VICTORY!

The Illini down the #21 Penn St. Nittany Lions 27-20 and are now 4-1 (2-0 in B10). Could the be in the top 25 this week? We'll see as the pesky Badgers of Wisconsin come to Memorial Stadium next week to test the Young and Talented Illini!

Juice lines the Illini up for the play in the First Quarter. The Illini raced out to a 14-3 lead after Penn St. took an early 3-0 lead, but on the ensuing kickoff Freshman wide-out Arrelius Benn took it for 90 yards to paydirt and then later would catch a pass from Juice for 29 yards breaking several tackles to take it to the endzone and give the Illini a 21-10 lead. Going into halftime the Illini led 21-17 and things looked very promising for the young squad. The Second half was dominated by defense as Jason Reda tacked on 2 field goals from 47 and 33 yards to preserve the Illini Victory. The Defense came up huge forcing 5 TO's- 3 late interceptions to stop Penn St. Drives and 2 fumbles, one by the Penn St. QB that ultimately sealed the deal. J Leman, Vontae Davis, and Kevin Mitchell all had interceptions that were huge defensives stops for the Illini and Mitchell's sealed the victory over the Illini. This win was Coach Ron Zook's first over a ranked opponent since being at Illinois!

The game was awesome, other than being right in the sun and lack of offense in the second half, but the defense made big stop after big stop. Juice is almost there with his passing, the receivers dropped some passes as well, but I think people, especially students, need to be a little more patient, because other than the 2nd interception he was fine. It's not like McGee came in and was amazing, other than that huge run. To quote Lovie Smith "Juice is our quarterback." Campus is actually excited about football and things are looking up. Only 2 more wins for a bowl bid-can they do it? They Better or my college sports career just won't be complete!

Am I really learning?

Here is an evaluation of the classes I have this semester-the last real classroom classes ever!

HIST 273- Illinois History with Prof. Mike Rosenow- I really enjoy this class, getting to know the history of Illinois and it's role in American History. Prof Rosenow makes it interesting getting the students involved in the lecture.

377-America since 1932 with Prof. Mark Leff- This has also been really enjoying, except for the that that it is just a lecture for an hour and 20 minutes. This class allows to get more in-depth with American history than what you would get with a textbook. We had our first test today so I guess I'll truly know how much I'll like the class-haha.

498- The Body in Western Christianity with Prof. Megan McLaughlin. This class has been really interesting as I never knew how much the physical body was incorporated into theology and thinking about Christianity. It's also challenging to me to learn more about my faith and also to be open to the opinions of others.

CI 403 with Mike Woods- "Well there Gang" I have learned a lot of teaching models in the class and how to use case studies to illustrate certain points of learning especially in history. Woods has done a lot with making sure we understand the various models and how to apply them to our teaching in the classroom. I guess I'll have that opportunity while observing at Rantoul High School starting October 9th for 5 weeks!

SPED 405 with Prof. James Shriner- This is another one of those education classes that is probably needed, but just seems the point is dragged out and it just gets boring learning about it and not seeing it in application. Prof. Shriner is funny and makes the class somewhat exciting, which helps, but it's not a class I look forward too, but it will be helpful when I have special education students or needs in my future classroom.

EPSy 485- with Prof. Catherine Ryan- This class deals with assessment and again is needed, but just can be dragged out so much that it gets boring in a hurry. It's important for us to learn how to write a good test or what is the most useful way to test student learning. It just gets repetitive after awhile and would better be seeing in application in the classroom.

Mike Gundy Lectures the Oklahoma Media

I think what Coach Gundy did was right, well maybe not right in going off in a press conference like that, but the message was needed. I think college athletes get criticized too harshly sometimes and I think it is very ironic that we who criticize them couldn't even come close to performing at the level that these student-athletes do. Even Coach Ron Zook seemed to agree with what Gundy had to say in his Ron Zook interview on 590 the Fan KFNS (Spet. 26). Zook agreed the the players are like his "kids" and that they are just people that sometimes may get overly scrutinized sometimes, especially since they are not getting paid to play like the professionals (but that to an extent is debatable). Zook, also said he was glad it wasn't him blowing up like that, he even admitted to having gone after the media in that way, but not to the extent. I like coaches rants when they are needed or the message is positive; it shows their passion for the game they coach and for the players they lead.

Where's my hair!

So, I decided to buy a set of hair clippers which cost me the same amount for a haircut, yet I can use them over and over and over. So, usually when I am at home, Mark cuts my hair, but who would do it when I am at school? Well, I put my trust in Morgan to not mess it up and it turned out great! A haircut energizes me for some reason.

BEFORE

AFTER

And on another note the Illini Footballers improved to 3-1!!

The Cardinal's Season

So the past two games against the Phillies have typified the Cardinals season.

Monday's Game: The Cardinals starter Brad Thompson-his first year as a major league starter, gives up 3 earned runs in 3 1/3 innings and Anthony Reyes-his first full year as a starter gives up 5 earned runs in 1 1/3 innings and going into the 6th inning the Cardinals were down 11-0. Seemingly a unsurmountable deficit to overcome, but in the bottom of the 6th the Cardinals put up 3 runs and in the 7th scored 6 run putting themselves back in the game, down 12-10. The got it to 12-11 before losing 13-11.

Tuesday's Game: Cardinals starter Todd Wellemeyer who has been a journeyman picked up by the Redbirds this year pitched 2 innings only giving up 1 run as the Cardinals went up 3-1 going into the 6th, when Kip Wells, who has been awful as a starter, but for some odd reason great coming out of the bullpen gave up 2 runs to tie the score. The teams traded runs in the 10th before again reclamation project Mike Maroth who besides his very first start for the Cardinals has been pretty much awful (since that start his ERA has gone from 1.23 to 11.25 with the Cardinals for all those mathematicians out there that is a 10 run increase), gave up 3 2-out runs in the top of the 14th and the Cardinals fell 7-4.

Now back to my first point, the Cardinals have dug themselves a hole the whole season. I know losing Chris Carpenter for the whole year hurts the pitching staff, but that still doesn't make up for those who are out on the field for their production or lack thereof. On August 5th the Cardinals lost to the Nationals 6-3 (again blowing a great start by Wainwright) completing a 1-5 road trip against bottom dwellers Pirates and Nationals, which put them 8 games back (50-58). Later that week Rick Ankiel was called up on August 9th and in his 3rd at bat blasted a 3-run homer to help the Cardinals beat the Padres 5-0. Since August 6th until September September 7th, the Redbirds had made up 7 games and were looking good going to Arizona with Wainwright starting and giving the team a chance to be in a tie for first place. But once again they wasted a great start by Wainwright and lost 4-2. Since then the Cardinals have gone 1-12 in their last 13 games. What the cause for the turnarounds? The first one, I think Rick brought a new energy to the club and some new hope. Pickup Joel Pineiro was pitching well and Wainwright had one of the lowest era's among starters since the all star break. Then on September 7-9 reports of Ankiel's past use of HGH came about. I am not directly blaming that for the sudden plunge, but it didn't help. Since then Rick's batting average has gone from .353 to .282 and has only had one extra base hit and hasn't had a hr since he hit 2 against the Pirates on September 6th where he had his best hitting game as a major leaguer. But the real problem has been starting pitching, other than Wainwright and Braden Looper the rest of the staff is so unpredictable and the bullpen which has saved the team so many times has looked shaky lately. So who's to blame-it's really a culmination of things: Injuries, under performance, pitching woes etc. The Cardinals were lucky to be in the NL Central who by default will have a playoff contender and have any chance at the playoffs, but really ownership needs to get real ballplayers and guys who want it. No more Kip Wells shrugging his shoulders when he gives up a hit, or rushing Mark Mulder back, which I don't think they did, but he hasn't been anything short of awful since he has come back. After Friday nights loss to the Cubs after Wainwright gives up only 1 run, the season was over and now the Cardinals have fallen to 70-80 and 8 games out and all but assuring a season ending record of under .500 for the first time in a long time.

So, in closing the Cardinals season has been a series of highs and lows, with the lows being more prevalent. They fell into the valley and couldn't quite get up the hill and then fell completely back into the bottom of the valley. Brendan Ryan put it well in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch well this morning, "These two weeks, 2 1/2 weeks have been the longest weeks ever," Ryan said. "How many times have we come back and fallen just short? Even (Tuesday). Come back all the way to the 14^th and just can’t seem to get over the hump."Here's to the hope that the experience the young guys have gotten helps for the Cardinals return to the top of the NL Central next year-I had to borrow that line from a Cub's fan.

For some humor from the Mike and Mike show:

"You are the biggest wimp in all mankind" – Golic to Greeny

"I was thrown off the chess team for not being athletic enough"-Greeny

Canada Trip

Day 1 of 2007 Illinois Basketball Candadian Tour Friday August 31, 2007

Friday we left Ubben Basketball Complex around 1:30 CT and departed Willard Airport around 2:30 leaving sunny skies and a balmy 80 degree day. Arrived in Ottawa around 5:30 ET. On the plane ride we crossed over beautiful Lake Erie and the Canadian landscape was very woodland, lots of trees, very scenic. We arrived at our hotel around 6 and had a little pre-game snack and left for our game against Carelton University, the 5 time reigning Canadian Champion (something that will never happen in NCAA basketball). The gym was about the size of a high school gym here in the states maybe a big sized one and their was a lot of people there (mainly to see Jeff). Trent, Rich, Shaun, Calvin, and Chester started and at halftime the Illini led 33-28. It was kind of sloppy but that was to be expected a bit. Well we couldn't close the deal in the second half and went into overtime tied at 64-64. In OT Rodney hit a 3-pointer with 40 seconds left to put us up by 3 and the Illini held on 74-72. Demetri played really well breaking some ankles and making some nice passes, Steve made some shots, but had to leave with a sprained ankle. Jeff played well considering he had the most attention on him and had the biggest crowd response. After the game went back to the hotel for a post-game snack and then to bed!

Some things I noticed that were "different" was that the road signs were in metric and had both English and French on them, were the same colors as our signs back in the States. We passed the Candian Football Stadium for the Ottawa Roughriders, which was neat, and there is a man-made canal that goes through Ottawa with a bike/running path on both sides which made the city very scenic. The houses were built differently, but were very nice looking on the outside, other than that it was hard to tell that we were in Canada.

What Black Squirrels?

Day 2 of 2007 Illini Canadian Tour Saturday September 1

8 am wakeup for Jason to run along the canal path, a little 20 min run nothing major, but still made me feel like I accomplished something! Cooler than I expected, but the sun was out and it was neat to run along the canal-on the way back to the hotel I about got attacked by 2 BLACK squirrels. Who knew that Canada had black squirrels? When I got back to the Hotel, I finished my workout with some abs at the fitness room and then showered and gave the players their wake up call at 9. Then it was time for breakfast/pre-game meal which was delicious-a nice lil sausage, cheese and tomato omelet with some yogurt and granola/dried fruit mix.

At 10:30 we left for our game against the University of Ottawa Gee Gee's at 12. The gym was smaller than Carelton's, but was decent size, most American High Schools are probably bigger, but all you need is a regulation size court, hoop, rim and a ball and your good to go.
We led at Halftime 39-29, it was sloppy to start, partly we used FIBA rules, but execution of plays on offense was a little better. We pulled away a bit thanks to Illini Nation's favorite walk-on Chris Hicks who came through with 5 clutch points in the end to put the illini on top 73-56. Demetri had 7 assists in the first half and Rodney had a monster block that literally looked like he was spiking a volleyball over the net and he also had a monstrous put back dunk! Shaun had his productive 17 and 9, and we about had a bunch of people in the locker room chasing after Jeff.

On the road to Montreal at 2:30 and watched "Shooter" which I liked, had a lot of action and Mark Wahlberg is a stud in the movie. The landscape was all trees on both sides with some farm land and we stopped at a gas station/KFC/BK/Pizza Hut/Dunkin Donuts for a snack and then arrived in Montreal at around 5:30 and headed to the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner, where I ordered the Chicken mac-n-cheese which was very delicous. After dinner we had a lot of free time and I went and found a church for Sunday morning and from the outside it looked very beautiful! From what I could tell Montreal seems to be more "French" than Ottawa was, and upscale/rich/metro, and just a lot of stuff going on. After bed checks, I went to bed to get some rest for another action packed day!

Basilique Marie-Reine-Du-Monde Cathedrale"Mary Queen of the World Cathedral"

Sunday September 2 Day 3 of 2007 Illini Basketball Canada Tour

7:45 wake up and workout run on the treadmill 20 mins, some abs and push ups and then 10 mins in the pool-it was too hard to resist. Then at 9 I walked to Church for mass at 9:30 at the Basilica of Mary Queen of the World Cathedral. It was all in French which made it interesting, but really the only times I was lost was during the readings and homily other than that I knew what was going on and felt like I could participate fully in the mass. It was very beautiful inside and is a smaller version of St. Peters in Rome. There were some differences in the way mass is in America to mass in Canada, but nothing major. Overall it was a new spiritual experience for me! Then it was back to the Hotel for breakfast and some relaxation before the game against Concordia University at 2:00.

Left the hotel at 12:30 and the game at 2 didn't go very well for the Illini, getting stung by the Concordia stingers 86-82. The gym was ridiculously small, probably the size of a grade school gym in the states. We didn't play very well, no life, no energy, seemed to not want it where they did and they shot ridiculous. Well it will be a wake up call and def showed some things they need to work on for the season.

Then it was back to the hotel to dinner at Reuben's steakhouse where I devoured a 16 oz. steak which was delicious and def filled me up. Jeff got a drink from a table of girls for which he caught some smack from the guys. After dinner walked around with some of the guys and just took the city pretty much. We stopped at a pool hall/bowling alley/club atmosphere which was really "chill" and cool. We left as it was getting pretty full and headed back to the hotel. Watched half of Ocean's 13 with Brian R, Chris, Mike, and Trent and after bed checks at 11 I went to bed as I was falling asleep during the movie. It seemed like the first three days have gone by fast, but I am (did) looking forward to going home!

Day 4 of 2007 Ilini Basketball Canadian Tour Monday September 3rd

Well again I got up around 7:15 and worked out by doing some elliptical and shoulder and abs before breakfast at 8:45 which was a nice ham n cheese omelet. We left for the game at 10:30 to take on McGill University at 12. We were supposed to play the Canadian Military team afterwards, but that was canceled because of lack of bodies and injuries that we had. Well we won and that's the important thing, 107-103 in 2OT! It was exciting for the fans, but not for us, I would rather blow everyone out of the water than have a close game, but it should help us in the long run. Champaign's Finest, Trent (20) and Steve (19) led the way scoring with some big 3's down the stretch. It looked like last years team where we blew a big lead late and missed free throws at crucial times in the game. From what I could tell it was a nice campus with a lot of construction going on (reminds me of another university) and the gym was a big junior high gym. We left at around 3:45 to head the airport and had pizza on the way. We arrived in Detroit about 6 to go through Custom's check and that lasted about an hour and we were back on the plane and headed for home at 7. We arrived in Champaign at 7 central time and after getting everything in order at Ubben I made it back to the apartment at 8 to a nice surprise of Morgan baking cookies that were absolutely delicious! So, after a nice and long trip it was back to the grind of school!

Tiger Wood's and his Dominance

This is just going to be a continuation from my xanga blog. I guess I didn't like how only xanga members could comment on my posts and I like the simpleness of blogger and how Google makes it easy to incorporate everything and not have to remember all these names and passwords.

This is from the article on ESPN about Tiger's victory at the Tour Championship this weekend in Atlanta and his dominance of the PGA's attempt at a playoffs, the Fed Ex Cup. Tiger skipped the first of four events, placed second in the 2nd and won the 3rd and 4th. Ya, think he is driven to win? Whenever guys would get close, but he just kept pumping in those birdies.

"Tiger Woods increased his season earnings to $10,876,052 -- $29,114 short of the record set by Vijay Singh in 2004, when he played 29 times. Woods played 16 events this year."

"It just makes it harder for the rest of us,'' Johnson said. "Why give him another thing to try to achieve? He's a very driven man. When you add another element to that drive, what are you going to do?''

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=3023301
Are the other guys on the PGA just giving up when he is leading after 3 rounds. It looks like it, but it would be hard to disagree with them.

The Fighting Illini Footballers won @ Syracuse on Saturday 41-20. It looks like the running game could be very dominant this year and as long as the defense doing it's thing, could the Illini football nation be smelling a bowl? I sure hope so.

Here's to an awesome week and one filled with adventure and fun! Peace!