champs, with Red Grange not near top.... NOT EVEN RANKED?

Red grange probably would not get recruited today...too small...
What did he weigh? Maybe 170

(12-13-2013 09:21 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-sports...l-history/

1905 University of Chicago
1913 University of Chicago
1927 Illinois
1951 Illinois
1983 Illinois
1995 Northwestern
1996 Northwestern
2012 Northern Illinois
2012 Northwestern
2013 Northern Illinois

Why is the 1983 Illinois football team on this list. They were put on probation for NCAA violations during the 1983 season in 1984.

(12-13-2013 10:58 PM)Kevin S Wrote:  

(12-13-2013 09:21 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-sports...l-history/

1905 University of Chicago
1913 University of Chicago
1927 Illinois
1951 Illinois
1983 Illinois
1995 Northwestern
1996 Northwestern
2012 Northern Illinois
2012 Northwestern
2013 Northern Illinois

Why is the 1983 Illinois football team on this list. They were put on probation for NCAA violations during the 1983 season in 1984.

Same goes for 2012 Northwestern, they were good, but one of the best ever?

(12-13-2013 10:58 PM)Kevin S Wrote:  

(12-13-2013 09:21 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-sports...l-history/

1905 University of Chicago
1913 University of Chicago
1927 Illinois
1951 Illinois
1983 Illinois
1995 Northwestern
1996 Northwestern
2012 Northern Illinois
2012 Northwestern
2013 Northern Illinois

Why is the 1983 Illinois football team on this list. They were put on probation for NCAA violations during the 1983 season in 1984.

Because it's a terrible list. And, technically, it still counts...UI didn't have to vacate the season or wins. Anyway, the inclusion of last year's Northwestern team immediately invalidates the entire list. There are roughly 300 seasons worth of teams to pick from and they list a team that went 5-3 in its own conference. That's nuts.

Subtract 2012 NW and add 2001 Illness...bad bowl game but great team

I mean honestly a list like this isn't even that hard:

1. Start with all national championship teams.
2. Move on to all teams that played in major bowl games AND won their conference (NIU 2012, Illinois 2001, Northwestern 1995, etc). Penalize for losses, bonus for actually winning the bowl game. If you're only going to rank 10, this is as far as you need to go.
3. All major bowl teams that didn't win their conference or conference winners not in a major bowl game or double-digit win teams that did neither.
4. Everybody else (and 2012 Northwestern is in this group) are just good teams that don't belong anywhere near a list like this.

(12-13-2013 11:38 PM)UIHuskie Wrote:  I mean honestly a list like this isn't even that hard:

1. Start with all national championship teams.
2. Move on to all teams that played in major bowl games AND won their conference (NIU 2012, Illinois 2001, Northwestern 1995, etc). Penalize for losses, bonus for actually winning the bowl game. If you're only going to rank 10, this is as far as you need to go.
3. All major bowl teams that didn't win their conference or conference winners not in a major bowl game or double-digit win teams that did neither.
4. Everybody else (and 2012 Northwestern is in this group) are just good teams that don't belong anywhere near a list like this.

I'd buy that analysis.

Should our 2003 season be considered?

Going by memory, which has let me down before, but what about 1963 U of I team which had Butkis and Grabowski. Had 1 loss, won the Rose Bowl abd finished No. 3 in nation or close to that.

(12-13-2013 11:28 PM)UIHuskie Wrote:  

(12-13-2013 10:58 PM)Kevin S Wrote:  

(12-13-2013 09:21 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-sports...l-history/

1905 University of Chicago
1913 University of Chicago
1927 Illinois
1951 Illinois
1983 Illinois
1995 Northwestern
1996 Northwestern
2012 Northern Illinois
2012 Northwestern
2013 Northern Illinois

Why is the 1983 Illinois football team on this list. They were put on probation for NCAA violations during the 1983 season in 1984.

Because it's a terrible list. And, technically, it still counts...UI didn't have to vacate the season or wins. Anyway, the inclusion of last year's Northwestern team immediately invalidates the entire list. There are roughly 300 seasons worth of teams to pick from and they list a team that went 5-3 in its own conference. That's nuts.

Let's be honest, most of those season were pretty bad. Even with the limited options it's not a good list though.

(12-13-2013 11:28 PM)UIHuskie Wrote:  

(12-13-2013 10:58 PM)Kevin S Wrote:  

(12-13-2013 09:21 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-sports...l-history/

1905 University of Chicago
1913 University of Chicago
1927 Illinois
1951 Illinois
1983 Illinois
1995 Northwestern
1996 Northwestern
2012 Northern Illinois
2012 Northwestern
2013 Northern Illinois

Why is the 1983 Illinois football team on this list. They were put on probation for NCAA violations during the 1983 season in 1984.

Because it's a terrible list. And, technically, it still counts...UI didn't have to vacate the season or wins. Anyway, the inclusion of last year's Northwestern team immediately invalidates the entire list. There are roughly 300 seasons worth of teams to pick from and they list a team that went 5-3 in its own conference. That's nuts.

Only team to beat all other 9 teams in the B10 in a single season.

Ok so its a not very well thought out list...its just nice that NIU is on it twice.

Excellent recognition for NIU and Jordan Lynch.

Good defensive corners, excellent WR would have really helped Jordan Lynch.

I'd hesitate to compare today's teams with teams pre-1960s or even 1970s, when most of college football wasn't yet integrated. Like questioning whether Babe Ruth would've hit all those homers against Pedro Martinez, you have to ask whether those teams would've done as well if there was Ray Lewis or Calvin Johnson on an Alabama or LSU.