WHERE HAVE YOU GONE JOE DIMAGGIO?

     There once was a time when guys named Wilson, Eason, Trudeau, George and Kittner hit open receivers.

     There once was a time when guys named Boerio, Butkus, Studwell, Hardy and Howard pleaded with the opposing quarterback, "Send that ball carrier at me!!"

     There once was a time when John Mackovic coached Illini teams to four consecutive bowl games.

     There once was a time when the Illini played games at home in September to reward their fans with wonderful Fall weather.

     There once was a time when the real Chief Illiniwek danced at halftime - not the ghost that you see now when the band plays the Three In One.

     There once was a time when followers of Ray Eliot's Fighting Illini would not miss Homecoming because it was likely that the home team would upset one of the nation's top teams such as Michigan and Michigan State.

     There once was a time when the Illini intercepted passes.  In fact, Al Brosky picked off 11 by himself one year and 30 for his career.   Mike Gow intercepted four in one game.

     There once was a time when fireworks went off following an Illini score.  For budget reasons that is no longer the case.  Wouldn't have been much of an expense this year, however.

     There once was a time when the games were so close and so exciting that fans stayed around until the the final horn sounded.

     There once was a time when David Williams never worried about his upcoming professional career and went about grabbing 101 passes one year and 92 the next.

                    WHERE HAVE YOU GONE JOE DIMAGGIO?

                     AN ILLINI NATION TURNS ITS LONELY EYES TO YOU

                    WHAT'S THAT YOU SAY?

                    JOLTIN' JOE HAS LEFT AND GONE AWAY.