Photos: Illinois Launches "ILLINOIS. OUR STATE. OUR TEAM." Billboard Campaign

Dan · Dec 6, 2012, 09:19 AM

The "ILLINOIS. OUR STATE. OUR TEAM." theme was introduced on August 3rd, 2012.

Quote:

Billboards featuring local Illini to be placed around the state of Illinois

As part of the new Illini marketing campaign, the University of Illinois has begun placing University of Illinois billboards in popular areas around the state. The goal is to further the new branding initiative, with the slogan “ILLINOIS. OUR STATE. OUR TEAM.” in order to foster a sense of state pride among Illinois students, fans and alumni.

“As the flagship public institution in the state, this theme reflects the statewide following and support of Fighting Illini athletics from our millions of fans and alumni in the state of Illinois," Director of Athletics Mike Thomas said. "This theme becomes a way for all of our fans to rally behind one central concept - that the University of Illinois is our state's school. As the Fighting Illini, our student-athletes, coaches and staff are proud to represent the people of Illinois and we are proud to wear the state's name on the front of our jerseys."

http://www.fightingillini.com/genrel/120612aaa.html

Dan · Dec 6, 2012, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Facebook gallery of the billboards-

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...8841752&type=1

bheezey · Dec 6, 2012, 10:17 AM

Wait...JOSH BRENT???

Bergs · Dec 6, 2012, 10:21 AM

Any clue why Rackers is carrying that football? Looks like a celebratory face.

Edit: Following Racker's wikipedia page... I found about this awesome rules I've never heard about before! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_catch_kick

rynounc99 · Dec 6, 2012, 10:26 AM

Love the idea, but not sure about the selection of some of the players.
I guess we are taking St. Louis, which is funny because lots of people in St. Louis don't know there is anything in Illinois besides East St. Louis.

rynounc99 · Dec 6, 2012, 10:27 AM

and we be claiming all of Texas as our state too?

illinicardinalfan2 · Dec 6, 2012, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bheezey

Wait...JOSH BRENT???

He's having a pretty darn good career for Dallas. IMO he's gonna get a decent contract this off-season. Guy is a beast at NT

CUWPC · Dec 6, 2012, 10:54 AM

Where's Steve Stricker?

IlliniBubba · Dec 6, 2012, 10:58 AM

I've seen the one with Uh-Oh, Cook, DJ, and Brent on South Veterans in Bloomington. Clearly they're trying to incorporate the local connections from each town (or surrounding areas).

With that in mind, I'm surprised they didn't create a Peoria one with Sergio, Marcus, Frankie, Hester, DJ, etc.

WesterveltVictoryCigar · Dec 6, 2012, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CUWPC

Where's Steve Stricker?

http://www.franklintempletonshootout.com/teetimes.php

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bergs

Any clue why Rackers is carrying that football? Looks like a celebratory face.

http://www.fightingillini.com/sports...110699aaa.html

PeoriaChief · Dec 6, 2012, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IlliniBubba

I've seen the one with Uh-Oh, Cook, DJ, and Brent on South Veterans in Bloomington. Clearly they're trying to incorporate the local connections from each town (or surrounding areas).

With that in mind, I'm surprised they didn't create a Peoria one with Sergio, Marcus, Frankie, Hester, DJ, etc.

Very upset about that. Maybe Frankie's legal troubles and current lifestyle? Would have been amazing to see here in the city though.

PeoriaChief · Dec 6, 2012, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rynounc99

and we be claiming all of Texas as our state too?

Yea Idk what that's about. Also, no Luther Head. Not sure about some of these picks/combinations.

illiniCA · Dec 6, 2012, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rynounc99

and we be claiming all of Texas as our state too?

Wondering the same thing

DrewD007 · Dec 6, 2012, 11:40 AM

It'd be silly not to put Deron Williams on a billboard regardless of whether he's from Illinois or not. He's easily our highest profile NBA alum.

mattcoldagelli · Dec 6, 2012, 11:44 AM

"OMG WE'RE CLAIMING SCOTLAND WTF?" said the hyper-literal spazfaces.

FinalFour88 · Dec 6, 2012, 11:46 AM

Archibald's on there but Augustine isn't????!!!!!

aberger · Dec 6, 2012, 11:50 AM

Where is Red Grange!

cjcastan · Dec 6, 2012, 11:51 AM

NO NICK ANDERSON on a Chicago Billboard!? Maybe someone with dough should spring for a billboard like Paul Gantzert did.

DrewD007 · Dec 6, 2012, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinalFour88

Archibald's on there but Augustine isn't????!!!!!

That one's St. Louis Illini + Meyers...

PVR · Dec 6, 2012, 11:53 AM

No Warren Carter zomg!!

JimmyChitwood · Dec 6, 2012, 11:55 AM

Tisdale lol. That one going up near Decatur?

PeoriaChief · Dec 6, 2012, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrewD007

It'd be silly not to put Deron Williams on a billboard regardless of whether he's from Illinois or not. He's easily our highest profile NBA alum.

Whitney Mercilus and AJ Jenkins and Corey Liuget should be on the football side then. Personally I don't really care, but if we're stressing athletes from our state but include one from Texas, we should also include our top draft picks from other states as well.

I'm not against having Deron on there, to me the real message is this is OUR TEAM in OUR STATE, instead of stressing that the athletes are from our state. Some of the choices and exclusions make the message inconsistent though.

I do think making the link to certain areas through local athletes are smart, especially for Chicago. But I don't even think that one was very well put together. Idk I guess my personal opinion is I don't really like the finished product, but did like the idea.

bheezey · Dec 6, 2012, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeoriaChief

Very upset about that. Maybe Frankie's legal troubles and current lifestyle? Would have been amazing to see here in the city though.

The Peoria Pipeline needs a billboard. ASAP! And you can't talk about legal trouble since Brent and Diehl have both had theirs lately.

PVR · Dec 6, 2012, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeoriaChief

Very upset about that. Maybe Frankie's legal troubles and current lifestyle? Would have been amazing to see here in the city though.

Is that why they've left my man Mikel off of these boards? "Character issues"? This is b.s. What, I mean just because he tried to eat the weed? I call that "intangibles."

IlliNYC · Dec 6, 2012, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aberger

Where is Red Grange!

+1

Also, how do you not put George Halas on the Chicago billboard?

Dec 6, 2012, 10:21 AM	#4
Bergs Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 22	Any clue why Rackers is carrying that football? Looks like a celebratory face. Edit: Following Racker's wikipedia page... I found about this awesome rules I've never heard about before! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_catch_kick Last edited by Bergs; Dec 6, 2012 at 10:26 AM.

Dec 6, 2012, 11:40 AM	#14
DrewD007 Location: Swansea, IL Posts: 3,529	It'd be silly not to put Deron Williams on a billboard regardless of whether he's from Illinois or not. He's easily our highest profile NBA alum. __________________ Follow me! http://www.twitter.com/illinidrew11

Dec 6, 2012, 11:44 AM	#15
mattcoldagelli Location: Evanston, IL Posts: 1,453	"OMG WE'RE CLAIMING SCOTLAND WTF?" said the hyper-literal spazfaces. __________________ Twitter Blog #JoeTales

Dec 6, 2012, 11:51 AM	#18
cjcastan Posts: 1,216	NO NICK ANDERSON on a Chicago Billboard!? Maybe someone with dough should spring for a billboard like Paul Gantzert did. __________________ The ball is round. The game lasts forty minutes. This much is fact. Everything else is theory

Dec 6, 2012, 10:17 AM	#3
bheezey Posts: 50	Wait...JOSH BRENT???

Dec 6, 2012, 10:26 AM	#5
rynounc99 Posts: 82	Love the idea, but not sure about the selection of some of the players. I guess we are taking St. Louis, which is funny because lots of people in St. Louis don't know there is anything in Illinois besides East St. Louis.

Dec 6, 2012, 10:27 AM	#6
rynounc99 Posts: 82	and we be claiming all of Texas as our state too?

Dec 6, 2012, 10:54 AM	#8
CUWPC Posts: 142	Where's Steve Stricker?

Dec 6, 2012, 10:58 AM	#9
IlliniBubba Posts: 26	I've seen the one with Uh-Oh, Cook, DJ, and Brent on South Veterans in Bloomington. Clearly they're trying to incorporate the local connections from each town (or surrounding areas). With that in mind, I'm surprised they didn't create a Peoria one with Sergio, Marcus, Frankie, Hester, DJ, etc.

Dec 6, 2012, 11:46 AM	#16
FinalFour88 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,831	Archibald's on there but Augustine isn't????!!!!!

Dec 6, 2012, 11:50 AM	#17
aberger Posts: 137	Where is Red Grange!

Dec 6, 2012, 11:53 AM	#20
PVR Location: Chicago Posts: 56	No Warren Carter zomg!!

Dec 6, 2012, 11:55 AM	#21
JimmyChitwood Location: Central IL Posts: 384	Tisdale lol. That one going up near Decatur?