ChimpersCage

I started a rant on Facebook yesterday about the Bears. In the rant, I suggested it was time to Cut Cutler and Free Forte. I'll stand by that as in my view, both are disappointments. I'd like to expand a bit too and play armchair GM for a bit... Really, doesn't everyone enjoy playing GM? Lovie - you need to give back the defensive calling to the defensive coordinator. Your not doing such a good job. I know that your past lends that you are great at it. I have no doubt that your are/could be, but it appears that your mind has too many other things to do to handle that duty as well. Delegate! Now on to the real question - how do we get the Bears to win a game (Lions games exempt - heck maybe we should includ the Lions. I'm not sure the Bears could beat them right now)without the help of Brian Urlacher. Let's think outside the box - please try to follow along, this line of thinking is going to confuse a lot of people. Who knows the offense better than anyone? Y...

Well, for me anyway - Saturday was the 1st game. Yes, I know they played one already at Redbird. I was unable to attend. Seems like a lot of ticket holders didn't show up for the game against North Florida either. You missed out. I know, it's not conference season yet, but watching this team was truly special. Defense seems to have been stepped up with the addition of some of the youth and transfers on this years squad. Watching Osiris, Dinma and Phillips are still fun. Dinma is still a hole filler underneath and Phillips is more confident out front. Osiris has stepped back up hit offensive attack (I thought it was a bit muted last season). The new guys make this a real treat. Johnson, Lewis, and especially Carmichael are filing in nicely. If you come to see nothing else, come to watch Carmichael. He's a blocker and he does it with quite a style. 20091121 North Florida v Illinois State - Images by Alan Look

Well, the Ridgeview Mustangs ended the football season winless losing the final game at home to the Heyworth Hornets 62-38. The game was played in the rain and on a muddy field producing ground campaigns from each team and keep fans to a minimum. Those that did come saw a lot of courage and fortitude by players on both teams.

Friday night was a real mudbowl at Normal Community Ironmen game. The Iron ended up losing by 6 to the Danville Vikings, 12-6. I guess on the positive side, the rain had quit by game time. By the 3rd play of the game, I was left wondering why there were numbers on the jerseys. You couldn't see them. 20091016 Danville v NCHS - Images by Alan Look By Saturday afternoon, the skies had lightened up and there was alternating clouds and sun for Illinois State Univerities Redbirds homecoming football game. They knocked out the Indiana State Sycamores. One just has to wonder when the Sycamores will win a game. I believe they are 1-51 since 2005. I don't want to know who they beat. My game ball goes to Bert Whigham who blocked a punt. 20091017 Indiana State v Illinois State - Images by Alan Look

My wife and I got away for a short few days and went to Galena. We'd both been either near or through the area before but hadn't stayed long. My most vivid memory was a day trip with my parents about 40 years ago to the Palisades and an over-night with my new bride about 28 years ago in nearby Dubuque Iowa. Galena is of course the home town of our 18th president, Ulysses S. Grant. His home was not open the day we were there as it is closed on Monday and Tuesday of each week. We were able to walk around the grounds a bit and grab a few photos. Main Street and the riverfront area (both sides) have attractions. The old railroad terminal is down the hill from Grant's home on the south side as is Grant Park. Main Street - full of lots of small shops, restaurants, and Bed and Breakfasts are on the north side. There are levies and flood gates to protect the northside from flooding as the Galena River can grow quite large during melt-off and storm season. We stayed at the St...

This weekend I decided to follow some more Redbird Volleyball. It was early September since I had seen the Redbirds play and The Bradley Braves and Northern Iowa Panthers were in town. Friday night, a larger than I expected crowd filtered into Redbird Arena. Bradley is always a favorite since they are a mere 40 miles away making them a rival at any sport. Their volleyball team has had some challenges the last few years, this year being no exception. A quick scan of the roster shows a lot of their on court staff at 5'5" or less. Not that shorter people can't play great volleyball, but it does leave the front line a bit challenged. Still the Braves managed to at least show that they were on the court. The Redbirds took the match in 3 sets. Kasey Mollerus received an award before play started for breaking the Redbirds record for most digs. She truly is one of the best I've seen. Rarely is she faked out by an opponent or out of position. Congrats Kasey! 20091009 ...

Well, the first really rainy night I've spent shooting football this season. Not really a downpour, more of a nuisance rain. The night went the way of the West Wildcats who left the Tigers with little more than a goose egg by the end with a score of 41-0. There were plenty of touchdowns and great runs, but my highlight of the night goes to the West kicker who put several kickoff out of the end zone and one of them through the uprights. What a trick. I haven't seen anyone at any level do that for a long long time. I'm sure the 15 mph wind didn't hurt, it was mostly at his back but was blowing a little left to right as well. At the other end of the field, he drove it to the 7 yard line. Congrats to the Wildcats. Get ready, the Raiders approach. 20091002 Urbana v West - Images by Alan Look