Quality vs. Quantity

I'm going to apply the age-old argument of Quality vs. Quantity in dissecting the celebrity rooting interests in the upcoming Rose Bowl. Rather than forming cogent arguments in a well-structured essay, I am going to list whom I consider to be important famous supporters of the beloved, and the others...


USC:

Adam Herbert - President of Indiana University....figures.

Neil Armstrong - First to walk on the moon

Baseball players: Aaron Boone, Bret Boone, Morgan Ensberg, Geoff Jenkins, Fred Lynn, Mark McGwire, Mark Prior...all of which have been accused of or rumored to be involved with steroids. Oh, and a giant Poofter.

Professional Golfer- Craig Stadler. I'll take the thousands of Chicago city workers that look like walruses over one golfer.

Dan Bane - President of Trader Joe's - Hippie

Chris DeWolfe - Co-founder of MySpace - as far as I can tell, he's not Tom

James Jannard - Founder of Oakley Sunglasses - making Brian Bosworth still look cool.

LeVar Burton - actor - was he Carlton? maybe Webster?







Sophia Bush - actress- dammit, she's hot




John Carpenter - film director- "Halloween" was cool...but that was 27 years ago.

America Ferreira - actress - "Ugly Betty"...I think my grandma likes that show.

Ron Howard - film director - Am I the only one who doesn't get why he's so revered?? Except that he was the narrator for "Arrested Development" and that show is the balls.

Matthew Lawrence - actor - Whoa! Oh wait, wrong Lawrence...this was the one with the dark girlfriend in Boy Meets World

John Wayne- actor- He went to college!??!

Dexter Holland - musician - Singer for The Offspring...enough said.

Mark McGrath - musician - Singer for Sugar Ray...more worthless than The Offspring

MC Lyte- rapper- She went to college!?!? What are the admissions criteria at USC...shitting on the floor??

Lisa Ling - reporter, former co-host of The View - she's hot too...anyone other than Scott watch Channel 1 in high school and remember her? But I have a thing for the Asians...





BELOVED:

Gene Hackman - actor/professional bad-ass - Bet he loves Grossburgers

Jerry Orbach - actor - Law and Order...da da dum - In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate but equally important groups....

Ang Lee - film director- Brokeback Mountain....ummmm

Andy Richter- actor/comedian- This list is already better than USC's.


Alan Ruck - actor- CAMERON FRYE!!!!

Jim Cantalupo - CEO of McDonald's

Stephen Carter - CEO of El Pollo Loco and former President/COO of Universal Studios Hollywood- we've taken over LA already!

Robert L. Johnson - Founder of BET. Thank you, sir!

Michael P. Krasny - Founder of CDW. Employer of one Scott Miller Collins

Abe Saperstein - Creator of the Harlem Globetrotters

Ed Boon- Creator of Mortal Kombat - fatality!!

Jawed Karim - Co-Founder of YouTube

Fazlur Khan - Designer and builder of Sears Tower

H. Gene Slottow - Inventor of plasma display

Roger Ebert - film critic and way better than Siskel and Roeper...put together

Weather Forecast

LAS VEGAS

12/28 47° Partly Cloudy
12/29 52° Partly Sunny
12/30 54° Mostly Sunny

PASADENA

12/30 66° Sunny
12/31 64° Sunny
1/1 62° Sunny
1/2 62° Sunny

Never forget

Let's all remember how we got here. In my mind, the greatest moment in Illini history. :

Speculation: "Hang Time" coach Mike Katowinski To Appear at Rose Bowl

With the announcement that special “Illini personalities” will be appearing at the Illini Bash celebration occurring on New Year’s Eve at Universal Studios, speculation as to the identity of these mysterious Illini celebrities is widespread. This blog speculates that Fighting Illini football legend turned Hollywood actor Dick Butkus will be one of the celebrities appearing at Illini Bash.

Butkus is a hero of epic proportion in Fighting Illini football annals. As a center and linebacker, he was the Big Ten’s Most Valuable Player in 1963 and a unanimous All-American in 1963 and 1964. Between top 6 finishes in Heisman Trophy balloting, Butkus starred in Illinois’ last Rose Bowl victory, the 17-7 triumph over Washington in 1964. He later completed a storied career with the Chicago Bears and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979.

After hanging up his cleats, Butkus turned to acting, appearing in many films and television shows. His first starring role in a network sitcom was Richard “Ski” Butowski in “Blue Thunder,” which aired for 11 episodes in 1984. Butkus starred opposite a young Dana Carvey and others as a Los Angeles police officer involved with a unit that utilized an extraordinary helicopter to fight crime.



For the remainder of the decade Butkus guest starred in sitcoms such as “Night Court,” “My Two Dads,” and “Growing Pains,” a virtual pantheon of 1980s television. The 1990s brought roles in football films “Necessary Roughness” and “Any Given Sunday,” as well as a three episode stint as Earl “Rocket Man” Dent in “MacGyver.”



Butkus may be best known to a younger generation of Illini fans as Mike Katowinski, the gruff but genial coach of the fictional Deering High School basketball team in the Saturday morning children’s television series “Hang Time.” The show, which starred Daniella Deutscher as Julie Connor, a female standout on a boys’ basketball team, was a formidable addition to an NBC lineup that already included Saturday morning heavy hitters “Saved by the Bell” and “California Dreams.” It is this blog’s California dream that come New Year’s Eve, when the Fighting Illini invade the land of movie stars, Fighting Illini and movie star Dick Butkus will be present to minister to the orange masses.

Illini Support

Who Needs Will Ferrell when we have this guy supporting us??!!

I felt compelled to add more sweet Nick Smith photos. Is that Hitler on defense? - Jack

USC Alum Will Ferrell rooting for Illinois in Rose Bowl?

Hollywood actor Will Ferrell, a USC alum, has been known to appear at Trojan football functions and watch games from the sidelines. So this photograph, showing Ferrell sporting a blue Speedo and skin of an orange hue, is quite surprising and raises serious doubts about his allegiance to his alma mater in the 2008 Rose Bowl. Let the speculation that Will Ferrell will be rooting for Illinois in the Rose Bowl officially begin.

Illinois' Rose Bowl History

I'm sure we all know this already, but by means of review:

January 1, 1947 Illinois 45 UCLA 14
January 1, 1952 Illinois 40 Stanford 7
January 1, 1964 Illinois 17 Washington 7
January 2, 1984 UCLA 45 Illinois 9
January 1, 2008 Illinois vs. Southern California

Game MVPs:
1947 Claude "Buddy" Young, Illinois (HB), Julius Rykovich, Illinois (HB)
1952 William Tate, Illinois (HB)
1964 Jim Grabowski, Illinois (FB)

There are three logical conclusions from this data: (1) Illinois always wins the Rose Bowl when it plays an opponent that it has not previously played in the Rose Bowl. Illinois has never before played USC in the Rose Bowl. Thus, Illinois will beat USC in the Rose Bowl. (2) Illinois never loses the Rose Bowl when it is played on New Year's Day. The 2008 Rose Bowl will be played on New Year's Day. Thus, Illinois will win the 2008 Rose Bowl. (3) Illinois running backs always win the Rose Bowl MVP award when Illinois wins the Rose Bowl. Rashard Mendenhall is a running back. Thus, Rashard Mendenhall will win the Rose Bowl MVP award when Illinois beats USC in the 2008 Rose Bowl.

Prediction

I am going out on a limb and make the prediction that the Fighting Illini will double their entire season total for interception return yards in the Rose Bowl.

We need someone to get a pick and return it at least 2 yards to accomplish this feat. Yes, the Illini have 16 interceptions this season, and 1 return yard.

Fighting Illini Rose Bowl Christmas Tree Receiving National Attention

Photographs of the Fighting Illini Rose Bowl Christmas Tree created by blog contributors Frank "I'm going to the Rose" Bahl and Nick Hayward have been posted by the Champaign News-Gazette on the Rose Bowl page of its website. The tree is now receiving national attention thanks to this exposure from the premier newspaper for Fighting Illini Rose Bowl coverage.

Rose Parade Information and Route

For all of you thinking of attending the parade, TONS of information about the parade can be found online here. Also, click here for a Parade Route PDF. The closest the parade comes to the Rose Bowl is about 1 mile. Furthermore, all of the floats will be on display after the parade about three miles from the Rose Bowl. The parade starts at 8 am and lasts 2.5 hours. Curbside camping for good "seats" is allowed starting at 12:00 pm the day before!

"The Fighting Illini in Pasadena"

Yes, it's the classic 1983 recording set to pictures of the 2007 squad. Check out the oldie but goodie on YouTube.

Fighting Illini Beer

Yes, as the pictures on the Champaign News-Gazette Rose Bowl page prove, this very concoction was brewed back in 1984 to commemorate the Fighting Illini's trip to Pasadena. One can only hope the victory celebration to occur in less than 2 weeks will include these tasty suds.

Site Tracker

Now we can see who's reading the blog, all over the world. I hear that, like the Hoff, it's big in Deutschland.

O'Strien Unimpressed with Carroll

Sure he's 69-8 with 6 straight conference titles, 2 Rose Bowl victories, 2 Orange Bowl victories and 2 National Championships over his last six years at USC. Pete Carroll doesn't impress me. In fact, I'm more impressed with the Carol played by Horatio Sanz on SNL than the Carroll strutting the sidelines in L.A.



Nobody brings up his 10-6 loss against NCAA football powerhouse Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl back in 2001. Nor does anyone mention his highly mediocre 33-31 NFL coaching record. And that 2005 Rose Bowl loss to Texas, a "fluke" say the sportswriters: the inevitable fruition of Vince Young, whom even Carroll could not stop. He has also failed to produce a Heisman trophy winner for 2 years.

Just look at him, sauntering around in SoCal, dressing like Inside the Actor's Studio host James Lipton, conveniently surrounding himself with USC cheerleaders as a backdrop for photos like some creepy guy in a bar (i.e. Jake Peavey, Roy Oswalt).



After graduating from the prestigious academic institution University of the Pacific, Carroll tried out for the Honolulu Hawaiians of the World Football League but was cut due to "shoulder problems." In other words, he didn't have what it takes to make it in the WFL. So what did he do? Went back to school and got a Masters degree in gym, thus qualifying him to be a head coach in the NFL and/or PAC-10.

This January 1 promises to be another blight on the professional resume of Pete Carroll, as his Rose Bowl record will drop to .500 at the hands of the Illini. Said victory will be another fissure in the steel shroud of lies that comfortably blankets Pete Carroll and protects him from reality.

"In the year 2000!!"

A Rose Bowl twist on Conan O'Brein's "In The Year 2000!!!" bit.

- After 7 mediocre seasons bouncing around the NFL, Reggie Bush gets arrested on soliciting sex charges. After being released from jail on baill he is stabbed 17 times in the leg by none-other than Lendale White. During his testimony White confesses to the stabbing stating it was a crime of passion. "I won that damn Heisman trophy! I deserved it! But no, I paved the way for that poor excuse for a football player and he gets the trophy, the #2 overall pick and the dollars. What do I get? Mel Kiper Jr. telling everyone in America I'm fat!". After hearing the case the judge releases White with 50 hours community service. Fans in New Orleans applaud.

- Bush is never the same again. While never becoming the premiere back everyone, except ex-Texans GM Charley Casserly, predicted, his less than stellar numbers got even worse. His lack of performance, coupled with his crippling cough syrup addiction, forced him out of the league after just 8 seasons. Barely able to make rent, Bush decides to team up with newly released convict, former Heisman trophy winner and USC Alumnus OJ Simpson and quickly begin a fraudulent sports memorabilia store started with goods Simpson himself stole. The operation is just a front and the two were quickly arrested for armed robbery and possible connection to ecstasy trafficking.

- A prank by the Cal Bears, over privileged under scrutinized UC Rally Committee gone horribly well finds the USC Trojan band without instruments for an entire season. Fans around the nation, rejoice in the revelation that they will no longer have to hear the USC fight song after every snap in a football game. Bandos everywhere have silent candlelight vigils in morning. Suddenly, hate crimes on university campuses plummet to all-time lows, global warming ends, crude oil begins trading at under $10 a barrel, the middle east is in peace, the east has a new found love for the west, McDonalds decides to sell the McGriddle all day, everyday, for only a $1. The correlation of these events is still in debate.


More to come.......

Two Things Favoring Illini Rose Bowl Victory

(1) J Leman's Hair and Patriotism

(2) Extensive coverage of Illini sports by Erin Andrews

*According to Wikipedia, Andrews, a 2000 alum of Florida, was a member of the Dazzlers, the Gator basketball dance team, from 1997-2000. Interestingly, Ron Zook, the greatest coach in the storied history of Illinois football, began his college head coaching career at Florida just two years later.

What type of Juice do you prefer?

Our Juice Will Beat You.....

But He Won't KILL You!!

Alright, so I stole if off a T-Shirt I saw on Ebay, either way, it rules!

Our Prior Rendezvous in USC Territory

Around this same time of year, back in December 2003-January 2004, Ricky, Jake and I found ourselves on the USC campus (my friend Deming was there too) en route from San Francisco to Vegas to Phoenix to LA. We happened to be there at the exact same time that the coach and some of the players were presenting the media with their precious AP National Championship Trophy (having beaten Michigan in the Rose Bowl; LSU won the BCS National Championship, both teams had 1 loss). Here's a photo of that trip with Jake and Nazur (retarded, long hair) posing with the trophy, Pete Carroll is the gray hair on the left behind Nazur). If you look really close you can see Jake's skin covered with poison-ivy.



I looked Pete Carroll in the eye that day and called him a "bitch." He sniffled and hid behind some linebacker, pretending not to hear me. I spat on their rows of Heisman trophies (O.J.'s especially), and really wasn't all that impressed with that lame-ass crystal football that they seemed so proud of. Keanu Reeves was also nearby filming Constantine on campus that day. No wonder that movie flopped after being filmed at such a lame school.

Before I left I vowed that one day the streets of Pasadena would run red with the blood of the Trojans after the 94th Rose Bowl where they would taste the bitter, rotting sourness of defeat. Then I checked out some of their ridiculous cheerleaders and bought a t-shirt at the bookstore.

O'Strien Alleges Ron Zook Promised Him Rose Bowl Back in 2005

In the spring of my senior year at U of I, I was sitting in what was then Panera (around the corner from Joe's and Clybourne on John St., next door to That's Rentertainment) while between classes when I noticed Ron Zook, the new football coach in line. Several minutes later, it just so happened that he and I found ourselves side by side at the trash can. I muttered something along the lines of, "Bring back something to cheer for, Coach." To which Zook replied, "I'll see what I can do."

I graduated shortly thereafter and Zook and I went out separate ways: he coaching football, me moving on to law school. But the other day, I got a phone call out of the blue. It was Ron. "Did I keep my promise?" he jokingly asked. Surprised by the voice of my friend from that one fateful day so long ago, the only response I could muster was "Sure did, Coach, sure did."

After a few more laughs on the phone, we went water-skiing together and I snapped this photo of him:



(Please note that only the first paragraph of this post is actually true. Furthermore, portions of the first paragraph may not be entirely true, such as the implication that Coach Zook and I's meeting at the trash was purely random and not the result of my own calculated and intentional actions).

Don't Hate the Playa...

Frank's recent post featuring the photo of Kurt Kittner doing his best impression of Glen Chervin (the "Hey Lynn" guy from Johnny Knoxville's movie about the special olympics, The Ringer) got me thinking. There's Kurt, the hero of my freshman youth at U of I, posing in a parking lot with Frank, folder in hand, Illinois polo with the top button undone. Not a bad life, per se, but certainly not glamorous, and definitely no NFL Europe.

And then there's his favorite target from that LSU-trounced team: Brandon Lloyd. After an impressive rookie season with the 49ers, Lloyd later signed the big contract with the Redskins. This year he has 2 catches for 14 yards and hasn't even suited up since week 10. Not because of injury, but because of attitude. The lack of stats doesn't seem to impede his ego: check out his official website and read all about his rapping career while viewing photo shoots of him with his Bentley and hearing some of his tracks.

I'm not wanting to get too sidetracked from this blog's core task (to capture our collective thoughts and emotions leading up to Illinois' greatest ever football victory), but it is funny that without Kittner, Lloyd wouldn't have stood out at Illinois.

Pre-Season Predictions

I would like to take this opportunity to share my own predictions from the preseason. They are especially relevant because they involve another member of our illustrious group, but to protect his identity, we'll call him Collin Scotts.

I traveled to Boston on August 17, 2007 with Collin to meet up with Nick "Giggles" Van Blaricome and take in a game at Fenway. During the course of the weekend, the three of us weighed in on the upcoming collegiate and professional football seasons. I remember predicting Illinois to go at least 6-6, maybe even 7-5 and get a bowl. Collin and Nick seemed to agree, but were not overly optimistic. I also said the Bears would be lucky to go 10-6, a pontification to which Collin and Nick were aghast.

Well, my bowl prediction came true, but to an end that I would never have dreamed. Unfortunately, after yet another garbage-fest last night, the Bears are not nearly as fortunate as Juice and the Gang. But with roses on my mind, I couldn't care less about them right now.

In an unrelated story, I talked to one of my aunt's the other night (whom I rarely talk with) and she told me that her daughter, my cousin (with whom I also rarely talk), was in the Marching Illini back in 1983 for just long enough to realize how much she hated bandoes. Shortly after she quit, the Illini went to the Rose Bowl - without her. Thus, my journey will be one of familial revenge, claimed against all Bandoes, in the name of O'Brien.

A Season to Remember

Going into this season, I knew big things were afoot. This can be seen by my post on July 5, 2007 in the AE Zete Ning web discussion entitled "Predict the Illini 2007 Football record":

"Come on fellas, we're going bowling this year!Brad Stahl Guaranteed Wins (BSGW): WIU, Indiana, Ball State, NW. We'll also win at least one of: Missouri, @ Iowa, @ Minnesota. Then my bold prediction is a home upset of either Penn State or Wisconsin. That's four guaranteed wins, and then two others. I'm pretty sure it'll go down this way, and I look forward to revisiting this prediction throughout the season, I'm excited! Brother Hayward and I are going to every game but WIU and Syracuse."

Was I ridiculed for my belief? Mildly. Others predicted records like 3-9 or 5-7. I'll admit, even I did not realize that we could make the Granddaddy of 'Em All. At least not at that point. I realized the Rose Bowl was in my January 2008 future on one fateful day in the armpit of America, Bloomington, Indiana. That's where this happened:

Kittner's not really pissed off, it's the sun, I swear. Fucking Indiana. Anyhow, I told Kurt, I said, "Kurt, this is a big game today, we win here, get to 3-1 and we're in GOOD shape for a bowl." I could tell that Kurt wanted to spit in my face, He was still pissed that I made Him look at the sun to get the picture taken. Anyhow, He gave me this bit of advice which I've tried to live by ever since, "Hey, let's not put the cart in front of the horse now." Thank you Kurt. Maybe he didn't tell me we were going to the Rose Bowl explicitly, but he didn't say we weren't either, so, I figured that when the season is blessed with a Kurt Kittner meeting, more good things are in store..

While the Rose Bowl premonition came to me in the armpit of America, my faith in it was severely questioned in the asshole of America, Iowa City, Iowa on October 13. That day, as one would expect what with being in the asshole of America, was shitty. It rained all day. The tailgating blew. The parking was a mile from the stadium. There were people from Iowa (Assholes, Asshairs, and the dreaded Dingleberries) all over the place. Even the power of J Leman's father, Happy, who was sitting just 10 feet from us in the stands could not pull the Illini to victory. As we left America's Anus, I couldn't help but be reminded of the fateful words of Roxette,

"Every time I see you oh I try to hide away, But when we meet it seems I can’t let go, Every time you leave the room I feel I’m fading like a flower, Fading like a Rose, Fading like a Rose, Beaten by the storm, Talking to myself, Getting washed by the rain, It’s such a cold cold town, Oh, it’s such a cold town"

I was thinking to myself, Champs Sports Bowl here I come! I'll admit that I wavered in my belief in Kurt's Prophesy. Especially the next week when we decided that Michigan had gone through too much already this year with their horrible 0-2 start with losses to a high school team and a team that exists for the sole purpose of testing out new, cutting edge jersey designs for Nike. Poor Michigan, we'll just hand them the game. They have a knack for coming to Champaign and going home winners even though they do nothing on the field to earn the win. At that point we were 5-3.

But then something happened. Juice Williams figured out how to throw, continued to be magical reading defenses in the option, and even started seeking out safeties to steamroll! We won out, including a thrilling win at the Horseshoe against #1 The Ohio State University. Kurt was right, the Cart is now behind the Horse, and galloping briskly to Pasadena. May we never question Him again.

2007 Fighting Illini Rose Bowl Christmas Tree

It hasn't happened yet, but I imagine my dear mother, fighting back tears as she says, "It's a beaut, son, a real beaut." If that were to happen, I would reply, "Oh, Mom. You taught me everything I know about holiday decorating."

A Reflection on Week 1...

The first day of September found me in St. Louis for the Illini season opener against Missouri. I attended the game with Teresa, my sister. She lived in France last fall and missed much of the dismal two win campaign. We settled into our seats with great anticipation: she to be back at an Illinois football game and me to see what progress the team had made. I talked to a Mizzou friend, seated in the upper deck, on my phone shortly before kickoff. He wished me good luck. He said we would need it.

After the first 15 minutes, it appeared my Missouri friend may be wrong and that no luck would be necessary to claim victory. Despite trailing 7-6, good things happened. Our offensive line, notorious for false starts last season, did not commit a penalty. And when the defense forced the Tigers to punt within the red zone, Illinois took the chance and brought the house. The result was a blocked punt recovered by Vontae Davis for the first Illini touchdown of the 2007 season.

I turned to Teresa after the first quarter. "This is great!" I remarked. "We're not making dumb mistakes on offense and we're converting on opportunities. We look so much better than last year."

Those words no longer seemed true at halftime after the Illini endured likely one of the worst 5 minute stretches in the program's history. While trailing by the same 7-6 score, Eddie McGee fumbled at the goal line, inches from taking the lead. After a scoop and a 100 yard scamper, Mizzou led 13-6. On the ensuing possession, the Illini drove into Missouri territory before another McGee fumble gave the ball back to the Tigers with under 2 minutes to play. The Tigers drove and scored to take a 20-6 lead. With seconds remaining in the half, the Illini fumbled the kickoff, and after one play from scrimmage, Mizzou kicked a field goal as time expired. 3 turnovers. 16 points. All in the last 5 minutes of the first half.

The performance assessment I gave Teresa this time wasn't so positive. "We can't be this bad again," I claimed, suddenly transported back to the gloom of the 2006 season. "We have to be better than this. We can't have stretches like that this season. We have to be improved."

I made a silent vow at that moment. I vowed to try to be more patient throughout the season and not get so carried away after one quarter, or even one game. True progress can't be measured in spurts or stretches, but in seasons. I would wait until after the entire 2007 schedule was played to assess the direction of the program and determine if progress was made.

So, true to my word, I'll reserve judgment until after the Illini's final game. That will take place on New Year's Day. At Pasadena. In the Rose Bowl.

Hofbrauhaus

The Hofbrauhaus website confirms that there will be a stein holding contest on 12/29

Group's Itineraries

Please pardon my OCD, but here is what I gathered from all the emails...

Dec. 28

- 10:30 am – Brad, Nick to Vegas
- 1:40 pm – Deyoung to Vegas from Rockford
- 4:20 pm - Scott to LAX
- 10:00 pm – Scott to Vegas
- 11:00 pm – Engle to Vegas from ORD
- 1 ROOM AT HILTON

Dec. 29

- 11:30 am – Jack to Vegas
- 7:00 pm – Hofbrauhaus
- 1 ROOM AT HILTON

Dec. 30

- Brad, Nick, Scott, Deyoung, Engle, Jack to LA via car
- 12:00 pm – Jake to LAX
- 12:00 pm – Vehmeyer to LAX
- 12:20 pm – Nazur to LAX
- Wes & Ken to LAX
- 2 ROOMS IN PASADENA

Dec. 31

- New Year’s Eve
- 2 ROOMS IN PASADENA

Jan. 1

- Parade
- 94th Rose Bowl Game: University of Illinois Fighting Illini and USC
- 2 ROOMS IN PASADENA

Jan. 2

- Jack, Brad, Nick, Wes, Ken to Vegas via car
- 4:00 pm – Brad, Nick from Vegas to Peoria
- Wes & Ken from Vegas to Illinois
- 5:00 pm – Scott from LAX to ORD
- 5:00 pm – Jake from LAX
- 5:53 pm – Nazur from LAX
- Engle from Long Beach to Illinois
- Deyoung from Orange County to Milwaukee
- Jack: 1 room at Hooters Hotel

Jan.3

- 6:00 am – Jack to RFD from LAS



Others Attending Rose Bowl:
Judd & Mother
Harrer & In-laws
Jackels and wife
Don and Jennifer Swanson
Derue

Illini Bash 2007

Illini Bash 2007, a festive affair for Illinois fans to celebrate New Year's Eve and the school's Rose Bowl berth, will take place New Year's Eve at Universal Studios Hollywood. Click here for more details.

New Year's in Pasadena

While bored at a seminar yesterday, I began composing lyrics and a tune for a song that I'll title "New Year's in Pasadena." I'll post the lyrics once they're complete. I'll investigate posting a sound file of the song.

Archie O'Strien's Rose Bowl Pilgrimage To Take Him Through 10 U.S. States

I depart Philadelphia, PA (1) on Dec. 21 via Amtrak train (much to the envy of my colleague Frank Bahl), which will take me through WV (2), OH (3), IN (4) and arrive in Chicago, IL (5) on Dec. 22. Later, on Dec. 28, I will drive to Waterloo, IL and then depart St. Louis, MO (6) via plane on Dec. 29. After layovers in Denver, CO (7), and Salt Lake City, UT (8), I will arrive in Las Vegas, NV (9) around noon, local time, on Dec. 29. On the afternoon of Dec. 30, I will car pool to Pasadena, CA (10) where the Rose Bowl festivities will begin.

Video Recap of Season

CLICK HERE: Illinois season - video recap

The Blog

This will be a great way to communicate and store information, photos, etc. regarding our historic trip to Pasadena.