Illini couldn't be more like family for O-line coach Luke Butkus

His Illini pedigree didn't hurt. But when head coach Tim Beckman was assembling his staff last winter, a variety of coaching friends kept pointing him toward Butkus' gift for mentoring.

"I hired Luke not because of the Butkus name but because he's a darn good football coach," Beckman said. "He's done a great job. And he loves Illinois. He's just been a great fit."

Herb Gould