Jack Roche's legacy brings Illinois and Kansas together

Roche, a 21-year-old KU equipment manager, was tragically killed in an auto accident three years ago. But his legacy endures on the sidelines, never more than when Illinois comes to town.

Jack Roche’s friends will make sure his presence is felt during Friday’s Illinois-Kansas game. (Photo courtesy of John Roche)

It will be Illinois at Kansas on Friday night, a pair of upstart programs in their third years under new coaching regimes, each looking to build off surprising showings from last year.

It will be Bret Bielema and Lance Leipold, it will be the Illini and the Jayhawks, it will be two programs with a shared mutual rival — Mizzou — that gives them something in common.

What’s that old saying about the enemy of my enemy being my friend?

These two have another bond, though, too, one that will be evident on the Jayhawks’ sidelines any time a player has a shoulder pad adjusted, or gets a new pair of gloves, or deals with any of the number of matters that need addressing throughout the course of a football game, or season.