It was very different in the 80's and into the 90's. Success on the field aside, the pre-game scene was great. The Greek system was into it and Tailgreat was a great innovation
Illini Football 2022
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ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
UCLA vs. Maryland in a battle that could shake up the national playoff picture - you better believe they'll be watching closely in Austin and Gainesville - coming up next on FOX!
Even as an 80’s college student I (and my bota) had better taste than that…bourbon, rum or vodka yes, schnapps - never.
I went to college in Nebraska, and for fun, a group of us would head to Lincoln for Nebraska games about 2 or 3 times a year. Holy !!!!. That place puts on a show. Granted, I'm pretty sure Nebraska went 60-10 during the time frame at which I was in college, and there was a lot of reason for fans to attend. But, what's crazy is that I just remember the atmosphere. I couldn't even tell you what teams I saw or what the final scores were. That's what I want at Memorial Stadium.
I mean, Jesus... I we don't even shoot fireworks anymore for Touchdowns. We're basically allowed two claps, and anything more than that starts to get looks.
It's a weird... weird... experience.
Illinivek23
- Gurnee
Was a student from 79-83. Those game day Saturdays were so unbelievably fun. Kept most of us coming back for 40 years.
The girls liked schnapps. Made me (and us guys) more popular.Even as an 80’s college student I (and my bota) had better taste than that…bourbon, rum or vodka yes, schnapps - never.
We love our Illini and football in this state. I am excited about our head coach and his staff. I sure hope with inflation and gas price Mr. Whitman keeps cost for tickets down this fall. When you add on the fees it's expensive. The gas and food will make it a several hundred dollars day, for those of us not there in Champaign. Excited and looking forward to the season. Go Illini..
TheChief4Life raises a great point: the game environment stinks, has stunk since roughly the Tepper era, and the DIA either has no desire or no idea how to fix it. Sad, because it is a fixable situation.
I remember going to Wisconsin games in the late 80s when the team had been terrible for three decades (and still was), but going to a game was FUN.
I remember going to Wisconsin games in the late 80s when the team had been terrible for three decades (and still was), but going to a game was FUN.
I was a student in the late 60's. We had a cannon fire after each score. When Valek was coaching didn't hear it much!
Dan
Admin
Ohio State football unanimously picked as Big Ten champion in 12th annual cleveland.com preseason poll
Ohio State is the unanimous pick as champion in the 12th annual cleveland.com preseason Big Ten football poll.
www.cleveland.com
Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
Not last! Baby stepsOhio State football unanimously picked as Big Ten champion in 12th annual cleveland.com preseason poll
Ohio State is the unanimous pick as champion in the 12th annual cleveland.com preseason Big Ten football poll.
The article says, "Method: Cleveland.com has done a preseason poll for the last 12 years since the Big Ten Conference itself dropped the exercise" but it doesn't say how accurate it has been. I am a very casual Illini football fan but I just have this feeling they will do better. But what do I know?Ohio State football unanimously picked as Big Ten champion in 12th annual cleveland.com preseason poll
Ohio State is the unanimous pick as champion in the 12th annual cleveland.com preseason Big Ten football poll.
MoCoMdIllini
- Montgomery County, Maryland
It's no secret that I am the product of Badger bloodlines going way back.
I enjoyed the Camp Randal Stadium atmosphere, although my last trip up was a road trip from Champaign and it predated the Jump Around. They had the 5th Quarter band concert and that was okay.
The best stadium game day atmosphere I experienced was to a game I attended with my wife (an alumna of Northwestern) to a game at Penn State.
Not giving a crap who won that game, I could sit back and take it all in.
While I can say that the stadium energy was next level awesome, I'm not sure they did anything much different than what our guys do. It was just seeing it in a place that big with that kind of student section enthusiasm made the difference, I think.
It was a far cry from the "down in front" curmudgeons that I remember from Memorial Stadium in the mid 90s.
I enjoyed the Camp Randal Stadium atmosphere, although my last trip up was a road trip from Champaign and it predated the Jump Around. They had the 5th Quarter band concert and that was okay.
The best stadium game day atmosphere I experienced was to a game I attended with my wife (an alumna of Northwestern) to a game at Penn State.
Not giving a crap who won that game, I could sit back and take it all in.
While I can say that the stadium energy was next level awesome, I'm not sure they did anything much different than what our guys do. It was just seeing it in a place that big with that kind of student section enthusiasm made the difference, I think.
It was a far cry from the "down in front" curmudgeons that I remember from Memorial Stadium in the mid 90s.
Homecoming 2019
- Chicago
I had season tickets every year I was in school, and I haven't seen our student section actually excited and having an impact on the game since 2011 against Arizona State. I'll never forget that game, it forced me to buy 3 more years of season tickets for god awful teams chasing the high of that day.
I was in Block I for that game and it was probably the best gameday experience of my time in school. Atmosphere was electric
sacraig
- The desert
I'm not sure I've seen our student section have any kind of impact on the game since they were moved off the sidelines and marooned on an island in the north end zone during my 4 years on campus. Even in our Rose Bowl season when excitement was palpable, it barely impacts the field.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
Those usually have to grow organically rather than grow it in a lab. For example, I can think of Michigan's new Mr. Brightside tradition in the 4th quarter. It started because they played the song in the rain during a night game a few years ago and everyone just spontaneously sang along. Now they show it on every big game at the Big House. To me what that says is that an electric atmosphere brought about a signature moment that could be repeated and the momentum has carried it ever since. There needs to be an electric atmosphere at one of our games like the 2011 Arizona State game, and then we may be able to build off of something that happens then. If we try to start something when barely anyone is at the games, it will come off hokey and it will fall flat.
So I would say, team has to get better, have a big night game that we can all get excited about, and be ready with a 2000s or 2010s banger of a song that can play into everyone's nostalgia.
Agreed. It was my favorite game experience in my years down there. Of course it was also like my second game so it was all down hill from there. (Sheesh.... They started my freshman year 6-0 and went 13-31 the rest of the way until graduation. Unbelievably sad.)
This happens every year. I'm sure the answer is not really.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
Indiana projected at 7th place in the East. What are the odds of a 4-0 Illini start?
8/27 Wyoming (Week 0 National audience)
9/02 at Indiana (Friday night National audience)
9/10 Virginia 3pm kick-off (Largest home crowd since UNC in Lovie's first year?)
9/22 Chatanooga (Thursday night National audience)
The schedule then gets tough.......
8/27 Wyoming (Week 0 National audience)
9/02 at Indiana (Friday night National audience)
9/10 Virginia 3pm kick-off (Largest home crowd since UNC in Lovie's first year?)
9/22 Chatanooga (Thursday night National audience)
The schedule then gets tough.......
I appreciated the fact the football players made their way up the stands after a couple of this home wins, but hated the fact they had to do that to celebrate with us.
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
I would do terrible things for a 3-1 record during that stretch.
sacraig
- The desert
They had an easier time reaching us to celebrate at Ohio Stadium than they did at Memorial Stadium. It's shameful.
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
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