After holding training camp in Rantoul 17 of the last 18 years, Illinois will not return to the community this summer.
The school announced the decision today, opting to train on campus.
“It’s a blow, a shock,” longtime Rantoul resident and business owner Jill Allred said.
New coach Lovie Smith, athletic director Josh Whitman and other school officials toured the Rantoul site recently. The reports on the visit were positive, Allred said.