(Sports) Editor's Note
This & That
Posted by: Jim Rossow
Tuesday, January 15, 2008 7:55 AM
Sergio McClain gave a gem of a quote to Paul Klee for his Tuesday college basketball insider:"It's all in their heads right now. I feel like our fans need to be accountable and step up also. You can't go to the games and be booing players. As a player, I would not want to win for fans that are booing. They don't know what you go through from day to day. They don't know you're waking up in the morning and lifting weights and trying to get a degree and dealing with people on campus telling you this and that. Regardless of what the score may be at the end, it doesn't look good. Who wants to come to a school where the fans are booing their own players? That's tough to deal with."
Here is Bob Asmussen's read on the eight football recruits who started school Monday:
Jeff Allen, OL-Chicago King-With tons of experienced players in front of him, the huge one is a likely redshirt. Look out for him in 2009.
Reggie Ellis, DL-Washington (D.C.) Dunbar-The latest from the land of Arrelious Benn and Vontae Davis quickly could move into Tom Sims' rotation.
Jarred Fayson, WR-Florida-Unhappy in Urban Meyer's system, the 2006 superstar recruit will sit out the season as a transfer and be available in 2009.
Mikel Leshoure, RB-Centennial-Two-time News-Gazette All-Stater gets a six-month head start on Jason Ford and will compete for time vacated by Rashard Mendenhall.
Whitney Mercilus, DL-Akron (Ohio) Garfield-The extra time with Lou Hernandez gives him a chance to get on the field his first year. Illinois is strong at end but likes to use a bunch of guys.
Graham Pocic, OL-Lemont=When he committed to the Illini during the summer, the N-G All-Stater vowed to be in the starting lineup for the 2008 opener. We're not arguing with him.
Fred Sykes, WR-Tampa (Fla.) Chamberlain-With Arrelious Benn out during the spring because of shoulder surgery, he'll have plenty of chances to impress coaches. Expect to see him on the field.
Ashante Williams, DB-Mayfield (Ohio)-The team is deep at cornerback, but he could see time as a fifth defensive back. And special teams will be a strong option.
Comments
Booing is poor sportsmanship plain and simple. I was raised not to do it. Seems like the News Gazette should do a feature article on "Sportsmanship". Also, Sergio is right, don't boo the players -from either team.
Posted by BillD on January 15, 2008 at 11:31 AM
I appreciate Bill's comments - while only a tiny minority of Illini fans are booing the team, those Illini fans who boo are totally out of bounds. not to mention, the only kind of people who would boo the team they support are probably those who were probably really bad athletes when they were kids, making their booing all the more absurd.
but I for one differ with Bill on one account - I am totally comfortable with Illini fans booing people like Kelvin Sampson and Eric Gordon. Our opponents, like Indiana, who have no integrity themselves deserve no better reaction when they visit Champaign. go Illini -
Posted by IlliniNationsCapital on January 15, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Well I would have to agree with what Mr. McClain said about Booing, I think its one thing to boo if you bought a ticket and its a completely different thing if the Orange Crush are booing the team. They are suppose to support the team just like the cheerleaders regardless of how they are playing, so to those that have been Booing from the Orange Crush, If your not going to support the team then stay home cause you arent helping the problem.
Posted by CharlieMiller on January 15, 2008 at 4:12 PM
Well i would have to agree with what has been said by Mr. McClain. When it comes to booing i think its one thing if it is coming from someone who has paid for their ticket and those who are from the Orange Crush. I think that the Crush are just like cheerleaders and they are to Support the team. It is pretty bad that living out in California i knew about this because it was on SportsCenter. To the Orange Crush, if you dont wanna support the team even when they are losing then im sure they can find a replacement for you.
Posted by CharlieMiller on January 15, 2008 at 4:17 PM
Booing college kids is unacceptable. Booing professionals i.e. Bruce Weber is acceptable.
Posted by Kducey on January 16, 2008 at 3:44 PM
That mikel leshoure will be a special addition to coach locksly offense, I cant wait to the upcoming season! Do any body think different?
Posted by biggie on January 29, 2008 at 3:07 AM
