He chose the better opportunity at the time. Don't blame him a bit. Love that he's joined the staff to commence his career.
I had the pleasure of knowing his dad for a year, when I was a senior, an RA in Scott Hall, and HG lived on the 4th floor (during what I believe was his freshman year in '87-'88). Just a splendid young man, well-mannered and friendly. I had only one problem with him all year, in around March when I was on call one Saturday night (actually, early Sunday morning.) He and his guests (including a young man named Marcus Liberty who was visiting for the weekend) got a bit out of hand. When I showed up, half-asleep and less than pleased, he was sheepish and apologized. I still remember that.
Also was in my room later that spring one early afternoon when an assistant football coach showed up at my door with a couple and their son, a QB prospect whom he was recruiting (or, I suppose, already had recruited by then). My room looked out onto Memorial Stadium and the Hall Director had sent them up because they wanted to see what a room looked like (many players lived in the Six Pack back then) and she knew I was around. I wasn't paying attention to football at the time, as the program had slipped under White, was something like 3-7-1 the previous season, and we had a new HC. Anyway, the family was very nice, as was the kid. I remembered his name: Jason. Was surprised that he seemed a bit shorter than me (I was 5'10" back then.) I'd always thought QBs were around 6'4".
He went on to perform serviceably under center for us. I guess he really liked my room and its view
My brushes with Illini gridiron greatness.
16 days to the opening kickoff!