This is a weekly spotlight that highlights a trash football tradition of Ohio State's upcoming opponent. This week, we're focusing our attention on Illinois.
Looking at the Illini's recognized traditions left me feeling a bit hollow.
There's a reason for that, of course. For most of its program's history, many of Illinois' traditions centered around the culture of American Indians.
That created obvious issues. In 2005, the NCAA identified Illinois among several universities around the country whose mascots (and other aspects of their athletic programs) were "hostile and abusive" in the way they depicted American Indians.
Because of that, Illinois retired its "Chief Illiniwek" mascot and imagery in 2007, and 10 years later, the university also banned students and fans in attendance at sporting events from singing / performing an Indian related "War Chant."
Rightfully removing these things from the university has left the Illinois football program a bit on the lighter side when it comes to traditions.
And the traditions that remain are bad.
There isn't really one that stands out above the rest, but collectively, there are several traditions that make the game day experience inside Memorial Stadium seem really lame.
Let's get to it.
Tradition's Origin
Without Chief Illiniwek, the school lost one of the milestones of its game day experience. Recently, over 100 university students voted to make the "belted kingfisher" — a blue and orange bird native to Illinois — the school's new mascot.
Until Illinois gets its bird mascot, the fans in attendance get to enjoy these lowlights.
There's the "Illini Walk," similar to Ohio State's walk to the skull session, where the team used to make its way from First Street to the stadium. Last year, the team updated the route to essentially circle the stadium two hours and 15 minutes before the game.
Once inside the stadium to join the dozens of other fans in attendance, you'll likely have a good view of the student section.
This is where the college kids coordinate card stunts, which is arguably and sadly the coolest part of attending an Illinois football game.
But taking in the action hasn't been all that entertaining over the last five years. Dating back to 2016, the Illini have won just 10 games at home.
During punts and kickoffs, the fans in Memorial Stadium take the keys out of their pockets and shake them — which is some extreme Michigan fan energy — as a way to generate noise.
Imagine having to do this in Ohio Stadium every time a specialist takes the field.
Why They're Trash
Attending a football game is an experience, and when your team isn't any good, strong traditions help draw fans in and keep them entertained.
Illinois offers its fanbase almost nothing outside of what's highlighted above. It has the run-of-the-mill school songs and halftime performance from the band. It has a statue and a rock dedicated to Red Grange, undoubtedly the program's most iconic player. They also have choreographed and customized chants that are commonplace in pretty much every stadium you visit around the country.
The game-day experience in Champaign, Illinois is truly unremarkable, just like its football team.
Ohio State won't be subjected to any of this due to the COVID-19 pandemic keeping fans out of Big Ten stadiums this fall. And even with Ryan Day and an unknown number of players testing positive and missing the game, the Buckeyes are still all but guaranteed to retain the Illibuck Trophy.
We'll see you this time next week with Michigan State on the deck.
