So there have been a few articles today about Illi-bringthe-Nois’ Spring Game. A few are linked over there on the right of our page here. I find these articles funny. Let’s break it down shall we?
Point 1: After stealing a few of our recruits this past February (and by stealing, I’m still not sure if I mean it figuratively or literally), Illinois came to Chicago to hold their Spring Game at St. Rita’s, which is in a traditionally Irish neighborhood. This is somehow supposed to be a challenge to Notre Dame in some way, shape or form.
Why this is lame: First, it’s Illinois’ Spring Game. Does ANYONE care?  Second, yes it’s located in the heart of the South Side Chicago Catholic League and yeah, ND recruits there. But it’s not like this has been some bastion of ND recruiting over the past 15 years. We get guys from South Side Chicago, and it’s an important area. But we’re not pulling 10 of 20 from the entire city, let alone one 5-block radius. Give me a break, fellas. ND’s stronghold is the MIDWEST, not a single state or city, let alone a neighborhood.
Point 2: This shows that Crook Zook is putting the “…fight back in the Fighting Illini”.Â
Why this is lame: Ummm, no it doesn’t put any fight in anything. It shows that Zook knew no one would show up for a Spring Game on Illinois’ campus. Not fans, not players, maybe not even the coaches. It would just be that boring. Only Purdue’s game would be a smaller draw. And with that big ole drum, it might even surpass U of I.
Point 3: 2,000 fans showed up because they were so excited to see the team play. Even though it wasn’t that nice of a day out.
Why this is lame: 2,000? 2,000? More people than that show up to the Dillon Hall Pep Rally each year to see Crackhead smash plates on his forehead.Â
I mean, if anything, that’s just depressing. And that’s after moving the game to Chicago, where 99.9% of all U of I attendees grew up, and went back to upon graduation. The ND Blue-Gold game is projecting well North of 30,000 fans this year. Verdict? U of I = lame.
Given this, I can’t imagine how any of this could make a recruit excited about playing for the school. You can head to ND, where 30,000+ people want to see you practice, or you can go to a school where you have to drive 2 hours plus to get a crowd, and it results in 2,000 people showing up. Makes that Illinois program seem big and important, don’t it?
I’d like to see ND bring the Blue-Gold game to Chicago next year. Just to show Zooker who runs football in the Midwest and in the city. Problem is, I don’t know if the Bears would let the team play on Soldier Field, the only venue large enough to handle a game of such magnitude.Â
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Now THAT would be an invasion.
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JR
You, sir, deserve a Pulitzer! Well, at least a nice tall beer. You finally put into words what we’ve all been thinking these past few months. And for those of us who grew up in the Chicagoland area, the fact that U of I is now starting to pretend they are “dominant” in some way is extremely amusing.
domer.mq
Nice. I was thinking about writing up something similar.
2,000 people. My high school team (from a school with a total student body of 700) drew over 3,000 people on a weekly basis. So we drew 3,000+ to see one bad, small team play another bad, small team, and all Zook could get was 2,000 in the entire Chicago area? I think I just commuted with 2,000 people on the same freaking train.
Hell, on a given Saturday afternoon, I see 2,000 people loitering on the side of the street.
Maybe the Illini were stupid enough to charge the attendees.
The Biscuit
Nope, it’s reported – admission was free.
JR, if you’re ever in Santa Monica, I’ll happily take you up on that beer.
OC Domer
Oh my, Zooker. Reality bites, don’t it?
Are they still called the Illini? Didn’t they retire their mascot? Did they retire the Chief but retain the nickname? If so, that’s even more lame.
The Biscuit
Yes, Illini remains but no chief. I don’t know that they have a mascot now.
It’s probably a wussy little duck with one leg.
That would be quacktastic.