Moments in College Football History

"If You're Smart, You'll Run"

In honor of Veteran's Day, I decided to revisit one of the most famous days, and one of the most famous players, in University of Illinois football history.

On October 17, 1924, the university held a ceremony to dedicate a brand new home for their football team. Illinois Memorial Stadium was named to honor citizens from that state who had died in World War I.

But it was October 18 that would prove to be a day to remember.

The Michigan Wolverines were in town for a huge clash between two teams who had finished the previous season unbeaten. 

Awaiting the opening kickoff for Illinois was a junior named Harold "Red" Grange.

He returned it 95 yards for a touchdown.

He had shown great promise the year before, rushing for 723 yards and 12 touchdowns in just eight games, while helping the Illini finish unbeaten and win a national championship.

But on this one autumn day in Champaign, he became the toast of the college football world.

The opening kickoff return had shocked Michigan. They'd given up only four touchdowns in the previous two seasons combined. But before the first quarter was over, Grange would also have touchdown runs of 67, 56 and 44 yards.

Illinois coach Bob Zuppke rested his star in the second quarter (in those days, if you came out of a game, you couldn't go back in until the following quarter), but Grange took the field in the second half to run for a touchdown and pass for another.

By the time the game ended, Grange had rushed for 212 yards, passed for 64 yards, amassed 126 yards on kick returns, and was responsible for all six Illini touchdowns in a 39-14 victory.

It was one of the greatest single-game performances in the history of college football, and prompted Chicago American sportswriter Warren Brown to call Grange "the Galloping Ghost."

He went on to have a productive senior season at Illinois, and played several years in the fledgling National Football League, mostly with the Chicago Bears.

In 2007, when ESPN named their Top 25 Greatest Players in College Football, #1 was Red Grange.

When asked how he had managed to be such an elusive ball carrier, his answer was simple, "If you have the football and eleven guys are after you, if you're smart, you'll run."