That was my first game., the nu game in Evanston. My first experience with the Illini. The chants of I L L with the resounding I N I still to this day was one of the loudest I have ever heard in person.
63-7 I want to say?
First of all, I was way off on the score. According to the record books, it was 56-24. Still, the win that clinched the Rose Bowl, or at least the only Big Ten team to beat every other big ten team in one season.
After thinking it over, I realized in a strange coincidence, my son and daughter's first Illini game was also in Evanston. 1998, a week shy of their first birthday. It was the illini's second win under Turner, first Big Ten win. I remember a certain wide receiver, whose name escapes me but will come to me later, placing his Illini helmet on the the Wildcat statue. I distinctly recalling joking I was surprised he didn't drop the helmet, since he dropped passes all year
. He was a receiver who later added a hyphenated name ???
Anyway, great but funny coincidence to share similar first Illini games with my kids, both having significant Illini meaning.
Edit: the mind is an incredible thing. After typing this note, I just
had to look up the name of the receiver. Right before I found the roster, and I mean RIGHT BEFORE, I got it: George McDonald-Ashford!
My apologies to George if you are reading this ��