Considering how popular football is in Illinois, why does the Fighting Illini have such an unsuccessful team? (Chicago: schools, universities)

[Doughboy1918]

Football of course is a huge sensation in the states of the Great Lakes area, many of whose largest public universities are members of the Big Ten (the most famous college sports conference is the country) which hosts many of the greatest and winningest NCAA football teams from the Buckeyes, to the Wolverines, to Notre Dame, to the Nittany Lions, and the Huskers. However, I just wondered, why is the Fighting Illini so unsuccessful in terms of its football team? It ranks the lowest (99th) of the top 100 teams listed on the Wikipedia page of NCAA football teams by wins. Is this because much of the population of Illinois lives in Chicagoland whereby Notre Dame is the prefered college due to closer proximity? Wondered if anyone knows a thing or two as to why this is the case, thanks.

[2020's YouTube Vlog]

Originally Posted by Doughboy1918

Football of course is a huge sensation in the states of the Great Lakes area, many of whose largest public universities are members of the Big Ten (the most famous college sports conference is the country) which hosts many of the greatest and winningest NCAA football teams from the Buckeyes, to the Wolverines, to Notre Dame, to the Nittany Lions, and the Huskers. However, I just wondered, why is the Fighting Illini so unsuccessful in terms of its football team? It ranks the lowest (99th) of the top 100 teams listed on the Wikipedia page of NCAA football teams by wins. Is this because much of the population of Illinois lives in Chicagoland whereby Notre Dame is the prefered college due to closer proximity? Wondered if anyone knows a thing or two as to why this is the case, thanks.

The B1G is definitely one of the most famous, but the SEC is on par or maybe even bigger due to many B1G states having pro sports teams locally as well while SEC teams do not.

To your question, yes Notre Dame's presence (as well as other bigtime midewestern programs) definitely make it tough for Illinois, but it was a solid program until the 1960s when their coach at the time, Pete Elliot, was forced to resign due to being involved in a slush fund scandal.

They had a few really bad coaching regimes until Mike White came in during the 1980s, but he also had to resign due to recruiting violations.

They had a good run under John Mackovic, but he went off to Texas.

So basically, some scandals have hurt Illinois historically, and it kind of became a stepping stone or rehabbing program for fallen coaches (see Ron Zook and Bret Bilema).

[GWoodle]

Originally Posted by Doughboy1918

Football of course is a huge sensation in the states of the Great Lakes area, many of whose largest public universities are members of the Big Ten (the most famous college sports conference is the country) which hosts many of the greatest and winningest NCAA football teams from the Buckeyes, to the Wolverines, to Notre Dame, to the Nittany Lions, and the Huskers. However, I just wondered, why is the Fighting Illini so unsuccessful in terms of its football team? It ranks the lowest (99th) of the top 100 teams listed on the Wikipedia page of NCAA football teams by wins. Is this because much of the population of Illinois lives in Chicagoland whereby Notre Dame is the prefered college due to closer proximity? Wondered if anyone knows a thing or two as to why this is the case, thanks.

IL simply isn't a school where the best players go. Big 10 has been Big 2 (Michigan. Ohio State) for a long time. Notre Dame could be a 3rd.

Many Big 10 schools in relation to SEC tend to be slower. You can't teach speed.

[Doughboy1918]

Originally Posted by GWoodle

IL simply isn't a school where the best players go. Big 10 has been Big 2 (Michigan. Ohio State) for a long time. Notre Dame could be a 3rd.

Really? What about Nebraska and Penn State as well?

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by Doughboy1918

Really? What about Nebraska and Penn State as well?

Nebraska's glory days were back when they were in the Big 8/Big 12. When the Big Ten was actually 10 teams, it was considered big 2 little 8. Penn State wasn't in the B1G when they won their most recent national title. Penn State is probably close to MI/OSU in terms of pedigree, but MI/OSU are still the biggest football brands in the B1G and it isn't close.

[madpaddy]

Originally Posted by Doughboy1918

Really? What about Nebraska and Penn State as well?

Nebraska hasn't won a Conference Championship in football this century. Since joining the BigTen in 2011, they've only won their Division once (in 2012). They were a National Powerhouse from the 1970's through the 1990's, and were still a force to be reckoned with in the Big-12 in the Twenty-Aughts, but lately they've really stunk. Their last winning record was in 2016. They've won fewer BigTen games than even lowly Illinois in the ensuing seasons, and that includes Illinois' dismal 0-9 campaign in 2017. If there was ever a team that deserved the title "Has-Been," it's Nebraska Football.

Penn State has been much better than Nebraska, but has still lagged Michigan (by a little) and Ohio State (by a lot) in terms of football success over the last decade. And I think Michigan still has a little more cache for recruits from the state of Illinois than Penn State. Proximity favors Michigan, as does having a former Bears QB as a head coach.

[Doughboy1918]

Originally Posted by madpaddy

Penn State has been much better than Nebraska, but has still lagged Michigan (by a little) and Ohio State (by a lot) in terms of football success over the last decade. And I think Michigan still has a little more cache for recruits from the state of Illinois than Penn State. Proximity favors Michigan, as does having a former Bears QB as a head coach.

But even still, football is widely popular in downstate Illinois, is it not? So it just doesn’t make sense to me how the Fighting Illini historically has always performed terribly.

[Kmanshouse]

It's more of a basketball school (and academic).

They have had some good teams, but not so much in the last 20 years.

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by Doughboy1918

But even still, football is widely popular in downstate Illinois, is it not? So it just doesn’t make sense to me how the Fighting Illini historically has always performed terribly.

Downstate Illinois, or more broadly the areas of Illinois outside Chicagoland, is about 4.1 Million people. That's less than every state surrounding Illinois except Iowa. You can't really count on downstate Illinois to just carry the football program.

[jmgg]

Originally Posted by Toxic Toast

Downstate Illinois, or more broadly the areas of Illinois outside Chicagoland, is about 4.1 Million people. That's less than every state surrounding Illinois except Iowa. You can't really count on downstate Illinois to just carry the football program.

The metro area of St. Louis alone is 2.9 million right across the river from downstate Illinois, though it does take in some counties in Illinois. Considering this, downstate Illinois' size is on a par with the surrounding state's populations.

I really don't think population density has that much affect on the Illinois football woes. It's mired in a losing tradition which was possible to get out of with the right coaching/recruiting combination a few years ago. Illinois just never achieved this. Now, in today's college football climate, if you're not already a power school it will be nearly impossible to turn a program totally around.

4 & 5 star recruits are chasing the money now.