1995 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

The 1995 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fourth and final year under head coach Lou Tepper, the Fighting Illini compiled a 5–5–1 record (3–4–1 in conference games), tied for seventh place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 198 to 193.^[1]

1995 Illinois Fighting Illini football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	5–5–1 (3–4–1 Big Ten)
Head coach	Lou Tepper (4th season)
Offensive coordinator	Paul Schudel (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Denny Marcin (4th season)
MVP	Kevin Hardy
Captains	Jason Dulick Kevin Hardy Brett Larsen
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons ← 1994 1996 →

1995 Big Ten Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 8 Northwestern $	8	–	0	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
No. 6 Ohio State	7	–	1	–	0			11	–	2	–	0
No. 13 Penn State	5	–	3	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
No. 17 Michigan	5	–	3	–	0			9	–	4	–	0
Michigan State	4	–	3	–	1			6	–	5	–	1
No. 25 Iowa	4	–	4	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Illinois	3	–	4	–	1			5	–	5	–	1
Wisconsin	3	–	4	–	1			4	–	5	–	2
Purdue	2	–	5	–	1			4	–	6	–	1
Minnesota	1	–	7	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Indiana	0	–	8	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Johnny Johnson (1,110 passing yards), running back Robert Holcombe (1,051 rushing yards), wide receiver Jason Dulick (36 receptions for 453 yards), and kicker Bret Scheuplein (49 points scored).^[2]

The Illini's 3–3 tie with Wisconsin on November 25 was the last tie in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) history as the NCAA implemented an overtime system following the season that eliminated the possibility of a tie.^[3]

The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 2	2:30 pm	No. 13 Michigan	No. 25	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (rivalry)	ABC	L 14–38	70,193
September 9	9:00 pm	at No. 24 Oregon*		Autzen Stadium Eugene, OR	SCC	L 31–34	44,201
September 16	11:30 am	No. 17 Arizona*		Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	ESPN	W 9–7	57,134
September 23	1:00 pm	East Carolina*		Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL		W 7–0	60,545
October 7	12:00 pm	at Indiana		Memorial Stadium Bloomington, Indiana (rivalry)	ESPN2	W 17–10	38,098
October 14	11:00 am	Michigan State		Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	Creative	L 21–27	65,653
October 28	11:00 am	No. 8 Northwestern		Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (rivalry)	Creative	L 14–17	65,425
November 4	11:30 am	at Iowa		Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA	ESPN	W 26–7	70,397
November 11	2:30 pm	at No. 2 Ohio State		Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH (Illibuck)	ABC	L 3–41	92,639
November 18	1:00 pm	Minnesota		Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL		W 48–14	45,521
November 25	2:30 pm	at Wisconsin		Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	Creative	T 3–3	76,750
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Game summaries

Michigan

See also: 1995 Michigan Wolverines football team

Michigan Wolverines at Illinois Fighting Illini

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan	7	3	21	7	38
Illinois	0	0	0	14	14

at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

• Date: September 2, 1995
• Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
• Game attendance: 70,193
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter MICH - C Howard 13 pass from Dreisbach (Hamilton kick) Second quarter MICH - FG Hamilton 49 Third quarter MICH - Biakabutuka 5 run (Hamilton kick) MICH - Biakabutuka 11 run (Hamilton kick) MICH - Biakabutuka 35 run (Hamilton kick) Fourth quarter MICH - A Williams 28 blocked punt return (Hamilton kick) ILL - Smith 5 run (B Scheuplein kick) ILL - L Willis 5 pass from Weaver (B Scheuplein kick)

At Oregon

See also: 1995 Oregon Ducks football team

Illinois Fighting Illini at Oregon Ducks

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Illinois	7	12	12	0	31
Oregon	7	0	13	14	34

at Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon

• Date: September 9, 1995
• Game time: 9:00 p.m. CST
• Game attendance: 44,201
• TV: ESPN
• Box score and Game recap

Game information

First quarter ORE - Whittle 24 run (J Smith kick) ILL - Dulick 41 pass from J Johnson (B Scheuplein kick) Second quarter ILL - FG B Scheuplein 42 ILL - Douthard 3 run (kick failed) ILL - FG B Scheuplein 27 Third quarter ORE - Whittle 12 run (J Smith kick) ILL - Douthard 1 run (two-point conversion failed) ORE - Byrd 1 run (kick failed) ILL - Holcombe 11 run (two-point conversion failed) Fourth quarter ORE - Whittle 3 run (Ricketts reception for two-point conversion) ORE - Figueras recovered fumble in end zone (kick failed)

Arizona

See also: 1995 Arizona Wildcats football team

Arizona Wildcats at Illinois Fighting Illini

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Arizona	0	0	0	7	7
Illinois	0	0	0	9	9

at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

• Date: September 16, 1995
• Game time: 11:30 a.m. CST
• Game attendance: 57,134
• Box Score

Game information
First quarter No scoring Second quarter No scoring Third quarter No scoring Fourth quarter ILL - B. Scheuplein 47-yard field goal ARIZ - R. Williams 17-yard pass from White (Prasuhn kick) ILL - James 53-yard fumble return (kick failed)

East Carolina

See also: 1995 East Carolina Pirates football team

East Carolina Pirates at Illinois Fighting Illini

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
East Carolina	0	0	0	0	0
Illinois	0	7	0	0	7

at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

• Date: September 16, 1995
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
• Game attendance: 60,545
• Box Score

Game information
First quarter No scoring Second quarter ILL - Robert Holcombe 1-yard run (B. Scheuplein kick) Third quarter No scoring Fourth quarter No scoring

At Indiana

See also: 1995 Indiana Hoosiers football team

Illinois Fighting Illini at Indiana Hoosiers

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Illinois	3	7	7	0	17
Indiana	3	7	0	0	10

at Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana

• Date: October 28, 1995
• Game time: 11:30 a.m. CST
• Game attendance: 38,098
• TV: ESPN
• Box score and Game recap

Game information

First quarter IND - FG Manolopoulos 45 ILL - FG B Scheuplein 46 Second quarter ILL - McDonald 25 pass from Weaver (B Scheuplein kick) IND - Stoner 65 pass from Dittoe (Manolopoulos kick) Third quarter ILL - Douthard 14 pass from Weaver (Mcdonald kick) Fourth quarter no scoring Top Rushers ILL - Havard - 17 rushes, 50 yards IND - Batts - 20 rushes, 56 yards Top Passers ILL - Weaver - 16/28, 213 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs IND - Dittoe 10/22, 148 yards, 1 TD Top Receivers ILL - Douthard 5 receptions, 52 yards IND - Stoner 5 receptions, 123 yards

Michigan State

See also: 1995 Michigan State Spartans football team

Michigan State Spartans at Illinois Fighting Illini

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan State	7	6	6	8	27
Illinois	7	0	7	7	21

at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

• Date: October 14, 1995
• Game time: 11:00 p.m. CST
• Game attendance: 65,653
• Box Score

Game information
First quarter MSU - S. Greene 16-yard run (Gardner kick) ILL - Douthard 1-yard run (Scheuplein kick) Second quarter MSU - S. Greene 3-yard run (kick failed) Third quarter ILL - Holcombe - 25-yard run (Scheuplein kick) MSU - S. Greene 3-yard run (Gardner kick) Fourth quarter MSU - S. Greene 1-yard run (S. Greene run) ILL - Dulick 14-yard pass from J. Johnson (Scheuplein kick)

Northwestern

See also: 1995 Northwestern Wildcats football team

#8 Northwestern Wildcats at Illinois Fighting Illini

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Northwestern	0	10	0	7	17
Illinois	7	7	0	0	14

at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

• Date: October 28, 1995
• Game time: 11:00 p.m. CST
• Game attendance: 65,425
• TV: SCC
• Box Score

Game information
First quarter ILL - Weaver 1-yard run (Scheuplein kick) Second quarter ILL - Robert Holcombe 7-yard run (Scheuplein kick) NU - Brian Gowins 49-yard field goal NU - D'Wayne Bates 43-yard pass from Steve Schnur (Gowins kick) Third quarter Fourth quarter NU - Darnell Autry 1-yard run (Gowins kick)

At Iowa

See also: 1995 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

Illinois Fighting Illini at Iowa Hawkeyes

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Illinois	3	7	6	10	26
Iowa	0	7	0	0	7

at Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa

• Date: October 28, 1995
• Game time: 11:30 a.m. CST
• Game attendance: 70,397
• TV: ESPN
• Box score and Game recap

Game information
First quarter ILL - Scheuplein 24-yard field goal ILL 3–0 Second quarter IOWA - Tim Dwight 12-yard pass from Matt Sherman (Bromert kick) IOWA 7–3 ILL - Cushing 5-yard pass from Johnson (Scheuplein kick) ILL 10–7 Third quarter ILL - Havard 35-yard run (run failed) ILL 16–7' Fourth quarter ILL - Scheuplein 19-yard field goal ILL 19–7 ILL - Douthard 3-yard run (Scheuplein kick) ILL 26–7

At Ohio State

See also: 1995 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

Illinois Fighting Illini at Ohio State Buckeyes

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Illinois	0	0	3	0	3
Ohio State	14	3	21	3	41

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• Date: November 11
• Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
• Game weather: Overcast, 37 °F (3 °C)
• Game attendance: 92,639
• Referee: Steve Pamon
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter OSU – Pepe Pearson 4-yard run (Josh Jackson kick), 8:27. Ohio St 7–0. Drive: 6 plays, 99 yards, 2:25. OSU – Dimitrious Stanley 14-yard pass from Bobby Hoying (Josh Jackson kick), 1:35. Ohio St 14–0. Drive: 9 plays, 61 yards, 4:51. Second quarter OSU – Josh Jackson 20-yard field goal, 10:09. Ohio St 17–0. Drive: 10 plays, 57 yards, 5:20. Third quarter ILL – Bret Scheuplein 42-yard field goal, 10:44. Ohio St 17–3. Drive: 10 plays, 58 yards, 4:10. OSU – Eddie George 64-yard run (Josh Jackson kick), 10:24. Ohio St 24–3. Drive: 1 play, 64 yards, 0:13. OSU – Eddie George 13-yard run (Josh Jackson kick), 3:07. Ohio St 31–3. Drive: 7 plays, 38 yards, 3:11. OSU – Eddie George 13-yard pass from Bobby Hoying (Josh Jackson kick), 0:58. Ohio St 38–3. Drive: 2 plays, 10 yards, 0:41. Fourth quarter OSU – Josh Jackson 26-yard field goal, 8:31. Ohio St 41–3. Drive: 12 plays, 43 yards, 6:20. Top passers ILL – Johnny Johnson – 11/18, 101 yards, INT OSU – Bobby Hoying – 8/13, 109 yards, 2 TD, INT Top rushers ILL – Robert Holcombe – 14 rushes, 28 yards OSU – Eddie George – 36 rushes, 314 yards, 2 TD Top receivers ILL – Steve Harvard – 3 receptions, 27 yards OSU – Rickey Dudley – 2 receptions, 53 yards

Minnesota

See also: 1995 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

Minnesota Golden Gophers at Illinois Fighting Illini

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Minnesota	0	7	7	0	14
Illinois	10	14	7	21	52

at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

• Date: November 18, 1995
• Game time: 1:00 pm CST
• Game attendance: 45,521
• Box score

Game information

Sources: Box score and Game recap First quarter ILL - 9:46-Cushing 40 pass from J. Johnson (Scheuplein kick) ILL - 7:00-Scheuplein 44 FG Second quarter ILL - 14:23-M. Johnson 2 run (Scheuplein kick) MIN - 3:06-Atwell 40 pass from Sauter (Chalberg kick) ILL - 0:56-J. Johnson 6 run (Scheuplein kick) Third quarter ILL - 6:00-Scheuplein 29 FG MIN - 1:10-Cooper 2 pass from Sauter (Chalberg kick) Fourth quarter ILL - 13:37-Dulick 6 pass from J. Johnson (Scheuplein kick) ILL - 9:55-Rice 27 fumble return (Scheuplein kick) ILL - 7:18-Holcombe 29 run (Scheuplein kick) Top Rushers MIN - Rafael Cooper - 29 rushes, 94 yards MIN - Javon Jackson - 5 rushes, 34 yards ILL - Robert Holcombe - 24 rushes, 206 yards, 1 TD ILL - Ty Douthard - 8 rushes, 48 yards Top Passers MIN - Cory Sauter - 34/21, 242 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs ILL - Johnny Johnson - 22/11, 174 yards, 2 TDs Receiving MIN - Johnny Woodson - 6 receptions, 74 yards MIN - Tutu Atwell - 4 receptions, 62 yards, 1 TD ILL - Jason Dulick - 4 receptions, 61 yards, 1 TD ILL - Matt Cushing - 2 receptions, 51 yards, 1 TD

At Wisconsin

See also: 1995 Wisconsin Badgers football team

Illinois Fighting Illini at Wisconsin Badgers

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Illinois	0	0	0	3	3
Wisconsin	0	0	3	0	3

at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin

• Date: November 25, 1995
• Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
• Game attendance: 76,750
• Box Score

Game information
Third quarter WIS - John Hall 29-yard field goal Fourth quarter ILL - Scheuplein 51-yard field goal

Roster

1995 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class TE 86 Matt Cushing So RB 7 Ty Douthard Jr WR 83 Jason Dulick Jr WR Steve Harvard RB 35 Robert Holcombe So QB Johnny Johnson WR 6 George McDonald  Fr	Defense Pos. # Name Class LB 51 Kevin Hardy Sr DE 97 Simeon Rice Sr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K Bret Scheuplein	Head coach Lou Tepper Coordinators/assistant coaches Paul Schudel – Offensive coordinator Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster

Awards and honors

• Kevin Hardy, Butkus Award^[4]

1996 NFL draft

Two of the top three overall picks in the 1996 NFL draft were from Illinois.

Player	Round	Pick	Position	Club
Kevin Hardy	1	2	Linebacker	Jacksonville Jaguars
Simeon Rice	1	3	Defensive end	Arizona Cardinals
Ken Blackman	3	69	Guard	Cincinnati Bengals

^[5]