Thursday, October 20, 2011

Fact Fondue - The Fighting Illini, and a #hashTag

The night train is a comin' it's home coming weekend. So let's sober up and put on a smile for the alumni as they return to watch the boys take on U of I. The fighting Illini are in the melting pot on this week's Fact Fondue.

Hash Tag for the week is #silenceIllinois. Join us on Twitter, where U and I can make no difference.
  • Official school colors are Illini Blue and Illini Orange...
  • They, like us, are a land grant university. 
    • Along with this, they have the Lincoln Theater with a bust of Lincoln. Students rub this nose as well. Ours is located in the Union.
  • The library system is the third largest in the nation - behind Harvard and Yale
  • They actually have turtles as the trophy for the Illinois/OSU rivaly - each school raises their own.
    • Sachem - Illinois
    • Bucket and Dipper - OSU
  • They celebrate a fake St. Pat's day because the real one falls during Spring Break.
  • They have a Huff Hall
  • They developed Mosaic - the world's first web browser
  • Famous Alumni
    • Dick Butkus (Linebacker, HOFer)
    • Rashard Mendenhall (Steelers)
    • 6 Astronauts - 0 since '92

4 comments:

Chris L said...

Also it is my brother's and father's/ uncle's/ aunt's/ various cousin's school. So, KRUSH THE ILLINI, WHERE'S YOUR MASCOT, etc.


But naw I do like the Illini.

The Accidental Expat said...

Lest we forget, this is technically a rivalry game with a trophy involved-- the Purdue Cannon. It's a pretty close series, with Purdue holding a 30-27-2 edge, and UI winning the last meeting (2010). FWIW, CollegeFootballNews.com has this as a mild upset with the Boilers predicted to win, and even ESPN admits that they "wouldn't be surprised" if Purdue edges the Zookers out. Crud... I hope I didn't jinx anything by saying it out loud.

BoilerPaulie said...

I've been thinking the same thing, Expat. UI may have the more talented and better team, but they also have a coach that is equally, if not more, as enigmatic as our own. The Zook factor alone may give us a chance to win. I won't be shocked if we get out-played, but I'd be shocked if we lost because we got out-coached, and that's saying something...

I'm going PUR 21, UI 17

J Money said...

Slow down, Paul. Predictions are for Fridays.