HS Boys Basketball Tourney returning to Champaign in 2021

[Bird Friend]

Wow

 

[MadBird]

Well, I'm fine with that, that's where it should be. I never liked the idea of it being in Peoria. Lots of fond memories from my younger years watching the games in "Semmbly Hall".

 

[bombay]

Never should have left.

 

[isuquinndog]

Sorry but the Civic Center was the perfect venue for the state tournament. Between the Experience next to the arena and a little smaller arena than over in Shampoo-Banana, I think it should have stayed.

I know it wasn't fun to see BU logo every where, but still enjoyed it in Peoria.

 

[Manchester Matt]

Peoria was stale. The building was about a quarter full during these games and it just wasn’t what it was a decade ago.

It was time for a change.

 

[bombay]

Champagne is in France.

 

[isuquinndog]

I just don't know what moving to Champaign is going to do for attendance.

 

[Bird Friend]

Champagne is in France.

I wish I could blame it on auto-correct. But the truth is I just like champagne much more than Champaign.

 

[Hamdonger]

As a player, the goal was to play on that floor. At THE University of Illinois. Nowhere else. It almost would have felt blasphemous to not play there. But I'm pushing 50 and part of a different generation. The Illini mystique was no doubt stronger then than it is now. Which is a shame. You can hate 'em but they're still our state school.

A venue like BU probably makes more sense with the location of the Civic Center and surrounding commerce, including the multi-use entire facility.

But I like it in Champaign...or however you spell it.

 

[PurpleRedbird]

I like it in Champaign too, but after a few years expecting attendance to go down again. 4 classes is great for small schools but kills attendance. Same thing happened in Indiana.

 

[Bird Friend]

As a player, the goal was to play on that floor. At THE University of Illinois. Nowhere else. It almost would have felt blasphemous to not play there. But I'm pushing 50 and part of a different generation. The Illini mystique was no doubt stronger then than it is now. Which is a shame. You can hate 'em but they're still our state school.

A venue like BU probably makes more sense with the location of the Civic Center and surrounding commerce, including the multi-use entire facility.

But I like it in Champaign...or however you spell it.

Dude, we are the Illinois STATE University.

 

[Hamdonger]

Dude, we are the Illinois STATE University.

Yup you're RIGHT.

 

[jbird]

As a player, the goal was to play on that floor. At THE University of Illinois. Nowhere else. It almost would have felt blasphemous to not play there. But I'm pushing 50 and part of a different generation. The Illini mystique was no doubt stronger then than it is now. Which is a shame. You can hate 'em but they're still our state school.

A venue like BU probably makes more sense with the location of the Civic Center and surrounding commerce, including the multi-use entire facility.

But I like it in Champaign...or however you spell it.

I will concede to the facts that u if I is larger than ISU and offers more professional curricula that generate wealthy alums, but it is not MY state school. I turned them down twice.....accepted there out if high school but chose ISU and was offered the chance to transfer there during law school, but chose to stay put.

 

[FriscoBird90]

Jbird, if you had decided to transfer while in law school, would you have announced you were utilizing the transfer portal?

 

[Hamdonger]

I will concede to the facts that u if I is larger than ISU and offers more professional curricula that generate wealthy alums, but it is not MY state school. I turned them down twice.....accepted there out if high school but chose ISU and was offered the chance to transfer there during law school, but chose to stay put.

I get it and I'm not saying it is mine today. I was referring to when I was a player. To get the opportunity to play at Assembly Hall was what you reached for and just the mere thought was special. Our coaches always took us to Champaign for the weekend even though we never made The Elite 8 during my time. Stayed in the dorms with previous players from our town. Heck we even navigated a newspaper airplane down to the floor once.

Is it a sin to be both an Illini fan and a Redbird fan? Well, I am. However, in a matchup, it's Illinois State through and through, hands down, 6 days a week and twice on Sundays. Would have loved to spank them in '17 and that would have been a very very excited Redbird Arena.

 

[Hrtnfldhse]

I get it and I'm not saying it is mine today. I was referring to when I was a player. To get the opportunity to play at Assembly Hall was what you reached for and just the mere thought was special. Our coaches always took us to Champaign for the weekend even though we never made The Elite 8 during my time. Stayed in the dorms with previous players from our town. Heck we even navigated a newspaper airplane down to the floor once.

Is it a sin to be both an Illini fan and a Redbird fan? Well, I am. However, in a matchup, it's Illinois State through and through, hands down, 6 days a week and twice on Sundays. Would have loved to spank them in '17 and that would have been a very very excited Redbird Arena.

I'm also both a ISU and Illini fan and will root for the Birds in every matchup. In fact during those matchups, I find myself hating the Illini but love them every other day

 

[isuquinndog]

I've told this story before but....

My freshman year at ISU, fall 1997. I had an Illini hat on for band camp the week before classes. The legendary Dan Farris, director of the BRMM, saw me. He had no idea who I was, some stupid freshman trombone player. And the first words he ever said to me personally was:

"Get that ugly piece of shit hat off your head. You're a Redbird."

Illini suck. Go Birds.

 

[SteveO]

Perhaps the best story I have ever seen on this site. Well done!