Illinois will honor military personnel on Saturday for Military Appreciation Day.

At home games throughout the season, the Illinois football program celebrated the 100th anniversary of Memorial Stadium’s opening in 1924, including the unveiling of specially designed throwback helmets reflecting the various eras of Illini football through the years.

The mood in Champaign should be a little more somber ahead of Saturday’s game against Minnesota (11 a.m. CT on FS1) as Illinois honors all branches of the military with Military Appreciation Day.

Leading up to the start of the game, three military personnel from different branches of the military will be present at the coin toss, during which a special coin will be tossed. Then, at the conclusion of the first quarter, the Army swearing-in ceremony will take place.

As for their Week 10 gear, the Illini will wear helmets designed to pay tribute to each member of the team who died in action.

Equipment manager Jake Roche, the mastermind behind the retro uniforms Illinois wore for its Week 8 game at Michigan, received high praise from coach Bret Bielema at his press conference Thursday:

“He’s been excited about his helmets all year. … He designed a military helmet that recognizes all the accomplishments, but also on the middle strip we will have 189 names of all the fallen graduates of the University of Illinois.”

Additionally, the helmets pay tribute to each former Illini football player who died in service:

“On the side,” Bielema said, “we will also have 10 stars that represent 10 former football players who served… nine during World War II and one during the Vietnam War, which was (John) Bruce Capel “

A fitting tribute.

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