So, you are a little nostalgic for EIU news, eh? Well, check out what happened to our great alums waaaaaaaaay back in the 1990s.





9/97, EIU Hall of Fame news archives
Jurkovic out for the season
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman John Jurkovic is out for the season after he fractured his right tibia (it's in his leg) in the Jaguars 30-21 win over the Steelers Sept. 22, 1997. This is yet another devastating setback for EIU alums everywhere. The EIU Hall of Fame will be working to get an email address where people can write John Jurkovic. Jurko was placed on injured reserve -- effectively ending his season -- even though he may be able to rehabilitate by the end of the season. “'It's disheartening,'' Jurkovic told the Florida Times-Union, ''but as with anything, you've got to get something good in it: I didn't tear any cartilage, I had no ligament damage. I broke a bone.

9/97, EIU Hall of Fame news archives
Seitzer to the post season.
Yet another EIU alum is heading to the postseason. As of Sept. 12, the Cleveland Indians enjoy a 5.5 game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers in the American League Central, and it looks like they're going to make the playoffs. Kevin Seitzer will be with them. After a butt-ugly start, the EIU Hall of Fame inductee has increased his average to .262 with two home runs and 23 RBI. He's played everywhere for the Tribe, including first base and outfield. Don't screw this up Cleveland!

8/97, EIU Hall of Fame news archives
Duckworth to fight for contract. Kevin Duckworth's future is in his own hands, according to friends and sources close to the big fella. The unrestricted free agent hoopster, and loyal EIU alum, has been invited to the L.A. Clippers training camp but will have to earn a spot on the roster. The Clips have a ton of centers in their 1997 camp, including 7-3 Keith Closs from Central Connecticut State and 7-1 Nate Huffman out of Central Michigan, both rookies. Duck could get a contract overseas if he doesn't make the Clippers, but sources say he won't take one. Let's go Duck!Duckworth will also be at a trading card show from 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 6 in the Town Plaza Shopping Mall in Vancouver, Wash., where he will be autographing 8 1/2-by-11 posters ($2.50), his rookie card ($2.50) and other cards ($1.50). To get autographed images for the aforementioned prices, email in advance to NeilLefk@aol.com or show up in person. Postage is extra. 8/97, EIU Hall of Fame news archives
Gossett is gone!
Rick Tracewell from the Oakland. Raiders homepage confirmed Aug. 4 that longtime all-pro punter and all-around EIU alum Jeff Gossett was released earlier this year. Some guy named Leo Araguz has replaced Gossett as the punter. This means the best player the Raiders had has been cut! To complain about Gossett's departure from what can only now be one of the worst teams in the NFL, you can email the Raiders by clicking feedback@raiders.com.

6/97, EIU Hall of Fame news archives
Duckworth a free agent.
Kevin Duckworth and four other L.A. Clippers are free agents as of July 1, according to NBA.COM. One good sign: Duckworth has survived the first cut. The Clippers waived guard Terry Dehere and renounced their rights to center Dwayne Schintzius.

6/97, EIU Hall of Fame news archives
Tough start for Seitzer.
The Philadelphia Inquirer sportswriter Jayson Stark reported in his May 25 column Seitzer was one of only six players who had yet to reach base 15 times this season. Seitzer was at 14, Terry Pendleton at 13, Ruben Amaro at 13, Mark Parent at 8, Rex Hudler at 6 and Rafael Belliard at 4. Ouch! As of June 6, Seitzer was hitting .212 with one homer run and 7 RBI. He had reached base 18 times by that point. There is no truth to the rumor that the EIU Hall of Fame will start a Kevin Seitzer online campaign soon.

5/97, EIU Hall of Fame news archives
Is this Duck's last year?
CBS Sportsline reported in March that "Kevin Duckworth is on the injured list and is no where near returning with a sore foot." Could this nagging injury mean this is Duck's final year in pro basketball? Some think so, considering Duck told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal at this time last year he was pondering retirement. According to the March 27, 1996 Journal-Sentinal article, Duckworth didn't like the role of a "seldom-used reserve" with the Milwaukee Bucks and said he wanted to go somewhere he'd play more.

2/97, EIU Hall of Fame news archives
Jurko dissed by Mongo
Our EIU sports hero was seen cavorting with wrestling fans Feb. 10, 1997 on WCW Monday Nitro, a pro wrestling show on TNT. Nitro was in Jacksonville that week and Jurko was in the front row sporting a Jaguars jersey and a beer. Jurko was dissed by former Chicago Bear and now "Four Horseman" Steve "Mongo" McMichael (in the photo with his wife and valet "Debra"). Mongo was wrestling in a tag match that night and told fans the Jaguars would never win the Super Bowl. Ouch!

1997, EIU Hall of Fame news archives
Ives family settles lawsuit.
The Associated Press reported in 1997 that Burl Ives' widow, Dorothy Ives, settled a lawsuit against would-be Burl biographer Lester M. Goldsmith. Dorothy Ives and daughter Barbara Vaughan sued Goldsmith in 1995, demanding he return tapes and documents of Burl for a book to be called, "The Best of Time ... After Sixty, the auobiography of Burl Ives as told to Lester Goldsmith." The book was never published.

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