The Linking Illini means it all in good fun.

Its that time again boys and girls the daily news link dump for a blogger who is suffering in the slow news week. I am so ready for football that even next weekend seems too far away. Today on the old crutch for a blogger with nothing to really write about, Adam Rittenberg continues to justify  the entire existence of the world wide leader, Jon Asamoah is profiled, and The Rivalry ESQ starts the season with a blazing salvo of smack talk across the bow, we in turn respond in kind with a good-natured volley right back at de buckeyes. That said we are a fan of the site of course. Anyway, enough filler let us hit the links.

• Close to home meant a lot to Illini lineman - STLtoday.com
  Cool look at OL Jon Asamoah who chose the Illini keeping in mind that he wanted to stay close to his sick father in Chicago. Considering he was originally committed to the NIU Huskies getting this NFL prospect was literally a steal. (Sorry RAB Attack, I will buy you some Beer Nuggets from Lukulos next time I'm in Dekalb.)

• Illini football looks for a fresh start in 2009 - Adam Rittenberg
  If you have not yet been into the Rittenborg collective then I encourage you to do so promptly. While the overall post is concerned with just how awesome Juice and Benn are (answer: extremely) there is a small snippet about a topic we have followed for some time here on HTTO. "After an incident involving Fighting Illini players at a Champaign establishment, coaches made certain hot spots off-limits. " Hmm now where on earth could that be?

• Here's What I Really Think Of Your Team - The Rivalry, Esq.
  Law Buckeye takes off the gloves and throws down on all of the Big Ten teams "what he really thinks" of each them. he has alot of burns in here especially for some reason on the beloved Illini. "Also, Orange and Blue could be the crappiest color combination on the planet. Your uniforms remind me of bad early 90's beach towels. Stop by the student section on Saturdays in the fall to see a sea of Northwestern rejects." To keep with the all in good fun shtick, I would like to point out that the U of I is listed as #39 overall best University in America according to US news and World report, while OSU is listed at a paltry 53. Also I apologize that we could not choose such a creative color combination as red and white, its so awesome that you are in an elite club of only 3 teams in the Big Ten with the exact same color scheme. Let the drinking of the haterade begin! Tis football season!