Why I Oughta...

Yes, please. This photo - sent to me by Equation Boy/Man and spotted on the Illinois Loyalty Forums  - sure makes it seem like the days of the ILLINOIS helmets are gone.  The entire thread has discussion of the alleged changes including the incorporation of the "zig-zag" trim elements that are already in place on the hoops jerseys.  I welcome these new changes including what appears to be a Pro-Combat matte Navy Blue helmet. The arched "Illini" is the same font/look that's currently on the hoops jerseys , which makes me think that this is a done deal.   And brings the program back to something close to what we had on our helmets from 1971 - 1987.  Check out the Helmet Project (scroll down to Illinois since there is no permalink) to see the Illinois helmet changes. The changes will be endless...  The endzones.  The letterhead for the department.  The logo on the floor of the locker room.  (or is it the " Lockerroom "?) Can't wait to se

After the big Illini win over the Ohio State Buckeyes a few weeks ago, I sent Coach Bruce Weber a congratulatory note in the mail.  I've been a big Weber supporter since day one and was pleased that with the win, he had the team headed in the right direction.  And some of the "Fire Weber" folks would calm down. He sent me back an email note that includes his photo - which was kinda weird.  Guessing that this is what they must use to send out notes to recruits and the like?  He (or...at least his secretary) actually read my note because he referenced it in his response, which I suppose is nice. Unfortunately, the last 2 games since the note arrived (both losses) didn't turn out as Coach Weber had hoped.   There's been just as many 'downs' as there have been 'ups' this season.  If not more. Such is the life of an Illini fan.

The Babe really loved the turf but was spooked a bit by all the people and commotion at the Illini game this past weekend. She wasn't the only one who had a great time!

On Saturday Nat and I took my folks and the Babe to the Illini game.  At half-time, they shot this 'fancam' photo that is ultra-high-resolution and built an application on FightingIllini.com that allows you to 'tag' yourself.  Of course, i couldn't help myself and I tagged my face.  That's me with the "I" right over my face.  You can make Nat out behind the kid with his hand up.  My folks must have been sitting down with the Babe, I guess.

This afternoon, the University of Illinois Athletic Department hosted Varsity "I" weekend, where they invite back all the former-athletes to campus for a series of festivities.  They bring us down on the field before the game which is always fun, but this year they made our passes/lanyards a little bit more special by including a photo of everyone from their playing days.   My dad and the Babe both came down on the field with me and we snapped a bunch of photos.  I'll share those later. Yes!  That's me up there in the photo during (I think) my sophomore season posing for my personal photo right after the team photos.  Look at those uniforms - no stripes on the pants.  That was all the rage during the 90's.

Our good friends took Nat and I to the ND-MSU game this weekend.  I only heard from 2 comments about my gear all day.  Either the Illini don't even register on the ND radar or I guess those Indiana Catholics aren't as confrontational as us Illinois ones. And...for the record, my loyalties lie: 1.  Team 2.  Conference 3.  Everyone Else

Tomorrow is game day in Illini land.  And the first chance in multiple years to start off 1-0.  Thanks to someone in the athletic department finally wising up, the Illini are opening up at home against a patsy.  Instead of getting beat down my Mizzou in St. Louis year after year.  Not only that, but they've somehow managed to schedule EIGHT home games .  Oh...and see the starting time up above?  It isn't 11 am.  Finally....someone (either at UI or up in Park Ridge at the BiG offices) wised up and moved some of these games back.  They're bad for the team, bad for fans, and mostly...bad for students.  Who wants to get up at 8 am for a tailgate after you've been pounding Captain and Cokes at Kam's until 1 am? There's a lot of question marks but optimism is all around this program.  Wins against weak opponents like Arkansas State, South Dakota State and Western Michigan in the first 3 of 4 weeks sets the team up well for conference play - where they've drawn

  Last week, the University of Illinois Athletic department sent out an email to fans/alums/supporters/donors hawking this 24" Red Grange sculpture that is an exact replica of the spectacular statue that they put up a few years back at Memorial Stadium in Champaign.  The idea is great, but the price is crazy.  $4800 for one.  I understand that they're limiting the production to just 77 pieces (get it?  Red Grange's number was 77), but they should make something more affordable.   A few years back, I bought a bronze(ish) statue of Chief Illiniwek.  I'm not certain what it is made out of, but it wasn't crazy expensive.  Probably a few hundred bucks.  I would like nothing more than to add this Grange statue to my Chief statue.  But,  until they make a ton of them out of something other than bronze, I have a feeling that I won't be able to explain a $4800 charge to our credit card to Nat.   As a side note....have you checked out the Grange statue in person

Last week, the Sun-Times ran a wrap-up story on the Illini football season and included a photo of Defensive Coordinator Vic Koenning.   They also included a photo inset of what they claimed to be Offensive Coordinator Paul Petrino. The issue?  They used two photos of Koenning.  It isn't even close.  Take a look at what Petrino looks like: A quick glance at the hairline of the guy in the inset photo will tell the photo editor that they have the wrong guy.  I don't mean to pick on the SunTimes - in fact we get both the Tribune and ST delivered to our driveway each morning.  I pick up the S-T first and prefer the sports coverage over the Trib's.  But they should know better than to put 2 photos of the same guy together!

Earlier in the week, we were on the road in Kansas City, so I found myself sneaking up to a bedroom in our friend's house and watching the Illini hoops game on my laptop.  It was ONLY on ESPN3.com, so my laptop was my only option. Fast forward to last night and again I find the Illini are set to play Toldeo on ESPN3.com.  But..guess what I have at home?  That's right!  GoogleTV! I have seen the future and it is filled with millions of tv channels all delivered through one pipe! 

The Illini stomped the Hoosiers and everyone (and I really mean EVERYONE!) had a great time in Champaign today.  The Babe broke out her Fighting Illini Cheerleader outfit and even spent a little bit of time in a campus bar.   I have to work quickly before those ND Domers corrupt her too much.  Not to mention her Wash U Mother!

Please don't embarrass me, Illini.  I'm saying 6 wins and a ratty bowl game.  Optimistic?  Sure is, but how else would you expect a fan to enter the season? Big Ten football kicks off tonight with Indiana facing Towson tonight on the Big Ten Network.  I'm giddy to welcome the college football season to our lives.

I rented a car last week in Benton Harbor, Michigan from Enterprise and spotted this "house ad" in their office. They're promoting their sponsorship of NCAA sports.  Take a close look at the kicker in the bottom left. (click the photo to blow it up)  That's totally the Ilini.  They stripped off the logos on the helmets, but they can't fool me!  Can't tell the vintage, but maybe it is  Jason Reda ?

I get the fortunate task of hosting groups of all types at the office most every week.  Acting as tour guide, giving an overview of the company and helping spread the gospel is part of my job.  (have I told you that I have the best job in Chicago?)   Most of the time, the groups that come through aren't personally significant to me:  Ukranian Businessmen getting a week-long MBA from Kellogg,  journalists of all types, politicians.  But last week, we had a group that meant something to me:  LAS students from the University of Illinois.  I've been a bit active in the Speech Communications Alum group and have met a few folks from the school as a result.  They subsequently asked if we could host a group of 20 Liberal Arts students for a half-day learning session (with lunch, of course!). Hopefully, they enjoyed the day as much as I did!