 Other candidates in the selection process included universities like Eastern Illinois in Charleston, Illinois State in Normal, Millikin in Decatur, Northern Illinois in DeKalb, Southern Illinois Carbondale and Edwardsville, and Urbana–Champaign; smaller schools like Knox College in Galesburg, Monmouth College in Monmouth, and Rockford College in Rockford; and the Chanute Air Force Base near Rantoul, where the Illinois Fighting Illini held their offseason camps.The list was eventually narrowed to Eastern Illinois, Millikin, Northern Illinois, and Olivet Nazarene.On July 17, 2001, the Bears announced Olivet Nazarene as the new Training Camp site on a two-year deal.