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    Game Day Set For Northwestern Football Game in 2001

    Illini and Wildcats to meet on Thanksgiving Day in 2001

    Illinois running back Rocky Harvey
    Illinois running back Rocky Harvey

    Nov. 16, 2000

    The University of Illinois and Northwestern football teams will meet on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2001 season at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, as announced by athletic department officials earlier today.

    Game time and television coverage has yet to be determined.

    "We are very happy to have the opportunity to play on Thanksgiving and keep our home game," Illinois head coach Ron Turner said. "I think this will be very exciting to the team and fans and I wouldn't mind making this an annual event."

    The previous date was scheduled for Saturday, November 24 and has been rescheduled to allow the Illinois High School Association championship football games to be played at Memorial Stadium on Nov. 23-24.

    The last time an Illinois football team played on Thanksgiving Day was in 1963 against Michigan State on Nov. 28. The two teams were scheduled to play on Saturday, Nov. 23, but the game was postponed following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Illinois beat the Spartans 13-0 that day and went onto to play in the Rose Bowl.

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