Illini Get the Last 'Giggle'
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HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE BASKETBALL BASKETBALL HOLIDAY ROAD Full pairings for Former Illinois State player the boys and girls holiday tour- Dana Ford is coaching at naments. Scoreboard, Page C4 PORTS Tennessee State. Page C3 IN TOUCH EXECUTIVES SPORTS EDITOR KIRK WESSLER 686-3216 E-MAIL [email protected] SPORTS DESK 686-3214 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014 SECTION C 2014 JOURNAL STAR SPORTS STORIES OF THE YEAR Illini get the last ‘giggle’ Beckman helps Illini win three of fi nal fi ve, earn spot in Heart of Dallas BY J.J. WILSON OF GATEHOUSE MEDIA ILLINOIS CHAMPAIGN — Tim Beck- man fi nally got the Illinois football team to its next destination. After winning three of its last fi ve games and fi nishing 6-6, his team was invited to face Louisiana Tech (8-4) in the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas bowl at Cotton Bowl Sta- dium in Dallas on Friday. In spite of constantly being doubt- ed, Beckman fulfi lled his preseason promise to win more games and make a TIM postseason BECKMAN appearance in his third RON JOHNSON/JS FRED ZWICKY/JS RON JOHNSON/JS year as head coach. “A m o n t h ago, you didn’t think we had a INSIDE ! Glance at chance,” Beckman the Heart of said at his Illinois, plus press confer- other bowls. ence on Dec. Page C2 7 after Illi- nois accepted its invitation to Dallas. “It’s kind of a giggle now. When people doubt you Celebration of life and you prove them wrong, ayne McClain. it’s very rewarding.” Fallen Peoria-area sports icons Bruce Saurs, Wayne McClain If Beckman is to make Chuck Rolinski. good on his other promise — to make Illinois contend Bruce Saurs. and Chuck Rolinski lead annual list of top stories. PAGE C2 for Big Ten and national W championships — one year In the short space of 100 of disproving doubters days, from mid-July to can’t be enough. More is necessary, and it mid-October, three men who made gi- starts with Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs haunt Beck- ant impacts on the sports scene in the 2014 JOURNAL STAR TOP 10 man from his fi rst year with Peoria area passed from us in 2014. Illinois in 2012, when they Deaths of icons Wayne McClain, Gruesome injury to opponent routed the Illini, 52-24, in The unique places of these men in Champaign. Chuck Rolinski and Bruce Saurs halts Peoria Rivermen game our sports history would have assured 1 6 While far from the same Notre Dame and Peoria High take Washington wrestlers win fi ve team, Louisiana Tech now any one of their deaths, by itself, a spot features a high-scoring of- 2 football teams to the semifi nals 7 state medals, two championships fense from the frontlines to among the top stories of the year, if not the backfi eld. Jim Thome statue erected outside Metamora baseball overcomes Running back Kenneth at the top of the list. To assign one a 3 Progressive Field in Cleveland 8 injury, illness to make state fi nals Dixon ran for 1,236 yards and 21 touchdowns — fi fth higher or lower spot would be to imply Behind freshman Tommy Kuhl, Henry Wiles wins 10th straight most in the nation — during one was more or less important in 4 Morton golf wins state title 9 race at annual Peoria TTs the regular season. He also surpassed 3,000 career rush- some way than the others. Notre Dame runner Maryjeanne Despite on-court woes, Brad- ing yards as a junior. Gilbert runs into record book ley lands Josh Cunningham. When the Illini last faced Together as our Journal Star Sports 5 10 Dixon in 2012, he netted just Story of the Year for 2014, we celebrate 41 yards on 11 carries with no touchdowns. them as we fondly remember them: DETAILS ON THE YEAR’S TOP STORIES PAGE C7 Then again, the Illini de- fense wasn’t ranked sixth Unbeatable. worst in the nation and al- lowing 249.6 rushing yards per game in 2012 as it is now. “They’re going to go fast- Rivermen vs. paced with that spread of- What a di! erence a month makes Cottonmouths fense, but I think the biggest key is stopping the run,” Columbus heads to Peoria with this weekend. Trudel said. “We knew that team Carver Arena, Peoria, 7:05 p.m. linebacker Mason Monheim This Columbus team is the hot- would get it together, and they are ! Season: Peoria, 2-1-0 said. “Dixon, I remember wins in nine of last 10 games test team in the league, with wins on a roll.” ! Coca-Cola Finally Friday: Two lower bowl playing him when we were in nine of its last 10 games. It had The Rivermen are rolling, too, premium tickets for $20. both freshmen. Great back, BY DAVE EMINIAN a 10-game win streak — third-lon- with a four-game win streak that ! Listen/Watch: All games streamed live powerful, and can move.” OF THE JOURNAL STAR gest in league history — retired has pushed them into second place, (audio) via Stretch at http://portal.stretc Newcomer quarterback PEORIA — The Columbus Cot- last week. two points behind Pensacola. Both and redshirt senior Cody So- They may have left Peoria in teams have played 20 games, but hinternet.com/rivermen/ or through team kol has also brought much tonmouths wandered to an 0-7-0 site at www.rivermen.net. Live Internet tele- start this season and a sweep at the mid-November in a mess, but they Pensacola has already logged 13 success in his fi rst year with return Friday night as an SPHL home contests while Peoria has cast on NeuLion via www.rivermen.net. the Bulldogs, throwing for hands of the Peoria Rivermen in ! Carver Arena in mid-November. title contender. been at home only 9 times. Tickets: Glass $20; premium lower 3,189 yards and 29 touch- But these are not those Cotton- “Actually, they didn’t play that Peoria’s home-ice record is a bowl $17; lower bowl end $12; Pilot House downs passes — 11th most mouths, setting up camp in Peoria badly when they were here last league-best 8-1-0. $10. All seating reserved. Available at Civic in the nation. for a post-Christmas two-game set time,” Rivermen coach Jean-Guy Please see RIVERMEN, Page C2 Center box offi ce or via www.rivermen.net. Please see ILLINI, Page C2 Brian Over $24 Million Monge Sold In 2014 Brand New Lake Front Brand New 4 Picture Perfect Acres Nearly 4,000 Finished Sq.Ft. 657-8182 www.brianmonge.com Ranked Top 1% of Agents Nationwide 11125 N Stone Creek Dr., Dunlap - $479,900 9322 N Philander Chase, Brim! eld - $454,900 3218 W Cypress Creek Dr., Dunlap - $329,900 11487 Fuelberth Rd., Pekin - $279,900 1366 N Forrest Dr., Metamora - $269,900 4 BR 3.5 BA 3 Car Garage 4 BR 2 Full & 2 Half BA 3 Car Garage 4 BR 2.5 BA 3 Car Garage 3 BR 2.5 BA 3 Car Garage 4 BR 2.5 BA 2 Car Garage Brand New Nearly New Near Golf Course Cheaper Than Rent Dunlap Schools 4216 W Thistlewood Ct., Dunlap - $265,900 407 Somerset Dr., Germantown Hills - $249,900 1409 White Horse Trail, Metamora - $179,900 937 W Kenwick Ln., Peoria - $74,900 2630 W Willowlake Dr. #532, Peoria - $64,900 PE-4464603 4 BR 2.5 BA 3 Car Garage 4 BR 2.5 BA 2 Car Garage 3 BR 2.5 BA 2 Car Garage 3 BR 1 Car Garage Freshly Painted 1 BR plus den Fully Applianced C2 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2014 SPORTS JOURNAL STAR, PEORIA, ILL. 2014 JOURNAL STAR HEART OF DALLAS BOWL SPORTS STORIES OF THE YEAR ILLINOIS vs. LOUISIANA TECH Noon, Cotton Bowl Stadium Dallas ESPN, WZPN-FM (96.5) SERIES RECORD / LAST MEETING RECORD La. Tech leads 1-0 / La. Tech 52-24, 2012 RECORD 6-6 8-4 THE LINE / PREDICTION COACH COACH La. Tech by 5½ / Illinois 31-24 Tim Beckman Skip Holtz 12-13 12-24 in 3rd year NOTABLE in 2nd year at Illinois, Illinois will play in its fi rst bowl game at La. Tech, 33-40 overall Unbeatable trio since Ron Zook was fi red in 2011. … 100-84 overall n just 100 days of 2014, from Saurs in our sports history would more or less important in some way stalwart Tom Stonebock. NCAA RANKS Former Illini defensive end Houston NCAA RANKS mid-July to mid-October, three have assured any one of their than the others. We celebrate all those who Offense Bates transferred to Louisiana Tech Offense men who made giant impacts deaths, by itself, a spot among the Other notable deaths in 2014 made their mark on the Peoria Rushing after last season and is listed as a Rushing 111th, 117.1 ypg 80th, 151.2 ypg on the sports scene in the Peoria top stories of the year, if not at the include iconic Limestone coach sports scene this year, led by the starter and captain for the game. … Passing In 13 starts for the Bulldogs, Bates Passing Iarea passed from us. top of the list. Leanne Bonifas; the unexpected unbeatable trio of McClain, Rolinski 51st, 2443.2 44th, 252.6 has notched 28 total tackles, 10.5 Total The unique places of Wayne To assign one a higher or lower death of Morton tennis coach Joal and Saurs — our 2014 Journal Star for a loss of 55 yards, 5.5 sacks, an Total 102nd, 360.3 61st, 403.8 McClain, Chuck Rolinski and Bruce spot would be to imply one was Stanfi eld; and the loss of Woodruff Sports Story of the Year.