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TechnographFour years of greatness
By Lucas Deal
Posted: 5/9/05 Section: Sports
In my four years at Illinois, it seems there has been a big sporting event every weekend. This weekend was no exception. Dee Brown did the right thing; declare for the draft without hiring an agent.
The last four years were a great time to be a sports fan and attend Illinois. So great, in fact, that my top 10 sports moments at Illinois cannot include the greatest individual performance I have seen at Illinois: when Brian Cook single-handedly overcame an 11-point deficit against Michigan at Assembly Hall while pouring in 26 points in 2003.
Nor does it include Deron Williams' 31 points against Cincinnati in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. Frank Williams' game-winning shot for the Big Ten title against Minnesota in 2002 wasn't the best game-winning shot. Illinois volleyball, after being down two games-to-none to Penn State, found a way to win and it's not the best comeback of the last four years.
That's tough competition.
For an event to make my top 10 Illinois sports moments, I had to attend it, cover it or watch it on television. So that rules out men's tennis' undefeated national title season, wrestling's Big Ten championship this year and the football team's Big Ten championship-clinching win in 2001 over Northwestern (a Thanksgiving Day game not on television, who would have thought).
Anyway, here is my list:
10. Illinois vs. Louisville, volleyball, 2003.
The Illini swept Louisville 3-0 to make the Sweet Sixteen for the first time under Don Hardin since 1998. The players and coaches were so excited they put on leis (they were gong to Hawaii for the next game) and hugged anyone they could find. Including tuba players, fans and even lowly journalists.
9. Illinois vs. Wake Forest, basketball, 2004.
An ocean of orange. A Wake Forest team that underestimated Assembly Hall. A hot-shooting Illinois team. It all adds up to Illinois beating the No. 1 team in the land - for the first time since 1979.
8. Illinois vs. Ohio State, football, 2002.
The last four years were a great time to be a sports fan and attend Illinois. So great, in fact, that my top 10 sports moments at Illinois cannot include the greatest individual performance I have seen at Illinois: when Brian Cook single-handedly overcame an 11-point deficit against Michigan at Assembly Hall while pouring in 26 points in 2003.
Nor does it include Deron Williams' 31 points against Cincinnati in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. Frank Williams' game-winning shot for the Big Ten title against Minnesota in 2002 wasn't the best game-winning shot. Illinois volleyball, after being down two games-to-none to Penn State, found a way to win and it's not the best comeback of the last four years.
That's tough competition.
For an event to make my top 10 Illinois sports moments, I had to attend it, cover it or watch it on television. So that rules out men's tennis' undefeated national title season, wrestling's Big Ten championship this year and the football team's Big Ten championship-clinching win in 2001 over Northwestern (a Thanksgiving Day game not on television, who would have thought).
Anyway, here is my list:
10. Illinois vs. Louisville, volleyball, 2003.
The Illini swept Louisville 3-0 to make the Sweet Sixteen for the first time under Don Hardin since 1998. The players and coaches were so excited they put on leis (they were gong to Hawaii for the next game) and hugged anyone they could find. Including tuba players, fans and even lowly journalists.
9. Illinois vs. Wake Forest, basketball, 2004.
An ocean of orange. A Wake Forest team that underestimated Assembly Hall. A hot-shooting Illinois team. It all adds up to Illinois beating the No. 1 team in the land - for the first time since 1979.
8. Illinois vs. Ohio State, football, 2002.
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