2010 TAILGATE KICKOFF SATURDAY 9/11

Don't make this man any angrier.  Join us this Saturday as we kick off the 2010 tailgating season.  Looks like we'll have a good crowd with some pledge classes trying to get back together (see previous post).

Festivities at the house start at 10:30 and the beer will be flowing at the shortbus at 1:30.  Lot 31 - just walk down the west side of First Street - you'll find us before you hit Kirby.  Hope to see you there.

FALL FOOTBALL TAILGATE / PLEDGE CLASS REUNION

The Fall ’88 and Fall ’90 Pledge Classes are planning a combined Pledge Class Reunion on September 11, 2010. Brothers Jim Courtad x’92 and Mike Mahorney x’94 invite everybody to join their respective pledge classes, the active chapter, and other returning Phi’s for a day in Champaign with an Open House, a Football Tailgate, a football game under the Memorial Stadium lights and an afterhours event with the Actives. The tentative schedule is as follows:

10:30am - 1:30 pm     Open House/BBQ at Chapter House.
2:00pm - 6:30pm        Football tailgate at Illini Shortbus
6:30pm - 9:30pm        Fighting Illini vs. Southern Illinois Salukis.
10:00pm - close          Party with Active Chapter at Kam's.

Families are encouraged to attend the open house, tailgate, and football game. Blocks of rooms have been reserved until August 6th at three local hotels under Phi Delta Theta at discounted weekend rates. Contact information is:

Hawthorne Suites (near Memorial Stadium)     217-398-3400
King room / 2 Queens room - $109 / night

Comfort Suites (I-74 and Lincoln Ave)            217-328-3500
King room / 2 Queens room - $139 / night

Holiday Inn Express (I-74 and Lincoln Ave)     217-328-0328
King room / 2 Queens room - $150 / night

We are also looking to secure a block of tickets to the football game. If interested, please email me at blott@f-w.com by August 6, 2010 and let me know how many you’d be interested in.  Check back in periodically as we'll have additional information as the event approaches.  Hope to see you there

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.