Plans for University of Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame Announced
All-Time Great Dick Butkus Named First Member of Inaugural Class
CHAMPAIGN, IL – The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics announced today the formation of the University of Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame will recognize and honor the greatest student-athletes, coaches and administrators in the illustrious history of Fighting Illini Athletics, which stretches more than 120 years.
“The University of Illinois has an incredible and storied history in athletics,” Director of Athletics Josh Whitman said. “Legendary names in sports history are found throughout the Illini record books, and we are excited to honor them in our new Hall of Fame. Since the athletic program’s inception in 1890, some of the world’s greatest athletes have competed in the Orange and Blue. Ultimately, as we begin to populate the Hall of Fame, our collection of recognized greats will compare favorably with that of any institution in the nation.”
The University also announced today that all-time Fighting Illini icon Dick Butkus, who many consider the greatest linebacker and defensive player in the history of football, will be a member of the Hall of Fame’s inaugural class.
“The University of Illinois has played an extremely important role in my life,” Butkus said. “I have many life-long relationships that began at the U of I and have always been proud to call myself a Fighting Illini. To be recognized in the inaugural class of the Athletics Hall of Fame is a terrific feeling. I’m very proud of what my teams and I accomplished, including the 1963 Big Ten Championship and Rose Bowl victory. Thank you for this honor.”
The entire inaugural class will be announced in February 2017 and will be recognized at a formal dinner event in Chicago next summer. The official induction ceremony of the inaugural Hall of Fame class is scheduled in Champaign-Urbana for the weekend of Sept. 29-30, 2017, when the football team hosts Nebraska in the Big Ten opener. Both the formal dinner and induction ceremony will be open to the public, with details to follow. This approximate timeline will be followed annually, with yearly membership inductions into the Fighting Illini Athletics Hall of Fame.
To be eligible for Hall of Fame consideration, at least five years must have passed following the completion of a student-athlete’s Illinois career. Student-athletes who meet any of the following criteria are automatically nominated for consideration: earning All-America status (by NCAA recognized selectors); winning an individual national or Big Ten championship; repeating as a first- or second-team All-Big Ten honoree; receiving a national award or trophy; holding, at any time, an American or world record (as recognized by proper governing body); member of a professional or collegiate sports hall of fame; qualifying as a U.S. Olympic team member; or earning an Olympic medal for any participating country. Separate criteria will be used for coaches and administrators.
Based on these criteria, nearly 1,000 former Fighting Illini student-athletes, coaches and administrators are automatically eligible for Hall of Fame consideration. A complete list of those people automatically eligible will be available on FightingIllini.com. The general public is invited to submit additional nominations by using the online form also available on FightingIllini.com. To be considered for inclusion in a particular Hall of Fame class, nominations must be received no later than January 1 of that year. A Hall of Fame committee, whose membership will remain confidential, will review annually the nominations and select each year’s induction class.
The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign sponsors 21 varsity teams and is a charter member of both the nation’s premier league, the Big Ten Conference, and the National Collegiate Athletics Association. Since its inception as an athletics department in 1890, the Fighting Illini have won 20 NCAA Championships, five football national championships and 248 Big Ten Titles. Fighting Illini student-athletes have won 28 Olympic medals while competing for 16 countries in 25 Olympic games. Student-athletes and coaches of teams no longer sponsored by the UI Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (including ice hockey, fencing and men’s swimming) will also be considered for Hall of Fame recognition.
- FAQ
Why the timing?
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has sponsored a collegiate athletics program since 1890, with the baseball team starting even earlier than that. Some of the most prominent names in the history of sport have competed on our fields and courts. It is time to recognize these legendary figures.
Who will be on the selection committee?
To ensure a fair process completed with utmost integrity, the committee’s membership will not be announced. The committee will represent many different stakeholders who have broad appreciation for the rich and diverse tradition of Illinois Athletics. The group will have a tough task: choosing the best of the best from our remarkable history. It will be a very difficult job considering the number of high caliber student-athletes who have competed for Illinois over the past 125 years.
Where will the HOF be housed?
At present, this is not a Hall of Fame meant to house memorabilia, but to recognize the greatest names in Fighting Illini athletics history. As we move forward with our master facility plans, we will identify the best location and manner in which to celebrate our Hall of Fame.
Can fans nominate candidates?
The criteria we used to identify a list of automatically qualified candidates is extremely comprehensive. However, public nominations will be accepted with supporting information through an online form at FightingIllini.com.
Are there details on the events you plan to hold?
We will be announcing details on the formal event in Chicago and induction ceremony in Champaign at a later date.
Will every sport be represented?
Over time, yes, but not necessarily at the beginning. The best of the best, regardless of sport, will be chosen for early classes inducted into the Hall of Fame. Over time, we expect our classes to be inclusive of all sports that have been sponsored by the UI. Some sports have been competing for more than 100 years, while some have been competing for far less time, meaning some sports will have significantly more candidates. Female student-athletes who were recognized for their competition in club sports prior to the passage of Title IX and inclusion in varsity sports will also be considered.
How big will the inaugural class be?
We have not predetermined the number of people who will be selected for the inaugural Hall of Fame class.
Why hasn’t Illinois had a HOF in the past?
The concept of an Athletics Hall of Fame has been discussed for decades but never acted upon. We feel that the current time works very well as this will be in conjunction with the University’s sesquicentennial celebration.
Why announce Dick Butkus now? Why only him?
Dick Butkus is among the best football players of all time. Many consider him the greatest linebacker and defensive player in the game’s history. He is a member of both the Pro Football and College Football Halls of Fame. He was named to the NFL’s All-Time Team in 2000 and is one of only two players in Illinois football history with his number retired. He is an obvious choice for inclusion in the inaugural class of the Fighting Illini Athletics Hall of Fame. Dick Butkus is arguably the most well-known living Illini athlete and, as one of our true living legends, his presence allows us to help celebrate, in a more personal way, today’s announcement. The committee has the responsibility and time to work through the comprehensive and difficult process of naming the remainder of the inaugural class in the coming months.
How often will a class be inducted?
We expect to name a Hall of Fame class on an annual basis.
