Illini Gridders Change Up Pace for Practice #14
Special Guest Gets "Heart's Desire" at Camp Rantoul
Thursday Post-Practice Interviews:
- Head Coach Ron Zook
- Defensive Secondary Coach Curt Mallory
- DB Kevin Mitchell
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The University of Illinois football team changed up the schedule a bit for the 14th practice of Camp Rantoul, working backwards from the previous days' routines. The workout began with a team period, followed by 7-on-7, special teams and then two-minute drills. With an individual period left to go, Zook surprised the team with an early ending.
"There comes a time in camp when we know the team is giving us all they've got," Head Coach Ron Zook said. "Today was probably the best practice we have had. To be this far into camp and still have this intensity is great. We had it scheduled to go another half an hour, but they needed a break.
"We ran a whole bunch of plays today and got in some competitive situations. I really feel like we made some great strides today."
ILLINI FAN APPRECIATION DAY SET FOR SUNDAY-- Fighting Illini supporters are invited to take part in Fan Appreciation Day on Sunday, Aug. 20 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. Admission is free of charge.
Fans will have an opportunity to meet their favorite coaches and players from Illinois football, volleyball and soccer. Posters for all three teams will be available, giving fans an excellent opportunity to collect autographs from their favorite players. Fans can also bring their cameras to take photos.
Members of the ticket office will be on hand for fans to buy their 2006 season tickets. IlliniCushions will also be there, giving fans a chance to buy a cushioned chairback. If you buy the chairback at Fan Appreciation Day, it will be installed for kickoff against EIU on Sept. 2. The sports information department will also have media guides on sale so fans can get the most complete information on their favorite teams.
A number of interactive opportunities are planned for kids. Kids can toss a football, pass a volleyball, kick a soccer goal and run the 40-meter dash.
"This is a great chance for fans to celebrate the start of another great year of Fighting Illini Athletics," said Assistant Director of Athletics Chris Hanna. "It's a convenient way to buy season tickets and meet the coaches and players in a tremendous family environment."
SPECIAL GUEST GETS "HEART'S DESIRE" -- The Illini football team had a special guest at practice #14, when Rantoul native Kevin Gallagher watched alongside his brother, Tim, his son, Brian and Heartland Healthcare activities director Lori Blanchard. Gallagher is diagnosed with terminal muscular dystrophy. He made the trip down from Paxton's Heartland Healthcare as part of their "Heart's Desire" program. Gallagher watched to two-hour practice, then joined the team for dinner later in the evening.
POSITION SPOTLIGHT: DEFENSIVE BACKS -- One of the most improved areas on the defense, the secondary, boasts four returning starters, but each starting spot is up for competition. Seniors Alan Ball and Sharriff Abdullah are back at cornerback, and being pushed by a quartet of freshman, Vontae Davis, Dere Hicks, Chris Duvalt and Antonio Gully. Last season, junior safeties Justin Harrison and Kevin Mitchell shared the duties, but saw this spring that junior college transfer Justin Sanders will be a big part of the defense this season. Also showing signs of contribution is true-freshman Travon Bellamy.
Quoting junior safety Justin Harrison...
...on the effect Camp Rantoul has had on the DBs:
"We're becoming more of a team, more of a unit. We're working together a lot better. We all know that we each have a role to live up to, so we have to keep working."
...on the position battle between Kevin Mitchell and him:
"We're both going to have to play. We know that whoever starts has to start strong and if the other has to come in that there won't be much of a drop-off."
Quoting junior safety Justin Sanders...
...on the improvement of the DBs throughout Camp Rantoul:
"You can tell we just keep getting better every day. At the next scrimmage, they shouldn't even be able to complete a pass."
...on the effect of the depth in the secondary:
"It just raises the level of competition. I always say I'm happy as long as I'm competing. It's all friendly competition trying to get those spots. If somebody makes a play, you just have to step up and make one, too."
Quoting secondary coach Curt Mallory...
...on the development of the secondary:
"The competition has certainly helped. I'm also pleased with the leadership of Sharriff Abdullah and Alan Ball. They've done a great job of bringing in the young guys and helping teach them."
...on the depth of the secondary:
"We're going to need everybody. You'll have some injuries now and then, so we'll need some depth so we can have guys to throw in there at any time."
