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Dike Eddleman, who earned 11 varsity letters in three different
sports, is considered by many to be the greatest all-around athlete
to wear an Illinois uniform. He holds career, season and single-game
punt return records, while still ranking among the top 10 in school
history for punting average. While helping the Illini to the 1947
Rose Bowl, Eddleman also represented the United States at the 1948
Olympics as a high jumper and was the team leader for the basketball
team that advanced to the NCAA Final Four in 1949. The
placekickers on the list are all ranked among the top eight scorers
in school history, led by Jason Reda, who just wrapped up his Illini
career in 2007 with 267 points. Chris White, Mike Bass, Dan Beaver
and Neil Rackers all kicked at least 34 field goals during their
Illini careers. Pierre Thomas finished his career as the school’s
career kickoff return yardage leader, with 1,495 yards and an
average of 25.3 yards per carry. Besides Eddleman, the other punter
honored is Steve Weatherford, who set the school record with a
career punting average of 43.5 yards. The final two on the list are
snappers Nathan Hodel and Adam Linger, both of whom have made a
reputation as two of the NFL’s finest.
The 10 greatest Fighting Illini from each position who played at
Memorial Stadium will be recognized and introduced to the crowd at
the 2008 Illini football home opener, on Sept. 6 against Eastern
Illinois. That game has been selected as the Memorial Stadium
Renaissance Celebration, following a 21-month, $120 million
renovation project.
The specialists group is the second of the groups to be announced
weekly. The others are the receivers, announced May 3; defensive
backs, to be announced May 10; quarterbacks, May 17; defensive
linemen, May 24; offensive linemen, May 31; and running backs, June
6.
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Illini fans were able to vote online at
www.fightingillini.com
from March 24 through April 17 to help select the honored athletes.
Players on the ballot earned either first-team or second-team
all-Big Ten honors, or played at least four years in the NFL.
Season football tickets remain on sale for $225 for the sideline
seating areas. For more information regarding tickets, contact the
UI Athletics Ticket Office by phone at 217-333-3470 or 866-ILLINI-1,
on the Internet at
www.fightingillini.com, or in person at the Assembly Hall North
Box Office.
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10 greatest Fighting Illini specialists
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Mike Bass, PK,
1980-82
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Dan Beaver, PK,
1973-76
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Dike Eddleman, P,
PR, 1946-48
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Nathan Hodel,
snapper, 1997-2000
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Adam Lingner,
1979-82
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Neil Rackers, PK,
1996-99
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Jason Reda, PK,
2004-07
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Pierre Thomas, KR,
2003-06
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Steve Weatherford,
P, 2002-05
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Chris White, PK, 1983-85
[Text from file received from Kent
Brown, assistant athletics director, sports information director,
University of Illinois]
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