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The boys in orange are definitely in
the house, and so are the great fans who have followed them all year
long. The applause the Illini received as they emerged from the
locker room for practice was as loud as I've heard at a practice
session. Last year, in my
first Final Four experience, at the Alamo in San Antonio, maybe a
quarter to a third of the seats were occupied during the Friday open
practice session. The teams in Texas last year? you may ask. Nearby
Oklahoma State, Georgia Tech, UConn and the team many call America's
team, Duke.
This year, we witnessed at least
twice as many fans, and most of the fans were wearing orange! I've
got a new slogan for our friends Dick Vitale and Digger Phelps when
they speak of Illinois basketball: "The Fighting Illini -- America's
Team!"
30,000+ orange-clad members of Illini Nation turned
out Friday at the Edward Jones Dome to wish the Illini good luck in
the upcoming Final Four.
[click on picture for larger image]
As a lifelong fan of Illinois sports
and especially of Illinois basketball, it was almost tear-inspiring
to watch my hometown team take the court at the Final Four. I was
blown away to see 30,000 fans watching practice, the vast majority
wearing orange and cheering for Illinois. In many ways, I've dreamed
of this day most of my life.
In 1989, when the Flying Illini went
to the Final Four in Seattle, I wondered if I should skip a week of
school at Lincoln and head west. I decided against it, rationalizing
that many more opportunities would present themselves over the
years. In 1989, it seemed like Illinois was building a dynasty and
trips to the Final Four would become regular events. However, it has
taken 16 years, and in many ways it has seemed like a million.
I've watched as central Illinois
hoops fans "became" Michigan followers, or North Carolina loyalists,
or tried-and-true to Dukie Blue. I've watched the bandwagons grow
for teams with no connection at all to the state of Illinois and
wondered if 1989 would always be the year that got away.
[to top of second column in this article]
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Illinois' Deron
Williams returns to the Illini bus after Final Four banquet.
[click on picture for larger image]
And then players like Dee Brown, Deron
Williams and James Augustine committed to play for Illinois instead
of Michigan State or Georgia Tech or Purdue. And then Bruce Weber
came into the picture. And then last season Illinois won its first
outright conference title in 52 years.
And then 2004-2005 began to unfold.
Blowout victories over Gonzaga and No. 1 Wake helped propel Illinois
to the top ranking in the land. Illinois is still No. 1 after four
months. Illinois would win border wars, ring in the New Year with
style in Vegas and break great home winning streaks. The Illini
knocked off every team that came their way. Only a bad last
possession on defense in Buckeye land kept this team from the land
of the unbeaten. Illinois entered the postseason as a favorite for
St. Louis.
The postseason has continued to be
quite a ride. The conference tourney title in Chicago was the result
of great defense and an overall team effort. The story line grew
with the untimely passing of Coach Weber's mother and the enormous
amount of love and affection poured out by so many close to the
program. The NCAAs began with two average wins in Indy and were
followed by the revenge game against Bruce Pearl and Milwaukee in
the Sweet 16 game in Chicago. The Elite Eight game against Arizona
was an overtime thriller that is truly one of the ages. And that
brings us to Saturday in St. Louis.
How will the story end? Two more
games or a disappointing Saturday by the Arch? I don't know -- and
to be honest, I don't care! This season has been the ride of a
lifetime. It would be nice to watch the boys in orange cut down the
nets on Monday night. But, however it ends, I'll never forget. And
really, only one word seems appropriate when I think of the Illini:
Thanks!
[Greg
Taylor, pictures by Jeff Mayfield]
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