Four former Illini stars Luke Butkus (Football '02), Michael Hall (Football '03), Tony Pashos (Football '03), and Jerry Schumacher (Football '03) will compete in the 2004 NFL Europe. Butkus, Hall and Pashos are on the roster for the Cologne Centurions of Germany, while Schumacher is on the Amsterdam Admirals.

Schu in NFL Europe

Pashos in NFL Europe

The six team league will begin play in April. You can follow all the results on www.nfleurope.com

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Jerry Colangelo

Seven Former Illini Stars in Champaign for Kickoff to Centennial Celebration

The 2004-05 athletic season will mark the 100th year of Illini men's basketball. The season long celebration began on February 18th with the announcement that the fan voting for the 15 player all-century team was now available through www.fightingillini.com. Former Illini stars Gene Vance (Basketball '60), Ted Beach (Basketball '60), Jerry Colangelo (Basketball '60), Dave Downey (Basketball '60), Rick Schmidt (Basketball '60), Doug Altenberger (Basketball '60), and Stephen Bardo (Basketball '60) were all in Champaign for the occasion and watch the Illini men's basketball team beat Wisconsin 65-57.

Colangelo also addressed the Illinois team following pre-game shoot-around, telling them to "seize the moment."

"I gave them a little speech," Colangelo said. "I told them a couple of years ago we were in Milwaukee and (the Diamondbacks) had just clinched the National League pennant. I had the whole team out for dinner, the players, the coaches and I gave them a little talk.

"I told them after seven years in the NBA, we got to the finals. I was a young guy standing in the old Boston Garden, and I'm looking up at the banners and I'm thinking this is pretty neat. Seven years and we're already in the finals. We're going to be back a lot. Then it took me 17 years to get back to the finals again.

"So what I told the Diamondbacks two years ago, and what I told the basketball team today, is that you don't know if you are ever going to get another shot. This may be your only shot. Take advantage of this. And I used that as it relates to tonight's game (against Wisconsin), what it means in the Big Ten and the

"I told them, 'Don't think, well, if it doesn't happen this time, we can do it next year.' A lot of things have a way of happening that you may not get another bite of the apple."

Voting for the all-century team will take place through April 5th. A reunion for all former players, manager, and coaches is tentatively scheduled for January 2005.

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Kerr in the NBA

FORMER ILLINI JERRY COLANGELO AND JOHN KERR HIGHLIGHT 16 FINALISTS FOR NAISMITH MEMORIAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME

SPRINGFIELD, MA., February, 15, 2004 - Jerry Colangelo (Basketball '62) and Johnny "Red" Kerr (Basketball '54) highlight the list of 16 finalists for election into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on September 10, 2004. They are on the list as contributors to the game of basketball.

The Class of 2004 will be announced on Monday, April 5 at a news conference in San Antonio, Texas, prior to the NCAA Men's Championship Game. A finalist needs 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee for election into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

JERRY COLANGELO, a native of Chicago Heights, Illinois, has been involved in basketball since earning All-State selection honors at Bloom Township (IL.) High School in 1957 and then becoming an All-Conference selection at the University of Illinois in 1961 and 1962. Colangelo's professional career began in 1966 when he was named head scout and sales/promotion manager of the expansion Chicago Bulls. Two years later, in 1968, he was named general manager of the expansion Phoenix Suns. At age 28, he was the youngest general manager in professional sports. Now the CEO and Chairman of the Phoenix Suns, Colangelo has been named NBA Executive of the Year four times (1976, 1981, 1989, 1993) and oversees a club that, over the last 23 years, is the fifth winningest franchise in the NBA. During Colangelo's tenure as President and CEO of the Suns (1987-99), the club advanced to the NBA Finals in 1976 and 1993.

Under Colangelo's leadership, the Suns drafted Georgi Glouchkov of Bulgaria in 1985, making him the first player from behind the iron curtain to sign an NBA contract. In 1988, the Suns played the Utah Jazz in Japan, the first time that NBA teams played regular season games outside of North America. Colangelo is a member of the NBA's Board of Governors (1968 - present), on the NBA Expansion Committee and Chairman of the Competition and Rules Committee. He was instrumental in helping found the WNBA.

JOHNNY KERR, a native of Chicago, IL.., has contributed to basketball for more than 50 years as a player, coach, executive and broadcaster. An all-state scholastic selection at Tilden Technical School in Chicago, Kerr starred as the University of Illinois where he led the Illini to the 1952 Final Four and finished his three-year career in 1954 as the school's all-time scorer. His final season, Kerr was an All-Conference and Big 10 MVP selection. Kerr was the sixth overall pick in the 1954 draft and played professionally with the Syracuse Nationals (1954-63), Philadelphia 76ers (1963-65) and the Baltimore Bullets (1969-70). He was a member of Syracuse's 1955 championship team and earned All-Star honors in 1956, 1959 and 1963. He played in a then-record 844 consecutive games, making him one of the NBA's first iron men. In his career, Kerr scored 13,413 points and grabbed 10,930 rebounds. After his playing days, Kerr became a coach with the Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns. He was named NBA Coach of the Year in 1967 for his efforts in taking the expansion Bulls to the playoffs. Kerr then became an executive with the ABA's Virginia Squires and Chicago Bulls. In 1975, he joined the Bulls broadcasting team as a color commentator, a position he continues to hold.

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McDonald at NIU

George McDonald Named Stanford Tight Ends Coach

Feb. 17, 2004

The 2004 Stanford football coaching staff is now complete after Cardinal Head Coach Buddy Teevens announced today that George McDonald (Football '99) will take over as the new tight ends coach.

McDonald comes from Northern Illinois University, where he coached wide receivers the past three years (2001-03).

"George brings with him experience in the passing game," said Teevens, "both as a coach and player on the major college level. He's a great fit for our program and will be a great addition to our coaching staff.

"McDonald, a 1999 graduate of the University of Illinois, helped NIU to a 10-2 record a year ago as the Huskies gained national attention with victories over Maryland, Iowa State and Alabama. One of his receivers, P.J. Fleck, recorded over 1,000 receiving yards and was named First-Team All-MAC.

McDonald earned four letters in football (1995-98) and two in track at Illinois (1996, '99). He had 57 receptions for 589 yards and four TDs as a receiver while also returning 57 kickoffs for 1,276 yards in 44 career games. His name appears in the Illinois record book for kickoff returns in several categories. In track, he ran as a freshman and senior, earning First-Team All-Big-Ten honors in the 60-meter indoor with a school record time of 6.74 in 1999.

McDonald earned a B.S. degree in Planning and Administration from Illinois in 1999. He was a prep All-America at Buena Park High School in southern California.

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Starkey in Athens

Starkey Returns to Main South High School

Former Illini star Dean Starkey (Track & Field '89) return to his high school alma mater as part of a National Track & Field Federation competition. The event, which took place on Saturday February 14th, was a national pole vault certification for Main South. Starkey, who has a personal record of 19-5, competed with 4 18-foot vaulters and 3 17-foot vaulters.

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Cook with the Lakers

Lincoln legend
Cooks comes home to where his heart is

By ROBERT BURNS
STAFF WRITER

LINCOLN - Brian Cook (Basketball '03) came home Friday for the honor that virtually every high school athlete dreams of: He had his Lincoln jersey No. 34 retired before the Railers' 52-44 basketball victory over Southeast.

There were pleasant memories and recollections from the two-time high school all-stater, Big Ten Player of the Year and current rookie member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Actually, there was one thing Cook admitted he could have done without.

"I just forgot what the weather was like," he said, laughing. "It's a little warmer where I'm staying now."

Cook talked about a variety of subjects prior to the game. Then he sat behind the Railers' bench and heard good-natured chants of "Put Cook in," when Lincoln trailed early in the third quarter.

The soft-spoken Cook is coming back from his second broken finger this season, saying that he expects to get a medical clearance when he returns to Los Angeles early next week. He expects to be back in action after this weekend's All-Star break.

"It's been very frustrating after having come back from the last one," he said, referring to an injury that kept him out of the Lakers' first 25 games. "But you have to be confident with yourself and not take anything from anybody."

Lincoln coach Neil Alexander, who has mentored Cook throughout his college days at Illinois and his early career as a professional, said he could not recall any other jersey being retired in the program.

"He's a great kid," Alexander said. "And I'm kind of funny about retiring players' jerseys in high school, but no one will wear that number as long as I'm here."

Cook appeared humbled by the attention, which included a brief speech before the packed house at Roy S. Anderson Gymnasium. As his jersey was retired, he presented a Lakers jersey with his No. 7 to athletic director Darell Hanslow.

"This means a lot; I'm happy to be home and this will always be my home," he said. "And I can take it easy for a couple of days."

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Coleman joins Illini staff

Mary Coleman Joins Illini Volleyball Staff

February 13, 2004

CHAMPAIGN, ILL. - University of Illinois head volleyball coach Don Hardin has been a busy man the past few weeks, working around the clock to fill his assistant coaching positions. "The response to these openings was overwhelming," Hardin said.

That hard work has paid off in short order with Hardin announcing today some exciting additions to the Illinois program in the hiring of former Fighting Illini star Mary Coleman (Volleyball '99) and former BYU All-American and current USA Women?s National Team assistant coach Kevin Hambly.

"Mary and Kevin bring special qualities to our program," Hardin said. "These are not only great coaches to have in the gym teaching our players, but they are very special people. I'm more excited than I have ever been about what this represents for the future of our program."

Coleman, a native of Palos Park, Ill., had a stellar career at Illinois. She lettered from 1995-98, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors and Academic All-Big Ten honors in ?96. During her tenure, the outside hitter helped lead the Illini to two NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the Sweet Sixteen and a final national ranking of 14th during her senior season of ?98. Coleman ranks second in UI history with 1,707 career kills and is the school?s all-time leader in attack attempts. She also ranks second in school history with 1,393 digs and is 10th with 115 aces. After earning her degree in kinesiology, Coleman played professionally in Germany for the Weisbaden Volleyball Club in 2000 and in the former USPV with the Minnesota Chill. She worked in Chicago as a sales representative and is currently serving as a director for Elevation Volleyball Camps in Colorado Springs, Colo. while also managing a local business.

"Mary's ties to Illinois, her experience with the conference, and her experience as a business woman and professional athlete make her an exceptional role model for our athletes," Hardin said. "She gives a special energy to her work and to the people she represents."

"I am excited about my return to Champaign and Illinois volleyball," Coleman said. "My time as a player was filled with great memories of fan and community support. I have the utmost respect for Don Hardin and believe Illinois is headed in the direction of Big Ten championships and NCAA Final Four appearances. I am looking forward to being a part of this very exciting time for the Illini program."

Mary Coleman is currently engaged to Kevin Hambly, and with a September wedding date planned, the couple is coming to Champaign together. This has provided the unique opportunity for Hambly to join the Illini staff as a volunteer assistant coach immediately following the Olympics. Hambly was an All-American middle blocker at Brigham Young from 1992-95 and then played professionally in France for the Montpelier Club. He was an assistant coach at UNLV and also was an assistant with the USPV?s Minnesota Chill. Hambly has been serving as an assistant coach since 2001 under Toshi Yoshida for the USA Women?s National Team as the U.S. prepares for the upcoming Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.

"Having Mary and Kevin both joining our program is incredible," Hardin said. "Kevin is one of the best volleyball trainers in the country and certainly one of the up-and-coming coaching talents in our sport. They are both terrific people and I think our community and team will really enjoy them."

"I am excited to continue my responsibilities with the national team, and more specifically, helping USA volleyball attain a gold medal at the Olympics in August," Hambly said. "To be able to come directly from Athens to the University of Illinois and continue my education, as well as work with the great volleyball program that Illinois has, is a wonderful opportunity."

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Wilson - Super Bowl Champ

Eugene Wilson starts for Super Bowl Champs

Former Illini star Eugene Wilson (Football '03)was drafted in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. Eugene was moved to safety and started all season long for the Patriots who beat the Carolina Panthers in the 2004 Super Bowl. The following is a transcript from Eugene at a press conference the week before the Super Bowl:

(On developing a hitting mentality after move to safety)
"I think I always had it, but I just didn't have the opportunities coming from the corner to make plays like that, to get a running start to hit people like that. Being back at safety, I'm able to read things and anticipate what is going to happen, which gives me a better jump on the ball."

(on if Rodney Harrison gave him hitting tips)
"I didn't get any tips about hitting people like that from him, but seeing him hit people makes you want to go out and hit guys like that. I guess you could say he got me amped up for it."

(on if communication was difficult after switching to safety)
"At the beginning it was a change because at corner I wasn't really giving out calls. I was receiving them from the safeties. Then I got moved to safety, so now I'm giving the calls as opposed to receiving them. It was a change that I had to get used to, but after a couple games or so, I was feeling comfortable with what I was doing and what I was saying, so it came out pretty good."

(on how he stays focused)
"Yesterday I laid around all day. I was tired from the first couple days. The first couple days you enjoy the scenery and kick back. I think today is the day we start buckling down like a regular season week. Today is going to be our day to start focusing in."

(on his transition to safety)
"It was unexpected. I didn't expect to fit in as well as I have. I got moved back there and I figured I would give it the best shot that I could. I've been making plays and I feel comfortable back there. I think it was a pretty good move."

(on having confidence)
"I've had confidence ever since I was a kid. I always figured when I'm out there I'm going to give my best, and if I make a mistake, I don't let that bother me. I think that may be a problem that some people have, when they make a mistake they get down on themselves. I usually don't let one mistake bother me."

(on what fans can expect on Sunday)
"It is going to be a hard hitting game. There will be a lot of exciting plays. It will be rowdy."

(on his impact as a rookie)
"Coming in as a rookie I was looking forward to playing corner. The thought of safety never crossed my mind. It happened, and I took it for what it was and tried to make the best of the situation. I feel like it turned out pretty well. I made plays that I wasn't used to making, especially hitting people like I have, and it all turned out good."

(on when he was told he was moving to safety)
"They told me the day after the Buffalo game, my first game. At first I thought it was a joke, but they said, 'No, we're serious. We're thinking of moving you for real.' I said, "Alright, as long as I'm going to be able to get out there and help us win.' We started working on me playing safety and getting my drops down right away. I felt comfortable after a couple days of practice."

(on if he is big enough to last at safety)
"I must be big enough if I've been back there all season. I think I've done a pretty good job. I think I fit in well."

(on if the Patriots success on defense is the scheme or the players)
"Coach Belichick and our defensive coordinator, Romeo (Crennel), get together and formulate a great game plan. Actually the whole defensive staff does a great job. We are the ones who go out and execute it, but it all starts with them. They've been coming up with great game plans all year and we've been going out there and executing them."

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Scully hired by Medinah

38-year-old Scully is a Chicago native

By SETH SOFFIAN, ssoffian@news-press.com Published by news-press.com on January 17, 2004

Southwest Florida is sending one of its adopted sons home to one of the most prestigious golf jobs in the country.

Mike Scully (Football '87), the head golf professional at The Forest Country Club for the last five years and a golf professional with the south Fort Myers club since 1995, has accepted a job with historic Medinah Country Club in suburban Chicago.

Scully, 38, a Chicago native and former offensive lineman with the Washington Redskins and Kansas City Chiefs, will stay at the The Forest through this month and begin work at Medinah the first week of February.

"Obviously it's a huge decision," Scully said. "It's just a huge opportunity. I'm thrilled to death about being able to go up there and participate in something as big as Medinah and what they've got coming up."

Medinah, founded in 1925, has hosted 12 regular and senior major championships and has been named to host the 2006 PGA Championship and 2012 Ryder Cup.

The No. 3 course at the 54-hole facility was the site of Hale Irwin's memorable victory lap around the 18th green during his 1990 U.S. Open win and Tiger Woods' victory over Sergio Garcia in the 1999 PGA Championship.

Other winners at Medinah include "Lighthorse" Harry Cooper, Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Cary Middlecoff, Billy Casper and Gary Player.

"It's the job I've always wanted," said Scully, who several years ago had a clause written into his contract with The Forest allowing him to pursue the job at Medinah, and only the job at Medinah, if it came open. "I'm a Chicago boy. That is where I grew up. To me (Medinah) is the mecca of golf."

Scully will follow in the footsteps of retiring Medinah head professional Mike Harrigan and legendary professionals Tommy Armour and Ralph Guldahl before him.

"Tommy Armour basically wrote our teaching manual," said Scully, noting the dedication to Armour in the front of the PGA's instructional manual and a plaque at Medinah honoring its past club professionals.

"Knowing that my name is going to be on that will be incredible," Scully said.

Scully first learned of the opening at Medinah, which was advertised nationally by the PGA, through members at The Forest who are also members at Medinah.

Even with the stature of the position and responsibility of helping host worldwide events like the PGA Championship and Ryder Cup, Scully said he wasn't nervous.

"I think that is one of my strengths, dealing with people," said Scully, who played in college for the University of Illinois. "I've been fortunate enough I've played in front of 110,000 people, and not very much makes me nervous."

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Kirby joins Cardinals

New Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Dennis Green has named Kirby Wilson running backs coach.

"Kirby Wilson meets our criteria of being a good teacher with a positive approach to making Cardinal players better, said Coach Green."

Kirby Wilson (Football `83)- A native of Los Angeles, Wilson owns 16 years coaching experience at the college and professional levels, including the past two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

A running back and wide receiver at Pasadena (Calif.) Community College (1979-80) and the University of Illinois (1980-81), Wilson played two seasons in the Canadian Football League as a defensive back and kick returner for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1983) and Toronto Argonauts (1984).

He entered the coaching arena on the staffs at Pasadena C.C. (1985) and Los Angeles Southwest Community College (1989-90), then spent two seasons at Southern Illinois as linebackers coach (1991) and secondary coach/passing game coordinator (1992).

While secondary coach at the University of Wyoming (1993-94), the Cowboys won the 1993 Western Athletic Conference title and earned an appearance in the Copper Bowl. Wilson then coached running backs at Iowa State for two years (1995-96). Under his guidance, Troy Davis earned all-America honors and led the nation with over 2,000 yards rushing in both 1995 and '96, the only player in NCAA history to reach the 2,000-yard rushing mark in consecutive seasons.

Wilson spent the next four years in the NFL as running backs coach with the New England Patriots (1997-99) and Washington Redskins (2000), tutoring a trio of Pro Bowl performers in Patriot running backs Curtis Martin (1997) and Robert Edwards (1998), and later Redskin running back Stephen Davis (2000). In addition, Wilson honed the skills of Washington fullback Larry Centers, who led his team with 80 pass receptions in 2000. Centers (827 receptions) and Keith Byars (610 receptions), who Wilson coached in New England in 1997, rank first and third, respectively, in career receptions by an NFL running back. St. Louis Ram Marshall Faulk ranks second with 673 catches.

After one season (2001) as wide receiver coach at Southern California, Wilson joined head coach Jon Gruden's staff in Tampa Bay in 2002 and the Buccaneers' trio of running backs-Michael Pittman, Mike Alstott, and Aaron Stecker-collectively gained over 1,400 rushing yards and helped the Bucs to the NFC title and a Super Bowl XXXVII victory over Oakland.

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Brewster promoted

Brewster Promoted
San Diego Chargers

01.28.04 - Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer announced on Wednesday that Tim Brewster (Football '83) has been promoted to Assistant Head Coach - Tight Ends. Brewster, 43, has served as the Chargers' tight ends coach for the past two season.

"Tim has extensive experience in the administrative aspects of coaching on the collegiate level," said Schottenheimer. "This promotion will help us take full advantage of Tim's skills and experience."

In 2003, Brewster was instrumental in the development of rookie tight end Antonio Gates, who joined the Bolts as an un-drafted free agent from Kent State. Gates, who had not played football since high school, instead focusing on a stellar collegiate basketball career, blossomed under Brewster's tutelage, catching 24 passes for 389 yards (16.2 avg.) and two touchdowns.

During his first campaign with the Bolts, Brewster worked with veteran tight end Stephen Alexander, the team's fourth-leading receiver, while overseeing the development of rookies Josh Norman and Justin Peelle.

Prior to joining the Chargers, Brewster spent four seasons (1998-2001) as the tight ends coach at the University of Texas and eight seasons (1989-97) at the University of North Carolina. In 1988, he was a volunteer assistant for the Tar Heels.

Before entering the collegiate coaching ranks, Brewster was the head coach at Central Catholic High School in Lafayette, Indiana from 1987-88. Brewster started his coaching career as the tight ends coach at Purdue in 1986.

Brewster was born on October 13, 1960 in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. He was a two-time All-Big Ten selection as a tight end at the University of Illinois and he graduated with a degree in political science in 1983. On the gridiron, he led the nation's tight ends in receiving in 1983 and captained the Fighting Illini in the 1984 Rose Bowl against UCLA. After his collegiate career concluded at Illinois, Brewster went to training camp with the New York Giants (1984) and the Philadelphia Eagles (1985).

Brewster and his wife, Cathleen, have three sons, Eric (June 2, 1986), Clint (Sept. 19, 1988) and Nolan (April 11, 1990).

Tim Brewster's Coaching Experience
2004 - Assistant Head Coach - Tight Ends, San Diego Chargers 2002-2003 - Tight Ends, San Diego Chargers
1999-2001 - Tight Ends, University of Texas
1989-97 - Tight Ends, University of North Carolina
1988 - Volunteer Assistant, University of North Carolina
1987-88 - Head Coach, Central Catholic High School, Lafayette, Indiana
1986 - Tight Ends, Purdue University

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Pond's 1950 NCAA Champs

Illinois Coaching Legend Charlie Pond Dies at the age of 88
Pond led Illinois Men's Gymnastics to four NCAA titles and 11 Big Ten titles in 25 years

Dewey, Ariz. - Former University of Illinois men's gymnastics coach Charlie Pond passed away Thursday at the age of 88. Pond is widely recognized as one of the most influential individuals in gymnastics, not just at Illinois where he was a coach for 25 years and a professor for 27, but throughout the United States and the world.

"Charlie was great man and a compassionate person who influenced countless people, including myself," said current Fighting Illini head coach Yoshi Hayasaki. "He gave me the opportunity to succeed his head coaching position here at Illinois back in 1974, and has been an inspiration to me ever since. Over the years, we stayed in touch and he was always there to offer me words of encouragement and knowledge. Charlie greatly influenced my career, not only as a fellow coach, but also as a friend and mentor. I will miss him greatly."

Pond is recognized as one of the most successful coaches in Illinois history for any sport. He took over as head coach of the Illinois men's gymnastics team in 1949 and led the Illini to a national title just two years later. In all, he led the Fighting Illini to four NCAA national titles (1950, '55, '56 and '58) and 11 consecutive Big Ten titles (1950-1960) in his 25-year tenure as head coach. In his first 12 seasons with the Orange and Blue, he posted an impressive record of 83-11 (.883) and finished his career with a mark of 145-76-1 (.655). In addition, four individuals he coached at Illinois became individual national champions and Olympic Team members.

While coaching at Illinois, Pond was active in many other areas. He was a professor of Physical Education at Illinois from 1947 until he retired in 1973 as a Professor Emeritus. In addition, Pond was a member of the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Committee from 1956-72 and served as the Associate Coach for the 1956 Olympic Men's Gymnastics team. In 1952, he organized and conducted the first annual Illinois State High School Gymnastics meet. But he is probably most famous for inventing the Pond Twisting Belt, a training and safety belt still used by many gymnasts today.

After his retirement from Illinois, Pond became very active in the sport of freestyle snow skiing, while also remaining involved with gymnastics. In 1976, he was appointed the U.S. National Freestyle Snow Skiing Coach for the National Freestyle Team and from 1978-79 he served as Executive Director of the U.S. Freestyle Skiing Federation (Aerial Snow Acrobatics). Then, in March of 1996, he was Elected Vice-President of the World Acrobatics Society, which oversees artistic gymnastics, diving, tumbling, trampoline, rhythmic gymnastics, cheerleading, ice skating and freestyle snow skiing.

Born Nov. 28, 1915 in Dallas, Texas, Pond graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1933 and received a Bachelor of Science from Hardin-Simmons University in 1939. He earned his Masters Degree at Southern Methodist University in 1947. In 1943, Pond was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps and served with the First Marine Parachute Regiment in the South Pacific with combat action in the British Solomon Islands Possessions on the Islands of Guadalcanal, Vella la Vella and Bougainville. He returned to the U.S. in 1944 with a commendation from the Commandant of the Marine Corps and received his honorable discharge with the rank of Major, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (Ret.).

Pond was elected to the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1996, and was the recipient of the first Heritage Award from the Gymnastics Association of Texas in 1993, which is presented for distinctive and significant contributions to gymnastics. In 1976, he was awarded the International Honor "Master of Sport" by the U.S. Gymnastics Federation in 1976.

Pond resided in Dewey, Arizona with his wife Pamela. He has four children, daughters Michelle (60) and Antonia (49), and sons Gerald (57) and Eric (53). Even at the age of 88, Pond was still very active in skiing, golfing, gymnastics, writing and reading.

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Don Passmore Releases Music CD

Don Passmore (Football '85) has formed the musical group Darryl B & Don Carlos and has recently released their first CD entitled "Ladies, Love, Life, & Drama." They call themselves the creators of the Rap, Roll, Groove, Smooth style. Their first CD has 17 tracks and features the hot single "So Cool, Sexy Hot." They are currently worked on their next release, an upcoming double CD.

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Arch with the Suns

Archibald Finally Lands in Toronto

Bob Young
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 5, 2004

TORONTO - Injured Suns forward Amare Stoudemire was out of the club's locker room early and ran into Robert Archibald (Basketball '03) outside Toronto's locker room.

"Hey, Arch," Stoudemire said, hugging his former teammate. "I thought you were in Orlando."

It's a wonder Archibald knows where he's at himself.

The Raptors completed a trade with Orlando for the 6-foot-11 forward before Sunday's game when Archibald reported and underwent a physical. Because he didn't take the physical until right before the early tip-off, he wasn't available for the game.

The Raptors are Archibald's fourth team this year.

He started out in Memphis, where he ended last season. The Suns acquired him as part of the deal that sent Bo Outlaw and Jake Tsakalidis to the Grizzlies.

He spent most of his time with the Suns on the injured list.

Then it got weird.

Initially, the Suns tried to involve Toronto in the deal that sent a second-round pick to Orlando for Donnell Harvey.

But there were complications because Orlando was trying to make another deal at the time. But the Suns needed him off their salary cap, so they made a second deal, with Orlando, sending Archibald there for a conditional 2005 second-round pick - the condition being essentially that the Magic end up with one of the top 10 records in the league this season, which won't happen.

The Magic didn't want Archibald, but knew Toronto did. So they sent him there for center Mengke Bateer, the rights to Toronto's 2003 second-round pick Remon Van de Hare and the option to exchange second-round picks in 2005.

Archibald patiently waited for the best.

"I wasn't sure it would happen, but when I knew I was leaving Phoenix, this is the place we were trying to get to," he said. "With everything else going on, it's all out of your control.

"But this is where I wanted to be, and I'm definitely going to make the most of it."

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Studwell promoted by Vikings

Vikings Announce Organizational Change
Thursday, April 25, 2002

The Minnesota Vikings announced an organizational change today. Scott Studwell (Football '76) was named the Director of College Scouting. All college scouts within the Vikings' organization will report to Studwell.

After establishing himself as one of the top players in team history during his 14 seasons (1977-90) at linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings, Scott enters his tenth year in the team's Player Personnel Department. He retired from his playing career after the 1990 season and spent a year as the Vikings Assistant to the President/Player Relations before joining the Personnel Department.

Studwell has been a part of successful drafts that have included Robert Smith (1st round, '93), Todd Steussie (1st, '94), David Palmer (2nd, '94), Korey Stringer (1st, '95), Orlando Thomas (2nd, '95), Dwayne Rudd (1st, '97), Robert Tate (6th, '97), Matthew Hatchette (7th, '97), Randy Moss (1st, '98), Matt Birk (6th, '98), Daunte Culpepper (1st, '99), Jim Kleinsasser (2nd, '99), Chris Hovan (1st, '00), and Michael Bennett (1st, '01)..

A member of the Vikings' 25th Anniversary All-Time Team, Studwell holds team records for tackles in a career (1,981), season (230 in '81) and game (24 vs. Detroit in '85), as well as solo tackles in a career (1,308). No other player in Vikings history has as many as 1,500 career tackles. In addition, Studwell is one of only five Minnesota players to participate in over 200 games during his career. He also played in 12 playoffs contests, including NFC Championship Games following the '77 and '87 seasons. In '87 and '88 Studwell was voted to the Pro Bowl. In '89 he was second-team All-NFC by United Press International. He also was Minnesota's recipient of the Ed Block Memorial Courage Award in '87. After earning the starting middle linebacker job in '80, Studwell led the Vikings in tackles the next six seasons. He also was the team's leading tackler in '88 and '89. Studwell, who tied for the team lead in fumbles recovered three times ('82, '86, '88), finished his NFL career with 15 fumble recoveries and 11 interceptions.

Drafted by Minnesota in the ninth round from Illinois in '77, Studwell finished his collegiate career as the school's second all-time tackler (342) behind Dick Butkus (374). In '76 Studwell recorded 177 tackles to surpass Illinois' season record, formerly held by Butkus. As a senior Studwell recorded 23 tackles against Purdue to tie the school's single-game record.

In '90 Studwell was named to Illinois' All-Century Team, joining Butkus and Ray Nitschke as the linebackers on that squad. Studwell earned second-team All-America and first-team All-Big Ten honors in '76, and second-team all-conference mention in '75. Studwell also was the team's co-captain and co-MVP in '76, when he played in the Hula Bowl, East-West Shrine Game and Japan Bowl.

A native of Evansville, IN (8/27/54), John Scott Studwell starred at Evansville High School. This past March Studwell was elected into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame. He majored in commerce at Illinois. During his playing career, he sat on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Minneapolis. Scott and wife Jenny have two daughters, Jessie (2/27/86) and Samantha (9/17/87), and a son Jack (2/20/95).

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Cross joins Depaul staff

Gene Cross Named Assistant Coach
May 2, 2002

CHICAGO -- Gene Cross (Basketball '94) has been named an assistant coach for the DePaul men's basketball program it was announced today by head coach Dave Leitao.

A Chicago native, Cross comes to the Blue Demons after spending the previous six seasons at Illinois-Chicago. While with the Flames, Gene was instrumental in helping guide the program to the only two NCAA Tournament appearances in its history.

"I am extremely excited to have Gene as the first member of our new family at DePaul," Leitao said. "I've know Gene for some time and I believe that he will be someone who will represent DePaul University and the basketball program in a first class manner. Gene has a tremendous knowledge of the game, his Chicago roots will enhance our program locally while his talent will benefit our national recruiting efforts as well. Gene brings the experience of success as well, helping Coach (Jimmy) Collins at UIC to their first two NCAA Tournament appearances in school history."

Last season, UIC won 20 games and claimed the inaugural Horizon League Tournament title. With the tournament victory, the Flames advanced to the NCAA Tournament where they fell to eventual Final Four participant, Oklahoma in the opening round. In 1998, UIC tied the school record with 22 wins and captured the Midwestern Collegiate Conference regular-season title. The Flames' success that season included wins over conference champions Michigan State (Big 10), Illinois State (Missouri Valley) and Valparaiso (Mid-Continent), helped them earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Gene has strong ties in and around the Chicagoland area and the state of Illinois. Cross played a significant role in landing UIC's most heralded recruiting class in 2000, which included the signing of Chicago Public League stars Aaron Carr, Will Lewis, Armond Williams, Martell Bailey and Cedrick Banks, the 2001 Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year. This spring, Cross helped UIC sign Windy City stars Elliot Poole and Mike Smith.

Cross was a member of the basketball team at Illinois from 1990-94. During his time in Champaign, he helped the Illini to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. Off the court, Cross served two years as chairperson for the Buddy Program Core Committee and was also a speaker for the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics' Hometown Heroes program. Cross played his prep basketball at Rich Central High School. Cross earned a bachelor's degree in history from Illinois in 1994, and completed his master's degree in Sport Management at Ohio State in 1996. Gene and his wife, Nichole, currently reside in Oak Park, Ill.

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Graydon Oliver

Graydon Oliver, Tennis '01, teamed with Jan-Michael Gambill to reach the finals of the 2002 U.S. Men's Clay Court Doubles Championships held in Houston, TX. Oliver and Gambill lost in the finals to singles champion Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish.

Graydon earned 24 Championship Race Points for reaching the finals.

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Brad speaking at the ceremony

Brad and wife Ellen at the ceremony

Brad Hopkins, Football '93, was inducted into the Quad Cities Athletic Hall of Fame in a ceremony held on April 24, 2002. The ceremony was in Davenport, IA at Lyceum Hall.

Brad and his wife Ellen attended the induction. Brad gave a short speech and signed autographs at a reception after the event.

The following is an article on the ceremony:

This year's inductees earn an `A' for amiable
By Don Doxsie/ QUAD-CITY TIMES

WHEN we first started the Quad-City Sports Hall of Fame in 1987, some people predicted we would run out of worthy candidates within the first few years.

Boy, were they wrong.

Fifteen years later we found a Pro Bowl tackle, an American League batting champion, a two-time Olympian and an Olympic bronze medalist to induct at the annual Quad-City Times Salute to Sports Wednesday night at Lyceum Hall.

It might be the most worthy group of inductees since the earliest years of the Hall of Fame.

What we didn't know for sure until Wednesday was that this also must rank among the nicest, most personable groups of people we've ever honored.

You could see that during a mid-afternoon reception at Gold's Gym, which is the new home for the Hall of Fame plaques.

Brad Hopkins, Dan Steele and Darrin Steele all had flown into town within a few hours beforehand. The Steele boys were operating on just a few hours' sleep after partying at the White House with the rest of the Olympic team Tuesday night.

But they were pleasant, agreeable, humble, accommodating.

To the max.

We've had a few Hall of Fame inductees in the past -- we won't mention names -- who were fully aware of exactly how important they were. These new guys don't seem to know.

They chatted with well-wishers, posed for photos, did interviews with television crews, mingled with previous Hall of Fame inductees.

And never stopped smiling.

Sonny Franck, who had the Steeles' father, Dewey, in his biology class at Rock Island High School in 1955, took Darrin Steele down the hallway to point to the plaque commemorating his own induction into the Hall of Fame in 1991.

Brother Dan pulled out the hunk of bronze he won just two months ago at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and allowed most of the people in the place to handle it, study it and have their pictures taken with it.

Hopkins, who never had met the Steeles before (and might not have been entirely sure who they were), joked with them as though he'd known them for 20 years.

Darrin proudly showed off his 14-month-old daughter, Kalyany, whose name is Cambodian for "friendly.'' (How fitting is that?)

By time they all left, Dan Steele seemed to have made the acquaintance of everyone seated at the juice bar in the lobby. He was calling them by name as he parted.

It was more of the same at the Salute on Wednesday. All three men stayed around long after the event, sitting at tables with their stomachs groaning, signing hundreds of autographs while the high school kids gobbled up hot dogs, nachos and chocolate eclairs.

Hopkins, who makes something like $7 million a year, easily could be apathetic to a little local affair attended mostly by high school kids. But he seemed genuinely touched, calling it "one of the most special awards I've ever received.''

Darrin was equally humble, relating stories about how he and his twin brother were members of the "meat squad'' on the freshman football team at Sherrard High School.

Dan spoke mostly of his recent Olympic experience and about how it was a giant exclamation point on an unlikely athletic career.

"This is the reason I stayed in athletics for so long, living for that impossible moment,'' he said.

"I was a high school kid like you once,'' he reminded his youthful audience. "I was good. I wasn't great. But I had a dream. And sometimes even the big dreams come true.''

With that, he pulled out his bronze medal and held it aloft for all to see.

Nice touch.

Nice guys.

All of them.

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Jirele with Coach Wieneke at the Banquet

Tonja Buford-Bailey

Buford-Bailey, Jirele Serve as Come Back Guests For 2002 Scholar-Athlete Banquet

Tonja Buford-Bailey (Track '93) and Jeff Jirele (Track, X-Country '77) were selected as Come Back Guests for the 12th annual Fighting Illini Scholar-Athlete Banquet held on April 23, 2002. A crowd of over 500 people gathered in Assembly Hall for the banquet, which recognizes graduating student-athletes and others who have excelled athletically and academically.

Both Tonja and Jeff had the opportunity to speak to the crowd about their experiences before and after graduation from Illinois. Tonja currently works in Dallas, while Jeff is in Arizona working for State Farm.

Both were presented with a crystal vase for their participation.

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Tirapelle places 7th

Tirapelle Takes Seventh at U.S. National Wrestling Championships
April 27, 2002

Former University of Illinois wrestler Adam Tirapelle, Wrestling `01, defeated Celso DeAnda of Excel Wrestling Club for the second time in the tournament to take seventh place at 66 KG at the U.S. National Freestyle Wrestling Championships and qualify for the World Trials.

After falling in his quarterfinal match on Friday night, Tirapelle bounced back to beat Mike Unger of Orange Crush, 12-2, and DeAnda, 3-2. He won his third straight match by notching a 5-2 decision over Reggie Wright, then fell to former Iowa standout Doug Schwab, 4-3, to land in the seventh-place match vs. DeAnda. Tirapelle went 5-2 in the tournament.

The 2002 World Trials will take place on June 21-23 in St. Paul, Minn. The winners of each weight class will make up the World Team for the 2002-03 season.

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Clark to step in for Hardy

Moving past Hardy boys
Danny Clark has chance to start

By Vito Stellino
Times-Union sports writer

The Jaguars are making the transition this year from having one of the oldest linebacking corps in the league to one of the youngest.

When they opened last season, they had Hardy Nickerson, who had started 171 games in 14 years, in the middle. He was flanked on one side by Kevin Hardy Football `96, who had started 77 games in his first five seasons. On the other side was T.J. Slaughter, who went into his second season last year after starting seven games as a rookie.

Now that Hardy has signed with the Dallas Cowboys and Nickerson is expected to be released on June 1 in one of the team's many salary cap moves, Slaughter will switch to the middle to replace Nickerson as the veteran of the group.

Slaughter started eight games last season before being forced out of the lineup with a sprained knee, he's expected to be ready to go this year.

He'll be flanked by Danny Clark Football `00, who started three games combined in his first two seasons, and Eric Westmoreland, who started two games in his rookie season after being drafted in the third round last year.

Clark, a seventh-round draft choice in 2000, was slowed late last season by ankle and foot injuries, but has made a complete recovery.

Coach Tom Coughlin sounds upbeat on the future of the three young players who are currently his three starters.

"I think those three are outstanding players and certainly have earned the chance to be starters," he said. "Danny Clark has contributed strongly on special teams and when he got a chance to play last year, he did well.

Clark, who will play the strong side, is looking forward to his opportunity this year.

"I've been a leader my whole life, my whole career in football and I don't think anything is different now," he said.

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Dilger signs with Bucs

Bucs Sign Dilger To 3-Year Pact
By ROY CUMMINGS
Published: Apr 18, 2002

TAMPA - Much like predecessor Tony Dungy, Bucs coach Jon Gruden is proving to be quite adept at recruiting free agents.

Though his team was outbid by at least one other club, Gruden used persistence and the promise of a Hooters discount card to lure former Colts tight end Ken Dilger, Football '95, to Tampa Bay.

``Jon called three times last week, sort of recruiting me, and he was the only coach to do that,'' said Dilger, who signed a three-year, $3.34 million deal Wednesday that included an $800,000 signing bonus. ``He just kept saying that it would be a shame if we couldn't get something done and how nice I would fit in the offense there. When he promised me he'd give me a 50-percent-off Hooters card, that kind of sealed the deal.''

Gruden's courting of Dilger, 31, started at a downtown Indianapolis Hooters during the NFL scouting combine. The two met for about two hours over beers and chicken wings, and Gruden called Dilger four times after that in an effort to coax him into signing with the Bucs.

This wasn't the first time Gruden has talked a player into signing with the Bucs for less than he could have received elsewhere. Quarterback Rob Johnson turned down a one-year, $1 million deal from the Houston Texans to sign with the Bucs in March for one year at $650,000, including a $25,000 signing bonus.

Unlike Johnson, though, Dilger is expected to start for the Bucs. After Shannon Sharpe, who recently signed with the Denver Broncos, Dilger was the most highly sought free agent tight end. The Seahawks, Cowboys and Bears all made offers to him, and for good reason. During his seven-year career, Dilger has caught 261 passes for 3,181 yards, including 18 for touchdowns. He caught 32 for 343 yards with one touchdown last season.

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Hopkins joins Quad City greats

Brad Hopkins to be inducted into the Quad-Cities Athletic Hall of Fame
By Don Doxsie/ QUAD-CITY TIMES

A 2000 Pro Bowl tackle, Brad Hopkins Football '93, will be inducted into the Quad-Cities Sports Hall of Fame later this month.

Brad will be honored at the April 24 Quad-City Times Salute to Sports, which will be held for the first time at Davenport's Lyceum Hall.

The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Lyceum Hall, located on the campus of Palmer College of Chiropractic. This year's guest speaker will be Bernie Saggau, executive director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association.

Hopkins has played in a Super Bowl and a Pro Bowl, and a year ago he signed a $35 million contract to continue protecting Tennessee Titan quarterback Steve McNair's blind side.

Not bad for an undersized, over-wide, wannabe power forward.

"It's ironic how life gives you little quirks,'' Hopkins said last week. "I wanted to be a basketball player, but I ended up being a football player and making it work.''

As day jobs go, football has worked out rather nicely for Hopkins, who next week will join Roger Craig and Michael Nunn as the only active athletes to be inducted into the Quad-City Sports Hall of Fame.

Hopkins is headed toward his 10th season with the Titans, who plucked him out of the University of Illinois with the 13th overall pick of the 1993 NFL draft and then almost immediately plugged him into their starting lineup.

The former Moline High School star has been a Titans mainstay ever since.

He has played in 138 of a possible 144 games. He has started in 132 of those, including a string of 70 straight starts from 1994 through 1998.

Hopkins has played in seven playoff games, including the 2000 Super Bowl in Atlanta, when the Titans came up an agonizing 1 yard short in a 23-16 loss to the St. Louis Rams.

A year ago his peers sent Hopkins to Hawaii to represent the AFC in the Pro Bowl.

He played in four college bowl games at Illinois, started three successive seasons there and was a consensus All-Big Ten first-team pick as a senior.

All in all, this is a dream football career. Even for a kid who never dreamed of a football career.

At Moline High School, basketball was Hopkins' passion.

"Still is,'' said the 6-foot-3, 305-pounder, who plays hoops twice a week in the offseason. "I'm a good football player by trade because I am a good basketball player by heart. I love the hardwood. I love the smell of it. I love everything about it.''

There was a time when he felt the polar opposite toward football.

In fact, had Hopkins been left to his own designs, it is possible he would be punching a clock somewhere today instead of ranking as one of the premier left tackles in the NFL.

"I was forced to play football until my sophomore year in high school by my father,'' he explained. "And I went out as a sophomore before he could make me. I really hated that my dad used to tell me, `You know you are going out for football.' But he wanted us to have versatility. And he wanted us to have something to do in the fall because bored kids get in trouble.''

Phil Hopkins, who resides now near his son in Nashville, Tenn., does not remember it quite that way.

He said he only insisted his son finish what he started when Brad wanted to quit his eighth grade football team in midseason.

"I didn't say he had to play,'' the father remembered. "I said he had to finish the season. And that's all it took. He started to enjoy it.''

Yes and no. At Moline, Hopkins enjoyed more success on the basketball court -- where he teamed with Acie Earl to help forge a 23-4 senior season in 1988 -- than he did on the football field, where the Maroon teams he was a part of were barely mediocre.

Football earns his ride

Early in his Moline career Hopkins considered football something to do until basketball season started. But with encouragement from Maroons line coach Paul Carther -- and from a growing stack of college recruiting letters -- the game began to look like a means to an end.

Or more to the point, a means to an education.

"He was actually a good basketball player,'' Carther remembered, "but because of his size and foot speed I felt he had a better chance to go to a Division I school in football. I thought that was his sport.'''

Carther was right, but, because Hopkins was a 230-pound tight end on a prep team that rarely threw, not everyone saw what he saw.

The Moline kid was part of a slim and little-praised class of recruits that signed on at Illinois when John Mackovic was hired late in the recruiting process as a replacement for the fired Mike White.

When Hopkins arrived in Champaign in August 1988, though, it did not take Mackovic and his staff long to see a mobile and athletic offensive lineman in the oversized tight end.

Hopkins figured to redshirt his first season but instead wound up playing in a backup capacity when the line-thin Illini suffered early injuries. He did redshirt the following year, and come the fall of 1990 he was a still-agile 300 pounds and ready for work.

It took all of two games for Hopkins to settle in as the starting left tackle, where he stayed for the final three years of his Illinois career.

Skeptical of himself

Hopkins loved his college experience, but he still didn't quite develop a true appreciation of his own capabilities.

"I remember reading scouting reports on guys I thought were just monsters, but then I would play them and think, `He's really not that good,''' he said. "I never looked at it like, `I am better than them.' I just thought they weren't that good.''

Hopkins remained a skeptic even as it became evident he was bound for a first-round draft call.

"The Kiper reports and all that stuff -- I never paid attention,'' he said. "I had seen people think they were going in the first round and then not get drafted at all.''

Hopkins did get drafted, of course. In fact, the Titans -- then the Houston Oilers -- traded up in the draft from 19 to 13 to be sure they would get him. That also meant that the Oilers got him to play him, which meant that as a rookie Hopkins had some on-the-job training to weather.

"I had to grow up on the run,'' he said.

He endured growing pains that rookie season -- "I got hung out to dry a couple of times by the media for not getting the job done,'' he said -- but grow he did.

"I made mistakes and I learned by those mistakes,'' he said.

In time, he grew more and more comfortable and his reputation grew with him.

"My second and third year, I just got more and more confident and things started snowballing,'' he said.

From the fourth game of his sophomore season through the 13th game of the 1998 campaign, Hopkins did not a miss a start. That's a remarkable run of longevity for an NFL trench warrior, and Hopkins knows it.

"To be able to not get injured is a great thing, but I can't put much stock in it," said Hopkins, who is coming off offseason surgery on a hand that was broken twice in the past two years. "The game is getting faster, the players are getting stronger and me not getting hurt is something I can't bank on.''

Neither will he bank on past success to carry him through the remainder of his career.

"I'm trying to maintain consistency and get better, obviously,'' he said.

More goals to reach

On his list of proudest achievements, Hopkins places making the Pro Bowl ahead of playing in the Super Bowl.

"Going to the Pro Bowl definitely is the thing I am most proud of,'' he said. "It took me eight years to get there, and it was the pinnacle. I had accomplished what I set out to do.''

The Super Bowl, he said, "wasn't an awe-inspiring experience. I didn't sensationalize it in my mind. I just really wanted to play the game. I didn't think about what we were doing or the audience we were playing in front of. I just wanted to play.''

Having endured a 7-9 2001 season that did not include a second-straight Pro Bowl nod, Hopkins' foremost goal for the remainder of his career is to return to the the big game the Roman numerals.

"I want to get back in the Super Bowl and be part of a winning program again,'' he said. "My individual goals have been reached. I am more team-oriented now.''

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Hardy joins Cowboys

Hardy reaches agreement with 'winning' Cowboys

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Sunday, April 14

Ever the huckster owner Jerry Jones made unrestricted free agent Kevin Hardy, Football `96, a sales pitch he couldn't resist.

In return, the veteran linebacker made a commitment to join a Dallas Cowboys defense that played surprisingly well in 2001 and continues to add key components.

One of the top players still available in the unrestricted pool, Hardy late Saturday night reached agreement on a contract with the Cowboys, a team for whom he said he always wanted to play.

The former Jacksonville Jaguars star conceded that part of his decision was the "good feel" that he had for Jones, who recruited him hard.

"There's a history here," Hardy said from Dallas, where he flew Saturday for a second round of interviews with the Cowboys and, more important, substantive contract negotiations. "They know about winning football and that's something I think I know about, too. This is a team that's on its way back, Jerry stressed, and I know I can help them get there. It's a good move for both of us."

Hardy, 28, will sign what is essentially a one-year contract and the Cowboys have an option to add five more seasons by making a lucrative bonus payment next spring. If they don't exercise the option, Hardy will be eligible once again for unrestricted free agency.

Financial details of the contract were not immediately available. But the deal is believed to be worth between $1.5 million-$2 million for the 2002 season.

The Cowboys will officially announce the addition of Hardy at a Sunday press conference.

ESPN.com has learned that Hardy was originally scheduled to fly to New Orleans on Saturday to visit with Saints officials. But he and agent Ethan Lock apparently determined the Saints were not as serious as the Cowboys about acquiring the former first-round draft choice and canceled that visit to pursue the Dallas deal. Hardy had become a free agent this spring by voiding the last two seasons of a three-year deal he signed with the Jaguars last spring.

In Dallas, he will become a major component in a Cowboys defense that statistically ranked No. 4 in the league in 2001. The team has added defensive tackle La'Roi Glover and also cornerback Bryant Westbrook in free agency, and figures to draft a defensive player with the sixth overall pick in next weekend's lottery.

"There were some good people here," said Hardy, "and now there is one more."

Hardy is coming off a knee injury that limited him to a career-low nine appearances in 2001 and probably will not be full strength until summer training camp. Despite the truncated campaign, he still posted 71 tackles and 5 ? sacks last season.

Although he has played both the strongside and weakside spots during his Jaguars tenure, Hardy will line up at the latter for the Cowboys. That is his preference, since it will afford his chances to rush the quarterback.

The second overall player selected in the 1996 draft, Hardy has appeared in 86 games and started 83 of them. He has 509 tackles, 28 ? sacks, five interceptions and 26 passes defensed.

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Svihlik goes in coaching

D.J. Svihlik, Baseball '00, played three years of pro ball for the New York Yankees. In 2002, he has decided to give up his glove for a stop watch. He recently accepted a position with the New York Yankees as a coach. He is presently assigned to player development and is working in Tampa, Florida, at the Yankees training facility. D.J. will be sent to scouting school after the 2002 baseball season.

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Agee in AF2

MEL AGEE, Football `91
OFFENSIVE/DEFENSIVE LINE
HEIGHT: 6-5 WEIGHT: 320
EXPERIENCE: 5th SEASON (5th with Storm)

Huge lineman who provides a solid anchor on the offensive line. Veteran with the Storm and will provide needed leadership up front. Surprisingly agile, Agee has also been used as a tight end in passing situations and has five career receiving touchdowns.

2001 Season: Caught three passes during the 2001 season, all for touchdowns. Added a defensive score on April 21 against Nashville after he scooped up a fumble and rumbled untouched into the endzone in Tampa Bay's 45-40 win. Defensively recorded 12 tackles in 2001.

2000 Season: Caught two passes for 11 yards and his second career touchdown, an eight-yarder on July 1 vs. Orlando. Defensively had eight tackles and three pass breakups. He also recorded his first career sack, as he was credited with 0.5 sack against Orlando on July 1.

1999 Season: Caught two passes for a career high 22 yards. Scored his first career offensive touchdown on his first career catch, a 20-yard TD reception on July 17 against New Jersey. Recorded a career high 15 tackles with three pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

1998 Season: Signed with the Storm on June 25. Played first Arena game on July 2 at Houston and recorded two tackles. Finished season with six tackles and a pass breakup.

Other Pro Experience: Drafted in the sixth round of the 1991 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Played with Indianapolis from 1993-95 and participated in 17 games with the Colts. Spent the spring of 1998 with the Frankfurt Galaxy and finished third on the team in sacks.

College/Personal: Named All-Big Ten as a linebacker for the University of Illinois in 1989 and as a defensive lineman in 1990. Graduated from Illinois with a degree in mathematics.

CAREER HIGHS
Receptions: 2, vs New Jersey, July 17, 1999
Yards: 22, vs New Jersey, July 17, 1999
Touchdowns: 1, 5 times
Longest Reception: 20 yards, vs New Jersey, July 17, 1999
Tackles: 3, April 30, 1999 & May 15, 1999
Sacks: 0.5, vs Orlando, July 1, 2000
Pass Breakups: 1, 7 times
Fumble Recoveries: 1, August 2, 1999 & April 21, 2001

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McLaurin in AF2

WOLVES ADD DEPTH IN DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD
NEW LONDON, C.T. (February 27th, 2002)

The Mohegan Wolves have solidified another position with the acquisition of a defensive specialist. Carlos McLaurin, Football `00, will join Heron O'Neal in the defensive backfield. The competition promises to be top notch with the season beginning April 5th vs. the expansion Albany Conquest in the magnificent Mohegan Sun Arena. Single game tickets will be available March 1st with season tickets currently on sale.

Carlos spent the 2001 season with the Iowa Barnstormers (af2) and was the team's second leading tackler. McLaurin stands 5'11 and weighs 175 pounds and currently lives in St. Louis, Missouri. He played his collegiate football at the University of Illinois where he was a corner back. Carlos adds more arena experience to the defensive backfield.

Head Coach Gary Porter:

"We are extremely excited about the competition we are going to have in camp this spring. We've added some quality talent in the defensive backfield. I'm excited to see that position unfold as camp progresses. Carlos is a guy we played against last year. He has experience covering the high motion receiver, which is something we didn't have until this point. He is a good cover guy and we are excited for Carlos to come to camp.

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Eagles Offensive Coordinator

For Childress, Continuity Is Key
By BOB KENT

April 10, 2002

The Eagles didn't have to go far for a new offensive coordinator. Just down a hallway on the second floor of the NovaCare Complex... to Brad Childress's (Football '78) office.

Childress, one of the game's most fertile minds, has been credited as the man behind Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb. In fact, his name has surfaced in connection with several NFL coaching vacancies over the last two seasons.

But Childress likes having continuity. And that's why Wednesday's announcement that he would succeed Rod Dowhower as offensive coordinator made perfect sense.

"From a continuity standpoint, it was important, I think, that it went this way," said Childress, a 23-year coaching veteran. "What it means is that you don't have to get used to a new personality and kind of feel like what makes a guy tick.

"Donovan knows where I'm coming from. He knows I'll be the first guy to have a laugh, but I'll be the first guy to get after his tail if need be. So it's important that the guys on offense know that face, they know what that face means. They know that that guy's about business. He can laugh and have a joke, but when it's time to work, it's time to work. That's what continuity means to me."

The transition appears easy. But Childress admits that expectations for the team will make for quite a challenge, one he has been looking forward to since the final gun of the NFC Championship Game.

"We've kind of raised the bar pretty high, and expectations," Childress said. "But we've earned those. [In fact,] some of my thoughts sitting there after the Championship Game were, `Boy, that was a lot of hard work. We've got to find a way to get back here again next year.'

"I think that the challenge is always getting back and doing one better. I think that is challenge enough."

For three years, head coach Andy Reid, along with Dowhower and Childress have established an ambitious learning curve. First, with McNabb and bringing him along in the West Coast offense. Last season it was the overhaul of the receiving squad.

McNabb has responded in a big way, quickly becoming a two-time Pro Bowl selection and an MVP candidate. Over the last two years, McNabb has averaged 3,300 passing yards and 23 TD passes, while rushing for a total of 1,111 yards and 8 more scores.

Childress credits McNabb's work ethic and hard work.

"You've got to have a willing soul there, someone who is wiling to spend time and go through those dips and come back that much stronger."

The coach noted how McNabb displayed a short-term memory in rebounding from a home loss to Washington and coming back on a short week with a solid effort on the road in Kansas City.

And Childress says he'll continue to play a key role in McNabb's maturation.

"I think that you still have a strong voice with the quarterback," Childress said. "As a coordinator, you're as involved as ever. It's important that I can get his eye and talk to him and see how we're seeing things and still communicate the same way.

"We've had a relationship for three years. It's not like you step back and all of a sudden you don't talk to the guy."

While most coordinators would want to make his own imprint on an offense, Childress maintains that it will be basically the same.

A West Coast offense complete with a multitude of formations -- two-back, one-back, no-back, two-tight end, four-receiver sets and so on.

"The system is kind of defined," Childress said. "There will be some extra little wrinkles I'm sure. We've got some things in the works that I wish I could share with you, but I can't."

Though in the shadows for much of his three-year stint in Philadelphia, Childress has had the ear of Reid.

In fact, with an "inside tip" from the former Wisconsin offensive coach, the Eagles took fullback Cecil Martin in the '99 draft and have watched him blossom.

And while Childress and Reid plan for the NFL Draft on April 20-21, Dowhower is off to the links in Arizona.

Childress says he'll be missed.

"Rod has been a great resource for me over the course of time," said Childress. "I met him back in 1985 and went to work for him at the Colts. Everywhere he's been, when I went back to college, I followed him.

"He's been a great resource, a great wealth of knowledge for me and I can't thank him enough."

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Fletcher with the Blue Jays

Darrin Fletcher gets game winning RBI in opener, Jays win slugfest
April 2, 2002

BOSTON (AP) -- The Toronto Blue Jays knocked Pedro Martinez all over Fenway Park, then still had to come back against Boston's bullpen to win.

Martinez gave up eight runs in the first three innings on opening day, struggling through one of the worst outings of his career. But the Blue Jays had to rally to beat the Boston Red Sox 12-11 on Darrin Fletcher's, Baseball '87, ninth-inning sacrifice fly Monday.

"We hit Pedro," Fletcher said, "but when they came back, we came back."

Ugueth Urbina, who replaced ineffective Derek Lowe as closer late last season, retired the first batter in the ninth before Raul Mondesi walked and took second on Carlos Delgado's single.

After a double steal, the Red Sox decided to walk Jose Cruz Jr. Fletcher then hit his sacrifice fly to deep left-center for his fourth RBI.

"I just didn't want to hit the ball into the ground," Fletcher said. "We got to Pedro today. We're going to soak it up. The next time he might get us."

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Holecek with the Falcons

Falcons ink veteran linebacker
Holecek familiar with Phillips' 3-4 scheme

April 1, 2002

The Atlanta Falcons announced today the signing of LB John Holecek, Football `95, a veteran of seven NFL seasons, who spent the 2001 season with the San Diego Chargers.

Holecek, 6-2, 242 pounds, was originally a fifth-round draft choice by the Buffalo Bills out of Illinois in 1995. Holecek spent his first six seasons with Buffalo before joining the San Diego Chargers prior to training camp last season. Holecek is reunited with Falcon defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who tutored Holecek for six seasons while serving as defensive coordinator/head coach of the Buffalo Bills.

Holecek played in 11 games for the Chargers in 2001 after signing with the team as a free agent on July 26, 2001. He contributed nine tackles in a reserve role in addition to four special-teams tackles. His season was cut short after suffering a knee injury and spent the final five games of the season on the injured-reserve list.

While in Buffalo, Holecek flourished in Phillips' defensive system as he compiled more than 100 tackles in each of his final three seasons as a Bill. His finest campaign came in 2000 when he started all 16 games and set a career-high and ranked second on the team with 165 combined tackles. He also intercepted one pass and deflected four others.

In 1999 Holecek tallied 116 combined tackles, including 63 unassisted, to go along with one sack, one interception, six passes defensed and two forced fumbles. Included in Holecek's remarkable season was a career-best 22-tackle outing in a Wild Card Playoff game played at Tennessee.

In 1998 Holecek led the Bills with 133 tackles in his first season as a full-time starter and was named the team's recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, which is given annually to a player who personifies courage, strength, leadership and pursuit of excellence. That season the Bills improved to the fifth-rated run defense in the NFL after falling to 15th the year before.

Holecek started eight games over the course of his first three seasons with the Bills. After playing in only one game his rookie season, Holecek was ready to be a regular contributor to the team in 1996 before a knee injury suffered in the first preseason game forced him to spend the entire year on injured reserve. In 1997 Holecek gave the first glimpse of his promising future as he recorded 86 combined tackles in 14 appearances, including eight starts.

Holecek, 29, has participated in 69 games during his NFL career and has logged starts in 51 of those games. His career totals include 516 combined tackles (292 solos), 2.5 sacks, two interceptions and 16 passes defensed.

Holecek was a standout performer for the University of Illinois, where he finished fifth on the school's all-time list with 401 tackles, which surpassed the total of Hall of Fame great Dick Butkus, Football `65. A two-time All-Big 10 selection, Holecek was the Illini's co-Defensive Player of the Year in 1992.

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Dean, Allibalogun, and friends

In 1997, former Illini football players Ola Allibalogun, '99, and Mike Dean, '00, co-founded their own company call BigFigga Entertainment, Inc. Today, their company has become multi-faceted and is on the rise. They have organized hip-hop, networking, and social events throughout the nation, signed their first musical artist and are breaking new ground as promoters. To learn more about Ola, Mike and Big Figga, visit their website: www.bigfigga.com

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Marcus and Serge at the United Center

Former Illini Basketball players, Marcus Griffin, '01, and Sergio McClain, '01, stayed close to the program in 2001-02. They made several games as they followed their former teammates and coaches from start to finish. Pictured here at the right, Marcus and Serge are watching the Illini earn a Sweet 16 birth in the 2002 NCAA Men's Tournament. The game was played at the United Center in Chicago.

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From L to R: Brody, NBA Commissioner Davis Stern, and Colangelo

Former Illini basketball players and teammates Jerry Colangelo, '62, and Tal Brody, '65, were among of a cast of celebrities on hand in February for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game. The All-Star festivities were held in Philadelphia on February 8-10. Jerry is the owener of the Phoenix Suns and Tal is the most revered player in Israeli basketball history. You can read more about how Tal is doing at his website: www.talbrody.co.il

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Richards Named Director Of Football Operations
Former Illini Lloyd Richards returns to Champaign

University of Illinois head football coach Ron Turner announced the hiring of Lloyd Richards, `95, as the Director of Football Operations. Richards will replace Doug Green, who held the position in 2001 on an interim basis.

Richards returns to Champaign after a five-year stint in the National Football League in the personnel departments of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins. During his time in the NFL, he served as a pro personnel assistant and college area scout for the Bucs and the assistant director of pro personnel for the Redskins.

Richards was a three-time letterwinner as a defensive back for Illinois from 1992-94 and following the conclusion of his athletic career began working with the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. He served as an intern in the sports information office in 1995, before moving to the football office as a graduate assistant in football operations and recruiting.

"We are very excited to have Lloyd back at Illinois," Turner said. "He has been out in the professional ranks gaining valuable knowledge and expertise about the administration of football programs and brings a great familiarity back to the position."

Richards' responsibilities will include coordinating the day-to-day operations of the entire football program, working closely with the staff and DIA administration in all aspects of planning for Illini football, including facilities, travel, recruiting and game management.

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Mosely goes into coaching

Mosely Joins Army Football Staff
Former Player Reunites with Todd Berry on Black Knights' Coaching Staff

March 6, 2002

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Army head coach Todd Berry added a familiar face to his coaching staff today when he announced the hiring of Marquis Mosely, Football `98, to an offensive assistant's position.

Mosely, who will work with Army's wide receivers, lettered for three years at the University of Illinois, before closing out his collegiate playing career under Berry at Illinois State. A standout receiver, Mosely captured first team All-Gateway Conference honors that season. Earlier in his career, he had competed against Berry when Illinois faced East Carolina in the 1994 Liberty Bowl. Berry served as East Carolina's offensive coordinator at the time.

After earning a bachelor's degree in communications and aviation from the University of Illinois in 1998, Mosely entered the hotel and aviation industries. He served as a commercial pilot the last two years before signing on the staff of his former football mentor.

"I was always impressed with Marquis' work ethic and his desire to get better," Berry said. "He was extremely talented and worked hard to understand the game.

"I encouraged Marquis to enter the coaching profession coming out of college, but he wanted to pursue other options," he added. "We feel extremely fortunate to add him to our staff at this time. He understands the game extremely well and has already built a tremendous relationship with our players. I feel that with maturity and experience, Marquis will develop into an excellent young football coach."

The 27-year-old native of Bloomington, Ill., is single and resides in Highland Falls, N.Y.

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Michael Promoted

Tom Michael Named Assistant Athletics Director
Will Coordinate DIA Academic Services

March 1, 2002

University Director of Athletics Ron Guenther announced today that Tom Michael, `94 has been named Assistant Athletics Director for Academic Services.

Michael, who was a four-year letterwinner on the Fighting Illini basketball team from 1991-94, has been an academic counselor for the UI Division of Intercollegiate Athletics since 1996 and has been the head academic counselor since August 2001. As the director, Michael will oversee the daily operation of the Academic Services unit.

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Signed by the Houston Texans

Texans sign two free agents
February 21, 2002

HOUSTON - The Houston Texans announced Thursday that they have signed two free agents, increasing their roster to 55 players.

The newest Texans are wide receiver Larry Davis, Football '00, and free safety Josh Phillips.

Davis was signed as an undrafted free agent last year by San Francisco before being waived in training camp. He played one season at New Mexico and one at Illinois after transferring from Blinn Junior College in Brenham. Davis caught 27 passes for 413 yards and two touchdowns for the Lobos. He was an all-state selection at Lamar High School in Houston.

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Drafted by the Houston Texans

Ryan Schau, Football `99 was drafted by the NFL's Houston Texans in the 2002 Expansion Draft. There were 19 players taken by the Texans in the draft with Ryan being selected twelfth. He had spent the previous three years with the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a bio on Ryan:

BIOGRAPHY

PRO: Talented lineman with quick feet...acquired by the Texans in the expansion draft...has the ability to play all five positions along the offensive line... only rookie free agent earn a spot on Philadelphia's 53-man roster in 1999...originally signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent on 4/19/99.

2001: Signed a one-year contract with the Eagles on 3/16/01... held reserve role at left tackle position...played in two games, starting one...saw initial action versus Dallas (9/30)...made first career start at Tampa Bay (1/6), helping line limit Buccaneers defense to one sack...inactive for 14 contests.

2000: Dressed for all 16 regular season games, seeing action in 10 contests...saw action at right tackle in the fourth quarter at Dallas (9/3)...played on special teams unit in his remaining nine appearances...dressed but did not play in Philadelphia's two playoff games.

1999: Spent the entire season on the club's 53-man roster, but saw action in only one game versus Dallas (10/10)...dressed but did not play versus New York Giants (10/31)...deactivated for the remaining 14 games.

COLLEGE: Earned All-Big Ten Conference honors after his senior season at Illinois...joined twin brother, Tom (a free agent signee of New Orleans in 1999), in becoming the first siblings to start together for the Fighting Illini since 1980...started 33 consecutive games to finish his collegiate career...started at both tackle positions and at right guard during four seasons...earned all-conference academic honors as a speech and communications major.

PERSONAL: Married to Tara, couple now lives in Houston...starred at Bloomington (IL) High School, where he was an all-state, all-area, All-Big 12 West and Blue Chip Illustrated All-America selection...recognized as one of the nation's top prospects by Super Prep and Prep Football Report...enjoys golf and holds a strong interest in the stock market...donated food to the Greater Philadelphia Food Bank during the 2000 season...born Ryan Schau on Dec. 30, 1975 in Hammond, Ind.

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New Cincinnati Taft Coach

Ex-Bengal returning football to Taft
Mike Martin will coach varsity team

By Tom Groeschen
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Taft High School has turned to a well-known former Bengal to revive its dormant varsity football program. Mike Martin (Football '83), 41, a wide receiver on the Bengals' last Super Bowl team in 1988, will be introduced as Taft's new coach today at a press conference at the school.

Taft, an inner-city school on Ezzard Charles Drive, did not field a varsity team in 2001 after only a handful of players showed up for workouts. The Senators won only one game in a three-season span (1998-2000) before dropping the varsity program last August.

Taft fielded only a freshman team in 2001, but will reinstate varsity this year under Mr. Martin.

"It will be up to me to create some excitement and get kids to want to come out," Mr. Martin said Wednesday. "I hope I can get involved in the kids' lives and make an impact."

Mr. Martin said he has called several other former Bengals and asked for their help as assistant/volunteer coaches, including Eric Thomas, Darrick Brilz, Ken Moyer, Joe Kelly and Ira Hillary. Mr. Martin also plans to call Bengals Hall of Fame tackle Anthony Munoz for help and said Bengals defensive line coach Tim Krumrie has volunteered to help when possible.

Taft has produced several NFL players, including Bengals defensive end Vaughn Booker, but in recent years the school struggled to field a team. There is new hope and spirit in the Cincinnati Public Schools system, Mr. Martin said, including an arrangement with Cincinnati Bell to turn Taft into an information and technology school.

Mr. Martin played for the Bengals from 1983 to 1989 and has been a visible member of the community for years. He is a regular guest analyst on the WCPO-TV (Channel 9) Sports of All Sorts show during Bengals season and runs an entertainment company called First Class Entertainment. He recently gained attention for his efforts to open a nightclub downtown. (Jan. 12 story)

Eric Martin, Taft athletic director and no relation to Mike Martin, said Mike Martin was chosen from a field of five finalists. Eric Martin and Taft Principal Anthony Smith directed the coaching search. Taft declined to reveal names of the other finalists.

"We're going to put people in charge who we think will get the job done," Eric Martin said. "We think Mike will do the job."

Mike Martin grew up in Washington, D.C., and said his life was similar to that of many Taft students.

"I grew up in the D.C. projects without a father," Mr. Martin said. "The biggest male influences in my life were coaches. I know that if I can get involved in any of these kids' lives and have the impact my coaches did, I think that can make a difference."

Dave Dierker, athletic director for Cincinnati Public Schools, said Mr. Martin's upbeat persona should serve him well.

"If Taft is looking to jump-start a program with a well-known celebrity who has a lot of credibility with his playing experience, they couldn't have found a better man," Mr. Dierker said.

Taft first tried to hire Mr. Martin for the 2001 season, but Mr. Martin was busy coaching his 12-year-old son, Marcus, who plays youth football in the Kings school system near Kings Island.

"My son told me, "You've taught me all I need to know, it's time for you to move on,'" Mr. Martin said. "I still had the coaching bug, and when Taft asked me this time, I was ready."

Mr. Martin joined the Bengals in 1983 as an eighth-round draft choice out of Illinois. He was a backup receiver for most of his career and excelled as a kick returner, leading the NFL with a 15.7-yard punt-return average in 1984.

In 1988, the Bengals' last Super Bowl season, Mr. Martin played six games before going on the injured reserve list with an Achilles' tendon injury. As part of the NFL pregame show for Super Bowl XXIII in Miami, Mr. Martin sang and played the piano to win the "NFL Talent Challenge" over seven other contenders. Mr. Martin donated his $25,000 winnings to Cincinnati's Children's Hospital.

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Redziniak in Barcelona

Redziniak heads for NFL Europe

By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Wednesday, February 13, 2002

Six Bengals players have been assigned to NFL Europe for the 2003 season. Among them was Ray Redziniak, Football '01. He will play center for the Barcelona Dragons.

Redziniak had earlier been added to the Bengals offseason roster when he signed a three-year contract. Ray was on the Cincinnati practice squad for the last seven games of the 2001 season.

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Colby back in Big Ten

Kent State's Greg Colby Named Wildcats' Defensive Coordinator

Jan. 31, 2002

EVANSTON, Ill. -- After assigning new duties for two of his assistant coaches on Monday, Northwestern University Head Football Coach Randy Walker announced today the hiring of Greg Colby, Baseball/Football `74, as the Wildcats' new defensive coordinator. Colby joins Northwestern after spending four years as the defensive coordinator at Kent State University.

"Greg is a terrific hire for our football program," says Walker. "He brings a great deal of experience, class and knowledge to Northwestern. He's an excellent teacher. At Kent State, he took a defense that ranked near the bottom of the Mid-American Conference and turned it into one of the league's better units. I'm excited to have him on board and working with our young defense."

Colby assumes the duties of Jerry Brown, who was named assistant head coach earlier in the week. In addition to his assistant head coaching duties, Brown also will coach the Wildcats' defensive secondary.

Colby helped the Golden Flashes post their first winning season (6-5) in 14 years in 2001. The win total (six) from this past fall equaled KSU's victory total of the previous four years combined (1997-2000). In the MAC, Kent State ranked third this past season in scoring defense (25.5 ppg).

Colby, who turns 50 on February 25, has coaching and playing roots in the Big Ten. He was a three-year starter and letterman in both baseball and football at Illinois.

After coaching primarily at the prep level through 1986, which included a four-year stint as the head football coach at Naperville Central High in suburban Chicago, Colby joined George Perles at Michigan State as a graduate assistant football coach from 1986-88. The Spartans won the 1987 Big Ten title and the 1988 Rose Bowl game. He then served as an assistant football coach at Illinois from 1988-95, coaching linebackers and special teams. During his tenure at Illinois, the Fighting Illini made six bowl appearances and won the 1989 Big Ten championship.

In 1995, Colby returned to Michigan State and coached the defensive line and outside linebackers for three years. At MSU, Colby helped the Spartans make three straight bowl appearances. Colby then assumed the defensive coordinator position at Kent State in 1998.

A native of Danville, Ill., Colby earned his bachelor's degree from Illinois in physical education in 1975.

He and his wife, Janet, have two sons, Matt (26) and Mike (23).

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Guenther with the Chargers

Chargers send Guenther to NFL Europe
By David Neville, Chargers.com

01.28.02 - The Chargers allocated seven players to NFL Europe on Monday, and six of the players spent time in the team's training camp last year.

The six players who went to training camp with the Chargers last year and who were allocated to NFL Europe include wide receiver Dondre Gilliam (Millersville), linebacker Eric Guenther (Illinois Football `00), quarterback Bart Hendricks (Boise State), wide receiver DeRonnie Pitts (Stanford), linebacker Brad Rekuc (Weber State) and running back Mukala Sikyala (Maryland).

This will be Guenther's second stint in NFL Europe. Last year, he recorded 24 tackles on defense and five on special teams while starting eight of 10 games for the Frankfurt Galaxy.

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Nucci-Ward, USPV Vice President of Operations

Chapman of the Grand Rapids Force

United States Professional Volleyball League Starts Inaugural Season
Six Former Illini Help Start League

2002 marks the first season for the United States Professional Volleyball League (USPV). USPV has four founding team members in the Chicago Thunder, Grand Rapids Force, Minnesota Chill, and the St. Louis Quest.

Six former Illini volleyball players have helped make this new league possible. Sue Nucci-Ward '95 is the league's Vice President of Operations.

Coleman of the Minnesota Chill

Gard of the Minnesota Chill

As a VP, Sue supervises the daily team operations associated with running a professional sports league, including the management of athlete and coaching staff issues, travel and the fulfillment of team equipment and healthcare needs.

Five other Illini are active players in the 2002 season. Cristy Chapman '99 and Betsy Spicer '01 are middle blocker and outside hitter, respectively, for the Grand Rapid Force.

Mary Coleman '99 and Lydia Gard '02 are outside hitter and middle blocker, respectively, for the Minnesota Chill.

Marshall of the St. Louis Quest

Spicer of the Grand Rapids Force

Tracey Marshall `00 is also in the league as an outside hitter for the St. Louis Quest.

To learn more about the league and to find out how to watch these former Illini in action, visit the league website: www.uspv.com

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Howard Griffith Retires

Griffith 'was a consummate team man'
Wednesday, January 23

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

Advised by specialists that a neck injury suffered last summer would likely preclude him from returning to the playing field, Denver Broncos fullback Howard Griffith, Football `91, said Wednesday that he is retiring from the NFL, ending a nine-year career.

One of the league's premier lead blockers in his prime, Griffith blocked for five different 1,000-yard rushers during his career, and was a starter in the Broncos' two Super Bowl victories. That is an unofficial league record.

Griffith, 34, spent the entire 2001 season on injured reserve. He attempted to rehabilitate his neck injury during the season but with little positive results.

"Howard was a consummate team man," Broncos general manager Neal Dahlen said. "He was a consistent, tough football player who was responsible for a lot of the yards the tailbacks gained. He was a good leader in the locker room, represented the team concept and he exemplified the commitment to winning as a team."

A former Illinois standout tailback, Griffith entered the league as a ninth-round choice of the Indianapolis Colts in 1991. He was released as a rookie and signed with Buffalo, then played for San Diego (1992) and the Los Angeles Rams (1993-94) before being selected by Carolina in the 1995 expansion draft.

Griffith played two seasons (1995-96) for the Panthers, where he established himself as a solid blocker and team leader, then signed with the Broncos as an unrestricted free agent in 1997. He never had more than 65 carries in a season and his career rushing high was just 197 yards, but Griffith early on accepted his role as a man who would clear the way for other runners.

The five 1,000-yard rushers for whom he blocked included Jerome Bettis, Anthony Johnson, Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary and Mike Anderson.

For his career, Griffith played in 121 games and started 87 of them. He carried 121 times for 351 yards and three touchdowns and caught 122 passes for 844 yards and nine scores.

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Johnson Signed by Broncos

BRONCOS SIGN FREE AGENT TO FUTURE CONTRACT
Jan. 22, 2002

Englewood, Colo. - The Denver Broncos have signed a free agent player to a future contract: defensive tackle Garrett Johnson, Football `99. He will officially be added to the roster upon conclusion the 2001 NFL season in February.

Johnson, 26, was out of football in 2001 after being released by New England Sept. 2. The 6-3, 298-pound defensive tackle played in eight games and started two for the Patriots in 2000 after spending most of the 1999 season on the practice squad, and then playing in the NFL Europe League with the Barcelona Dragons in the spring of 2000. Johnson initially signed with New England as a rookie free agent April 20, 1999, out of Illinois. He was a four-year letterman for the Fighting Illini, and started 32 of his 39 career games. Johnson posted 8.5 sacks among his 182 tackles at Illinois, including 5.5 as a senior in 1998. A native of Belleville, Ill., Johnson was a first-team all-state selection at Belleville East High School. He was born Dec. 31, 1975 in Belleville.

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McGill Signs with team in Arena League2

Steamwheelers Sign Player For 2002

The Quad City Steamwheelers wish to announce the signing of a player who will be part pf their 2002 roster as they begin defense of their 2000 and 2001 ArenaCup Championships. The player, Tim McGill, Football `02, the one of the first signed by Steamwheelers Head Coach Rich Ingold, who makes his arenafootball2 debut with the 2002 Wheelers.

McGill, 6'3" 300 lbs., will play OL/DL for the Steamwheelers after playing his college football at the University of Illinois. Tim was an outstanding pass rusher for the Illini hailing from the Chicago area.

Ingold is impressed with the spring of former Illinois prized recruit Tim McGill, whom the coach said he saw hang his 300-pound frame on a basketball rim prior to a practice this week. "He has got some explosiveness,'' Ingold said.

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Handel wins the 2001 Indianapolis Sprint Triathlon

Two Former University of Illinois Student-Athletes Selected for USA Triathlon's 2002 Resident Team
Kelly Handel and Jen Marine tabbed for elite program

Jan. 10, 2002

Colorado Springs, Colo. - Two former University of Illinois student-athletes, one swimmer and one track and field runner, were selected for USA Triathlon's 2002 Resident Team.

Former Illini Kelly Handel (swimming 1997-2000) and Jenny Marine (track and field and cross country, 1993-97) will join the program in order to train for World Cup triathlon races at the Olympic distance.

The resident team, which this year is comprised of 14 elite athletes, is a

Marine wins 2000 Danskin Triathlon

group that is brought to USA Triathlon's training headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo., to train for a calendar year under resident team coach Michelle Blessing and national teams programs director Libby Burrell.

All 14 were selected from a pool of candidates after being identified by USA Triathlon as having a talent for the triathlon at an Olympic distance. The program includes eight men and six women.

Handel, a native of Zionsville, Ind., completed her career as an Illini swimmer in 2000. A four-year letterwinner from 1997-2000, Handel best times rank among Illinois' all-time best in the 1650 free (3rd, 16:52.33), 200 butterfly (3rd, 2:03.60), 400 IM (5th, 4:26.43), 1000 free (6th, 10:11.34) and 500 free (7th, 4:56.36).

Marine, a native of Naperville, Ill., was a three-year cross country letterwinner in 1993, '95 and '96. She also lettered twice in track and field, both in 1996 and '97 and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 1995 and '96.

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The '52 Rose Bowl team in Pasadena

The 1952 Illini Rowl Bowl Champion Illini Football Team celebrated the 50th anniversary of their 40-7 win over Stanford with a reunion this past January in Pasadena. The reunion was held in conjunction with the Stanford players during the January 3, 2002 Rose Bowl Game.

Heading the committee that put together the reunion were Bill Tate Football/Basketball Participant '53, Tommy O'Connell Football '53, Ken Miller Football/Basketball Participant/Gymnastics Participant '54, and Paul Luhrsen Football '54.

Click here to view pictures from the reunion.

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Leigh honored by IALF

IALF SELECTS WILLIAM LEIGH IN CLASS OF 2002

Macomb--The Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation (IALF) has selected William Leigh, Track '81, as one of 30 new members from throughout the state for the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Program Class of 2002.

Over the next two years, William will attend 14 seminars focusing on current social, political, and economic issues. The first year's curriculum includes a 10-day national travel seminar to Washington, D.C. and one other region of the United States. A 14-day international studying experience is the highlight of the second year of the program.

Leigh, 41, of Minonk, operates a corn and soybean grain farm along with a farrow-to-finish hog operation. He received a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics/farm management from the University of Illinois. He is a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, the Marshall-Putnam Farm Bureau, and AOPA.

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Butler as Charger GM

JOHN BUTLER
Executive Vice President - General Manager
2001-02 is his 17th NFL Season, 3rd with Chargers (1st as G.M.)

President Dean Spanos solidified the leadership and direction of the San Diego Chargers when he named John Butler, Football Participant `68, the Chargers executive vice president-general manager on January 5, 2001.

"John Butler knows what it takes to win in this league," said Spanos. "He's had success in the draft and has been responsible for building championship teams. His record in Buffalo speaks for itself.

"This is a critical time for this franchise," Spanos continued, "and we feel that John Butler is the best man to lead us back to the playoffs."

"I'm excited at the opportunity that Dean and Mr. Alex Spanos have given me," said Butler. "My job is to help this team get back in the playoffs and back to the Super Bowl.

"I couldn't be happier. I had a chance to sit down with Dean (Spanos) and I could tell the commitment to win was so strong."

Butler is a veteran of 16 NFL seasons, including the past 14 with the Buffalo Bills (1987-2000). He originally entered the NFL with the Chargers in 1985 as a staff scout, a position he held through the 1986 season. In 1987, Butler became Buffalo's Director of College Scouting and was elevated to Director of Player Personnel in 1989 where he oversaw the entire Buffalo scouting operation. In 1993, Butler was named the Bills executive vice president and general manager, serving in that capacity through the 2000 season.

The pervasive theme of Butler's resume is winning. During his tenure in Buffalo, the Bills went to the playoffs 10 times and had an astounding 140-83 (.628) record during his 14 seasons with the team, second only to San Francisco's 156-67 (.699) record during that period. Buffalo's 10 playoff appearances are one shy of the 11 appearances by Minnesota, San Francisco and Denver. The Bills went to the playoffs following five of his eight seasons as general manager (1993-2000) and had a 74-54 (.578) record, ninth overall in the NFL. Only Minnesota, San Francisco, Miami and Green Bay went to the playoffs more times (six) than the Bills during that stretch.

During Butler's time with the Bills, he gained a reputation as one of the finest talent evaluators in the NFL. Whether through the draft or via free agency, Butler and his staff consistently assembled one of the league's most-talented rosters. Eighteen of the Bills 23 draft picks from the past three years were still on the roster after the 2000 season and 30 of the 53 players on the active roster were Buffalo draft choices.

"It's not only me," said Butler when asked about his past success with the draft. "I've had a lot of great people surround me and go to work with me. It's just not one person that does something. It's an organization. It's your people. It's your scouts. It's working together, and it's coaches. I've been very fortunate over the years to have those type of people that believe in the philosophy I believe in...how we want to approach things...how we want to get it done. I don't want to take credit for that. We have a philosophy and that philosophy is what I use."

Under Butler's guidance, the Bills excelled through the draft during the '90s. Seven of Buffalo's top nine selections from 1991-99 started for the Bills, while the eighth, cornerback Jeff Burris, left via free agency to become a starter for Indianapolis, and the ninth, cornerback Thomas Smith, also left through free agency and is starting for Chicago.

Butler's first-ever selection for Buffalo and his top choice in 1988 was running back Thurman Thomas, who was chosen in the second round after 27 other teams had passed on him. Buffalo's top choice in 1989 wasn't until the third round when the Bills selected wide receiver Don Beebe, who went on to perform on six Super Bowl teams. Butler then looked to his alma mater, the University of Illinois, for the Bills' number one choice in 1991 - a cornerback-turned-safety named Henry Jones, Football `91. Jones earned Pro Bowl honors in 1993, his first season as a starter. It also took John Fina, Buffalo's top choice in 1992, just one season to become a starter at left tackle. In 1993, Butler and his staff looked to the Atlantic Coast Conference to select cornerback Thomas Smith from the University of North Carolina. Cornerback Jeff Burris from Notre Dame was Buffalo's top selection in 1994 and set a Bills' record for most punt return yards in his rookie season.

Butler and his staff found outstanding players in the last six NFL drafts (1995-2000) despite not selecting higher than 14th. Offensive lineman Ruben Brown from the University of Pittsburgh lived up to his 1995 first-round selection (14th overall) by being voted to the Pro Bowl in each of the past five seasons (1996-2000). In 1996, Butler selected wide receiver Eric Moulds with the 24th overall selection. Recognized as one of the top receivers in the league, Moulds earned Pro Bowl honors in 1998 after setting a franchise single-season record and leading the AFC with 1,368 receiving yards. Moulds once again earned Pro Bowl honors after ranking fourth in the AFC with 1,326 receiving yards.

Running back Antowain Smith, the team's top selection in 1997, finished his rookie year as the NFL's third-leading rookie rusher. Marcellus Wiley, the team's second-round selection in 1997, took over the Bills starting defensive end spot for the departed Bruce Smith in 2000 and finished with 65 tackles and a team-high 10.5 sacks. Linebacker Sam Cowart was the Bills top selection in 1998 and led the team in tackles in 1999 and 2000. Cowart was named to his first Pro Bowl following the 2000 season after recording 130 tackles, 5.5 sacks and two interceptions.

Cornerback Antoine Winfield, Buffalo's top selection in 1999, has recorded 98 tackles and three interceptions over the past two seasons (1999-2000). After choosing Winfield in the first round of the 1999 draft, the Bills selected wide receiver Peerless Price from the University of Tennessee in the second round. Over the past two years, Price has caught 83 passes for 1,155 yards and six touchdowns. Buffalo's first-round pick in 2000, defensive end Erik Flowers, finished his rookie season with 20 tackles, two sacks and one interception.

Butler has also gained recognition for his ability to take advantage of free agency. Butler brought in wide receiver Billy Brooks in 1993, who caught a team record 11 touchdown passes in 1995. The 1995 signing of linebacker Bryce Paup, the NFL's 1995 Defensive Most Valuable Player, and nose tackle Ted Washington, who went to two Pro Bowls, were particularly notable. In 1996, Butler acquired linebacker Chris Spielman from the Detroit Lions. In just his first year with the Bills, Spielman set a new team record with 206 tackles. During the 1998 offseason, Butler signed Canadian Football League MVP Doug Flutie and then negotiated a trade with Jacksonville to acquire Rob Johnson, giving the Bills one of the best quarterback tandems in the league. Also during the 1998 offseason, Butler bolstered Buffalo's roster by signing fullback Sam Gash, who earned two Pro Bowl berths, and offensive lineman Joe Panos from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Prior to entering the NFL, Butler was a member of the United States Football League's Chicago Blitz staff, serving in a number of capacities, including Director of College Scouting for three years. He also coached the tight ends and offensive line at various times, serving under head coaches George Allen and Marv Levy during his tenure with the Blitz. In fact, Butler has the unique distinction of serving with three head coaches who have each posted over 100 NFL career victories - Allen, Levy and Don Coryell.

"He knows personnel, he works hard, he builds morale, he gets the best out of everybody in the organization," said Levy. "He's a unique individual and, believe me, I don't respond this way very often. I think the world of the man."

Before his time in the USFL, Butler coached collegiately for three seasons (1979-81) under Randy Rodgers, Football `69, at the University of Evansville, Indiana.

John Robert Butler was born August 13, 1946 in Chicago, Illinois and graduated from Urbana High School. He served in the Marine Corps for four years before enrolling at San Bernardino Junior College, where he played football for two seasons. He transferred to the University of Illinois where he played for one year before having his career cut short by a knee injury. John and his wife, Alice, have a daughter, Andrea (Jan. 26, 1985).

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Johnson has fun promoting his Peoria Pirate team

Peoria's Tony Johnson recognized as top community leader

PEORIA, Ill. --Peoria Pirates, of the Arnea2 Football League, Assistant Head Coach Tony Johnson, Football Participant `89,was selected as one of the Peoria area's top business and community leaders under the age of 40 in 2001.

The award's committee--comprised of representatives from InterBusiness Issues, News Radio 1470 WMBD and Caterpillar Inc. with sponsors RLI Corporation, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Illinois Central College and Lippmann's Furniture & Interiors--honored Johnson for the 8th annual community recognition "Leaders Under Forty."

Johnson has been on the coaching staff of the Peoria Pirates since their inaugural season in 1999 when they were affiliated with the IFL. A Peoria-area native who grew up in nearby Farmington, Johnson was an Academic All-American in football at the University of Illinois from 1984-1988 where he graduated with a degree in Business Administration/Marketing. Johnson played offensive tackle, appearing in the 1985 Peach Bowl, along with serving as President of the NCAA Volunteers for Youth Program.

Johnson developed the "Treasure Life Program" which brings a positive life message to students to be "Pirates" by filling their "treasure" chest each day with some of life's most valuable traits, values and experiences.

Johnson works for Caterpillar Inc. While assigned to Caterpillar's Brisbane, Australia office, Johnson volunteered his time in developing and promoting the sport of American football. He served as President of the Queensland Gridiron Football League and also coached the Australian National Team.

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