Camp Rantoul. Scrimmages. Split-squad practices. Water park. All these terms will become second nature to the Illinois football program and its supporters in the ensuing three weeks.
While UI students start classes three weeks from Monday, Tim Beckman’s team gets back to work this week, starting on Wednesday when players report back to campus and on Thursday afternoon with its first practice for the 2015 season. The highlight of the next three weeks, however, is the Illini’s annual trip to Rantoul, where Illinois will hold 14 practices open to the public on the grounds of the former Chanute Air Force Base.