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College football ■ The Illini Quarterback Club hopes its signing day celebration will become an annual event for the school. SPORTS D — Bob Asmussen, D-2 Sunday, January 23, 2005 The final timeout Henson calls an end to his legendary coaching career Hall of Fame basketball More on Lou Henson: recruited by his ousted predecessor, coach retired Saturday. ■ A look back at his career, D-11. Neil McCarthy. NCAA president A If he hasn’t yet been tabbed Myles Brand favored the school’s by the Naismith selection committee appeal to have the 18 games rein- in Springfield, no less of myself. So because I am stated on Henson’s record, but Mass., Illinoisans physically unable to give my all, I Brand bowed to the recommenda- consider Lou am taking myself out of the game.” tion of his legal staff, which feared Henson a Hall of Henson, 73, was in the eighth sea- multiple requests of that nature. Famer in ways son of his second go-round at New that go beyond Mexico State and is credited with More setbacks his 423 Illini vic- the Aggies’ four victories. But he That left Henson with 775 wins tories. was unable to appear at games this entering this season, and viral With two years season after he was sidelined by encephalitis struck a body weakened Doug Mills/AP of health prob- viral encephalitis in late September. by the chemotherapy required to Lou could do lems forcing him NMSU leaders encouraged him to reduce abdominal cancer (non- Lou Henson is the winningest coach in Illinois history. Three highlights from his 21-year, into a wheel- TATELINES stay, anticipating an 800th coaching Hodgkin’s lymphoma). He coached 423-win stay: chair, Henson victory that would bring national last season through the chemothera- FLYIN’ HIGH hard way, his 1983-84 team winning its last announced Sat- LOREN TATE attention and complete Henson’s py visits. Henson reached his only Final Four at four games against Ohio State, Indiana, urday in Las Hall of Fame credentials. He steps The likelihood of garnering 25 Illinois with impressive wins against No. 12 Minnesota and Wisconsin to tie Purdue. Cruces, N.M.: down with 779 wins, sixth best in wins in two seasons lessened as the Louisville and No. 7 Syracuse at Minneapolis BORDER BULLY “I have always been a very Division I history. Aggies produced one win since (above). The 1988-89 team still holds the Thanks to Henson, Illinois dominated its demanding coach. I expect my play- Fate worked against the quest for November, their 1-11 skid leaving school record for wins (31). Braggin’ Rights series with Missouri in the ers to give 100 percent, or they 800. First, Henson lost 18 victories TITLE TIME 1980s, rattling off eight consecutive wins to come out of the game. I can expect in 1998 for using a player illegally Please see TATE, D-11 Henson delivered his only Big Ten title the rile Norm Stewart. You’re among friends By BRETT DAWSON News-Gazette Staff Writer uther Head slumps down in his chair. Gets comfortable. You can’t help liking He has a feeling he could be here for a Illinois’ guards — and they Lwhile. Without knowing what you certainly like each other are getting yourself into, you have asked Head, Dee Brown and Deron Williams the last time they got into an argu- ment. And the answer, natural- ly, has led to an argument. “We argue over everything,” Williams says, pointing to Brown. “He still thinks (Allen) Iverson is the best player in the (NBA).” Head rolls his eyes. “Whenever a guy’s 5-11 and he’s got to be double-teamed, he’s special,” Brown says, his voice raising a decibel. “His teammates say they sit on the bench, just amazed that he gets double-teamed. He’s 5-11. (Tim) Duncan is 6-11, 7-foot and gets double-teamed. The guy is 5-11, getting doubled.” Head covers his face with his right hand. “You wanted an argument, you got it,” Head says. “They’ll go on like this the whole time if you let ’em.” And sure enough, they do go on a good while, Williams list- ing a string of All-Stars he claims are better than Iverson: “Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Tra- cy McGrady ...” “You saw T-Mac live in per- son,” Brown says. “He’s 6-9. I’m talking about a dude 5-11 ...” But Williams is undeterred: “Kevin Garnett, Kobe (Bryant), LeBron (James) ...” “You would not take Kobe over Iverson,” Brown says, disbelief apparent. Head just laughs. “They always do this,” he says. He should know. Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette If Illinois’ backcourt were the Beatles — and the on-court music Head, Brown and Backcourt bravado: A look at how Illini backcourts past and present stack up Williams have made this sea- 1. Dee Brown/Luther 2. Derek Harper/Bruce 3. Don Sunderlage/ 4. Kendall Gill/Steve 5. Tal Brody/Bill Small, son lives up to the comparison Head/Deron Williams, Douglas, 1982: Both guys Rodney Fletcher, 1951: Bardo (left)/Larry Smith, 1963: Small had a wing — then Head is George. The 2005 (above): Having not made Illinois’ all-century How’s this for a resume? 1989: It’s hard to rank the player’s size but a center’s quiet one. two but three playmakers team. Harper, a longtime Sunderlage was an All- Flyin’ Illini guards so low determination on the Brown and Williams? — all of whom can fill the NBA star, is regarded as American, Fletcher was a on a list of Illinois greats, boards. And Brody was at They’re John and Paul, pre- point guard spot — puts one of the top five players second-teamer and the duo but remember that Kenny least honorable mention Yoko. the current Illini back- ever to suit up for the quarterbacked the Illini to Battle, Nick Anderson and All-Big Ten three years run- “It’s always arguing and this court Head and shoulders Illini. And Douglas’ school- a third-place NCAA tourna- Marcus Liberty were ning. and that, and then it’s over,” above their counter- record 765 career assists ment finish. frontcourt players who parts. might never be threat- made up the backbone of Please see GUARDS, D-10 University of Illinois/courtesy ened. the team. He’s putting the foot in football Former ■ Centennial product Centennial Aiming high Former Centennial and Ball State standout Reggie Hodges will have some punting football player taking steps toward competition at the NFL combine. Here are the other punters expected to participate: Reggie NFL as talented punter PLAYER SCHOOL COMMENT Hodges Cole Farden Oklahoma State Big leg hurt sometimes by Cowboys’ shaky coverage became an all- By BOB ASMUSSEN Dustin Colquitt Tennessee Top punting prospect in the draft might go first day star punter at News-Gazette Staff Writer Matt Payne BYU Best average (45.3) in this year’s crop, but altitude helps Ball State, CHAMPAIGN — When his young son and he’ll show went off to college in 2000, Mack Hodges off his talents had simple wishes. tennial product punted 64 times, the eighth on Hodges’ mind and within his grasp. “I was hoping he would get his degree most in a single season at the school. In a A month from today, Hodges will com- to pro teams and come home,” Hodges said. “And then 76-0 loss at Kansas State, Hodges boomed pete with a handful of punters at the NFL at the Feb. 23 leave home for a job.” 11 punts, including a season-best 54-yarder. combine in Indianapolis. He will be poked combine in No mention of the NFL for young Reggie A nice start in the MAC. Still, the NFL and prodded by different teams. And he hopes of Hodges. No talk of agents and all-star seemed a million miles away. will have a chance to show off his leg, earning one of games. “I was just happy to get a full ride so my which averaged 42.6 yards a punt his sen- 32 spots as Who thought it possible? Nobody. parents didn’t have to pay for me to go to ior season. an NFL punter. Certainly not Ball State, which liked his school,” Hodges said. “That was the main Next comes the draft in late April. If he athletic ability enough to give the punter a thing.” Ball State/courtesy scholarship. During a 5-6 season, the Cen- The main thing has changed. The NFL is Please see HODGES, D-12.