O'Bradovich, Green Join Illinois Renaissance Celebration
August 14, 2008 | Football
Aug. 14, 2008
University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) officials announced today that Fighting Illini greats Ed O'Bradovich and Chris Green 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.
 Ed O'Bradovich, DE, 1959-60  |
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"It's an honor," O'Bradovich said. "To be recognized as one of the 10 greatest defensive linemen, I'm sure you could find a lot of other defensive linemen who played some really good football when they were there. I'm thrilled by it."
O'Bradovich was a staple on defense and led the Illini in receiving in 1960. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1962, where he played for his entire 10-year NFL career. He helped the Bears to the 1963 NFL championship.
"It is truly an honor and a privilege to be a part of this group," Green said. "Having played with two of the honorees (Henry Jones and Keith Taylor) and coached and recruited two (Eugene Wilson and Kelvin Hayden), I know how special this group is. Coach Zook and the staff have done a great job of restoring the enthusiasm and pride of Illinois Football."
Green was a second-team All-Big Ten selection in 1989, and his 11 passes broken up that season are tied for 10th on the Illinois record list. He tied with Henry Jones for the team lead that season, and his 22 career PBUs rank eighth in school history. He was a seventh-round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins in the 1991 NFL Draft and played five years in the league. Green returned to Champaign-Urbana as the Illini defensive backs coach from 1999-2000.
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
- Chris Green, DB, 1987-90
- Dana Howard, LB, 1991-94
- Kurt Kittner, QB, 1998-2001
- Rich Kreitling, WR, 1957-58
- Mike Martin, WR, 1980-82
- Ed O'Bradovich, DL, 1959-60
- 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
