Illinois Football: Celebrating a Century at Memorial Stadium

Quick History – Memorial Stadium’s 100th-Year Rededication

Illinois Football (#22) is preparing for an epic clash, as the (#24) Michigan Wolverines head Champaign for a highly anticipated top-25 Big Ten matchup. The reigning nation champs are 4-2 coming off of a bye week, following a disappointing 27-17 loss to Washington in Seattle. After the Illini nearly lost to Purdue in a stressful overtime game at home, both teams will certainly look to recover on Saturday afternoon.

Luckily for Illinois, they will have heavy support from the Illini faithful. Memorial Stadium is completely Sold Out, so 60,670+ Illini fans will be present to witness Saturday’s 100th-year rededication of the historic venue. Additionally, the Fighting Illini will wear specialized 1920s-themed uniforms in celebration of the 1924 season.

Of course, it is a season that will forever be legendary in Illini athletics, thanks to an ice worker from Wheaton, Ill.

From individually hand-painted helmets to the top uniform technology in the world, our players will honor 100 years of tradition while being equipped with the best in football on Oct. 19.#Illini // #HTTO // #famILLy pic.twitter.com/XM9yfKndbh

— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) August 8, 2024

The Game That Made a Ghost

Saturday’s (10/19) rededication is a flashback to October 18th, 1924. The day Harold “Red” Grange forever solidified himself into the history of college football.

On that day, the “Wheaton Iceman” led Illinois Football to a 39-14 victory over Michigan in remarkable fashion, to celebrate the Fighting Illini’s beautiful new home in Champaign.

Red dominated the Wolverines in legendary fashion, scoring four touchdowns in the first half alone. Amongst his many scores, a 95-yard kickoff return to the house. Grange finished off a historic performance vs the Wolverines with a mind-blowing 402 total rushing yards, and 6 touchdowns.

Red’s legendary performance turned him into a national star, earning him the nickname “The Galloping Ghost.”

Sportswriter Grantland Rice forever immortalized Grange’s legacy in the poem below:

A streak of fire, a breath of flame,
Eluding all who reach and clutch;
A gray ghost thrown into the game,
That rival hands may never touch…
Red Grange of Illinois!

In 1924, James Crusinberry of the Chicago Tribune furthermore stated, “Michigan never knew Red Grange, the Illinois wildcat, until today. Now Michigan knows him well. He stamped himself as one of the greatest football stars of all time, East or West.”