Photo Gallery | Training Camp Schedule
Post-Practice Interviews: Coach Beckman | Wes Lunt | Mason Monheim
The Fighting Illini football team officially opened training camp on Thursday afternoon with split squad practices at Memorial Stadium. The "orange" squad, consisting mostly of starters and newcomers, took the grass practice fields just east field at 4 p.m., while the "blue" squad, composed of second- and third-stringers as they stood prior to camp, held its first workout inside Memorial Stadium on the field turf starting at 8 p.m. The split squad sessions provide each player with more repetitions than he would normally get during a full-squad practice, which especially benefits newcomers.
The the two groups practiced for 90 minutes each in helmets, practice jerseys and shorts on Thursday and will do the same on Friday. Saturday's and Sunday's practices will be in "shells" - helmets, shoulder pads and shorts - before the team suits up in full pads for the first time on Monday morning.
The Illini will continue with split squad practices in Champaign for the next two days before moving training camp to Rantoul, Ill., on Sunday, Aug. 9, for two weeks of off-site, NFL-style training camp as the 2015 season approaches. Practices in Champaign are closed to the public, but all practices at Camp Rantoul are open and free to attend.
BTN Rolls into Rantoul on Monday
The annual Big Ten Network Preseason Bus Tour will roll through Rantoul for Monday morning's 10:45 a.m. practice at Camp Rantoul. Dave Revise, Gerry DiNardo and Fighting Illini great Howard Griffith will be on hand to watch practice and breakdown the Illini heading into 2015. Fans are invited to attend the practice and taping of the show and will have the opportunity to have their photo taken with the Land of Lincoln rivalry trophy, which Illinois won with a 47-33 victory of the Wildcats in November.
BTN Bus Tour Details
OSKEE 15: Inside Illinois Football Debuts Sunday Night
A exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at Illinois training camp, 'OSKEE 15: Inside Illinois Football' premiers on Sunday, Aug. 9, at 10:35 p.m. CT on WCIA-TV. It will be posted online at FIGHTINGILLINI.COM on Monday. A new episode will air each Sunday night throughout the month of August.
