Geez, even my legs are still sore from walking for miles. I spent my November 1st in Urbana, IL, going to the Hawkeyes / Illini football game which the Illini damn nearly blew, and made a stupid 4th quarter timeout with like :28 seconds left before kicking the game-winning field goal. It was my first ever trip to Memorial Stadium, and I got to see the tackiness of Field Turf for the first time. It was my first loud college football game. The only other NCAAF game I've been to was a Illini / Wildcats game in November of 2002 at Dykes Stadium, and that was a pretty quiet game. These Illini fans were really into it, they were even screaming after every 1st down, tho I'm sure it was due to the rarity of 1st downs in Illini football. After the game, we went to Murphy's, which was extremely loud, and me and my buddy ordered cheeseburgers, but he got his 20 minutes before I got mine, which was rather annoying, plus they didn't have the Fish 'n Chips I was looking forward to.
The game was alright, but the really cool thing was Illini hockey! Wow, cheap, only like 5 rows of seats and I got to sit in the front row in the corner, where I could literally reach over and almost touch the ice because there was no glass in front of me. I've never been that close to a hockey rink in my life, usually I'm stuck in the far back 300 section at the United Center for Blackhawks games. And who were the Illini playing? Frickin' Robert Morris College! We drove 2 1/2 hours to see a stinkin' local crummy hockey team?? A pretty good turnout for a Saturday night game. The fans were really into it, booing RMC when they hit the ice, and after all 6 Illini goals, the crowd screamed and pointed at the RMC goalie, "It's all your fault!" a few times, which reminded me of a Simpsons Thanksgiving episode, and then shortly after that, to some sports song, the crowd chanted "You suck!!!" towards RMC, and when the P.A. announcer said "1 minute remaining in the period", the crowd said "Thank youuuuuuu!" I would highly recommend home Illini hockey, even if you hate sports. Tho the guy on the Zamboni was pretty cocky and did some sloppy driving. We made sure we booed him. I have to say this game was one of the damn coolest experiences of my sports watching life.
I have to say, it was madness being in a town with Big Ten football. People were drinking beer on the street, screaming, and chugging beer, even right up to the ticket entrance. Tho I have to say it was really nice not to see stupid vendors in the aisle, tho at halftime they still did the Chief song, but with no Chief Illiniwek! They could have at least changed the song or something. Oh and get how much gas was down there... $2.15 a gallon! Next time I'll have to remember to bring some gas cans with me.
You know who I miss in television? Norm MacDonald. From his writing on "Norm", "Roseanne" and "Saturday Night Live", as well as his Weekend Update anchoring, which was the last time I enjoyed that on SNL, and in those days, that was considered to be the best part of the show. I miss his wit.
Halloween, I did nothing.