Tailgating in the Paign

So, this past weekend was the first home game in Champaign. The weather could have been better (it rained the majority of the prime tailgating hours) - but overall, it was a fun day & always great to get back down to Champaign.

Thanks to our friend Ryan, we were able to park for free in the Ass Hall lot & we all got into the game free. (Hope it was ok to sell those extra 10 tickets you gave us!) :D

After the game, Brad's girlfriend ousted me as the last person to join the mug club at the Illini Inn. I can't believe I never joined in college. Chugging beer just isn't my thing. After about an hour being in the smoke-filled bar, I'd had enough, so I Freedom Cabbed it back to the hotel, while the others headed to Legends/Murphys. Kind of stinks, since I love those two bars (particularly Murphys) - but I was ready to wind down for the evening.

Made it all the way back to the hotel for $8 (although I think I gave him a 50% tip since he was originally from Chicago & somehow that meant he deserved more...). As soon as I got back, I found the phone book & ordered Pokey. I have no idea why I looked up their number, it's pretty obvious I knew the number was still 355-FAST. I enjoyed about 5 of the stix & then passed out for the evening.

Here are some pictures from the weekend (Illinois won 21-0, by the way. Defense looked great, the offense, notsomuch)--

The new North End Zone - all of the students, along with the band, now sit here. Looked pretty cool, in my opinion