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Dick Butkus to be honored in several ways when Illinois hosts Nebraska
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Dick Butkus’ memory will be honored Saturday at Memorial Stadium against Nebraska.
Butkus passed away in his sleep Thursday morning. Butkus played football at Illinois during the 1960s.
The former Fighting Illini linebacker will be honored in many ways. There will be a video tribute, moment of silence, helmet stickers for the team, Butkus-themed shirts for the Illinois coaching staff, the 50-yard line numbers will be outlined in orange, and the Memorial columns are going to be lit in blue.
#illini will honor Dick Butkus tonight with a video tribute, moment of silence, helmet stickers for the team, Illini staff in Butkus shirts, 50-yard line numbers outlined in orange and the Memorial columns lit in blue.
The Alma Mater will be donned with an orange #50 jersey.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) October 6, 2023
The Alma Mater statue on Illinois’ campus will also be wearing a No. 50 jersey in honor of Butkus.
Bigger than football. #Illini // #HTTO // #famILLy pic.twitter.com/qMwHFNtSVB
— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) October 6, 2023
After his time with Illinois, Butkus was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 1965 NFL Draft. He spent his entire NFL career with the franchise from 1965-1973. He was the embodiment of toughness during his playing career.
Both Illinois and Nebraska will be looking for their first B1G win Saturday. Butkus’ Fighting Illini are 2-3 after losing to Purdue 44-19 in Week 5. Nebraska is coming off of a 45-7 loss to Michigan.
The Cornhuskers and Fighting Illini face each other at 8 p.m. ET on FS1.
Grant Bricker covers the B1G for Saturday Tradition. His previous stops include the Williamson Homepage and Nashville Post.