Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 11:33:38 EST
From: MGlynn1821@aol.com

Editors Note: This is one of, if not the warmest letter we have ever recieved and I would like to personally thank Mark for capturing the moment.

Well there is only about 27 hours left before the game. I'd like to take this time to thank you for all the info from your site and the pieces you did on Hall.

I think that this game is one of the biggest in Hall history and your website has helped that. It has been like adding fuel to a fire. I think that it has been a contributing factor to something bigger though, sportsmanship.

I think one would really have to search to find two teams and sets of fans with so much riding on one game that have displayed the respect and sportsmanship seen over the last few weeks.

Looking back at the previous weekends events in Macomb I feel that the fans from Mt. Carmel could learn a little form these two clubs.

I feel that every fan should have a chance to expirience a week like this. I know that the IHSA has had a campaign to increase sportsmanship, well this has been a model for everyone to follow. Win or not I think everyone involved has contributed to something special.

Tell your son good luck and thanks for everything.

Mark

Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 09:53:39 -0600
From: Bob Glover

My name is Chad Glover. I graduated in 1998. I was on the sidelines as a sophomore in 1995 when Hall won the state championship. I started in 1996 on the state runner-up and in 1997.

I just wanted to let you know how much your article was appreciated by fans in Spring Valley. It apppeared in Saturday morning's edition of a local newspaper. Your article very accurately depicted what it is like in Nesti Stadiumm on game days. I think Hall has one of the best programs in the state but I guess I am a little prejudiced.

Kaneland High School earned my respect by winning the state title in 1997 and your article only strengthened that respect. In the future I will be rooting for Kaneland (unless they play Hall).

Good luck Saturday and I hope your son does remember his experience because it will be a unique one.

Chad Glover

Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 17:43:00 -0600
From: Nagel

On the night before the big game, just a few reflections. I have heard of this Knight team and am anxious to watch them play. They are heralded as a machine and that seems to be an understatement. My hat goes off to any team with a record like Kaneland's these two years.

However, since I work for Hall I must give my dedication to a group of boys that have earned my total support. They have fought an uphill battle all year long and have proved to me that they are the "KING OF ROCK AND ROLL" no matter what the score ends up to be. They are dedicated to their team and are all around great teens.

It is too bad that this game couldn't take place in Normal, but Nesti Stadium is a real experience. So good luck to all...

GO BIG RED - You are our inspiration!!!

Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 13:29:37 PST
From: "Tom Jeppson"

Let me introduce myself. I am a former Red Devil and current radio broadcaster for WAIV 103.3 FM. I do the color for the games along with Rich Bowden who asked me to be his partner this year.

I was a member of the first team that Rich announced. It was my senior season in the fall of 1995.

I see my good friend Jim Balzarine has already been here. We grew up Red Devil fanatics. We were ballboys for the best team prior to our senior year, 1991. I've missed 2 games in 8 years. Because I attended other games due to inevitable blowouts. Lining up next to him and the other Hog Soldiers that year is something that I'm very proud of.

That elite group you spoke of now measures their greatness by the pecident that we set. That is an honor to hear someone tell me of how "this line or that line isn't/wasn't as good as yours, etc..." I was also part of the defense that opened the season with 5 shutouts and allowed only 88 total yards a game.

At the time Woodstock Marion's Jason Liska was the most feared runner in the state. We held him to 75 yards. One of the best plays I ever made was making him fumble at our 15. I recall that play in my head everytime play nears the east endzone.

I was amazed at how you portrayed my favorite place on earth. Nesti Stadium leaves alot to be desired to the eye, but not to the heart. I have so many memories there that I relive every time I look down from that press box. No matter where the ball is on the field, there is something spectacular or significant that happened to me there.

It's the appitomy of history to this young man. So I'm glad that you now know that there are such memories and history in this Nesti Stadium you've spoken of.

The fan-friendly bleachers you spoke of I voluntarily replaced old boards, scraped, and painted along with other town volunteers. I was an incoming freshman, not a senior.

Large and small, the occupants of our football community love gameday and love the place where this miracle takes place. How you embraced Nesti Stadium is the way I always hoped visitors from afar would keep it in their minds. I thank you for your high regard of my special place and for letting me now what I hoped is true.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to make a phone call to a friend in Chadron, Nebraska to let Dan Beebe know what the talk of the town is. He'll be torn between his alma matier and his first team, the Red Devils, I'm sure.

Funny the tie between these two teams that have never met on the playing field before.

I've repeatadly said to people who have asked what I think of the Defending state champs in the best class in the IHSA. My reply every single time, POSSIBLY THE BEST CLASS 3A TEAM OF ALL TIME. If we weren't your opponent Saturday, I'd be attending regaurdless, to catch a glimpse of greatness.

Good luck Knights, not that you'll need too much if I want something to hoot about on the airwaves.

Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 12:20:26 -0800
From: bburkman

What a great web site!

I just have to ask if you know WHO broke Geneseo's 52 game winning streak? none other than THE RED DEVILS!!!. and can you tell me where that game was played???? The Heart of RED DEVIL COUNTRY, Richard Nesti Stadium!!!

See ya Saturday!!!

Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 11:17:15 -0800
From: defaultuser@domain.com

Good Luck Kaneland Knights Football Team!

It's been a Great Season so far and I hope that it continues tomorrow! The Excitement has been AWESOME!!!!!

GO KNIGHTS!!!!!!!!!

Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 08:35:29 -0600
From: "kmh"

TO ALL OF THE KANELAND FANS.

I AM A GRADUATE OF KANELAND AND NOW LIVE IN "HALL TERRITORY". I'LL BE AT THE GAME, BUT WHO WILL O CHEER FOR? GOOD LUCK TO BOTH TEAMS.

ALSO THANKS FOR THE GREAT NOTE "THE DEVIL YOU KNOW...." MAKES ME PROUD TO BE A KANELAND GRADUATE.

KATHY "76"

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 09:17:40 -0800
From: Jennifer Angelo

I am a 1995 graduate of Hall High School and have just finished viewing your website. I was very impressed with it. Most websites of this kind use their space to bash upcoming or previous opponents. I must say that the letter concerning the atmosphere of Nesti Stadium was very accurate, but the author forgot to say that it is like that for every game, and not just playoff games.

I am looking forward to Saturday's matchup. It will be a good game between two very good teams. Thank you for the respect you have shown our team and you can expect the same in return from our school and our town.

Only two days to go.... Knights and Devils.... are you ready for some football!!!!!!!

Good Luck to both teams,

Jenni Angelo
Hall Class of 1995

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 07:30:06 -0600
From: "dpodo"

As a mother of a Red Devil I want to say Good Luck to all who play Saturday. Your nice comments about our school and our football program are much appreciated. Knights are definitely a team to be proud.

It is going to be one heck of a game. I hope all play well and injury free. Once again good luck....but I do love the fireworks and hope to here them often.

GO BIG RED.

Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 20:35:21 -0600
From: gkmjmatt@theramp.net

Many in and from the Illinois Valley enjoyed your story about the Hall team, fans, and field. It is being passed around with much pride.

May we have sunny skies and uninjuried players on Saturday.

Good Luck!
Kathy (volleyball mom)

Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 12:03:01 -0800
From: YERLY ERIC JAMES

Hi

........I'm an x (Spring Valley Hall) football player who played on the 1995 and 1996 team. I also played on last years team and we were a little disapointed to not see you guys in the playoffs.

I agree with what you said and you are right it the best stadium ever to play in. My friends are all players on the team and the are ready to play you guys, we will finally see what school is better. I just wanted to thank you for the respect you have for our school.

Good luck at the game and it will be packed like never before. However, dont play to well cause I wanna see my boyz go back to state.

Tell your son, I dont know who he is, that Hall is big and they will wear you guys down. I hope it is a close scoring game and it should be.

Good Luck,
Eric Yerly

Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1998 22:03:50 -0600 (CST)
From: babs50@webtv.net

Enjoyed letter about Red Devil Football. It was a nice compliment to our football team and community.

If you are looking for a good time before the game stop by Verucchi's Restaurant . We have a little tail gate party. Also you can make your dinner reservations for after the game. It will be some of the finest Italian food you ever had. I own the restaurant with my nine brothers and sisters............

Good luck and of course I have to cheer for the Red Devils even though I'am a strong St. Bede fan having sent my four childern there. My son was on the championship baseball team for St. Bede and also played basketball when Coach Ken Anderson was at St. Bede. We enjoyed seeing the web site dedicated to him.

~~~~Barb~~~~

Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1998 21:40:38 -0600
From: James Balzarine

Dear Sir,

My name is Jim Balzarine, and I was a player on the 1995 Red Devil championship team. I really appreciated your article on the history of our stadium and our great fans.

Currently I attend Illinois Wesleyan University and play football with Kaneland alums Jason Pavlak and Ryan West. I have had a great time talking and joking about the upcoming game.

When I read your descriptions of our stadium and fans chills ran down my spine. It seems like yesterday that I was out there. You obviously have been there to experience the Red Devil faithful and have done a great job describing everything. It is wonderful that you can offer an unbiased opinion, because many times our fans are considered ignorant.

Well Good luck on Saturday, I'll be there in the endzone where the cars are with all of the 1995 team watching. Hopefully I get to hear a lot of fireworks.

Thanks again for the great article, and the memories (oh those pork chops are the best).

Sincerely,
Jim Balzarine

Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1998 18:51:04 -0800
From: Gary Boroski

I graduated from Hall in 1967, the second of six Boroski boys that played on a Hall football team for an 18 year period.

I have never seen such an act of pure sportmanship and "hitting the nail on the head" as what you have written for all Hall and Kaneland fans to hear.

We live in Salt Lake City, Utah and I've spent many Friday nights listening to the Hall game over the phone on the local LaSalle radio station from my mothers house in Spring Valley (her in Spring Valley and me in Salt Lake City).

If you read Dick Butkus' latest book, he tells of how his grandmother had worked in the coal mines in Spring Valley while she was pregnant, bore his mother and went back to work, leaving the child at the front office. That is Spring Valley!!!!

It is wonderful to see that people can view this as a game, a contest, get totally enthused about it, but when it is over, recognize that the experience is really what counted, how to win and lose, and learn from it.

Thanks again for your wonderful thoughts and bringing back a memory of Hall High School that I'll never forget.

Good Luck Saturday!!!

Gary Boroski

Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1998 18:10:30 -0600
From: "Debra K Michael"

WOW! Thanks, you said it all.

I don't have a son that plays at Hall but my whole family are Hall Alumni. My husband was the starting QB in 1976 & 1977 and occasionally in 1978 the year he graduated. Our daughter graduated in 1997 so we were honored to be a part of the 1995 State Championship route.

What memories we have of our Hall Red Devils and it's so nice to hear that others feel the same way about our stadium.

We've watched you on the highlights after your many wins and I'm sure it'll be a great game and win or lose it'll be history in the making.

Good luck to you and your team and again thank you, you've made our day.

The Michael's

Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1998 18:06:52 -0500
From: Kevin Landers

(Editors Note: Kevin played for Marian last year against the Knights)

I definitely underestimated Spring Valley Hall. Since starting the season very poorly, they have been on fire. I figured their glory days were gone, but I guess they have at least one more good season in them.

Since the game on Saturday is in Spring Valley, I would expect an outstanding game.

Your article about Hall, their stadium, and their fans was outstanding. Has Kaneland ever played Hall before? In 1995, we played in Spring Valley in the semi-finals as well. It was a great game, but unfortunately Hall won by a touchdown. I was a sophomore that year, so I wasn't on the varsity team. I was at the game though.

Your description of their stadium was super. I think next to our own field, that is probably the best 3A stadium I have ever seen. It must be especially crazy on Friday nights. It was too bad Marian lost that game, because that was probably the strongest team we've had since the state championship teams of the '80s.

Spring Valley Hall has put together an outstanding run the past four years. I'll be curious to see if they can continue this tradition in the future.

I don't know a lot about Hall, but I'll predict a very close game. I'll go with Kaneland 28, Hall 21.

Good luck on Saturday. I really believe that this is the "true" state championship game.

Kevin Landers

Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 02:00:12 -0600
From: joe cooper

To the fans of kaneland,

win the state championship good luck.

If you play Macomb - stomp on them.

Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 20:39:31 -0600
From: "Larry L. Evoskis"

Hello My Friend:

Just want to tell you I enjoyed your write up on the Hall Red Devils. May the better team win in the "State 3A Championship Game" in Spring Valley this Saturday.

Spring Valley welcomes you!

Larry from Spring Valley

Hello,

I am from a 1997 graduate of Hall High School and was a member of of the state champion and state runner up team. Thank you for the complementary article. It is the best thing anyone has written about the team ever.

We normally are dogged by the local papers because both of them are in rival town. You nailed the atmosphere on Nesti stadium.

.....I feel the offensive line coach is the most respected coach in the entire nation. He is Red Devil football. The offensive line vowed to win the state title for him in 1995 and we fell short on our vow to win one for his adopted daughter in 1996. He was unable to be with us from the first round on because he was away in China to get her.

He also was the originator of the "King of Rock n Roll". That is another tradition you should watch for if (when) we win. It takes place during the the team huddle after the game after a big win. After the other coaches are done talking, it is Coach Smith's turn. He says what has to be said, you know the normal coaching stuff.

When he is done with that he says, "I just have one question for you boys and Gorillas....WHO'S THE KING OF ROCK N ROLL...." The whole team gets up off of one Knee, thrust their right fist in the air in a upper cut motion and grab their right forearm with the left hand and reply "THIS IS THE KING OF ROCK N ROLL!!!" It is definitely a sight to see.

If you loose don't leave until you see it. You will be amazed. Well that is about all of the traditions I can think of for now.

I hope it in some way can heighten your experience at the game on Saturday.

See ya at Nesti,
Luke "The Duke" Maltas

Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 14:07:27 -0600
From: jmuntz

I just wanted to make a quick comment about this page. I had the privelege of playing football for Spring Valley Hall for four years. It is by far the greatest memory of my high school days. I was a senior member on the 1995 Class 3A State Championship team and that was the most awesome experience in the world. And you captured that thrill of playing at Nesti Stadium through your webpage.

I will be in attendance on Saturday afternoon. I need to travel 375 miles to get there that morning, but I won't miss the ballgame in Spring Valley.

Thank you for letting everyone in Maple Park know what to expect when they get to Hall High School on Saturday.

I would like to say that the peace that you wrote on the Hall Red Devils was very good. I am a little curious on how you know so much about Hall.

I'm a 1991 Hall Grad and I played on one of their 1st playoff teams in 1990 and your absolutely right about the Hall fans. I live in Lombard and work downtown Chicago so I don't get to see as many games as I would like, but I did make it to last weeks game and I won't miss this weeks for nothing.

Your school has a great football team and I hope the game is a good one. You should come on down to the best restaurant in town and one of the best in the area before the game and enjoy a little pre-game tail gating if not at least put reservations in for after the game to have some fabulous Italian food. The name of it is Verucchi's Italian Resturante it's owned by my wife's grandmother and all her family runs it.

Take care and good luck.

Joseph Rutgens
Harris Bank Client Server Support

To: Kaneland Fans
From: Hall Red Devil Country

Well it seems we both got our wishes in the third round. I was not to surprised to see the score of your game, its usually tougher the second time around. Congradulations on the win though we look forward to seeing you next weekend.

As for our game, the Byron coach did his share of talking this past week about how they are undefeated and that our obvious size advantage didnt concern him because they were a quicker team. Well he is eating his words now, it was very obvious the size advantage wore them out, we scored 21 unanswered in the fourth and had many sacks and tackles for losses late in the game.

What I am quite sure he did not see coming was the speed of D.J. Glynn ( 20 carries, 211 yards) as he sliced through, around and past their "D" all day long. We told a few of their fans IF he got outside to just have their players sit down and watch because they were not gonna catch him. Well they didnt take the advice but it really did not matter.

You were on the money saying they had a "slick" team. They ran more gimmick plays then we saw in the last three years. They threw us a little off at first but in the end those plays hurt them late as we hit them for big losses in the fourth quarter.

So on to this coming weekend, we are playing our best ball of the year, over 40 points per average the last 4 games, we will be at home where if need be the spirit of Nesti stadium can be called upon. I feel the key is the passing game, if we stop it we win, if we don't we lose.

See you in a week. Let your fans know that we have a good amount of seating for them, unlike Byron and Peotone.

GO BIG RED

Spring Valley will be rockin on Saturday. Bring some fans, our stadium can hold over 5000 people.

Wait until you guys play an NCIC team, ask Marmion, Byron, and Metamora.