Memory Lane: Brit Miller on the way

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EACH WEEK, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK BACK AT A MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ILLINI HISTORY, THANKS TO THE WORDS OF THE NEWS-GAZETTE

Today: San Francisco rookie Brit Miller, who scored two touchdowns in his NFL debut, showed football promise while at Decatur Eisenhower. Bob Asmussen's visit with the Illini commitment included a trip to a hair salon.

Headline: Hair today, here tomorrow — Big 12 product ready to 'do his part at Illinois? 

Date: Feb. 1, 2005

By BOB ASMUSSEN

DECATUR – He feels comfortable in the weight room and the hair salon. He is a natural in the classroom and on the field. He gets along with grandmas, small children and two different college head coaches.

They haven't seen one like Brit Miller at Eisenhower High School in almost 30 years. Soon, Champaign-Urbana will meet him, too.

On Wednesday, Miller plans to sign to play football at Illinois, one of 20-plus expected to join Ron Zook's first recruiting class. It's a moment Miller has been waiting for his entire life.

"I would do anything for the orange and blue," Miller said.

His dad, Randy, loves football. His mom, Theresa, can talk blitzes and formations with the best of them. The coaches and educators sprinkled throughout the family are all Illinois fans.

Now, one of their own is about to wear the uniform. Expect plenty of 50-minute trips from the family's home in east Decatur to Memorial Stadium. And to Camp Rantoul. And to games at Ohio State, Purdue, Indiana and Iowa.

His family support cuts into any apprehension Miller has about playing in the Big Ten.

"I want to play at that level," Miller said. "I want to achieve at that level. My family is going to be around. That's going to be a major contributor to my success over there."

Changing times

It's been 29 years since Eisenhower had a player sign a Division I-A scholarship, with News-Gazette All-Stater Dave Hood picking Purdue.

Landing the next I-A scholarship hasn't been easy. Miller received interest from Missouri, Purdue and Northern Illinois, but made an early commitment to then-Illinois coach Ron Turner. The former coach even watched from the stands as Miller and the Panthers defeated Centennial in a rainstorm last August.

As the Illinois season headed toward a 3-8 finish, Miller started to get the idea that the coach who recruited him might not be there when he signed.

"I heard the chants going on in the stadium," Miller said. "A lot of people weren't happy. We never got involved in any of their chants."

He waited and wondered, just like the current Illini. When Turner was fired Nov. 22, Miller tried not to fret.

"You've got to like what you're getting yourself into the next four, five years of your life," Miller said. "I really liked Turner. I liked those guys a lot. In reality, there's more than one person for that job. Having a new coach come in wasn't hurting my feelings. I was kind of worried that he wouldn't like me. That was my main concern."

Miller took his official visit to Illinois in December, shortly after Zook was hired. The new coach put the family at ease, assuring the Millers the scholarship and the interest would be honored.

"That was a lot of weight lifted off our shoulders," Miller said.

The family liked Zook from the start. Theresa Miller was impressed with Zook's organizational skills.

"He must have a photographic memory," Theresa Miller said.

With Turner, Miller would have been playing for an offensive-minded coach. Zook's expertise is defense. That's another positive to Miller.

"Just listening to him speak about the defense, it got your blood pumping," Miller said. "He's going to push us hard. That's the kind of guy I wanted to play for. In thinking about it, it's probably a better fit for me."

Home away from home

C-U and Illinois are a good fit too, Miller said.

A top student at Eisenhower, Miller will enroll at Illinois with a semester's worth of credits. He plans to study civil engineering. But, ultimately, he wants to teach and coach in his hometown.

"People don't put as high of standards on academics as they should," Miller said. "We see that sometimes in school. We need to get some positive role models."

Miller is nothing but a positive role model in the school and in town.

"He's a great student," Eisenhower athletic director Rick Austin said. "Most of the teachers love him. He will be missed."

Because he is so far ahead in his schoolwork, he spends an afternoon class period helping teach a PE class.

After school, he often lifts weights at the YMCA. Then, Miller visits his mom at HairWorks, the Decatur salon she co-owns with Trisha Mendenhall.

If he isn't working out, playing sports or hanging out with his mom, you might find Miller at his grandma's house in Mount Zion. Carla Reynolds cooks up a tasty plate of roundsteak, gravy, mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. When word hits the street that Miller is going to see grandma, he can expect a full car of offensive linemen.

Miller wants the tradition to continue once he relocates to the east. If some of his new teammates are hungry for some home cooking, they can load up for the short drive home.

"If we ever get a break, they can come over," Miller said.

On the move

Miller rarely got a break during the football season. On offense, he was the team's starting quarterback before moving to tailback. He was a star at linebacker.

The sports continue in the winter and spring, Miller playing important roles in basketball and track.

Rated a three-star recruit by rivals.com, Miller is considered the 25th best senior in Illinois.

"I love a kid who plays option quarterback with a linebacker faceguard," recruiting analyst "Edgy" Tim O'Halloran said. "He showed his athletic ability. He runs pretty well for his size. You've got to love a kid who plays dodgeball as a hobby. He's got a great personality."

Can he succeed in the Big Ten?

"That's the main question with him right now," O'Halloran said. "Physically, he fits the profile.

"It's really a different deal with the coaching change. I would hope that they have plans for him. He needs to get down there and show them what he can do."

Big 12 or bust

Miller knows those outside central Illinois don't think much of the Big 12. Of course, players from Chicago think their football is better.

"I'd give central Illinois teams a shot against those guys any time," Miller said.

All Miller really has to do is point to the productivity. Schools from the 10-team conference have sent football players to Oklahoma, Michigan, Texas Tech and Illinois.

"It's a very competitive football conference," O'Halloran said. "There's good football being played down there. I think it gets overlooked. There's always talent in Bloomington. There's always talent in the Champaign schools. Coaches know where the talent is and there's definitely talent in the Big 12.

"From a competitive level, I think the Big 12 is on the same level as a lot of the Chicagoland schools."

One of Miller's favorite former Big 12 players started his high school career in Decatur. Current Illinois safety Justin Harrison played with the Panthers before moving to Bloomington.

"We all knew he was going to be something special," Miller said.

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