Turpin Time

Mike White's Magical Season

Posted by: Jim Turpin

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 11:58 AM

     Illinois is a 8 1/2 point dog to Mizzou in the opener.  Sounds about right, considering the pre-season rankings of both teams.

     The Illini have a mighty good chance at winning this thing.   But, if they don't, shall we slash our wrists?   I think not.

     In 1983 Tim Brewster, Joe Miles, and Don Thorp captained an Illini team that fell 28-18 to the Tigers in the opener.

     What happened after that?

     The Illini proceeded to knock off Stanford 17-7 before running the table against all nine Big 10 teams.   Mike White's 4th team beat 'em all.   No one will ever do that again - with 11 teams and  the schedule set up the way it is in the Big 10.

     After that fun, the Rose Bowl was a disaster, a 45-9 loss to UCLA.   But, even that can not tarnish what the '83 Illini did.

     It has been 25 years .  

     This, then, is the Silver Anniversary.

     Now, in the year of the Olympics, a season like that would be pure Gold.

     Especially, if it begins with a win over Missouri, something the '83 squad could not accomplish.

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