THE FOUR HORSEMEN
FOUR HORSEMEN
It was the day after Gangsters of Love's victory over Section on October 18, 2003. When the Champaign News-Gazette hit the streets, readers were treated to a poetic game story by sportswriter Thomas Musick:
"Outlined against a blue, gray October sky the Four Horsemen rode again. "In dramatic lore they are known as famine, pestilence, destruction and death. These are only aliases. Their real names are: Glekas, Muff, Wallace and Cannistraro. They formed the crest of the Gangsters of Love cyclone before which another fighting Section C team was swept over the precipice at the IMPE Grounds this evening as 20 spectators peered down upon the bewildering panorama spread out upon the green plain below." Hendrik Szurmant, an aide to coach David Yu, was one of those readers. And he saw an opportunity. When the team returned to Glekas's house after the game, Szurmant convinced the "Four Horsemen", quarterback George Glekas, left lineman Travis Muff, right lineman Vince Cannistraro and center Greg Wallace, to pose for a photograph. In their uniforms, they mounted four horses borrowed from a local stable. The photos were picked up by the wire services. Szurmant went on to become sports editor of the Szurmant Times in San Diego, and Glekas, Muff, Wallace and Cannistraro went on to become legends. "At the time, I didn't realize the impact it would have," Szurmant said later. "But the thing just kind of mushroomed. After the splurge in the press, the sports fans of the University of Illinois got interested in us along with other sportswriters. Our record helped, too. If we'd lost a couple, I don't think we would have been remembered." Though not one weighed more than 250 pounds and none stood taller than 6'4", the Four Horsemen achieved almost mythic stature. During their time at Illinois, the foursome played 4 games together, and lost only to Chemistry and the Chemistry Engineering Team.
George Glekas
George Glekas was 6-0, from Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
He became starting quarterback through the season in 2003. Glekas possessed poise in the pocket, incredible arm strength, and accuracy on this throws. He had great knowledge of the game, which allowed him to read and pick apart anything that the defense showed him. He was an All-Intramural that season.
Travis Muff
Travis Muff was 6-2, from Iowa.
He played left lineman through the season in 2003. Big, talented, mobile player with great athletic ability and long arms. Can play in space and adjust on the second level. Fluid and agile. Can shuffle and slide. Knee-bender who gets good leverage. Good hand placement. Has good technique. Stays square. Excellent 5 1/2-inch vertical jump. Versatile. Can play either lineman position. Gets good leverage. Muff was named an All-Intramural that season.
Greg Wallace
Greg Wallace was 6-0, from Chicago, Illinois.
Coach David Yu, normally reticent, gushed of Wallace: "I would have to call him the greatest center I ever played for me" Wallace possessed great Effort, Knowledge, Toughness, and Anticipation. Has top athletic ability. Quick and explosive with quick reactions to movement with his body. Very strong and maintains a solid base while playing square to line of scrimmage. Uses quick feet to shuffle and slide. Has toughness and works to finish his blocks. Wallace was named an All-Intramural that season.
Vince Cannistraro
Vince Cannistraro was 5-10, hailed from St. Louis, Missouri.
He played right lineman during the season in 2003. King-sized offensive lineman with a giant wingspan who improves every year. Cannistraro plays with a wide base and can play either on the left or right side. Athletic for his size with good body control and balance when he uses proper technique. Has good, quick feet and can shuffle his feet and slide. He was named an All-Intramural that season. After football, Cannistraro continued his "Korean Exercising" obtaining a black belt.
________________________________________________________________________________ Article taken from Rice's article regarding ND's Four Horseman.
