Luke Butkus back where he belongs

"I can't use the words in a newspaper or on television for how I feel right now," Butkus said. "I'm pumped, let's put it that way. The opportunity to come back home after I played here, after I spent my life watching the University of Illinois, it's a dream come true."

How did it happen? New Illinois coach Tim Beckman and Butkus had some mutual connections.

"We just had a great feel for each other on the phone," Butkus said. "It just worked out perfectly."

Asmussen