Jackrabbits to open season with Illini
Hey guys,
I know this isn't directly Bison related, but I just had to share the news! *;D *It has been talked about for weeks but now it is offical. *SDSU will open the season against Illinois. *Here are highlights from an Argus story:
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...503250340/1002
SDSU to play Illini next season
published: 03/25/05
SDSU to play Illini next season By Chris Solari csolari@argusleader.com
Scott Nagy watched Thursday's NCAA Tournament game between Illinois and Wisconsin-Milwaukee with special interest.
Not just because he grew up in Champaign, Ill., home of the top-ranked Fighting Illini. Nor was it a rooting interest from his time as a graduate assistant at the Big Ten university.
He was preparing for next season's first opponent.
The Jackrabbits will open the 2005-06 season against the Illini on Nov. 18. SDSU signed a one-game contract and will be paid to play at Illinois' Assembly Hall.
"I'm sure it was hard for them to get home games with the year they've had," Nagy said of the Illini, who are now 35-1 after defeating the Panthers on Thursday. "For us, it's a great recruiting tool when we talk to high school kids, and they can say, 'Wow, you're playing Illinois to start the year.'
"If we could play them every year, I'd like to."
Nagy, a 1984 graduate of Centennial High in Champaign, served as an assistant with the Illini in the 1988-89 and '89-90 seasons. His father Dick served as an assistant coach at Illinois for 17 years under Lou Henson and went to the Final Four in 1989.
The Jackrabbits will host Wisconsin-Milwaukee next year at Frost Arena, but the date has yet to be determined. The Panthers defeated SDSU 89-54 on Dec. 1, 2004, in Milwaukee before making a surprising run into the Sweet 16. *. *. *.
SDSU moved to Division I this year and will be required to play a minimum of 23 Division I opponents next season, most of which are already at least tentatively scheduled.
Nagy joked that he hoped a few Illini players would turn pro before next season, namely second-team All-American guard Dee Brown. The veteran SDSU coach surmised that both Illinois and UW-Milwaukee could be ranked in next year's preseason Top 10.
"This is what we want," Nagy said. "We want to play the best people, and we're going to be a lot better next year."
I am now rooting for the Illini to win it all. *It would be great to open the season with the defending National Champions! *8)
Go State! *;D
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Originally Posted by Sioux_Yeah_Yeah
