Balancing a college football roster throughout the COVID-19 pandemic provided a major challenge to coaches across the country.

“It’s a constant process,” Southern Illinois head coach Nick Hill said. “The roster is changing more each year than it has in the past and you’ve got to keep up with that.”

So how did Hill and his coaching staff handle the challenge during the February signing day?

They added five players from the NCAA transfer portal and five from the high school ranks.

“There’s constant evaluation of where we want to be positionally and depth wise,” said Hill, who hailed the team’s mix of youth and veterans.

With the five transfers signed in February and the six signed in December, Hill said the goal is clear.

“The expectation is to come here and make an impact,” he said.

Former Central Michigan linebacker George Douglas, a February addition, was compared by HIll to recent Saluki middle linebacker Bryce Notree.

“We really feel like George will be a great asset,” Hill said.

The Salukis added one Illinois high school player in the latest class, offensive lineman Peyton Mazur of nearby Christopher.

Hill noted that Mazur has been a regular on campus, attending games, SIU camps and the team’s junior day.

To read about SIU’s December signing class, check out our previous Prairie State Pigskin coverage.

Quotable

“These (signing) days are just the culmination of a lot of hard work by our staff and time that’s put in to put together a signing class.” – Nick Hill, SIU head coach

What positions do they play?

Hill was able to spread the talent in this class across his roster, signing two defensive linemen, two linebackers, two offensive linemen and two wide receivers. He also added a defensive back and a running back.

Where are they from?

Two players each are from Michigan, Georgia and Florida. One Illinois player was included in the February group.

What accomplishments do they bring?

Colgate transfer Collin Heard, a defensive back, had five interceptions and 14 back breakups while playing in 34 games for the Patriot League program. … Linebacker George Douglas played in 44 games during his career at Central Michigan. … An Ohio native, defensive lineman Zaid Hamdan played three years and earned a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State before transferring to James Madison. He played in five games for the Dukes last season. … Running back Lashaun Lester is the all-time rushing leader at Chattooga High School in Georgia with 4,483 yards. He also holds the career rushing TDs mark at 52. … The only Illinois recruit in the group, Christopher HS offensive lineman Peyton Mazur played football, baseball, basketball and track and field as a prep athlete. He is 6-foot-5 and 335 pounds.

Full February recruit list (courtesy of SIUSalukis.com)

Name, Position, Height, Weight, Year, Previous School, Hometown

George Douglas, LB, 6-1, 222, R-Sr., Central Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Mich.

Zaid Hamdan, DL, 6-0, 261, R-Jr., James Madison University, Mason, Ohio

Javan Hawes, WR, 6-0, 200, R-Jr., Arkansas State, Atlanta, Ga.

Collin Heard, DB, 5-10, 170, R-Sr., Colgate University, West Bloomfield, Mich.

R.J. Orebo, DL, 6-7, 275, Jr., Texas A&M, Dayton, Tex.

Harris Hagan, OL, 6-7, 245, Fr., Evangelical Christian HS, Germantown, Tenn.

Desman Hearns, WR, 6-0, 188, Fr., Chamberlain HS, Tampa, Fla.

Lashaun Lester, RB, Fr., 5-10, 200, Chattooga HS, Summerville, Ga.

Petyon Mazur, OL, Fr., 6-5, 335, Christopher HS, Christopher, Ill.

Cory McCalip, LB, Fr., 6-3, 210, Bishop Kenny HS, Jacksonville, Fla.

Warm Center Chocolate Cake

Nothing says Valentine’s Day like a warm center chocolate cake. Cut into it, and the rich chocolate filling spreads across the plate, much like molten lava does during a volcanic eruption. Impressive, but for home cooks ( a category that definitely includes me), the timing- which typically calls for last minute mixing and baking- can be difficult. Enter Sebastien Cannone and Jacquy Pfeiffer, co-founders of French Pastry School (226 W. Jackson) in Chicago.

Cannone and Pfeiffer developed a recipe that can be mixed and baked; mixed, refrigerated and baked; and mixed, frozen and baked. You’ll need eight, three to four-ounce metal molds. The size of the mold will affect the number of servings. Cannone and Pfeiffer estimated the number at 7-8, but with my molds, I wound up with 8-10. Either way, you’ll certainly get at least 8 servings. And if you’re planning an intimate dinner for two, you can freeze the rest and use them at a later date.

If you want to garnish the plate with a raspberry or strawberry puree, you’ll also need a plastic squeeze bottle with a small tip. Neither the molds nor the bottles are expensive, and given how good the cakes are, you’ll probably use them a lot.

Bittersweet Warm Chocolate Cake
8 servings
7 ounces (1 ¾-sticks) unsalted butter, preferably Plugra
1 ¼ cups bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 3/8 cups confectioner’s sugar
4 egg yolks
4 whole eggs
5/8 cups sifted cake flour (measure after sifting)
Pre-heat oven to 375-degrees
Melt the butter and chocolate in a bowl place over hot water.
In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and egg yolks over hot water until warm
Using the whisk attachment of the mixer, slowly mix the confectioner’s sugar into the melted chocolate until smooth.
Gradually add the warm eggs to the chocolate mixture, and mix until smooth.
Add the sifted flour all at once, and mix until well combined.
Butter and flour the molds. Fill each mold three-quarters full.
At this point, you can refrigerate or freeze the molds. Bring the cakes to room temperature before baking, approximately 30 minutes if frozen, 10 -15 if refrigerated.
Bake on a pre-heated baking sheet for 8-9 minutes. Unmold and serve immediately.
If you’re planning to garnish the plate with a fruit puree, fill the bottle beforehand. The cakes can also be served a la mode, but here again, the assembly has to move quickly.
Note: If you don’t have a whisk attachment for your mixer, use the beaters you normally use for making a cake.

When you think of Parkinson’s Disease, what’s your first thought? You most likely move right to the tremors. It makes sense because the image is so stark and the visual is always right in your face.

When you get past the tremors, issues with balance are probably next. Can you picture someone trying to walk in a straight line or moving slowly to avoid a fall? It’s a big part of the Parkinson’s experience.

But what about the underlying symptoms of the disease. What are some of the things that you can’t see but have a major effect on your life?

There’s a vitamin deficiency that is a possible link to Melanoma. There’s also constipation which can lead to a variety of gastro issues.

I’ve had stomach problems for about five years. We’ve tried a number of solutions to regulate them with mixed results. I’ve used everything from Metameusil and Miralax to fiber supplements and Linzess. While they help in keeping me somewhat regular, the side effects have been worse than the original issues.

About three years ago I started getting Diverticulitis attacks. While they were considered minor and could be handled with antibiotics, they didn’t seem minor to me.

It came to a head last year. I had three episodes that sent me to either the emergency room or an urgent care facility. There were a couple of others that were handled by telehealth. Plus, the constant antibiotics were doing a major number on my stomach.

Enough eventually became more than enough. It was time for a change. Drastic times call for drastic measures…or something less cliche.

SURGERY!!

About three weeks ago I went under the knife for a little procedure. They said it was minor but I told them taking out more than a foot of infected colon doesn’t sound minor to me. I also told them that a four-night stay in the hospital can’t be too minor. When I tripled down and said minor surgery is when it happens to someone else, there was a lot of eye-rolling, including my own.

So back to the Parkinson’s connection, I asked my neurologist if this was due to the disease? Her response:

“Probably some of it. But maybe, just maybe you should change your diet of pizza, cheese, popcorn and ice cream and try more water and vegetables.”

Damn! What’s with these snarky doctors? That’s my job.

But overall, it looks like I’m going to be okay. The recovery is going on schedule. Some say it’s three weeks while others say it may take two months to get back to normal. I’m probably trending somewhere in between, I did go outside for about an hour yesterday. It was the first time out of the house since the surgery. I take it as a good sign.

As for Parkinson’s, this is the first time in the ten years since my diagnosis that I’ve had any significant damage. I realize how lucky I am in that regard. I also know that due to the nature of the disease that there will eventually be a next time. Hopefully, that will be later than sooner. I don’t know the when or what it will be but I’m prepared….sort of. Bring it on!

Related Post: Parkinson’s doesn’t mean the end of your life

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Here’s a new beer that has come my way from the brewer, for my comment. It’s just hitting the tap and shelves today.

Crystal Lake Brewing, in McHenry County has done a few Hazy Pale Ales, including one which I talked about before. This time, they’ve gone in for an Imperial version, which they’ve dubbed Hoptopus.

The beer, which is available starting February 8, is listed at 8.5% abv, with just 30 IBU. That’s a low measurement of bitterness, so the hops, which are not identified in their promotion, seem to aimed at flavor. So let’s pop it open.

Right under the tab, I got a whiff of dander-like Citra hop. It stays there as I pour, then is slowly pushed aside by mango and papaya. The beer in the glass is hazy… in fact it’s opaque. Kind of like a pineapple juice with white highlight. There’s a tall head of foam that takes its time going down, leaving some rows of lace along the side of the glass.

The tropical fruit from hops is right there in the first sip. Yet, it still carries a lot of piney bitterness. The alcohol is there to warm up the taste. I’m also getting a bit of a creamy mouthfeel, perhaps from some oat in the grain bill. Or just lightly toasted barley.

While I’ve enjoyed a lot of IPAs over the years, including many “Imperial” versions, there have not yet been many that are considered “Hazy Imperials,” also considered a “New England” style. Those I have had were largely local. But this can be considered along with a Hop Butcher or maybe even one of Dogfish Head’s IPAs.

Crystal Lake Hoptopus

The ghost of Chet Henry Baker kicks off the new year with an incredible release of a long-ago recorded live album from Italy in 1959. Live In Milan is another great listen that just sent me into eBay territory to drop $60 bones on Baker PVC.

I’ve been so into Andy Bell lately and his debut solo album, A Long Way Down, that this latest release feels like perfect timing. “Something Like Love” is proof this man is living out all of his fantasies with each new single. I hear so many influences, including the Stone Roses which continue to pop up alongside RIDE, which, as you can imagine, is a killer combination. “Andy, you have my attention, do your thing.”

Palace release their 3rd studio album this week, Shoals. I remarked a few weeks ago that this was the Brit Pop I grew up with, shimmering guitars, and heartfelt vocals. They don’t sound like Gene but remind me of them.

I’ve always been a fan of Amos Lee, and he doesn’t disappoint with his latest single, “See The Light.” I love the lyrical content and the appeal of seeing the light, and I love the guitar work as well.

Your Jazz Cut Of The Week is a groovy number from Blue Lab Beats (featuring Poppy Daniels), a jazztronica duo from London. Motherland Journey is out on February 22nd.

As promised I’ve included a cut from a relatively new jazz group called Anomalie. It’s actually one man, Nicolas Dupuis, who plays all of the instrumentation on his albums. He’s a classically trained keyboardist who can rock with the best of them. Check out this incredible Herbie Hancock cover, “Come Running To Me.”