Illini to honor Wheaton's Grange with Gray Ghost uniforms

In a tribute to Wheaton football legend Harold “Red” Grange, the Fighting Illini football team will wear “Gray Ghost” uniforms for the Oct. 25 Homecoming game against Minnesota.

Grange, known as the Galloping Ghost and considered the greatest college football player of all time, made history 90 years ago against Michigan in the Memorial Stadium dedication game in Champaign, Ill., on Oct. 18, 1924. In that game, Grange scored four touchdowns and accounted for 262 total yards in the first 12 minutes, then ran for a fifth touchdown and threw for a sixth later in the game to help Illinois hand the Wolverines their first loss in two years, 39-14.

Famed sports writer Grantland Rice tabbed Grange as a “gray ghost” following the Michigan Performance.

A streak of fire, a breath of flame

Eluding all who reach and clutch;

A gray ghost thrown into the game

That rival hands may never touch;

A rubber bounding, blasting soul

Whose destination is the goal.

Red Grange of Illinois!

— Grantland Rice, 1924

Here is a link to a photo gallery of Grange at FightingIllini.com.

“Gray Ghost” replica jerseys will go sale Wednesday at FightingIllini.com and other Illinois Athletics retailers.