Sept. 12, 2001

by Kara Stachowiak

This summer the Illini football team took a different approach to offseason conditioning - each week on an intramural softball field on campus every member of the team had a chance to show off his best Mark McGwire home run swing and Roger Clemens fastball.

Summer is a time to build team unity both on and off the field. While the football team members voluntarily workout and play 7-on-7, they are always trying to think of ideas for new summer activities.

"We had done the 24-hour experimental training before but we never have had a team activity that lasted the whole summer," senior defensive end Robby Long said. "We wanted to do something that was more laid back. It gave us a chance to come together and have fun while we were still competing."

Last winter the seniors-to-be gathered to come up with a summer-long activity the team could participate in to get away from football but be a team as well. Quarterback Kurt Kittner had the answer: softball.

They went down the roster and randomly divided the players into six teams. Using wooden bats and a 16-inch ball, they met every Wednesday night on any available diamond for some friendly competition.

"It was more fun than I thought it was going to be," senior long snapper Patrick Rouse said. "I was hesitant at first, but we all enjoyed it." The teams each played six games, playing every team at least once and some teams twice. When the summer was over the two teams with the best records met for the league championship game.

Although the Illinois coaching staff had no involvement in the league during the summer, head coach Ron Turner agreed to let the title game be held on the last Friday of fall camp. It was a night game on the new turf at Memorial Stadium. The Fighting Illini coaches took turns as umpires and the rest of the team watched from the stands as the undefeated Huff City Riders met Team Six (5-1) under the lights at the northeast goal line. It was a close game but the Riders completed their perfect season with a 9-8 nine-inning win.

"A lot of us are from Chicago, so we know how to play softball," said junior linebacker Jerry Schumacher of the Huff City Riders." We had the better big guys. And Rocky (Harvey) can hit for a little guy. We weren't just winning, we had fun at the same time. Winning is always fun."

While not all of the players could be on the winning team, they all enjoyed the change of pace from the usual summer classes and football conditioning.

Naturally, some of the football players were better at softball than others.

Junior wide receiver Aaron Moorehead was the home run champion of the softball league.

"As a kid I always played home run derby so I had a knack for hitting the homers," Moorehead said.

"It was a good experience that brought us closer as a team," he added.

On account of their new found softball talents, we'd thought we'd ask the Fighting Illini which Major Leaguer's fastball they'd least like to face, and which Major Leaguer they thought they'd be able to take out of the park. Below is a sampling of their answers.

Which major leaguer's fastball would you least like to face?
Kenny Boyle, sophomore tight end: Randy Johnson because he is 6'10" and brings smoke on every pitch.
Kyle Kleckner, freshman defensive back: I would definitely not want to face a fastball coming from Randy Johnson. Any guy that can kill an animal in flight with a pitch is too fast for me.
Brian Zeches, freshman quarterback: Roger Clemens because he throws hard and is not afraid to throw at batters.
Luke Butkus, senior center: Randy Johnson. Did you see what he did to that bird?
Frederick Evans, freshman defensive lineman: Randy Johnson because I saw what he did to that bird.

Which Major Leaguer could you take out of the park?
Mike Maloney, freshman defensive end: I could take any of the Cubs starters or bullpen over the wall, simply because they're the Cubs.
Jay Kulaga, senior offensive guard: None of them. If I can't hit a 16" softball, I'm sure I couldn't hit a baseball at 90-plus mph.
Dave Hilderbrand, freshman offensive lineman: Randy Johnson and his fastball because I would like to hit a 500-footer off him.
Jerry Schumacher, junior linebacker: I'd be able to hit a home run off Greg Maddux because his fastball is not what made him a Hall of Famer, his location did.
Mark Kornfeld, freshman quarterback: Any of them besides Randy Johnson, as long as they didn't throw a curve ball.
Kenny Boyle, sophomore tight end: I could take one out on Roger Clemens because he is getting past his prime and can't crank it up anymore.
JJ Tubbs, sophomore kicker: I could take any pitcher deep as long as they told me what pitch was coming.
Brian Zeches, freshman quarterback: I could take Randy Johnson out of the park because he throws so hard that all I would have to do is hit it decent and it would go far.
Marc Jackson, junior safety: Only those who served meat balls like they do during the home run contests.