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Two former Illini, offensive lineman David Diehl and punter Steve
Weatherford, helped lead the New York Giants to a 21-17 victory over the
New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday night. Diehl, who was
also part of the 2008 Giants Super Bowl team, won his second career
championship while Weatherford earned his first-ever Super Bowl ring.
Two former Illini, offensive lineman David Diehl and punter Steve
Weatherford, earned a trip to the Super Bowl following the New York
Giants' 20-17 overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship. Diehl, who was
part of the 2008 Super Bowl Champion Giants team, will make his second
Super Bowl appearance while Weatherford, who held for the game-winning
field goal on Sunday, will make his first-ever appearance in the game.
The Giants will play the New England Patriots on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 5:30
p.m. CT on NBC.
A pair of former Illini on the New York Giants advanced to the NFC
Conference Championship following a victory over the defending Super
Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers during the Divisional Round of the
playoffs. Offensive lineman David Diehl and punter Steve Weatherford
will play the San Francisco 49ers with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line on Sunday, Jan. 22 at 5:30 p.m. CT on
FOX.
All six former Illini who suited up for Wild Card Weekend helped their teams
advance to the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs. Pierre Thomas put on a
solid performance with over 100 yards of offense and a rushing
touchdown, Neil Rackers nailed a 39-yard field goal and David Diehl
helped pave the way for 172 rushing yards.Take a look at how former Illini fared in the final week of the NFL
season. Eight former Illinois football players have helped lead their
teams to the playoffs and six will suit up for the postseason,
including Pierre Thomas, Neil Rackers, David Diehl, Steve Weatherford, Martez Wilson and Nate Bussey. Rashard Mendenall and Kelvin Hayden will both miss
the playoffs due to injuries. Check out the video links for highlights from NFL.com.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how
former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous
weekend. Rashard Mendenhall had a solid outing with a touchdown,
100-plus rushing yards and a career-long catch while both Pierre Thomas
and Arrelious Benn recorded scores to highlight Week 16. Read up on how
the rest of the past Illini played and check out the links for video
highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how
former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous
weekend. Vontae Davis picked off Ryan Fitzpatrick twice and Pierre
Thomas scored his sixth TD of the season to highlight Week 15. Read up
on how the rest of the past Illini played and check out the links for
video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weekend. Neil Rackers sealed the Texans' comeback win with an extra point with two seconds remaining to highlight Week 14. Read up on how the rest of the past Illini played and check out the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how
former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous
weekend. Rashard Mendenhall is up to eight touchdowns on the year after
two more TD runs while a couple Illini wide receivers made nice catches to highlight Week 13. Read up on how the rest of the past Illini played and
check out the links for video highlights.
Former Illini Chris DeForest will look to earn his PGA Tour card over the next six days, as he is competing in the final stage of PGA Tour qualifying school from Nov. 30-Dec. 5 at PGA West in LaQuinta, Calif. The 172 total qualifiers at the final stage will play six rounds at the Nicklaus Tournament Course & TPC Stadium Course, and the Top 25 will get their PGA Tour card. Follow the action by checking out the Q-School Leaderboard and the @illinigolf Twitter account.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how
former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous
weekend. Brandon Lloyd scored a TD for the third week in a row,
Vontae Davis nabbed his second interception of the season and Pierre Thomas had a touchdown and over 100 yards of offense to highlight
Week 12. Read up on how the rest of the past Illini played and check out
the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how
former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous
weekend. Brandon Lloyd found the end zone on a 30-yard TD catch and
Arrelious Benn caught five passes to highlight Week 11. Read up on how
the rest of the past Illini played and check out the links for video
highlights. 
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how
former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous
weekend. Rashard Mendenhall found the end zone twice, Brandon Lloyd
caught his second TD as a Ram and Vontae Davis had his first
interception of the year. Read up on how the rest of the past Illini
played and check out the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how
former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous
weekend. A pair of past Illini, Pierre Thomas and Rashard Mendenhall,
scored touchdowns, Kelvin Hayden picked off Curtis Painter and Neil
Rackers was perfect on three field goals. Read up on how the rest of the
past Illini played and check out the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weekend. Five past Illini squared off in the Rams-Saints game, which included touchdowns by Brandon Lloyd and Pierre Thomas. Read up on how the rest of the past Illini played and check out the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weekend. Pierre Thomas gained over 100 yards in a blowout of the Colts, Brandon Lloyd made his debut for the Rams and Brandon Moore started his 112th consecutive game, the longest active streak for a guard in the league. Read up on how the rest of the past Illini played and check out the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weekend. Rashard Mendenhall had his best game of the year thus far with a touchdown and over 100 yards rushing, Arrelious Benn turned in a career-long TD catch and Brandon Lloyd was traded to the St. Louis Rams. Read up on how the rest of the past Illini played and check out the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weekend. Pierre Thomas caught the game-winning TD pass, his first of the season, for the Saints, Brandon Lloyd made a highlight reel catch and a handful Illini were off with the first bye week of the season. Read up on how the rest of the past Illini played and check out the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weekend. Brandon Lloyd turned in his best receiving game of the year, Rashard Mendenhall scored his second TD of the season and Neil Rackers remained perfect with his 10th field goal to highlight week four. Read up on how the rest of the past Illini played and check out the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weekend. Neil Rackers was a perfect 4-of-4 on field goals, Martez Wilson made his first career start for the Saints, and Alan Ball had four tackles in a Monday Night victory. Read up on how the rest of the past Illini played and check out the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weekend. Two Illini (Arrelious Benn and Rashard Mendenhall) found the end zone while two others (Kelvin Hayden and Alan Ball) had interceptions in victories for their team. Read up on how the rest of the past Illini played and check out the links for video highlights.
Each week the Illini in the NFL Update will provide coverage on how former Fighting Illini football players fared during the previous weekend. In all, 19 Illini made active 53-man rosters for the opening weekend. That does not count rookie Lions' RB Mikel Leshoure, who is on IR for the season with an Achilles injury, or the three former Illini that were named to practice squads (Nate Bussey, J Leman and Eddie McGee).| Rank | School | Location | Conference |
2010 FINAL
|
| 1 | Oklahoma State | Stillwater, Okla. | Big 12 |
2
|
| 2 | Oklahoma | Norman, Okla. | Big 12 |
1
|
| 3 | Minnesota | Minneapolis, Minn. | Big Ten |
3
|
| 4 | Illinois | Champaign, Ill. | Big Ten |
5
|
| 5 | Tulsa | Tulsa, Okla. | Conference USA |
6
|
| 6 | Iowa State | Ames, Iowa | Big 12 |
4
|
| 7 | Iowa | Iowa City, Iowa | Big Ten |
7
|
| 8 | South Dakota State | Brookings, S.D. | Summit League |
8
|
| 9 | Southern Illinois | Carbondale, Ill. | Missouri Valley |
9
|
| 10 | Nebraska | Lincoln, Neb. | Big Ten |
10
|
| 11 | Kansas | Lawrence, Kan. | Big 12 |
11
|
| 12 | Drake | Des Moines, Iowa | Missouri Valley |
17
|
| 13 | Illinois Chicago | Chicago, Ill. | Horizon |
12
|
| 14 | North Dakota State | Fargo, N.D. | Summit League |
13
|
| 15 | Loyola-Chicago | Chicago, Ill. | Horizon |
14 |
The 10th Annual Steve Stricker Illini Golf Classic kicked off the festivities with the Welcoming Gala Reception and Auction on Sunday night at the Olympia Fields Country Club. The event included a live and silent auction benefitting the Illinois men's golf program and four special guests highlighted the evening: PGA professional and Illini alum Steve Stricker, head coach Mike Small, new Illinois Athletic Director Mike Thomas and ESPN color commentator and former Flyin' Illini member Stephen Bardo, who served as the emcee. Be sure to check out the full PHOTO GALLERY from the event. 
Illinois junior forward has been gracious enough to blog periodically during Illinois' trip to Italy. In the second installment, Griffey recaps the first days of sight-seeing in Rome, Vatican City and Florence along with providing us a cliche photo of Meyers Leonard from Pisa. Bielfeldt Athletic Administration Building
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