Category > Illini Football
The first home game of the season started in the gloaming — not quite night, not quite afternoon. But despite the weird hour, the humble opponent and the Illini performance last week, the fans packed the place right up to the corners. Even the seats that from a distance looked empty turned out to be filled with packs of boy scouts dressed in putty-shaded uniforms. The crowd totaled more than 62,000 — the best home opener since a 1995 game …
Ohio State's Ted Ginn was healthy for exactly sixteen seconds in the 2007 BCS National Championship game. During this time on the field he scored one touchdown and hurt one foot (his own, in the post-touchdown celebration). As Ginn, the best player on the field that day, hobbled away to the locker room, I said to the person sitting next to me that poor old Ohio State would now have to make do with one of their other five-star recruits …
"I'll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognize Missourah." -Grandpa Simpson, after being asked why his American flag has only 49 stars. I can only assume Springfielder Abe Simpson's thoughts on this matter have something to do with the woeful Illini record against the Missouri Tigers. Because recent games have been competitive, it's easy to forget that in this on-again off-again rivalry, it's been 113 years since Illinois beat Missouri in St. Louis. It's been 33 years …
Preseason polls are ridiculous. So, it's ridiculous to get upset about them. So I'm not upset. But, seriously. Illinois is not ranked in the Top 25 in either the AP or the Coaches poll. Illinois is unranked while, for instance, Virginia Tech is ranked #7 (Prediction: the oft-overrated Hokies will go 2–2 in the first four games) and Notre Dame is ranked #23. Preseason polls are a mix of unstated criteria more confusing and less related to reality than even …
How do you get to Camp Rantoul? Practice. Or, you can just take Pennsylvania Avenue east to Vine Street . Turn left and drive until you hear the sound of the Go-Gos. Twelve miles north of Urbana — past the O'Brien Auto Park, the endless rows of cash crops and the Flatville Road — Camp Rantoul springs like a circus from the flat fields of the former Chanute Air Force Base. The carnival mood is set by the first thing …
The first half ended the same way it began, with Juice Williams throwing the ball. But where the first play was a nice, short, confidence-building toss to Chris Duvalt, the last was a mess. And a microcosm of the quarterback’s three years at Illinois. Up by 14 points with the clock ticking down below ten seconds, Team Blue was deep in its own territory. There was no need for any more first-half football, and conventional wisdom told Williams to take …
Those daring young men and their flying machines, and pigskins. Saturday’s episode of The Juice Williams Show featured an aeronautical display rivaling The Silver Wings — The U.S. Army Command Exhibition Parachute Team which dramatically opened the night’s festivities, dropping from the pitch black sky, and that Chinook helicopter which you saw hovering over Urbana for most of Friday and Saturday.
Special Teams from Special Class We got beat by a varmint. Saturday at Memorial Stadium, Goldy the Gopher plotted a 27–20 victory over our brave Illini. Rose Bowling Illini TE Tim Brewster (‘84) wants Ron Zook’s job. To make his case, he brought his current team, a disciplined group of pestering rodents from the north, and ruined his own Homecoming. Michael Cklamovski’s opening kickoff landed out of bounds. This seemed a familiar concept to me. I was a crappy kicker …
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Oh, by the way, the “Champaign County YMCA” no longer exists. The official name is now the “Stephens Family YMCA” (the website has not been updated, but check out the latest program guide). And no, it’s not just the name of the building. It’s the name of the organization.
Very inspired Photochops as well….
Props on the new YMCA dig. I think it’s a terrible spot for it, but then again, I’m not well-to-do and I’m not willing to drive 15 minutes at $4/gallon to exercise for an hour.
http://motorcycle-intelligence.com/do-loud-pipes-save-lives/1119/ Are you a smoker, too? I feel like I’m just getting recycled arguments.
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/dangerous_motorcycle_safety_myths/index.html “Myth 2: Loud Pipes Save Lives”
Yes, I also love the idea of the downtown! However, the “turds” that ride Harley’s or any other motorcycle have the right to ride their motorcycles regardless of the “loudness” anywhere they want. They are buying gas, hence they are contributing to the motor fuel tax that…
Yup, this was the year I realized there’s no way this is my last CU marathon, even though I’m gradumacating next week.Where else am I gonna get cheered on by 70+ year old heart-of-gold volunteers who smile at me so genuinely I could believe I’m their granddaughter?…
I always have a good, but disappointed, laugh when marathon time creeps up and I start seeing posts on the WCIA Facebook page lamenting race day and how difficult it is to get around town that day. One this year said, “can’t they just go run in…
Reminds me of Total Football (soccer) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_Football
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As a liberal conservative, and a person who favors taxes & services ... and also a sense of proportion; I savor the comic potential that still exists in this comments section. I’m pretty sure we can goad more anti-government rhetoric from confirmed progressives and government employees. If…
Did the Crave Truck get a permit to park in city metered spots and city right of way? Or did they just get a permit? The city clerk’s office seems to be a suspect here, but it’s not clear they did anything wrong. Did the Crave Truck…
High-profile whining. AKA Lobbying.
it’s quite choice. looking forward to seeing how it and its patronage grow and develop over the course of the year. could be a neat little ecosystem.
“It was at this point, before he started his business, that working with city employees should’ve raised red flags…” But they didn’t because: 1) The City Clerk’s office originally mis-interpreted the rules, or are indeed re-interpreting them. 2) Champaign’s brick-n-mortar merchants hadn’t yet started whining about The Crave Truck.
Super cool! Excellent track, Excellent band.
Looking forward to trying this place!
I’m in the middle (or the beginning or end, depending on how you look at it) of re-reading Slaughterhouse Five. What a great companion column.
Get yours early. The Rave’s CD will be available at Exile and at The C-U Flea on Saturday. C-U Flea details here: http://www.smilepolitely.com/news/sp_radio_podcast_c-u_flea_arrives/
I don’t know about Gerard and a random police sargeant. My (mild) outrage is based on this: “...he worked closely with Champaign City Clerk Marilyn Banks to make sure he was licensed properly as a transient food peddler, filling out the necessary paperwork and paying a $225…
Local Yocal pretty much nails it here. I suspect there will be merchants who oppose food trucks because they arguably don’t pay their fair share to locate their trucks in high traffic (high rent) areas. The food trucks take away business from rent payers, park in city…
Oh nice! I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
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@Dan - Wow. Unfortunately, I have to refrain from further comment due to a previous employment relationship. But with that brief context you might be able to imagine possible comments or responses I could have.