Your first Illini FB game you attended in person

#1      

UIUC1867

UIUC1867
Christian County, IL
UIUC1867
September 11, 1982-Illinois vs. MSU. It wasn't so much that the game left an impression on me, but it was the whole "atmosphere" of that day (Tailgreat especially). I was 12 at the time and it led to a big growth of support for the Illini later on. It felt more like a privilege to attend MS back in the early 80's (Yes, there used to be scalpers around). I certainly hope to see that great "atmosphere" once again in the not-too-distant future.
 
#2      

illini8507

illini8507
illini8507
Sept 6 2003. We destroyed illinois st. It was the only game we won that season, my freshman year. If I remember correctly the ISU kick returner got smeared on the opening kick and we recovered in the endzone.
 
#3      

Fighter of the Nightman

Fighter of the Nightman
Chicago, IL
Fighter of the Nightman
October 29, 2005, a 41-24 loss to #15 Wisconsin on an uncharacteristically gorgeous day. I was in eighth grade, and I fell in love with U of I (though I suppose it was not meant to be, as I ended up staying in Iowa City for college!). The town has gotten astronomically better since then, too.

I remember the loudest part of the game was when Dee and Augie came onto the video board to advertise for the hoops season!
 
#4      

ivwilsoniv

I
Aurora, IL
ivwilsoniv
My dad attended U of I in the 70s but never really followed college sports after he graduated (from MSU, after transferring due to a change in majors). Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, all we watched was Bulls, Bears, and Cubs games. My only taste of college football was annually on New Year's Day. I have vivid memories of the 1995 Northwestern team and the 1998 Michigan vs. Ryan Leaf Rose Bowl. I remember cheering against Michigan even though my whole family was cheering for Michigan. My grandmother grew up in the UP.

Anyway, I didn't start following college football until I became an Illini myself in 2005. Needless to say, that first season was forgettable - a 2-9 record and 0-8 in conference. Goodbye, Ron Turner. At least my first game was enjoyable. A 33-30 OT win against Rutgers (who actually went to a bowl game that year)!
 
#6      

IAmChrisFarley

I
IAmChrisFarley
I can't honestly remember. I know it was a young age, but I can't remember.

I can tell you the first game I do remember is when OSU beat us on a last second field goal in 2000. I was about 10 rows up, Illinois sideline, on the 40. It was a great game, and a memorable one for me.

My favorite game I've attended was when we beat ASU. That game was insane. Our defense that year was flat out NASTY.
 
#7      

IAmChrisFarley

I
IAmChrisFarley
ivwilsoniv said:
My dad attended U of I in the 70s but never really followed college sports after he graduated (from MSU, after transferring due to a change in majors). Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, all we watched was Bulls, Bears, and Cubs games. My only taste of college football was annually on New Year's Day. I have vivid memories of the 1995 Northwestern team and the 1998 Michigan vs. Ryan Leaf Rose Bowl. I remember cheering against Michigan even though my whole family was cheering for Michigan. My grandmother grew up in the UP.

Anyway, I didn't start following college football until I became an Illini myself in 2005. Needless to say, that first season was forgettable - a 2-9 record and 0-8 in conference. Goodbye, Ron Turner. At least my first game was enjoyable. A 33-30 OT win against Rutgers (who actually went to a bowl game that year)!
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Was that Rutgers game where Leonard leaped over an Illini?
 
#9      

EJ33

E
San Francisco
EJ33
My Dad, an alum, took me to see Illinois vs. Texas A&M on October 2, 1976.

I had to look up the result - we lost 14-7.

I remember a couple things:

1) TA&M had a barefoot kicker - Tony Franklin, who set several NCAA records and had a long pro career.

2) IBM punch cards were thrown around like confetti.

We weren't any good at the time (Gary Moeller was the coach), but there was a pretty good crowd IIRC.
 
#10      

txillini

T
txillini
9/3/88 as a freshman. Loss to Washington State. Sat in Block I (spent the rest of my four years in my sorority's football block). Pretty good four years to spend on campus for football!
 
#11      

EfremWinters84

E
S. Carolina
EfremWinters84
EJ33 said:
My Dad, an alum, took me to see Illinois vs. Texas A&M on October 2, 1976.

I had to look up the result - we lost 14-7.

I remember a couple things:

1) TA&M had a barefoot kicker - Tony Franklin, who set several NCAA records and had a long pro career.

2) IBM punch cards were thrown around like confetti.

We weren't any good at the time (Gary Moeller was the coach), but there was a pretty good crowd IIRC.
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I beat you by a couple of games, although I was also at the Tony Franklin/Texas A&M game (I think it was Dad's Day). I recall my dad returning from the concession stand ---- we were 7 rows from the top and the stadium was packed -- and I yelled "Hey Dad!" Needless to say, about 275 heads turned toward me.

My first game was Iowa that same year -- a WIN! Iowa and Wisconsin both sucked back then. After killing #6 Missouri a week later, we rose to #14 in the nation in the AP Poll. And that meant 14 cent drafts at Dooley's!!!

OK, feel free to see how accurate my memory is........
 
#12      

Deleted member 346957

D
Guest
Deleted member 346957
I couldn't remember the day, but I've only been to one game. I didn't go to UI, just a huge fan (live 3 hours away).

My cousin was getting recruited by Illinois (Zook was the coach) and we were playing Ohio State when Juice was a FR. Tim Brasic was the QB I think, I can't remember. Either way, I had a blast.

Got to see everything. Ron Zook spoke to all the recruits, bumped into Juice Williams coming around the corner on some stairs. Got to go on the field and was 10 feet away from Vontae Davis and J Leman.

We ended losing by a TD I think, but I was a SO in high school and got to see a college football game against a top team at my dream school.
 
#14      

MadSeason

MadSeason
MadSeason
September 17, 1983 vs Stanford

Start of a magical season. Sat in the Aluminum Bleachers in North End zone
 
#17      

ddinsm

D
ddinsm
1983

MadSeason said:
September 17, 1983 vs Stanford

Start of a magical season. Sat in the Aluminum Bleachers in North End zone
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That would be mine as well. I was a freshman and my parents insisted that I get the "student" season ticket when I got on campus in August. What a year, the game I really remember was when I took my step brother (and Michigan grad) to the UofM pre Halloween weekend game. I was so spoiled I figured every year was going to be like 1983...

Happy to be excited about Illini football again!
 
#18      

TheBucket

T
TheBucket
Some of my first memories ever that I can recall (other than the first few Bulls championship games - later 3 much moreso than the first 3), are being at Illini football games... So young that I was afraid of the fireworks.

The first Illini football player that I can remember seeing play and remembering his name: Johnny Johnson.

Bring on the fireworks. I am no longer afraid!
 
#19      

griff94griff

griff94griff
The Paign
griff94griff
Juice Willams first start. I was around 11 years old, but the best game I've ever attended was the 2011 fear the fork ASU game. Never seen anything better than thumping up on #16 (I think that was their ranking) ASU during a night game at Memorial Stadium! With their 8 foot quarterback it was something similar to David and Goliath!
 
#20      

bdutts

bdutts
Houston, Texas
bdutts
1986 - Nebraska. My first week on campus as a student. We left when it was 28-0 Nebraska. :)

One thing I truly miss about the pregame is when all 100+ Illini guys walked out to the hashmark or closer for the coin toss. Was really cool to see from the stands.
 
#21      

blackdog

blackdog
Champaign
blackdog
11/11/2006 against Purdue. Was visiting over Columbus weekend as a high school senior from Washington DC. Took the guided tour of campus then went to the game after with my grandpa. Totally separate topic but maybe interesting to some here, my grandpa was a season ticket holder (basketball and football both) since he was student in the 1940s (taking a break to serve in WW2) until his death last month at 95. He served on the athletic board of directors for a time during the late 70s through late 80s. He almost never missed a game, until this past season when at 95 he was no longer physically able (only thing stopping him), through the good times or the bad he was Illini through and through. Truly great man. https://business.illinois.edu/news/college/2016/02/in-memoriam-gerald-brighton-accountancy-professor-and-public-servant/

Anyway the game itself was freezing cold, miserable, and we lost. I ended up coming to Illinois anyway and going to as many games as I possibly could with my grandpa and will bleed orange and blue until the day I die.
 
#22      

jrichisamazing

J
jrichisamazing
griff94griff said:
Juice Willams first start. I was around 11 years old, but the best game I've ever attended was the 2011 fear the fork ASU game. Never seen anything better than thumping up on #16 (I think that was their ranking) ASU during a night game at Memorial Stadium! With their 8 foot quarterback it was something similar to David and Goliath!
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That was an awesome game. Our defense was stellar that year and we had a few big hits on Osweiler. And MS was really rocking under the lights. That was probably the last time a game had a "big time" feel to it.
 
#24      

aiwpfan

aiwpfan
Springfield, Il
aiwpfan
1961

September 30, Washington, a loss. In fact, they lost all the games that year.
That's the first game I definitely remember. I think my dad may have taken me to the Indiana game in 1960, but I've only vague memories of that.

We had season tickets for 1963. That was glorious.
 
#25      

unimaroon

U
Baja Ontario
unimaroon
On a beautiful late October day against #4 USC. The Illini had lost 14 consecutive games and this game would be the 15th. But it was different. It was competitive and not at all the blowout expected. They looked good out there. That game changed the mood from downcast to a confidence that "we will win". They went on to split their last 4 games that season (ending the losing streak the next week) and the stage was set for a Big Ten Championship and a Rose Bowl victory the next year. Good times, indeed.