The 2001 Illinois football team achieved a Big Ten title no one saw coming — except maybe the Illini players and coaching staff. This weekend around Champaign-Urbana, more than 40 former players, coaches and staff members are expected to attend a 15-year reunion of that magical season. A look at some of the key names from that memorable team:
The coach
Ron Turner’s first four seasons at Illinois only produced a 16-29 record, including an 8-24 mark in the Big Ten. Who knows if any coach today at a Power 5 school could see a fifth season with those numbers.