Listen to Coach Turner's comments previewing spring football drills at his media luncheon March 20.

March 20, 2001

University of Illinois head coach Ron Turner will begin preparation for the 2001 season with 15 spring workouts beginning on Wed., March 21 and ending with the annual Orange and Blue Spring Scrimmage on Sat., April 14 at 2 p.m.

The Illini head into the 2001 season with 47 letterwinners returning from last season's squad, including 13 starters. Seven starters return on the offensive side: quarterback Kurt Kittner, tailback Rocky Harvey, offensive tackle Tony Pashos, offensive guard Jay Kulaga, center Luke Butkus, split end Aaron Moorehead and flanker Greg Lewis. Six starters will be back for 2001 on defense: defensive tackle Brandon Moore, defensive end Terrell Washington, linebacker Jerry Schumacher, strong safety Bobby Jackson, free safety Muhammad Abdullah and cornerback Eugene Wilson.

One of the annual events during spring practice is the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Clinic, which will take place on March 29-31. American Football Coaches Association Executive Director Grant Teaff will serve as the keynote speaker for the clinic. Over 2,000 high school coaches across Illinois and the surrounding areas attended last season's event which featured numerous workshops and chalk talk sessions with successful high school and college coaches.

Teaff has served as executive director for the AFCA since 1994 following a storied career as head coach at Baylor University, Angelo State and McMurray. In his 21 years with Baylor, Teaff led the Bears to eight bowl appearances, including the 1980 Cotton Bowl team which racked up a 10-2 record. His 1985 and '86 teams posted 9-3 records winning the Liberty and Bluebonnet Bowls. Teaff's 30-year record as a head coach is 170-151-8. He has written four books, I Believe, Winning, Seasons of Glory and Coaching in the Classroom.