On this date in Illini history

Two years ago, 47 of the Illini's greatest football players gathered at Memorial Stadium's new Colonnades Club to celebrate the completion of the facility's west-side structure. College Football Hall of Famers Dick Butkus, J.C. Caroline, Al Brosky, Jim Grabowski and David Williams were among the honorees who returned to campus for the historic get-together. Other memorable moments on this date in Illini history:

1922: English Brothers Construction Co. staked out the site for Memorial Stadium. It took the company 14 months to complete the structure.

1925: Former Illini football and basketball star Chuck Carney was named ends coach for Wisconsin's football staff.

1946: Gene Shalit, future star of NBC's "Today" show, was named sports editor of the Daily Illini.

1981: Quarterback Tony Eason made his Illini debut, completing 23 of 37 passes for 204 yards, but Illinois lost to eighth-ranked Pittsburgh.

1984: All-American Chuck Carney died at the age of 84.

1987: Illinois' Keith Taylor intercepted two passes, but the Illini football team lost at North Carolina.

1989: The day after Illinois topped host Southern California at the Los Angeles Coliseum, coach John Mackovic treated his team to a day at Disneyland.

1992: Quarterback Jason Verduzco had three touchdown passes and rushed for a fourth TD as Illinois beat Northern Illinois in the season opener at Memorial Stadium.

1994: Simeon Rice was named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Week following a five-sack performance against Washington State.

2001: Senior center Luke Butkus was named to the Dave Rimington Award watch list.

2003: Illinois volleyball shut out DePaul in the home opener at Huff Hall behind the sterling play of Lisa Argabright and Melissa Vandrey.

Illini birthdays

Today: Brad Hopkins, football (40)

Monday: Tracey Marshall, volleyball (32)

Tuesday: Margaret & Michelle Vogel, track & field (47)

Wednesday: Olaf Blab, basketball (46)

Thursday: Jack Trudeau, football (48)

Friday: Revie Sorey, football (57)

Saturday: Craig Schneider, football (42)

NEXT SUNDAY: Jim Juriga

By Mike Pearson, author of Illini Legends, Lists & Lore and assistant athletic director at Miami (Ohio)