The "Rev" Roger Powell

On the Eve of Easter, Saturday, March 26th 2005, the University of Illinois Men's Basketball team performed a miracle.

The Fighting Illini completed one of the most dramatic comebacks in NCAA history by resurrecting themselves from a 15-point deficit with four minutes left in the game to defeat the Arizona Wildcats, 90 - 89 in overtime.

You could sense that Coach Bruce Weber's men willed themselves to the victory.

Down 75-60 with four minutes left, Weber's team turned up the heat to a boil forcing multiple turnovers and hitting clutch three pointers in the final frenetic minutes of regulation.

The Illini played incredible defense down the stretch punctuated by two game-winning stops: One at the end of regulation and one at the end of overtime.

At the end of regulation with the score tied at 80, Arizona got the ball with seconds left. Arizona was held without a basket by the suddenly stingy Illinois defense.

Likewise, with a one-point lead with 12 seconds left in overtime, the Illini once again stymied the Wildcats.

Although Arizona appeared to tighten up in the last three minutes, to their credit, they didn't fold when the game went into overtime, when it would have been easy to do so.

The game was played in Chicago, which was virtually a home game for Illinois, whose fans included Bill Murray. Murray looked like he was pulling out what little hair he has left as he cheered on his home state team.

People have called Illinois a team of destiny. This has been their year from the start. But perhaps they are a team of providence.

At least one person on the team credited divine intervention for the miracle.

The handwriting wasn't actually on the wall. In tonight's case, it was on Roger Powell's shoes.

Powell, a Pentecostal minister nicknamed "Rev" by his teammates, went up for a dunk in the closing minutes and the ball rattled around the rim four or five times before it went in. If he had missed that shot, the Illini might have lost.

So what was on Powell shoes that he so proudly pointed at after Illinois claimed victory?

Both shoes were festooned with Bible verses.

"JESUS was written in black ink on his right shoe along with a reference to Philippians 4:13.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

"CHRIST" was on his left shoe along with a reference to Isaiah 41:10.

So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Great words to inspire a comeback, especially one of Biblical proportions.

Inspire & Be Inspired. We were!

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful and "coming back from the dead" living!

-Tim