WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: ILLINI FOOTBALL OPEN PRACTICE
Public can watch Lovie Smith's squad April 7 at Memorial Stadium
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – To mark the end of spring football's preparation for the 2018 season, head coach Lovie Smith will host an open practice inside Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 7 at 12 p.m. Admission and parking are free. It will be the last opportunity until training camp in August to get a look at this year's Fighting Illini squad.
Here's what you need to know…
Open Practice Timeline | Saturday, April 7
9 am – Parking lots and Grange Grove* open9 am – Illini Athletics/Gameday Spirit merchandise sale (Great West Hall, enter Gate 10)11 am – Family Fun Fest starts in Grange Grove* (games, inflatables, skill tests for kids)Noon – Practice begins (Memorial Stadium) 12:00 » Stretch 12:10 » Individual Warm-Ups
12:20 » Controlled scrimmage begins (approx. 80 plays)Approx. 1:45 pm – Practice ends. Team & Coach Smith sign autographs on field (45 mins)
*Weather permitting
Open Practice Fan Info
» Practice will begin at Noon inside Memorial Stadium and last about two hours.
» Admission is free and tickets are not required» Doors to Memorial Stadium open at 11 a.m.» Only the west side of Memorial Stadium will be open to public (west main) • ADA seating will be in the west balcony
» Fans should enter through gates 20, 22 and 24 (all on west side)
» Premium seating entrances are at Gates 16 and 18 (Colonnades Club)» Concession stands will be open» The is no live or tape-delayed TV coverage of the practice
Parking Info
Free parking in the State Farm Center lots quadrants and Lot E14 (Lots 32, 34,35, 38 & 39 on parking map) starting at 9 a.m.
NOTE: Kirby Avenue will be closed between First and Fourth Street starting at 11 a.m. to allow for pedestrian traffic to the Stadium).
Post-Practice Autographs
Head football coach Lovie Smith and the Fighting Illini players and coaches will sign autographs on the field following the practice for 45 minutes. (Limit one item per person for autographs).
Grange Grove / Family Fun Fest
Tailgating: Weather permitting, Grange Grove will be open for tailgating at 9 a.m. prior to the open practice. Similar to the fall, parking is not available inside Grange Grove but fans are encouraged to bring in their own tailgate supplies.
Family Fun Fest: Beginning at 11 a.m., children ages 12 and under can take part in a Family Fun Fest inside Grange Grove, featuring inflatables, games, and skills-testing events. Kids can test their abilities in the obstacle course, bungee run, kick for accuracy, run the 40-yard dash, ropes running course and pass for accuracy. There will also be inflatable games, a uniform try-on station and face painting. (Fun Fest Map)
*In the case of inclement weather, Family Fun Fest events may move to the Great West Hall or Lot 36.
Former Illini Autograph Session: Former Fighting Illini greats, including members of the 2008 Rose Bowl team, will sign autographs inside Grange Grove from 11 a.m.-Noon.
Illini Merchandise Sale
The Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, in conjunction with Gameday Spirit Fan Store, will host a Fighting Illini merchandise sale on Saturday, April 7, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. on the north end of the Great West Hall of Memorial Stadium (entrance at Gate 10). Shoppers will be able to purchase used University of Illinois team-issued gear in addition to new officially licensed Fighting Illini clothing, including officially licensed Littyville gear, Nike apparel and Illinois souvenirs at discount prices.
Spring Sports Fest Weekend
Football's open practice is part of a weekend of Fighting Illini sporting events April 6-8. The weekend includes home events for No. 7 men's tennis, softball and volleyball. Admission is free for all events featured during the Spring Sports Fest weekend.
Schedule of Events
Friday, April 6
5 p.m. Softball vs. Maryland (Eichelberger Field / Free Admission)
6:30 p.m. Illini Football BBQ and Reunion (Invitation / Colonnades Club)
7 p.m. Volleyball vs. Bradley (Huff Hall / Free Admission)
Saturday, April 7
9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Merchandise Sale
11 a.m. Family Fun Fest (Grange Grove / Free Admission)
12-2 p.m. Football Open Practice (Memorial Stadium / Free Admission)
12 p.m. Men's Tennis vs. Michigan (Atkins Tennis Center / Free Admission)
1 p.m. Softball vs. Maryland (Eichelberger Field / Free Admission)
2 p.m. (approx.) Football Autograph Session (Memorial Stadium / Free Admission)
Sunday, April 8
12 p.m. Men's Tennis vs. Michigan State (Atkins Tennis Center / Free Admission)
12 p.m. Softball vs. Maryland (Eichelberger Field / Free Admission
Public can watch Lovie Smith's squad April 7 at Memorial Stadium
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – To mark the end of spring football's preparation for the 2018 season, head coach Lovie Smith will host an open practice inside Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 7 at 12 p.m. Admission and parking are free. It will be the last opportunity until training camp in August to get a look at this year's Fighting Illini squad.
Here's what you need to know…
Open Practice Timeline | Saturday, April 7
9 am – Parking lots and Grange Grove* open9 am – Illini Athletics/Gameday Spirit merchandise sale (Great West Hall, enter Gate 10)11 am – Family Fun Fest starts in Grange Grove* (games, inflatables, skill tests for kids)Noon – Practice begins (Memorial Stadium) 12:00 » Stretch 12:10 » Individual Warm-Ups
12:20 » Controlled scrimmage begins (approx. 80 plays)Approx. 1:45 pm – Practice ends. Team & Coach Smith sign autographs on field (45 mins)
*Weather permitting
Open Practice Fan Info
» Practice will begin at Noon inside Memorial Stadium and last about two hours.
» Admission is free and tickets are not required» Doors to Memorial Stadium open at 11 a.m.» Only the west side of Memorial Stadium will be open to public (west main) • ADA seating will be in the west balcony
» Fans should enter through gates 20, 22 and 24 (all on west side)
» Premium seating entrances are at Gates 16 and 18 (Colonnades Club)» Concession stands will be open» The is no live or tape-delayed TV coverage of the practice
Parking Info
Free parking in the State Farm Center lots quadrants and Lot E14 (Lots 32, 34,35, 38 & 39 on parking map) starting at 9 a.m.
NOTE: Kirby Avenue will be closed between First and Fourth Street starting at 11 a.m. to allow for pedestrian traffic to the Stadium).
Post-Practice Autographs
Head football coach Lovie Smith and the Fighting Illini players and coaches will sign autographs on the field following the practice for 45 minutes. (Limit one item per person for autographs).
Grange Grove / Family Fun Fest
Tailgating: Weather permitting, Grange Grove will be open for tailgating at 9 a.m. prior to the open practice. Similar to the fall, parking is not available inside Grange Grove but fans are encouraged to bring in their own tailgate supplies.
Family Fun Fest: Beginning at 11 a.m., children ages 12 and under can take part in a Family Fun Fest inside Grange Grove, featuring inflatables, games, and skills-testing events. Kids can test their abilities in the obstacle course, bungee run, kick for accuracy, run the 40-yard dash, ropes running course and pass for accuracy. There will also be inflatable games, a uniform try-on station and face painting. (Fun Fest Map)
*In the case of inclement weather, Family Fun Fest events may move to the Great West Hall or Lot 36.
Former Illini Autograph Session: Former Fighting Illini greats, including members of the 2008 Rose Bowl team, will sign autographs inside Grange Grove from 11 a.m.-Noon.
Illini Merchandise Sale
The Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, in conjunction with Gameday Spirit Fan Store, will host a Fighting Illini merchandise sale on Saturday, April 7, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. on the north end of the Great West Hall of Memorial Stadium (entrance at Gate 10). Shoppers will be able to purchase used University of Illinois team-issued gear in addition to new officially licensed Fighting Illini clothing, including officially licensed Littyville gear, Nike apparel and Illinois souvenirs at discount prices.
Spring Sports Fest Weekend
Football's open practice is part of a weekend of Fighting Illini sporting events April 6-8. The weekend includes home events for No. 7 men's tennis, softball and volleyball. Admission is free for all events featured during the Spring Sports Fest weekend.
Schedule of Events
Friday, April 6
5 p.m. Softball vs. Maryland (Eichelberger Field / Free Admission)
6:30 p.m. Illini Football BBQ and Reunion (Invitation / Colonnades Club)
7 p.m. Volleyball vs. Bradley (Huff Hall / Free Admission)
Saturday, April 7
9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Merchandise Sale
11 a.m. Family Fun Fest (Grange Grove / Free Admission)
12-2 p.m. Football Open Practice (Memorial Stadium / Free Admission)
12 p.m. Men's Tennis vs. Michigan (Atkins Tennis Center / Free Admission)
1 p.m. Softball vs. Maryland (Eichelberger Field / Free Admission)
2 p.m. (approx.) Football Autograph Session (Memorial Stadium / Free Admission)
Sunday, April 8
12 p.m. Men's Tennis vs. Michigan State (Atkins Tennis Center / Free Admission)
12 p.m. Softball vs. Maryland (Eichelberger Field / Free Admission
