28 Hours of Craziness

     On the day after the big game, I thought it would be cool to run through what seemed like the best 28 hours of my life. For those who are interested in what it is like to be a member of the Orange Krush, here it is. This is a time that Illini Nation, myself included, will remember for the rest of our lives.

Friday, February 5th, 2010

• 6:00 PM: Showed up at Huff Hall to wait in line for a wristband to get into College Gameday. They said that if people got there before six, they would tell you to leave. There were nearly 200 Orange Krush members in line at 5:45. Was I mad? Oh yeah. But did it all work out? Yes sir. 
• 6:30 PM: Started to make my way up stairs, nearly to the wristband table. My wristband was number 192, and there were over 300 people behind me (pictured).  
  

  the line behind me

• 7:00 PM: The Minnesota-Illinois wrestling match began, which the Orange Krush was required to watch to get a good spot for both College Gameday and the game. Illinois lost the match to #5 Minnesota 27-13. 
• 11:30 PM: Went to bed. Wanted to get some rest before the big day. 

Saturday, February 6th, 2010

• 4:30 AM: Woke up, bright and early (minus the bright). Got my gear on and headed out the door. 
• 5:15 AM: Pulled into Steak n’ Shake to eat breakfast with some U of I buddies 
• 6:00 AM: Arrived at the Assembly Hall, ready to freeze for an hour and a half before the doors opened. Let’s just say it was very, very cold and being that I’m not a morning person, I decided that will be the last time I watch the sun rise for quite a while. 
• 7:30 AM: Half-frozen Orange Krush members were ready to bust down the doors (pictured). They finally opened up and allowed us to file in. I was able to get a floor spot, positioned in the 4th row behind the Gameday table.  
• 9:00 AM: After more standing around, Digger Phelps (pictured)  came out and got the crowd going. Digger was definitely the fan favorite and the love was mutual. The former Notre Dame coach got a kick out of the crowd’s cheers, especially the William Tell (pictured), which he said was “out of the 6 years we have been doing this, the best student cheer I have seen.”
  

  William Tell

   

• 10:00 AM: After doing a few plugs on Sportscenter and meeting the other three members of the show (Rece Davis, Hubert Davis, and Jay Bilas), it was time for the show to begin. Though we were unable to break the Gameday attendance record of over 8,000 people, the 4,000 plus that did show up were hyped and going nuts as the show kicked off.
• 11:00 AM: After a great show, in which Digger went with Illinois and Bilas and Hubert chose the Spartans, fans stuck around to watch Coach Weber and Coach Izzo compete in a free throw contest for Coaches vs. Cancer (pictured). Izzo, who famously shoots 100 free throws a day, won the challenge hitting 9 of 10, as opposed to Weber’s 8 of 10. At the end, both coaches said they would donate $50,000 a piece to Coaches vs. Cancer.
• 12:30 PM: ZZZZZZ. Had to get some rest for the big game.
• 4:30 PM: Headed back over to the Hall, where we would wait until 6:30 to be let back inside.
• 6:30 PM: After being fed pizza and hyped up on Red Bull, the Krush was let inside and rushed down to the floor. I was able to grab a front row spot behind the basket.
• 8:00 PM (approx): Tip off was near and the arena was full (pictured). It was gametime!
  

  From my spot, a couple minutes before tp

• 9:15 PM (approx): Halftime, Illinois 35 – MSU 34
• 10:08 PM (approx): After a back and forth second half, DJ Richardson hit two huge free throws that put Illinois up 76-73 with 15 seconds to go.
• 10:09 PM  (approx): Mike Davis slams it home (pictured)  after blocking Darrell Summers’ potential game-tying 3-pointer. Let the pandemonium begin!

Once again, man, what a game. It was a great win in front of an electric atmosphere. And just a side note, to those who are ripping the Krush for storming the court, get real. This was the biggest moment this program has had since Dee Brown was here. Illinois has not beaten a top 5 team since 2006 and was considered to be on the outside looking in from an NCAA Tournament birth. Sure, Kalin Lucas did not play, but the emotion was uncontrollable. Gameday had never been to Champaign and it was a perfect way to end a perfect day. It by no means was to show up Michigan St who played a great game, it was to celebrate with the players we were so proud of, and for that I have no problem it. 

     Illini fans, put this one a notch below the Arizona game of 2005 and let’s hope Demetri & Co. will bring it Tuesday night at the Kohl Center.

-Derek Piper