So, the great majority of players on this team are, thankfully, gonna get to play in games that matter a lot more than that. I hope Ayo is one of them.
But a couple of our guys are at the end of the line, and in particular there is one that has been talked about in a certain way on this board for years because his dad has come on here and indulged us. If Aaron Jordan had been a useless scrub, we'd still talk about him in the same way because that's how human psychology and group dynamics work. And AJ has had his struggles over the years, no question.
But damn, that kid is tough as nails and has grown into an essential player for this team and a wonderful example for his teammates, and these fun wins we're getting that have us all jacked up about the future are his magnum opus in an Illini uniform. We lose that game without him.
We've got a chance to turn this ship around in the years to come. If we do, Aaron Jordan deserves an ocean of thanks. "Culture" is the sum total of your graduated seniors who gave ten times what they got in return over the course of their careers.