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ILLINI
HISTORICAL
NOTES
for Dec. 30
thru Jan. 5
THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS
•Dec. 30 - Edwin Carter, football (1999)
•Dec. 31 - Mark Butkus, football (1961)
•Jan. 1 - Jake Davis, basketball (2005)
•Jan. 2 - Tad Keely, football (1988)
•Jan. 3 - Audie Matthews, basketball (1956)
•Jan. 4 - Erin Montgomery, softball
•Jan. 5 - Hardy Nickerson, Jr., football (1994)
Dec. 30, 1989 ... Illini basketball improved its record to 10-0 with an 83-71 victory over Memphis State in the title game of the Old Style Classic at the Rosemont Horizon.
Dec. 31, 1994 ... Illinois football celebrates its sixth bowl appearance in seven years with a 30-0 shutout versus East Carolina at the Liberty Bowl.
Jan. 1, 1999 ... At the 1947 Rose Bowl, Illinois defeated UCLA, 45-14. Julius Rykovich and Buddy Young eached rushed for 103 yards.
Jan. 2, 2021 ... Kofi Cockburn's 14 points and 10 rebounds helped 15th-ranked Illinois beat visiting Purdue, 66-58.
Jan. 3, 2001 ... Marcus Griffin tallied a career-high 27 points as Illinois hoops beat Minnesota, 80-64, in the Big Ten opener.
Jan. 4, 2012 ... Mayers Leonard blocked a Northwestern shot just before the buzzer, helping the Illini hold off the Wildcats, 57-56.
Jan. 5, 1974 ... Illinois basketball ended an eight-year drought at Ohio State's St. John Arena, topping the Buckeyes, 75-73.
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This Week's Images
Happy 22nd Birthday on Dec. 31st to Illini football lineman Josh Gesky.
Born on Dec. 30th, 1953, was former Spartan quarterback and assistant coach Tyrone Willingham.
SPARTAN
HISTORICAL
NOTES
for Dec. 30 thru Jan. 5
THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS
•Dec. 30 - Herb Haygood, football (1977)
•Dec. 31 - Travis Key, football (1985)
•Jan. 1 - Wes McCauley, hockey (1972)
•Jan. 2 - Derek Perry, basketball (1961)
•Jan. 3 - Mike York, hockey (1978)
•Jan. 4 - Wally Dobler, swimming (1934)
•Jan. 5 - John Garvey, hockey (1952)
Dec. 30, 1989 ... In a two-point victory over Washington, "Jumping Johnny" Green set a Spartan record with 29 rebounds.
Dec. 31, 1990 ... At the John Hancock Bowl in El Paso, Michigan State defeated Southern Cal, 17-16. John Langeloh's 52-yard field goal was the game winner.
Jan. 1, 1989 ... Spartan football beat Southern Cal, 20-17, at the Rose Bowl. Lorenzo White rushed for 113 yards.
Jan. 2, 1956 ... Dave Kaiser's field goal with seven seconds left led Michigan State to a 17-14 Rose Bowl victory over UCLA.
Jan. 3, 1976 ... In his Big Ten debut, freshman Gregory Kelser scored 10 points and grabbed 27 rebounds, but the Spartans lost to Wisconsin, 70-63.
Jan. 4, 1975 ... Black members of Michigan State's basketball squad walked off in protest just prior to the Spartans' game against No. 1 Indiana. The Hoosiers beat MSU, 107-55.
Jan. 5, 1976 ... Terry Furlow exploded for a record-setting 50 points as Michigan State basketball beat visiting Iowa, 105-88.