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Camp Rantoul: Day 1 2012

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Photo by: Darrell Hoemann

Sign on the fence during the first day of workouts at the Illini's Camp Rantoulon Monday, August 6, 2012

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At Tuesday's morning practice, Tim Beckman switched up the order, with the Orange team taking the field. That's mostly second- and third-team players

Here's more from beat writer Bob Asmussen, who will provide midday updates all week from Camp Rantoul:

— Tight end Matt LaCosse is feeling a whole lot different about this year's Camp Rantoul as opposed to the 2012 version. A year ago, he was a freshman trying to convert from playing high school quarterback to college tight end. "It's night and day," LaCosse said. "Last year, I was trying to learn how to block for the first time." 

Questions? Asmussen's chatting at 1 p.m. today

— For the second consecutive morning, a group of youngsters watched the Illini practice and spent time with the coaches and players afterward. Beckman said he enjoys the attention. "I love it," Beckman said. "That's what it's all about. We talked about it last night to this football team. Pay it forward."

— What Beckman doesn't want to do is give any of the team secrets away to upcoming opponents. That's one of the reasons the time in Rantoul is only a week. "We're treating this just like any other practices," Beckman said. "Then, when we get back to Champaign, we will close some things off and do things just in front of our team. We're working fundamentals. We're doing the basics right now."

— One person you won't see at Camp Rantoul is Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas. A year ago at this time, Thomas had his vacation interrupted to take the Illinois job. He is on vacation this week and will catch up with Beckman's team when he returns.

Camp schedule

Today    9 a.m./4:45 p.m.
Wednesday    9 a.m./4:45 p.m.
Thursday    9 a.m.
Friday    9 a.m.
Saturday     9 a.m./5 p.m.
Sunday    9 a.m.