The News-Gazette · Sep 4, 2018
Asmussen | Losing Dudek a punch in the gut
Illinois wide receiver Mike Dudek (18) looks for running room while returning a punt in the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018.The moment Lovie Smith said the words "Mike Dudek" during Monday's press conference, you knew what was coming next would be bad news.
And it was. The Illinois receiver, who missed the 2015 and '16 seasons with torn ACLs, is going to miss the rest of '18, too.
Punch ... in ... the ... gut.
For a fan base that cheered wildly for him during a breakout rookie season, it wasn't just about the numbers, which were huge.
It was the style. The knack for catching the ball in a crowd. The ability to get open. The Spider-Man-like stickiness of his hands.