So, you are a little nostalgic for EIU news, eh? Well, check out what happened to our great alums back in 2001.





12/26/01
Shanahan Not Going to Notre Dame - Period. The Associated Press reported on Dec. 25th that Denver Broncos coach and EIU super stud Mike Shanahan has rejected Notre Dame's offer to coach the team. The AP said Shanahan, a two-time Super Bowl champion coach who is from the Midwest and is Catholic, said Notre Dame athletic director Kevin White called him about the open coach position with the Fighting Irish, but never offered a contract.

``I said thanks for the call, but I was very happy where I was at,'' Shanahan said, according to AP. While this would have been a sweet move for all Eastern graduates, Shanahan is right to stay where he is. He's a pro coaching God and Denver loves him. He also makes tons more cash in the job he's in - which helps when Eastern's Alumni Association starts passing the donation plate.

The AP stated that Broncos backup quarterback Jarious Jackson, who played for Notre Dame, said he fielded numerous questions from friends in South Bend, Ind.

``I tried to tell people back in South Bend that he wasn't coming,'' Jackson told the AP. ``I told them that unless the coach was giving people the old fake-aroo, he's not coming.''

12/10/01
Billy Panther is Back! For two years, the only place you could find Billy Panther was here at the EIU Hall of Fame. But finally, after the university had decided to can the famous cat, a group of freshman raised enough money to purchase a new uniform for Eastern’s storied mascot.

Eastern officials, in the cheapest maneuver since the student union McDonald’s charged for extra ketchup packets, wouldn’t fork over a measly $1,400 after the old Billy Panther mascot outfit wore out in 1999. But a math professor and the students in his university foundations class decided to raise the money as part of a community service project, according to an article in The Daily Eastern News.

The students raised $1,000 and the University Board ponied up the other $400.

“That’s really cool,” said the original Billy Panther, smoking a cigar with his feet up on a leather barca lounger while chilling at the headquarters of the EIU Hall of Fame. “I hope the new mascot uniform doesn’t make me look like a sissy.”

Athletic director Rich McDuffie explained the absence by telling The Daily Eastern News they always wanted to bring Billy back, but "bringing back Billy just wasn't a high enough priority (two years ago)."

“I hate that punk,” Billy Panther said after a deep pull on his cigar.

12/21/01
Joan Embery Doesn't Diss Eastern! The EIU Hall of Fame was first to bring you news about Joan Embery’s web site and the fact it planned to have virtually NO MENTION of Embery’s stint at Eastern. Plus, the while Joan included a link to San Diego State University in the early version, there were no links to Eastern Illinois University!

Well, the Web site is up and running – a scaled down version of what we were able to uncover back in August 2000. In a short bio of Joan, it says, “A San Diego native, Joan attended San Diego State University where she studied zoology and telecommunications, and completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication with Eastern Illinois University.”

We here at the EIU Hall of Fame think we had something to do with that. If you want to contact Joan to tell her how much you appreciate the mention, email her at joan@joanembery.com.

12/21/01
Shanahan Season in Shambles Eastern’s most high-profile sports alum, Mike Shanahan, is taking shots on all sides for the performance of the Denver Broncos, the NFL team Shanahan coaches. Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla recently said that Shanny has lost his ability to find talented players and Rocky Mountain News columnist Bernie Lincicome ripped Shanahan for a series of decisions. The Broncos are 7-7 this season and probably won’t make the playoffs.

Shanahan’s name had been tossed around as the next coach of the University of Notre Dame, but Shanahan said he was not interested. The Chicago Tribune reported that while Shanahan may be a Chicago native and a Catholic, he is also one of the highest-paid coaches in the NFL and is one of Denver's sports Gods. He's not going anywhere.

There’s always a spot at Eastern for you, Mike!

12/21/01
Nominate Larry Smith! I urge everyone who loves the EIU Hall of Fame to nominate me, Larry Smith, to be the Journalist of the Year. Eastern's Department of Journalism is accepting nominations for Journalist of the Year to be awarded to someone who either:

1. A journalist in the EIU service region who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of journalism (Hey, CNN is everywhere!)

2. Is active in media.

3. Has made a life-long contribution to journalism but is no longer a working journalist

4. Has made a significant contribution to a related journalistic field.

Send your Larry Smith nomination to Les Hyder of the Journalism Department, Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln Ave., Charleston, Illinois 61920, by Jan. 31, 2002. Or call Hyder at 217-581-6003.

12/21/01
Still hope for Larry! Eastern has crawled in to the 21st century and given would-be graduates like myself hope. You can now apply to Eastern via the Internet. Be warned you many EIU "grads" who still need to take a few classes - you need a master's degree to figure you this part of the Web site.

12/21/01
Joan or Not Joan? An anonymous email claims that the alleged naked picture of Joan Allen is really supermodel Georgina Grenville.

Not to offend any fans of Allen, but she doesn't look like Georgina.

12/21/01
Hot dates. Charleston police will have several reasons to break out the riot gear in the first few months of 2002. Greek and student government reunions top the list of Eastern-related events, according to the EIU Alumni newsletter.

February 11: Annual San Francisco Bay Area Lincoln's Birthday Gathering.

February 15: Journalism and Student Publications¹ Homecoming North, 8 to 11 p.m. Billy Goat's Tavern, Lower Wacker, Chicago. Call 217-581-7003 for more information.

February 16: Annual Scottsdale, Arizona Alumni Reception.

February 18: Seattle, Washington Alumni Reception.

March 1: Deadline for Eastern Illinois University Legacy Scholarships.

April 6: Student Government Reunion 1980-present. On campus.

April 6-7: All Greek Reunion. On campus. Call 217-581-3967 for more information.

April 26, 27, 28: Celebration: A Festival of the Arts. On campus.

May 4: Spring Commencement at EIU.

June: 16-24 EIU Alumni Association Alumni College Trip to Kinsale, Ireland. Call 800-323-7373 for more information and to make reservations.

8/18/01
Happy Birthday Jurko! John Jurkovic, the fast-talkin’ hard-hitting member of the EIU Hall of Fame, turned 34 today (Aug. 18). Click here to send an email to the former NFL great/current hip sports commentator. You can also do it at the message boards for ESPN radio Chicago, where Jurko works.

In honor of Jurko, the EIU Hall of Fame has updated the John Jurkovic photo gallery and his Hall of Fame profile.



8/18/01
Alumni Association Goes International Charleston, meet Ireland. The EIU Alumni Association is launching an Alumni Travel Program promising weeklong trips to both Ireland and Italy for about $2,300. “In addition, both trips will be Alumni College programs so there will be an education component involved,” Assistant Alumni Services Director Sarah Drury-Dothager said in the association press release. “This will be perfect for our alumni.”

Yo, Sarah! Alumni are out of school. If we’re going to Ireland, it’s for the crystal, the kitschy souvenirs and the Guinness!

I don’t know about you, but I think this travel program is a much craftier fund-raiser than those EIU/MBNA credit cards we’ve been asked to pick up. And I’ve got six of those already!

8/18/01
Alumni Association Leaves Illinois The Alumni Association is going way beyond Ireland and Italy. There’s Cleveland, Miami, San Diego and Las Vegas, too. Those are among the four locations out-of-state locations for alumni receptions coming in the next couple of months. Details are below, but rumor has it that some EIU Hall of Fame staff members will be attending one or more of the aforementioned shin digs.

The EIU Hall of Fame encourages any alums – male or female – attending Las Vegas strip clubs to poll the dancers to see if they attended Eastern Illinois University. Any exotic dancers who attended EIU will be immediately inducted into the Hall. For more information, visit the Alumni Association’s web site.

Here’s a list of upcoming events:

Aug. 24: Chicago Cubs Outing. The game is sold out but the reception is at Slugger's Sports Bar and Grill.

Sept. 27: Cleveland Alumni Reception at the Shaker Heights Country Club from 6-8 p.m.

Oct. 6: Panther football vs. San Diego State in San Diego, California. Golf Outing and Pre-game Tailgate.

Oct. 12-13: Homecoming 2001.

Oct. 12: Eastern Class of 1951 Golden Anniversary Reunion.

Nov. 10: Miami Alumni Reception.

Nov. 22-24: Las Vegas Invitational Basketball Tournament and alumni reception.

8/18/01
This Speaks Volumes I was recently cruising the Eastern Illinois University official Web site and went to use the “Most Frequently Visited…” The Alumni Association isn’t even one of the frequently visited sections! Yikes!

8/18/01
Watch Eastern Football… but don’t go back to Charleston! The Panthers’ games will be broadcast on Fox Sports South, which is available in seven southeastern states. You can catch the Panthers when they head to Eastern Kentucky on Sept. 22 or in O’Brien Stadium against Tennessee Tech on Sept. 29 and Murray State on Nov. 17.

This is looking to be a good year for Panther football, which is expected to finish first in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Now just who exactly has Fox Sports South?

6/25/01
Panther drafted into the NBA! Well slap another 400 pounds on me and call me Kevin Duckworth! Kyle Hill, Eastern great guard, has been drafted in the NBA by the Dallas Mavericks. Hill went 44th in the draft - the first player since The Duck to have such an honor.

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Hill really impressed the Mavericks with a torrid shooting display during a workout at the Tom Landry Center. "Shooting is an art, and with the new rules [allowing zone defenses], I think outside shooting is going to be more important," Mavericks Coach Don Nelson said. "Hill is one of the finest shooters in the draft, as far as I can tell."

Hill was called him a poor man's Michael Finley by Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban, a rich man's Eastern alum.

This is great! With the exception of coaches, we almost have NO Eastern alums in pro sports. Let's hope the Mavs blow some people out so Hill will see some playing time.

For more stories on Kyle Hill, read:

Mavs nab two guards during low-key draft

Nellie looks to bolster backcourt with Hill, Satterfield

6/25/01
Unemployed Alums to Drown Sorrows at Bar: Yes, alums, we're hitting another cheesey tavern! The second annual booze-up at the Tuckaway Tavern, 2545 Plainfield Rd. in Joliet, is set for July 21. 7th Heaven, a band only slightly less popular than the UPN sitcom of the same name, will entertain the attendees. The cover charge is $5, but there is still a cash bar! Why couldn't the Alumni Association just hit the drive-thru at Gateway Liquors and pick up some Natural Light? Oh well, at least the alumni association is providing appetizers.

It's one of a host of shindigs planned by our Alumni Association. For more information, contact the no-beer-having Alumni Association at 1-800-ALUM-EIU (800-258-6348), or check out the list below:

June 29-30: Teachers College High School/Eastern State High School All Alumni Reunion.

July 28: EIU Alumni Association Annual Board Meeting to be held in Chicago. Lobby for a link to the EIU Hall of Fame!

August 24: Eastern Alumni Cubs vs. Cardinals Game at Wrigley Field.

5/8/01
Jurko Becomes God of Sports Talk Radio: Just when you thought the last thing you'd remember about John Jurkovic (at left) was his spot on the Cleveland Browns bench, the Jurk man is back.

The Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun Times, both of which are stocked with Eastern grads, reported this month that Jurko has won a spot at ESPN's Chicago sports talk radio station, AM 1000. Jurko will be joined by a couple other guys, Dan McNeil and Harry Teinowitz, from 3 to 6 p.m.

Eastern grads should make this the most-listened-to slot in Chicago sports talk!

The Sun-Times quoted a WLUP worker as saying the show will be like Seinfield. McNeil will be Jerry while Jurko and Teinowitz will alternate between George and Kramer (I see Jurko as more of a Kramer myself). The Tribune said that Fox Sports is considering Jurkovic for NFL Europe and Sunday NFL broadcasts.

Also, Don O'Brien, a former editor of The Daily Eastern News and current sports editor of the The Quincy Herald Whig said Jurko is also doing Arena Football games.

It's been a big week for Jurko. Along with these accolades, the EIU Hall of Fame has added a new story about Jurko's college life while living in Thomas Hall. You can check that out here.

4/1/01
Later XFL players: Well, the XFL came to and end and probably won't be back next season. As a result, the EIU Hall of Fame staff has decided to yank them from the Web site. Hey, it was a nice run while it lasted.

3/25/01
Eastern's Men Make NCAA Tourney Run: Eastern made the big dance! After coming back from a huge deficit in the finals of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament, Eastern found its way to a No. 15 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Panthers were part of March madness!

Did you see me wear an EIU hat on CNNSI? Good, because I didn't.

Not many people knew how good Eastern was. Here's this quote from a story on Yahoo: "It's a good bet many people filling out brackets around the nation are still wondering if Eastern Illinois is actually in Illinois, or Ohio." However, The Curator filled out two office pools this year: one with Eastern winning it all and a real one with Arizona winning the tournament. Hopefully, everyone else did the same!

Anyway, the Panthers lost to Arizona in the first round of the tourney 101-76. They actually had the lead for a decent part of the first half, until Arizona went on a 24-6 run. Eastern's stars Kyle Hill and Henry Domercant (in photo, courtesy of The Daily Eastern News) scored 32 and 20 points, respectively.

For The Daily Eastern News' coverage of the games, check out "Wildcats claw through Panthers" and "Points in paint key to game."

This year's squad did better than the last group of Panthers to make it to the Big Dance. In 1992, Eastern lost in the opening round to No. 2 seed Indiana 94-55, setting a record for the largest margin of victory in NCAA history. That record was broken in the next year by Wright State, which was in Eastern's conference at the time.

No matter what, the Panther rule!

3/2/01
Eastern's XFL Players Join the Hall: Nothing is more intense than the XFL -- nothing more than EIU that is. Dozens of alums email the Hall of Fame saying that since Dave Thomas (left) and Bob Rosenstiel are representing the Panthers in the new Xtreme Football League, they deserved to be represented in the Hall of Fame, too. A new http://eiuhalloffame.tripod.com/XFL/XFL.html>XFL section has been added honoring the two footballers in the XTREME league. And these two guys are XTREME! Rosenstiel even has a tattoo of a Panther on his hip!!!

Don't look for either in this week's games, though. Thomas suffered a badly sprained left ankle in practice and Rosenstiel is on the New York/New Jersey practice squad.

2/14/01
Joan Allen Gets Oscar Nomination: The EIU Hall of Fame only nudist Joan Allen has been nominated for an Oscar for her role as Laine Hanson in the film The Contender. She's going up against a bunch of actress who were in some artsy-fartsy films as well as Julia Roberts, who starred in Erin Brockovich.

John Malkovich's film Shadow of a Vampire got some Oscar nominations but Malko himself got none. I know I'm only a sports broadcaster, but I think that's a screwjob.

The Oscars will be presented on Sunday, March 25, 2001 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Let's hope she gives a shout out to EIU (and the EIU Hall of Fame) after she wins!

2/10/01
Alum Events a Go-Go: The Alumni Association has unleashed a whole ton of events that run all the way through October 2001. Not even a CNNSI broadcaster has the energy to list them all, so here are some of the events coming up in the next couple of months. To get more details, call the alumni association at that catchy phone number: 800-ALUM-EIU (800-258-6348).

Here are those events:

Feb. 19: Scottsdale Alumni Reception, Paradise Valley Resort Scottsdale, Arizona.

Feb. 21: Houston Alumni Reception, Houston Renaissance Hotel, Houston, Texas.

April 20-22: Delta Sigma Theta 30th anniversary celebration. Contact LaTasha Cain, president of the Theta Zeta Chapter at (217) 581-7087 for more information.

April 27-29: Celebration: A Festival of the Arts.

Did anyone see me at the February Panther Party at The Cubby Bear? Good, because I wasn’t there.

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