Well, it is going to be a tough season for me. We lost my mom back in March. She couldn't have possibly cared less about sports, especially football, and attended Marquette herself. But because her oldest boy spent his college years at Illinois she always had sort of a soft spot for the Illini. Starting my freshman year in 1982, every year, without fail, she'd make sure I had some Illini item to open at Christmas or on my birthday: things like coffee cups, t-shirts, ball caps, etc. I made a tradition out of working the new items into my little game day ritual each season. This past Christmas she was too under the weather to do any shopping and wasn't here for my birthday, so my tradition comes to an end. I still have plenty of older items to bring back for encores, which will have to suffice even though it is not the same.
Go Illini!!
Go Illini!!
