Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
As I was looking back at my abysmal record of not seeing one single win at Memorial Stadium ... I thought it would be fun to hear some of our more seasoned Illini fans' fun memories of their first Illini football and basketball games, as well as the most recent game they attended! If you grew up going to games at a young age, maybe just say the first one you remember.
FOOTBALL
First: 1999 - Illinois 40, Iowa 24 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. We had just moved to Iowa City from Peoria, and my parents dressed my sister and me (8 and 5, lol...) up in our Illini gear and took us into enemy territory! Thankfully, there was a good chunk of Illini fans there that day, and we whooped 'em.
Most Recent: 2016 - Iowa 28, Illinois 0 in Champaign ... ick. Horrible weather, horrible attendance, horrible game. However, we - as always - had a damn fun time going out in Champaign before and after! My one friend may or may not have gotten VERY politely escorted out of Brothers for taking a small hop off the balcony, lol, so we're a bit sad that one closed down. (Seriously, the bouncer was so cool and let him finish his beer. )
BASKETBALL
First: 2003 - Iowa 68, #8 Illinois 61 in Iowa City ... yeah, this was rough. We were 12-1 (2-0) and riding high, and we came out looking like trash. Fortunately, I would go the next two years (2004 and 2005) and watch the Illini beat the Hawkeyes both times in front of a TON of Illini fans plus the Orange Krush. In 2005, it's estimated that we brought between 4k and 6k fans.
My first game in Champaign would come in 2007, when we lost to #3 Wisconsin 71-64. The Hall was ROCKIN' that day (loudest crowd I've ever heard), and McBride hit a late three to put us up that almost brought the house down. Unfortunately, we folded down the stretch. However, I got back to Champaign later that year to watch us beat Northwestern at home in what turned out to be the Chief's second to last dance.
Most Recent: 2022 - #24 Illinois 59, Northwestern 56. This game was too close for comfort, but MAN was it awesome when Williams hit us with that putback dunk to take the lead and the sea of Illini fans (easily over half the arena) went nuts!
Being born in 1991, 2000-2001 was really the first Illini sport season I have any meaningful memory of, so I always love hearing older stories!
FOOTBALL
First: 1999 - Illinois 40, Iowa 24 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. We had just moved to Iowa City from Peoria, and my parents dressed my sister and me (8 and 5, lol...) up in our Illini gear and took us into enemy territory! Thankfully, there was a good chunk of Illini fans there that day, and we whooped 'em.
Most Recent: 2016 - Iowa 28, Illinois 0 in Champaign ... ick. Horrible weather, horrible attendance, horrible game. However, we - as always - had a damn fun time going out in Champaign before and after! My one friend may or may not have gotten VERY politely escorted out of Brothers for taking a small hop off the balcony, lol, so we're a bit sad that one closed down. (Seriously, the bouncer was so cool and let him finish his beer. )
BASKETBALL
First: 2003 - Iowa 68, #8 Illinois 61 in Iowa City ... yeah, this was rough. We were 12-1 (2-0) and riding high, and we came out looking like trash. Fortunately, I would go the next two years (2004 and 2005) and watch the Illini beat the Hawkeyes both times in front of a TON of Illini fans plus the Orange Krush. In 2005, it's estimated that we brought between 4k and 6k fans.
My first game in Champaign would come in 2007, when we lost to #3 Wisconsin 71-64. The Hall was ROCKIN' that day (loudest crowd I've ever heard), and McBride hit a late three to put us up that almost brought the house down. Unfortunately, we folded down the stretch. However, I got back to Champaign later that year to watch us beat Northwestern at home in what turned out to be the Chief's second to last dance.
Most Recent: 2022 - #24 Illinois 59, Northwestern 56. This game was too close for comfort, but MAN was it awesome when Williams hit us with that putback dunk to take the lead and the sea of Illini fans (easily over half the arena) went nuts!
Being born in 1991, 2000-2001 was really the first Illini sport season I have any meaningful memory of, so I always love hearing older stories!