Dieken, Bellamy To Attend Illinois Renaissance Celebration
August 13, 2008 | Football
Aug. 13, 2008
University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) officials announced today that Fighting Illini greats Doug Dieken and Mike Bellamy will return to Champaign-Urbana for the Illinois Renaissance celebration game against Eastern Illinois Sept. 6. The pair join a long list of legendary Illinois players who will be on hand for the 2008 home opener, when fans will get their first look at the newly finished stadium.
"It's obviously a great honor," Dieken said. "Any time you're involved in something that brings back people like Butkus or J.C. Caroline or Jim Grabowski, it's a great honor. I'm looking forward to seeing the new stadium, seeing the football team continue to grow and seeing some of the guys who have played there."
Dieken was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 1970 after leading the Illini with 39 catches for 537 yards and four touchdowns. He holds the Illinois record for career receiving yardage by a tight end, with his 1970 and 1969 seasons ranking fourth and sixth, respectively, in school history. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 1971 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, compiled a 14-year career and was named to the 1980 Pro Bowl.
 Mike Bellamy, WR, 1988-89  |
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"Any time you're named the best of anything is a honor, but you can't top this feeling," Bellamy said. "To stand next to those who made Illinois what it is and next to those who inspired me to become an Illini brings chills, but most of all it will be great to be honored alongside the guys I played with and battled with."
Bellamy was a second-team All-American selection as a kick returner and a first-team All-Big Ten receiver in 1989 after leading Illinois with 59 catches, 927 yards and eight touchdowns. Bellamy's eight TD catches that season rank fourth in school history and his three scores against Indiana Nov. 18, 1989, are tied for the single-game school record. He ranks ninth in career receiving yardage and his 1989 campaign is the seventh-best in school history. In addition, Bellamy's 1,386 all-purpose yards that season rank eighth in Illinois history. He was a second-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1990 NFL Draft.
The Illinois Renaissance celebration will be highlighted by the return of a multitude of former Fighting Illini players, with the list of 10 greatest Illini in Memorial Stadium history at each position being honored during eight breaks throughout the game. The current team also will honor past greats by donning throwback uniforms modeled in the style of the Butkus era. Illinois will take on Eastern Illinois Sept. 6 at 11 a.m. The game will be nationally televised by the Big Ten Network.
The growing list of Fighting Illini greats slated to attend the Sept. 6 Renaissance Celebration:
- Mike Bellamy, WR, 1988-89
- Dick Butkus, LB, 1962-64
- J.C. Caroline, RB, 1953-54
- Scott Davis, DE, 1983-87
- Doug Dieken, TE, 1968-70
- Jim Grabowski, RB, 1963-65
- Dana Howard, LB, 1991-94
- Kurt Kittner, QB, 1998-2001
- Rich Kreitling, WR, 1957-58
- Mike Martin, WR, 1980-82
- Joe Rutgens, DL 1958-60
- Craig Swoope, DB, 1982-85
- Don Thorp, DL 1980-83
- Jack Trudeau, QB, 1983-85
- David Williams, WR, 1983-85
