CHAMPAIGN – Brigham Young's bowl-assignment loss was, in part, Illinois' gain.

   The University of Illinois women''s swimming and diving team set a school record for wins in a season Saturday, beating Indiana and Notre Dame at IMPE Pool.

   Just getting there was the tough part. That, and sitting around wondering if and when a referee would show up.

Carl Perry's back. So is Seth Brady.

And not a moment too soon for the University of Illinois wrestling team. The sixth-ranked Illini, with all of their regulars finally off the injured list, are scheduled to compete in four dual meets in one day this weekend.

If anything, 1996 was the year of the press conference.

That’s where all big news broke, where all the excitement occured. In a suit and tie, behind a microphone and a podium.

No 1-4. Lou, Lon, Lou2, Ron. Winds of change.

University of Illinois senior forward Jerry Hester this morning underwent successful surgery for a herniated disc at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

   For years it had been the Big Ten''s lost weekend.

   The first weekend of each March, the league would throw a handful of games out on television. Some of the games might actually have some meaning in the Big Ten race.