Spring Practice: Day Three
Fighting Illini in full contact and pads under sunny, warm skies - 3/27/99

The Fighting Illini put on the pads for the first time for full contact drills in day three of spring football practice on the East practice field of Memorial Stadium under sunny skies with warm temperatures in the 60's and mild winds.

Illinois worked out in individual drills but the highlight of the morning were 11-on-11 full-contact drills and lively 7-on-7 passing drills with plenty of hitting.

Among the quarterbacks, Kurt Kittner and Kirk Johnson worked out primarily with the 1-2 units with Walter Young scheduled to work with the No. 1 unit during drills next week. The quarterbacks worked extensively with receivers, such as Lenny Willis, Michael Dean and walk-on Aaron Moorehead and the strong stable of tailbacks, including Jameel Cook, Rocky Harvey, Quincy Washington and Antoineo Harris. Steve Havard is being limited in many drills with a sore back.

"It was a good day of practice, our third in as many efforts," said Head Coach Ron Turner. "We're doing some good things with all of our positions. I was pleased with our quarterbacks, they are accomplishing some things already this spring that we haven't done too much of the last few years. We'll vary the rotation next week to get Walter Young some work with the No. 1 unit. Kirk Johnson and Kurt Kittner took most of the snaps with the top two units today."

The Illini return to practice Monday, March 29 at 3:45 p.m. The team will also practice Wednesday, March 31 at 3 p.m., Thursday, April 1 at 3:45 p.m. and Saturday, April 3 (time TBA). The second Ron Turner media teleconference will take place Tuesday, March 30 at 11:45 a.m. Media can access the teleconference by calling (217) 244-7532.