Ad Disclosure
Illinois announces unveiling date, time for Dick Butkus statue
Published:
Starring for the Illinois Fighting Illini on both sides of the football from 1962-64, more details have emerged about the upcoming statue of the legendary Dick Butkus.
Here’s the latest from Brett McMurphy of Stadium:
Illinois will unveil statue of former Fighting Illini LB Dick Butkus Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. at school’s football facility. Like Butkus, the statue is also intimidating, at 12-feet tall & 1,000 pounds
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) September 30, 2019
Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983, Butkus was a two-time All-American for the Illini (1963, ’64) and has his No. 50 jersey retired by the program.
Winning B1G Most Valuable Player honors in 1963, Butkus was able to stay in the state following his time in Champaign. Selected by the Chicago Bears with the third overall pick the 1965 National Football League Draft, Butkus enjoyed a nine-year NFL career, culminating in his induction in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979.
Planning to be unveiled on Oct. 11, the Illini host the No. 19 Michigan Wolverines the following day at 12:00PM ET.
A graduate of Bowling Green State University, Rydquist has been contributing to Saturday Down South and Saturday Tradition since 2019. He can be found on Twitter @TeddyRydquist.