On February 10, 1942, new University of Illinois head football coach Ray Eliot (that’s Eliot with one “L”) addressed the Young Men’s Club at the Illinois Hotel in downtown Bloomington. Eliot would go on to lead the Illini for 18 seasons, winning 3 Big Ten titles and 2 Rose Bowls. Eliot is not to be confused with his successor, Pete Elliott (that’s Elliott with a double “L” and double “T”) of Bloomington, who would serve as Illinois head coach for seven seasons. Pete and his brother “Bump” are arguably the most accomplished pair of siblings in McLean County sports history.
