[Oskee] Happy Anniversary Illini Nation

[Kevin Kemna]

Well since Mike White came after I graduated and the great
Gary Moeller Era with the 0 tied game with Northwestern the
Illini fan base was starved for a winner.  Well the 80's belonged to the
Illini Slogan was great for Winning. I'm glad he came but Mike & Neil Stoner
probably did have some snake oil in their veins.

Kevin
 
-------Original Message-------
 
From: gtillini95 at aol.com
Date: 12/14/2009 8:30:34 AM
To: oskee at heins.net
Subject: [Oskee] Happy Anniversary Illini Nation
 
Thirty years ago today, Mike White was hired as our head coach.  
 
Lacking motivation one afternoon about a month ago, I plugged his name into
a Google news search to see what popped up.  Although many of the stories
required some sort of nominal payment to access, just enough of them were
free and they shed some light on his career before coming to Illinois.    
 
What I found in the archives was pretty haunting, and probably says a lot
about why his tenure here was so rocky.  When you're 8-years-old and walking
around Zuppke Field for the very first time and folks are all geeked up
about football and there's no Internet, it's rather easy to get behind the
new coach and believe he can do no wrong.
 
And when you're 11-years-old and the goal posts are getting taken down after
every home game and your guys have just beaten Ohio State and Michigan for
the first time in your life, and there's still no Internet, you'll pretty
much walk through a brick wall for the coach.
 
Even today, the Mike White years bring back a ton of good memories. 
Unfortunately, now it's easier for me to see why he was a target for so many
folks, including the NCAA.  Some of the stories discussing his years at Cal
we're less than positive.
 
My wish for the new year is for all Illinois football fans to feel the
passion and energy that flowed through Memorial Stadium the way it did back
when the 80s belonged to the Illini!  I think the whole thing can be done in
the right way, but it's going to take some faith on our part and some
genuine creativity from the coaching staff.  
 
OWW!
 
Geoff 





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