Epilouge - Shortbus Season 1

It's probably not a good time to reflect back on the season - from either a football or a tailgating perspective. But I will anyway.

Regarding football, the Illini were simply a disappointment. For me, the highlights were the explosive offense of the Missouri and Indiana games, playing a complete game vs. Iowa and winning at Michigan. There were a lot of lowlights. Hopefully next year will find them a little more talented and a whole lot hungrier. And who knows, maybe it will motivate those pathetic Memorial Stadium blue-hairs to bother to stand and yell on a third down or quit their incessant in-game bitching. Oh well, single game tix will be easier to get next year.

As far as tailgating - what a year. It all started almost exactly a year ago when I saw a stupid green bus on that crook's sales lot. After much deliberation, I pulled the trigger in June and we had an absolute blast fixing it up over the summer. It had a lot of potential and we had high hopes for an exciting season of friends and football.

Well, now after a long season and a two-week odyssey to get it back here to Peoria, the bus sits in my driveway - leaking fluids and reeking of booze, grease, and antifreeze. I've learned that while it's a LOT of fun to have at tailgates, it's NO fun to get to tailgates. It's just not made for road-tripping. I look forward to working on it over the winter and summer, getting the mechanicals back to normal and restoring the inside. The headaches and $$$ often didn't seem worth it, but we'll give it another go. Because...

There are almost 90 signatures on the back wall of the bus. One from Illinois' second all-time leading passer, some from people I don't know and several from people I was ABSOLUTELY thrilled to see this fall. From friends and family I see all the time to buddies from all over the country that I haven't seen in years - their presence was worth every step carrying a gas-can along the highway in September and every minute I stood freezing on an abandoned country road last night waiting for the radiator to cool. Absolutely worth it.

I know we're all very busy in our real lives, and a trip to Champaign (or St. Louis, Ann Arbor, or Evanston) is often hard to pull off. I really appreciate everybody that found a way to join us this year and really hope you get a chance to do it again next year. We'll get this damn thing fixed up and get back after it next fall - better than ever. Which really isn't saying much....

So, check back in sometime this summer for some updates on the interior restoration and we'll see you all next Labor Day Weekend.

-B

Nov 22nd - Northwestern - ROADTRIP!

The F.I.S.T.ers return: very cold, slightly windburt, hungry and, for some, just a bit inebriated. Illini were getting spanked, so we took pictures.

Jerry, Pat Fitzgerald and a very good sport.

Brad reacts to the horrible play on the field.

Hey, where did you get that jersey?

Guess which one likes eggs.

Where the hell is row 29 in Section 228?

Kai and Murn- Solid performance, gents!

Everybody

LOEWEN!!!!!!

" I just want to go outside and yell!"

" You guys go all the way to the end over on the grass, ok."

Nov 15 - Ohio State

Didn't bring a camera. Pictures courtesy of Ray Victor at illinihq.com

November 1st - Iowa

Goofy Kids

My munchkins

SHRAGE!!!!!!!


Amazing! Two people write the word "chief", a fairly common word amongst the faithful, and they both mis-spell it. Must be the booze! Oh well, the wall is filling up, anyhow.

We actually had people come to this tailgate.

October 18th - Indiana

Setting up - hanging with the parking attendants. 10 hours before kickoff.

Now Open.

You girls need a ride?

I can wait


Once again, we packed 'em in at the tailgate. Maybe I just have too many chairs?

HOMECOMING

7:00 AM.

Busted out the field. Participation isn't what it used to be, but I can still beat Jesse.

A VERY sober crowd.

Even DB and his lovely bride showed up!

Rascals !

Hitting the road after a LONG day of catching up with old friends.

Michigan

Tuns out the short-bus is not an economical long-distance tailgate vehicle. So Reeser and I just took his truck up to Ann Arbor. While not short-bus related, in light of the victory, I thought a photo was warranted. That place is awesome. I saw the Illini win in the Big House - let's hope that becomes a little less rare.

See ya all next week at Homecoming!

Family Day - September 13 - Louisiana Lafayette

Heading Out - 6:30 am.

Good thing we got a bus - had a lot of passengers.

Heading down to Champaign in the Short-bus. What could possibly go wrong?

In retrospect - it is a pretty good story. Oh well, at least nobody got hurt, it didn't rain, we finally made it to Champaign, and I got to spend some quality time with the shoulder of the Eastbound I-74 lanes I don't often get a chance to walk.

They found a way to get over it pretty quick.

And so did we. Go Illini.

The Debut

The ILLINI broke in the new stadium. We broke in the bus. Had a great time (some may have had too good a' time). Looking forward to next weekend.

5:45 am
a good start

Game On

Done. See ya in Champaign on the 6th!

Aaron was Right

Fixing our stenciling was harder that I thought. But we got the inside cleaned up and started on some carpet. We'll get it finished up next weekend. Project motto: "Well, that didn't work."