2008 Woodie Awards
Illini Media
WPGU
buzz
Illio
TechnographFarewell from an Illini sports writer, fan
By Mike Theodore
Posted: 5/1/08 Section: Columns
Covering wrestling, softball and football the past two years, I am privileged and thankful to have seen a side of Illinois athletics many covet but few realize. In just more than 100 bylines, I've been provided with an incredible assortment of memories and experiences.
A few highlights:
Watching from the sideline as Juice Williams took down then top-ranked Ohio State in the Horseshoe with a gutsy time-consuming drive, which will rank in the upper-echelon of Illini football memories forever.
A week in California covering the Rose Bowl and dining with coach Locksley and his family at the Lawry's Beef Bowl.
Taking in conference wrestling matches at a packed Huff Hall.
A 50-hour plus Greyhound trip to the Rose Bowl filled with tear-dropped ex-convicts, alleged illegal immigrants, no heat, a self-proclaimed Jesus/Armageddon savant, way too much heat and frightening tales of the road from an over-caffeinated early morning driver.
This being my one and only time to write a column, I'd like to state two brief thoughts: Let Chief Illiniwek XXXVII and all future Chiefs dance, and stop with the unwarranted Bruce Weber criticism (haven't Illini fans seen first hand these overly simplified blanket statements made about head coaches to be inaccurate?).
Special thanks to Dave Just, Steve Contorno, Dan Johnson, Jason Grodsky, Alex Symonds, Adam Harris, Cassie Arner, coach Mark Johnson, the Birnbaum family, Ron Seliga, Frank Napolitano and most importantly my friends and family.
So long, Champaign.
A few highlights:
Watching from the sideline as Juice Williams took down then top-ranked Ohio State in the Horseshoe with a gutsy time-consuming drive, which will rank in the upper-echelon of Illini football memories forever.
A week in California covering the Rose Bowl and dining with coach Locksley and his family at the Lawry's Beef Bowl.
Taking in conference wrestling matches at a packed Huff Hall.
A 50-hour plus Greyhound trip to the Rose Bowl filled with tear-dropped ex-convicts, alleged illegal immigrants, no heat, a self-proclaimed Jesus/Armageddon savant, way too much heat and frightening tales of the road from an over-caffeinated early morning driver.
This being my one and only time to write a column, I'd like to state two brief thoughts: Let Chief Illiniwek XXXVII and all future Chiefs dance, and stop with the unwarranted Bruce Weber criticism (haven't Illini fans seen first hand these overly simplified blanket statements made about head coaches to be inaccurate?).
Special thanks to Dave Just, Steve Contorno, Dan Johnson, Jason Grodsky, Alex Symonds, Adam Harris, Cassie Arner, coach Mark Johnson, the Birnbaum family, Ron Seliga, Frank Napolitano and most importantly my friends and family.
So long, Champaign.
The Daily Illini encourages on-topic discussion through article commenting on its articles and blogs. It is our policy not to delete any comments based upon political or ideological point of view. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are abusive, off-topic or use excessive foul language.
The posting of copyrighted material, including any and all content for which you are not the author, is illegal under Federal intellectual property laws. Such activity will not be tolerated. Comments containing copyrighted material will be removed, and continued violation of copyright law is grounds for being banned completely from commenting on DailyIllini.com.
If you feel any post meets these conditions or merits review, please e-mail our editors at meonline@dailyillini.com.
Be the first to comment on this story