Illini Hold First Practice in Pads
August 17, 1999 | Football
Aug. 17, 1999
GOING CAMPING: The Fighting Illini held their first practice in pads this morning at Camp Rantoul. The morning session featured an officiated 22-play scrimmage with additional short yardage and red-zone work. This morning's action was highlighted by many big plays both passing and rushing.
Two 70-yard touchdown passes brought cheers from the onlookers during the 7-on-7 passing drills. Kirk Johnson hit split end Michael Dean and later Kurt Kittner found tight end Michael Craciunoiu, both resulting in dashes to the endzone. Greg Lewis made a sensational diving catch of a Walter Young pass as the redshirt freshman combination gained 45 yards. Freshman receiver Courtney Miller also made his mark when he made a spectauclar diving catch on a 38-yard strike from Kurt Kittner. A red-zone drill was capped when Johnson threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Josh Whitman.
The 11-on-11 drills featured the running game, led by halfbacks Steve Havard and Jameel Cook. Havard rushed for 100 yards on eight carries, including a 60-yard touchdown run. Cook also broke free for a 60-yard touchdown scamper and totalled 65 yards on five carries.
Of the 22 scrimmage plays this morning, the first team offense saw action in 14 plays and the second team got the remaining eight plays. Kurt Kittner and Kirk Johnson both saw time with the first unit. Johnson led the quarterbacks in the scrimmage action, completing 5-of-6 passes for 45 yards while Kittner was 2-of-4 for 39 yards and Young 2-of-4 for 12 yards.
"The quarterbacks look real good," said Head Coach Ron Turner. "The guys continue to push one another and look good at all practices. One may look a little better than another at a particular practice, but all three have had very good, solid, and consistent practices throughout camp."
PLAYING THE HITS: The first practice in pads was met with enthusiasm and intensity by the players demonstrated by plenty of hitting throughout the morning. All players except for the quarterbacks were "live" during the scrimmage and drills.
"The guys were excited to be in pads," said Turner. "They have been asking when we were going to finally put on the pads."
MEDIA POLICIES: Players will be available for interviews following both the morning and afternoon practices. Video/photographers will be allowed to shoot practice from the sidelines during warmups and for the first 20 minutes following the beginning of the team stretching.
LOOKING AHEAD: The Illini practice schedule at Camp Rantoul is as follows and subject to change:
Wed., Aug. 18 Practice @ 3:40 p.m. Interviews at the conclusion of session Thu., Aug. 19 Practices @ 8:30 a.m. and 3:40 p.m. Interviews at the conclusion of each session Fri., Aug. 20 Practices @ 8:30 a.m. and 3:40 p.m. Interviews at the conclusion of each session
