ChimpersCage

Basketball season is starting to wrap up and March Madness is getting underway, so it's a bit hard to begin to think about football.  Let's think about it anyway.  The NFL Draft this year begins on May 8 and ends on the 10th.  That's under 2 months away.  It's also good to start talking about it before we all get headed outside to do all those chores and activities we haven't done since October. Looking through our archives and the web listings of Draft Prospects, we came up with about 20 that played in Normal at Hancock Stadium.  Of course, with transfers and such we may have missed a couple.  In our archive of that near 20, we found images of 11. Rankings can be found on the web, but the number 5 sticks in our head as the highest listed for a position that played here.  Include in listings are:  Jimmy Garoppolo, Erik Lora, Colton Underwood, Ray Agnew, Josh Aladenoye, Greg Hardin, Kurt Hess, Winston Wright, Cole Jirik, Doug Peete, Billy Turne...

Cornell Freeney has performed in several circus troupes.  Locally he is part of the Illinois State University Gamma Phi Circus.  The Circus performs in mid-April, but a couple of times a year if you attend ISU sporting events you can get a sneak peek.  Usually during a football game, they get a small group together to "kick" a field goal with a human being.  It's not as punishing as it sounds, they use a swinging platform to propel a young man over the horizontal bar of the goal post.  He lands on a very think mat on the other side.  It's pretty fun to watch, but we always wish the Redbirds would get extra points for it.  The official scorer never sees it that way. During basketball season, there is usually a halftime show around an act from the circus.  The last couple of years, it has been the German Wheel.  A wheel that must be 7 or 8 feet across and a couple of feet think, it is two rims with some cross members and some places to anchor...

Citing advice to leave a high pressure 7 day a week job for his better well-being, Al Bowman has announced he plans to retire as soon as a suitable replacement can be found. Bowman is nearing 60 and has led Illinois State University for the past 9 years and been a part of the ISU family for 34.  He is the schools 17th president and is very popular in that post.  He can often be found at Redbird Arena for any event being held there and is also spotted at the other sporting venues on Campus.  He's seen as much without a coat and tie as he is wearing them. Image Gallery  by Alan Look Photography Look for a follow up in the February issue of Best Look Magazine

The Volleyball Redbirds cleaned up the Braves from Bradley on Saturday night in 4 sets.  Earlier in the day, the University High School Pioneers zipped the Eureka Hornets in Hancock Stadium.  I think I shot a years worth of touchdowns in that game in just over a half of shooting. Pictures from both competitions will be at Alan Look Photography before Tuesday.  Hope you enjoy the viewing. If you haven't already, be sure to take a look and pick up your copy of Best Look Magazine - Every Picture has a Story, Every Story has a Picture.  Printed Quarterly by Alan Look Photography

Depending on which local news report you read or hear, Rob Judson  is destined to be Illinois State Redbirds next Basketball Coach.  People high in the ISU Athletics Office at last account have stated that no decision has been made. Rob is not an unfamiliar face amongst Illinoisans.  He was an assistant at Illinois and Head Coach at Northern Illinois (74 - 101) before becoming one of Tim Jankovich's assistants at Illinois State 5 years ago. Rob was instrumental in building the current Redbirds squad which returns all 5 starters next season and just may be the logical glue to hold the team together for a run at the Missouri Valley Title next season. Be sure to stop by Alan Look Photography for more Photos of the Redbirds and the Coaches.

Robin Pingeton is leaving the Illinois State Redbirds after 7 years as head coach and taking her assistants with her. I can't say it is a real shock that a large D1 school had their eyes on her or even that she took the job. She is certainly qualified. It did surprise me that it happened so fast with what seemed to me as little discussion about it by anyone. Of late, the only real converstations I'd overheard were about 1st assistant Randy Norton who was reported to be a consideration at Indiana State. Randy last week expressed his desire to stay in Bloomington-Normal while his family enjoyed his daughters last year at Central Catholic High as a part of the recent State Champion Lady Saints. Well, surprise, surprise. It will be interesting to hear the reactions in the community. Robin has been great at ISU and has really built a program that was hardly even noticed under her predecessor Jenny Yopp. At the 7 year mark, Robin had shown both her prowness on the court as wel...