Rookies Show Wright Stuff at Practice
Illini rookies wrap up two days of practice, head for Rantoul - 8/11/98

ROOKIES WRAP UP MINI-CAMP:
The Illinois rookies completed two days of practice with a morning session on the Memorial Stadium turf and at the John Wright, Sr. residence in St. Joseph in the afternoon. The Illini enjoyed a team BBQ before returning to Champaign. The Illini rookies and veterans will check in tomorrow at the Fanmarker Inn in Rantoul from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an orientation meeting scheduled for tomorrow evening. The Illini are scheduled to undergo conditioning testing Thursday morning in Rantoul before heading to Memorial Stadium for the annual Fan Appreciation/Media Day Thursday from 5-8 p.m. A complete media day schedule is listed below, please alert your readers, listeners and viewers that the general public will be allowed in to meet the 1998 Illini on the Memorial Stadium turf from 6:30-8 p.m.

THE WRIGHT STUFF:
The annual rookie practice at the home of former Illini standout wide receiver John Wright, Sr. was held this afternoon under sunny skies with temperatures in the mid-80's. Wright, a three-year letterwinner from 1965-67, was a two-time All-Big Ten receiver and played in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions. Wright, his father, Bob, and his son, John Jr., are the only three-generation Illini football family. In addition, Wright and his son, John Jr. are the lone father-son first-team Academic All-American honorees in college football history. For the last three decades, Wright has run a successful insurance and investment business in Champaign. Wright constructed a full 100-yard football field complete with two goal posts behind his home outside of St. Joseph, his "Field of Dreams," several years ago. The highlight of the afternoon was Wright hitting an extra point kick after practice and speaking to the team about the "Power of Positive Thinking." Wright recently spoke to NFL draft picks at a special NFL seminar on investments and managing money and will be honored by the University of Illinois this fall as the 1998 Varsity "I" Award winner of the year.