tˈɛpɚz fˈɜːst ɡˈeɪm æz hˈɛd kˈoʊtʃ wʌzðə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti wˈʌn dʒˈɑːn hˈæŋkɑːk bˈoʊl, wˌɪtʃ ðɪ ɪlˈiːni lˈɔst tə jˌuːsˌiːˌɛlˈeɪ baɪ ðə skˈoːɹ ʌv sˈɪks θɹˈiː.
Tepper's first game as head coach was the 1991 John Hancock Bowl, which the Illini lost to UCLA by the score of 6–3.