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| U.SportsWednesday, June 25, 2008 9:32 PM CDT |
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Walter Mendenhall anxious for 'change of scenery' with ISU
NORMAL -- Pride and frustration waged a battle within Walter Mendenhall last fall. Neither scored a clear victory. But each had its day. That’s what Mendenhall desires. And he’s transferred from the University of Illinois to Illinois State in the pursuit. “I needed a change of scenery and an opportunity,” Mendenhall said on Wednesday at Hancock Stadium. “That’s what I have here at Illinois State.” Mendenhall watched — largely from the sideline — in 2007 as younger brother Rashard Mendenhall emerged as a star tailback for the Illini, rushing for 1,681 yards and 17 touchdowns as Illinois went 9-4 and played in the Rose Bowl. “It was a bittersweet deal,” he said before a summer workout. “It was great to see my brother out there doing well and getting his opportunity to shine. But at the same time, it hurt too a little bit because I wasn’t able to contribute the way I wanted to.” After Rashard’s spectacular season resulted in being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft by Pittsburgh, Walter decided the best place for him to use his final year of eligibility was not Illinois. “There were no demands. Nothing like that,” Walter Mendenhall said of his departure from the Illini program. “I didn’t come in demanding anything because of who my brother is or who I am. I didn’t feel like I was entitled. There’s nothing entitled in football. You have to go out and earn it. That’s why I’m here.” Walter called his years at Illinois “very trying times” but stops short of the criticism of Illinois coach Ron Zook recently leveled by Rashard in the Champaign News-Gazette. “When you find things that were said, you can kind of read between the lines and see that everything wasn’t as it appeared to be,” Rashard Mendenhall told the newspaper. “To tell you the truth, as long as Ron Zook is there it will be hard for me to support the University of Illinois football team.” Rashard even credits Walter for talking him out of quitting the Illinois team before the 2007 season. “Rashard felt like he was mistreated. I can attest to that because I was there. But at the same time, I don’t feel the same way he feels,” said Walter. “I’m not mad at anybody. I just wish those guys the best. Let bygones be bygones. I’m just here to play ball and hopefully get to the next level and be with my brother (in the NFL).” While Rashard piled up 262 carries last fall, Walter gained 57 yards on just four attempts. In past seasons, he had been tried at fullback and linebacker. “I played pretty much every position,” Walter said. “There were setbacks and adversity. But I wouldn’t trade them for the world. I learned a lot about myself and a lot about life. I felt like it made me a better football player in the end because I don’t take it for granted. I’ve learned to appreciate it and respect it.” Walter Mendenhall graduated from Illinois this spring with a major in sociology and a minor in African American studies. He will study history in ISU’s graduate program. Mendenhall took the recommendation of former Niles West High School teammate and ex-ISU player Alex Filin when selecting a new school. “He told me it was a great place to come and they run the ball,” said Walter. “Through him is kind of why I’m here.” The 6-foot, 225-pound Mendenhall will battle Geno Blow and Parrish Fisher for playing time with the Redbirds. “It’s competition no matter where you go. I never was afraid of competition,” he said. “Competition brings out the best in you. I’m going to be pushed by those guys, they are going to be pushed by me and it’s going to make us all better in the end.” ISU coach Denver Johnson was receptive when Mendenhall inquired about a possible transfer. “He’s a guy we have known about for a long time, and we have watched his career with interest,” said Johnson. “When he approached us about looking for a new and different opportunity, we were excited to visit with him. He’s an outstanding young man who is a great student and a gifted athlete to boot.” Mendenhall said ISU can expect “somebody to go hard every play and run to the best of my ability. I can run over (defenders) and I can make a move and take it the distance. I got a monkey on my back. I’ve got a lot to prove to myself and even to people out there who haven’t got the chance to see me making assumptions of my abilities just because of the situation at Illinois. “I feel like this is my redemption opportunity to come in and have a fair shot. The best players will be out there playing on Saturday. That’s all I ever wanted. Give me that, and I’m going to take it and run with it.” E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
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kwallac wrote on Jun 26, 2008 6:54 PM:
ironchief wrote on Jun 26, 2008 3:16 PM:
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