HAVE NO FEAR UNDERDOG IS HERE

The University of Illinois football team lost to Michigan State 61-14 last Saturday. Call them "underdogs," for the Illini will not be favored to win in any of their remaining games. I still think they will beat Indiana and score one upset to get the four wins I predicted prior to the start of the season.
The highlight of the game for Illini fans was the introduction of many of the 2004-2005 basketball team at the end of the third quarter. The stadium seemed to clear out rapidly after that. I left in the middle of the fourth quarter and was amazed at the traffic jam.
I hope things get better. So far, the crowds of 50,000 are an acceptable number but I doubt if , other than homecoming, we will see that many the remainder of the season.

SAGE X-C AND GOLF TEAMS IMPRESSIVE

SAGES CROSS COUNTRY TEAM
Monticello’s boys cross country team finished second in a 23-team cross country meet held in Peoria last Saturday. The girls were eighth in a 19-team field.
The boys won the Chrisman Cow Chip Classic two weeks ago.
Seniors Scott Phelps, Keith Butler, and Andrew Colbert lead the Sages boys team. All three boys ran on relay teams last spring that placed in the state track meet. Phelps also placed in the 800 meter run and set a school record in the event.
Phelps and Butler advanced to the state cross country meet last year. The Sages should do well in state competition this fall.
GOLFERS SHOOT BEST SCORE SINCE 1996
The Sages golf team shot 154 in defeating Heyworth and Blue Ridge in a triangular golf meet this week. This was the best team score since 1996. Cameron Magsamen and Corbin Sebens shot 37, Travis Huisinga and Nick Fichin had 40's. Other Sage scores were also good as Jared Thompson and John Reed had 44's.
the top six golfers are underclassmen.

GO ILLINI 

WATCHING ILLINI WIN FIRST TWO

I was fortunate enough to see both Illini football games this year from excellent seats given to me by a friend. I enjoyed the games and I wish I could say that I came away thinking the 2-0 Illini have turned the corner and the Zook era will produce conference championships and many bowl games. I have high hopes that it will happen down the road, but defeating Rutgers in overtime, and San Jose State 40-19 left me still in doubt about the strength of the current Illini. I need to see how they do against tough competition.
I know the last paragraph sounds a little negative but I do have some good news. I caught a Twinkie in each game tossed to the crowd by the “Twinkie man.” For those of you who do not know-- Monticello’s Joe Saban tosses Hostess Twinkie’s to the crowd. He is a popular Illini fan and came up with this clever idea over 20 years ago.