Caroline, Grabowski Join Illinois Renaissance Celebration

Pair of hall of famers add names to list of returning greats University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) officials announced today that Fighting Illini greats J.C. Caroline and Jim Grabowski will return to Champaign-Urbana for the Illinois Renaissance celebration game against Eastern Illinois Sept. 6. The pair joins a long list of legendary Illinois players who will be on hand for the 2008 home opener, when fans will get their first look at the newly renovated stadium. "It's a great honor because the University of Illinois has had so many great athletes," Caroline said. "Just to be mentioned in the same conversation with those individuals is an honor." Caroline was a consensus All-American in 1953 after leading the nation in rushing and shattering the Big Ten record with 1,256 yards on 194 carries (6.5... [read full story]