NIT

Personally, I think we deserve it. It does sting that others that made it in probably deserve it more. I suppose that's what you get when you lose to the teams we did back in December.

A One seed in the NIT.

Feels like:

Fresno State 12/5/09

Sorry for the delay. That Fresno State Game was a forgettable game to end a forgettable season. Cold, meaningless game at Memorial Stadium in December. The fans stayed home and so did the defense. Attended with some fellas I grew up with and we got a little rowdy. Thanks to Dad for driving us back. Taken right before kickoff. I've seen more people in a Jewel parking lot. Note that the Shortbus Tailgaters are holding their own.

Now, that's just stupid.

Frozen.

I can't feel my toes.

Hey, another picture of a bunch of guys drinking. This one has fire.

I'm not sure Loyalty Circle is the best name.

Northwestern 11/14/09

Morgie and I remained dedicated to the task of Illinois football tailgating while mom and little bro watched over the new addition at home. And the Illini welcomed my new daughter into the world by waiting three quarters to start playing and got it handed to them once again. No matter, as this tailgate was a blast.

Thank you all SO MUCH for coming down and sharing an absolutely perfect day with us - I really hope you can make this an annual event.

Kai, Sol, and Damage with the senior Sol in the background

The kids had a ball on the bus. It's a little worse for wear, but I suppose that's what it's for. I just need to find a way to disconnect the damn horn.

I'm beginning to enjoy that cigar when everybody else goes into the game. At least as long as the guys in the RV across the way continue to have it on the flat screen.

Actually, its more fun when they all come back.

Well, maybe not these two.

Nothing says family fun like playing in the gravel driveway while daddy finishes "one more beer".


The perfect end to a perfect week.

Well.... we could have won the game, but I'm not greedy.

Michigan 10/31/09

A small tailgate on the Assembly Hall asphalt because of all the rain. Actually, the tailgate was pretty uneventful. I took no pictures as there really wasn't anything worth taking a picture of.


Oh, wait:

I'm glad it's been a while since that game. I was going to write a manifesto on my annoyance with the absolutely putrid fans in our section, but I've decided its not worth the time. They are old and grumpy and whiney and they make my ears hurt.

I'm old, grumpy, and whiney, but much more fun to be around. Go Illini!

Michigan State 10/10/09

Sorry for the delay - it's been a wild 6 weeks.

The Courtad family joined us for the Michgan State game. I took limited pictures, so I can't prove it. However, their company and their breakfast spread will long be remembered.

Again, nice weather, good family fun, and suprise Phi's:

Mr. Cosgrove and Mr. Sanariz showed up shortly before game time - and with Reeser and me, may have been part of the largest gathering of the Spring '91 pledge class since Frog Pond. It was great to see them both, but I wish the bastards would have come back after the game so we could have caught up -HA! Oh well, next year.

And Michigan State beat the crap out of our football team.

Penn State 10/3/09

The best laid plans of Loewen's and men often go awry. Alas, what was originally planned to be the big fall shin-dig ended up being just a family day for the F.I.S.T.ers. But we did have another mystery Phi to add to the long list. Mr. Myers stopped by and we were glad to have him.


Sorta cold and rainy, but could've been worse. At least we didn't get embarrassed on the field. Oh, wait. Crap. Well, tickets are cheap on the streets, anyhow. Besides, the kids didn't seem to care, the food was hot, the beer was cold and the cookies the Yukni brought were friggin outstanding. Plus, the kids were given a giant box of pom poms, and oh what fun that was.


I wish I had answers for the woes on the field, but I'll save that for another entry. Regardless, the tailgaiting has been spectacular so far. If you want in-depth analysis of what needs to be done on the field, email the guy who sits in front of me in the stands. More on that later....

Perfect

I didn't grow up a U of I sports fan. In basketball, I remember Phi Slamma Jamma from Houston and a little of the Flying Illini, but was much more of a Bradley fan, watching Hersey Hawkins on my little black and white TV mom got me one Christmas. In football, I remember Doug Floutie's Hail Mary, Brian Bosworth, Cal's miraculous return, and I actually owned a UCLA jersey (mesh of course) because I liked the colors. But I have no "history" with U of I athletics. Hell, even when I was in Champaign, I think I attended 4 basketball games and my football memories are, shall we say, fuzzy.

I envy my friends that grew up huge Illini fans. Reeser can recite stats, play sequences, national title implications, and even the friggin weather from the games he attended in the 80's. I didn't even know Memorial Stadium existed until I visited with my dad one weekend in August before school started my freshman year (right after some idiots torched the Astroturf -remember that?).

I don't know how long we'll get to enjoy these six (com'on Ron, give us seven) weekends each year - but enjoying a beautiful September day tailgating at a U of I football game with my friends and family is, well, absolutely Perfect.

Well, Addy and Caleb got some use out of the new cabinet. Note the Natty Light up top.

Caleb and the Floyd boys. Derek, next time, park in Mahomet - it's closer :)

Atta boy Caleb! Note how his feet are strategically positioned to cover up his ole' man's crappy spraypaint cover-up of the one blemish we got during the bus's first winter.

Katie, I stole this picture from you. Because it rocks.

The weather was awesome and I got to drink beer and smoke pork for 7 hours before the game, I partied with some friends I haven't seen in more than a decade, Jesse showed up (crow tastes good), and we won the damn game. But there were some little ones hanging out with us that appeared to have a ball. Maybe one day they'll recite the stats, tell about how we ended ISU's 2009 National Title hopes, speak of the perfect weather, and marvel at the memory of Mr. Seidman's dancing. And some day, when I pass the keys to the bus on to them, they will hold a special place in their heart for the silly old man that introduced them to this lunacy. And they'll get me and Reeser a case of Natty so I can watch my son pass J.C. Caroline on the all time Illini rushing list.

Or maybe, they'll just pat me on the head, hand me a Bud Light-8 calorie -Ultra Lime Super Energy-Cool Enhancing Beer, and let me take a nap in the cool, dark, quiet space under the cabinet in the bus.