Celebrating his 35th birthday on Monday is former Illini football all-star Tony Pashos. Born in Palos Heights and a graduate of Lockport Township High School, his parents (Georgios and Despina) immigrated to the United States from Greece. His career story, by the numbers:
2 — Seasons he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors as an offensive lineman
3 — Number of languages Pashos speaks (English, Greek and German)
5 — NFL draft round in which he was selected by the Baltimore Ravens
9 — Number of varsity letters Pashos was awarded at Lockport High
12 — Illinois’ final AP team ranking in 2001, his junior season
47 — Consecutive career starts he made at Illinois
79 — Jersey number Pashos wore for the Illini and for most of his NFL career
82 — Number of career starts he made during his NFL career, including every game in 2006, ’07, ’08, ’11 and ’12
325 — His playing weight as a pro
2002 — Season he served as an Illini co-captain and won the Bruce Capel Award as the team’s most courageous player
Illini birthdays By Mike Pearson, author of Illini Legends, Lists & Lore
Today: African Grant, football (50)
Monday: Kendrick Nunn, basketball (20)
Tuesday: Paul James III, football (21)
Wednesday: Josh Whitman, football (37)
Thursday: Charles Lakes, gymnastics (51)
Friday: Gary Jurczyk, football (59)
Saturday: Emmitt Cohick, baseball (47)
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