This is the fourth part of a four part series outlining Illini student football traditions. This series was published in 2008 and is being republished as an updated edition.

After an exciting two quarters, it is half-time. This is the only time where Illinois students sit in their seats. Sometimes the opposing band will perform, but usually the MI has a show ready to perform. This makes for a great time to go to the bathroom, get something to eat, or just take a break from the baking sun (or freezing temperatures). The end of the MI’s show is always the same. The students get back up and join in. The performance is known as the “Three-In-One” and used to feature Chief Illiniwek. The tradition was for the students to mimic the Chief’s motions, and you may still see some students doing this even though the Chief has been officially retired. The show includes a lot of clapping and the singing of the Alma Mater.

At Illinois, the Alma Mater is a uniting piece where all students put their arms around each other, and sway back and forth as they sing. It is vital as an Illinois student that you know the words:
Hail to the Orange.
Hail to the Blue.
Hail Alma Mater,
Ever so true.
We love no other,
So let our motto be
Victory, Illinois, Varsity.

The second half plays out much like the first, hopefully with the Illini winning.
At the end of the game, the football team likes to climb the stairs of the north bleachers and celebrate amongst the band and students. After playing the fight song “Illinois Loyalty”, the students, band members and players jump into the A cappella version of the Alma Mater. This singing tradition is one that is carried throughout all Illinois sporting events. Following the game, the MI performs a short concert on the steps of the Education Building for all those interested. The celebration does not end there however. In Champaign-Urbana, the party continues long into the night. Enjoy yourself, but be careful.

If you cannot make it to the game, or were not able to get tickets, you can still enjoy the festivities. Find a fun tailgate, or tune in on radio/TV to follow the Illini. Check out the The Quad’s Media Guide to view coverage for each game. So no matter how you do it, support Illinois and enjoy the game.

Continue to monitor The Quad for its complete coverage of Illinois football.

Go Illini!

This is the third part of a four part series outlining Illini student football traditions. This series was published in 2008 and is being republished as an updated edition.

During game-time, the Illinois fans help play as the “12th man” on the team. This is done through a series of cheers, chants, and dances. Most cheers are lead by the Marching Illini. The new student section makes it difficult for the students to hear the band, so following along is rather difficult. There are too many cheers to count, so I am going to mention just a few important ones.

At each Illinois kick-off, the students add their own sound effect by holding up and shaking their keys. Whether you have keys with you or not, you need to be shaking something and making noise during the kick-off.

The William Tell Overture is a staple in any Illinois arena. The driving beat encourages students to join one another in the most patented dance on campus. Clapping at the beginning of the song leads to the bridge section where student put their arms around each other’s shoulders and trot, first “to the left”, then reverse. After the hopping, comes a rhythmic beat played on the bleacher beneath you and full body spin. Finally, sixteenth note air-drums with your hands and finish with a “Hey!” It is not as hard as it sounds. For the first time, just grab the person next to you and hold on for the ride.

The Imperial March is played on each opposing team’s fourth downs. This is followed by the students with a somewhat fist pump.

The Hey Song and Hey Baby are two classic cheers you should be able to sing along to.

In the past few years, the MI has enjoyed playing mainstream music. Depending on the student’s reaction to these renditions, they will most likely play them again in future year. Some of these songs include Green Day’s “Holiday” and Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer.” Students particularly enjoy singing along to these songs.

At every Illinois first down, the students hold up their hands and flex their fingers until the stadium announcer says “First Down Illinois,” at that point they throw their hands in the direction of the first down and point.

Another fan favorite is the I-L-L-I-N-I cheer. This has some difficulties with the location of the new student section, but the basic concept is still there. One side of the stadium (usually the students) will chant I-L-L, and the other half will respond with I-N-I. The cheer can last a pretty long time, but not as long as the wave; which can hold up pretty well in Memorial Stadium.

One of the newest cheers is for the Illinois quarterback Juice Williams. It is pretty simple, everybody yells “Juuuuuuuuice!” holding out the “u” of course. It almost sounds like booing, but it is not.

Some of the best cheers, however, are the impromptu student chants calling upon another fan or an incredible play on the field. Some of these include “kick him out”, “bull-shit”, and even “let him stay!”

Continue to monitor The Quad for the next part of this story and its complete coverage of Illinois football.

This is the first part of a four part series outlining Illini student football traditions. This series was published in 2008 and is being republished as an updated edition.

Rule number 1 is to wear orange. As a student sitting (or standing) in the student section, it is your responsibility to represent your school. I know what you’re thinking… “But my white Illinois shirt represents my school!” or “My blue shirt matches my shoes!” I don’t care. Illinois nation doesn’t care. The advantage of playing at Memorial Stadium is the home-field advantage. The “12th man” is what helps win games. When visitors come to Illinois we want them to have to wear sunglasses from all the orange. It’s the “sea of orange” that represents the pride that we have, and the school that we stand for. So, if you don’t already have one, buy an orange shirt, and wear it to the football game. Also remember that when it gets cold, your purple coat will stick out like a sore thumb, so try to get some orange winter-wear, if possible.

One of the greatest traditions in all of college football is the pre-game festivities. It is no longer just a three hour game, but an entire day celebration. The festivities in Champaign begin very early in the morning. The University of Illinois offers many locations for individuals to celebrate before and after the game. The tradition of tailgating is deeply rooted at the U of I. The people participating in tailgate celebrations range from young college coeds in the back of a pick-up to seasoned veterans with a decked out orange and blue motor home. You can find these celebrations in the parking lots surrounding the stadium, Assembly Hall, and lining Florida Ave. Local businesses also take part in the festivities offering entertainment, food, beverages, and souvenirs.

The Marching Illini performs a short parade as they march from the Band building (next to the Armory) to the stadium. They stop at the official tailgating bandstand, on Kirby, and perform a short concert for awaiting fans, before heading into the stadium.

As students, alumni, or simply just fans, I encourage you all to take part in this tradition of celebration. If you plan to host your own tailgate party, check out The Quad’s Tailgating guide for locations, rules, and regulations. Most people don’t know that by contacting the MI, you can have a small band perform for you at your tailgate party. See the benefits from reading this blog?!

Continue to monitor The Quad for the next part of this story and its complete coverage of Illinois football.

Here at University of Illinois we are blessed with an amazing tradition of music. Our marching band is one of the oldest and best in the country. Illinois Loyalty, Oskee Wow Wow, and the Illinois Alma Mater “Hail to the Orange” all bring emotion and pride to alumni and current students alike.

Here is an archive of many of the traditional Illinois fight songs, all in MP3 format:
Marching Illini – Fight Songs
Illinois Song Lyrics
Three-in-One Lyrics

They’re all required listening – so giddy-up!

This is the fourth part of a four part series outlining Illini student football traditions.

After an exciting two quarters, it is half-time. This is the only time where Illinois students sit in their seats. Sometimes the opposing band will perform, but usually the MI has a show ready to perform. This makes for a great time to go to the bathroom, get something to eat, or just take a break from the baking sun (or freezing temperatures). The end of the MI’s show is always the same. The students get back up and join in. The performance is known as the “Three-In-One” and used to feature Chief Illiniwek. The tradition was for the students to mimic the Chief’s motions, and you may still see some students doing this even though the Chief has been officially retired. The show includes a lot of clapping and the singing of the Alma Mater.

At Illinois, the Alma Mater is a uniting piece where all students put their arms around each other, and sway back and forth as they sing. It is vital as an Illinois student that you know the words:
Hail to the Orange.
Hail to the Blue.
Hail Alma Mater,
Ever so true.
We love no other,
So let our motto be
Victory, Illinois, Varsity.

The second half plays out much like the first, hopefully with the Illini winning.
At the end of the game, the football team likes to climb the stairs of the north bleachers and celebrate amongst the band and students. After playing the fight song “Illinois Loyalty”, the students, band members and players jump into the A cappella version of the Alma Mater. This singing tradition is one that is carried throughout all Illinois sporting events. Following the game, the MI performs a short concert on the steps of the Education Building for all those interested. The celebration does not end there however. In Champaign-Urbana, the party continues long into the night. Enjoy yourself, but be careful.

If you cannot make it to the game, or were not able to get tickets, you can still enjoy the festivities. Find a fun tailgate, or tune in on radio/TV to follow the Illini. Check out The Quad’s Illini Football Media Coverage guide for details of how to follow the game. So no matter how you do it, support Illinois and enjoy the game.

Continue to monitor The Quad for its complete coverage of Illinois football.

Go Illini!

This is the third part of a four part series outlining Illini student football traditions.

During game-time, the Illinois fans help play as the “12th man” on the team. This is done through a series of cheers, chants, and dances. Most cheers are lead by the Marching Illini. The new student section makes it difficult for the students to hear the band, so following along is rather difficult. There are too many cheers to count, so I am going to mention just a few important ones.

At each Illinois kick-off, the students add their own sound effect by holding up and shaking their keys. Whether you have keys with you or not, you need to be shaking something and making noise during the kick-off.

The William Tell Overture is a staple in any Illinois arena. The driving beat encourages students to join one another in the most patented dance on campus. Clapping at the beginning of the song leads to the bridge section where student put their arms around each other’s shoulders and trot, first “to the left”, then reverse. After the hopping, comes a rhythmic beat played on the bleacher beneath you and full body spin. Finally, sixteenth note air-drums with your hands and finish with a “Hey!” It is not as hard as it sounds. For the first time, just grab the person next to you and hold on for the ride.

The Imperial March is played on each opposing team’s fourth downs. This is followed by the students with a somewhat fist pump.

The Hey Song and Hey Baby are two classic cheers you should be able to sing along to.

In the past few years, the MI has enjoyed playing mainstream music. Depending on the student’s reaction to these renditions, they will most likely play them again in future year. Some of these songs include Green Day’s “Holiday” and Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer.” Students particularly enjoy singing along to these songs.

At every Illinois first down, the students hold up their hands and flex their fingers until the stadium announcer says “First Down Illinois,” at that point they throw their hands in the direction of the first down and point.

Another fan favorite is the I-L-L-I-N-I cheer. This has some difficulties with the location of the new student section, but the basic concept is still there. One side of the stadium (usually the students) will chant I-L-L, and the other half will respond with I-N-I. The cheer can last a pretty long time, but not as long as the wave; which can hold up pretty well in Memorial Stadium.

One of the newest cheers is for the Illinois quarterback Juice Williams. It is pretty simple, everybody yells “Juuuuuuuuice!” holding out the “u” of course. It almost sounds like booing, but it is not.

Some of the best cheers, however, are the impromptu student chants calling upon another fan or an incredible play on the field. Some of these include “kick him out”, “bull-shit”, and even “let him stay!”

Continue to monitor The Quad for the next part of this story and its complete coverage of Illinois football.

This is the first part of a four part series outlining Illini student football traditions.

Rule number 1 is to wear orange. As a student sitting (or standing) in the student section, it is your responsibility to represent your school. I know what you’re thinking… “But my white Illinois shirt represents my school!” or “My blue shirt matches my shoes!” I don’t care. Illinois nation doesn’t care. The advantage of playing at Memorial Stadium is the home-field advantage. The “12th man” is what helps win games. When visitors come to Illinois we want them to have to wear sunglasses from all the orange. It’s the “sea of orange” that represents the pride that we have, and the school that we stand for. So, if you don’t already have one, buy an orange shirt, and wear it to the football game. Also remember that when it gets cold, your purple coat will stick out like a sore thumb, so try to get some orange winter-wear, if possible.

One of the greatest traditions in all of college football is the pre-game festivities. It is no longer just a three hour game, but an entire day celebration. The festivities in Champaign begin very early in the morning. The University of Illinois offers many locations for individuals to celebrate before and after the game. The tradition of tailgating is deeply rooted at the U of I. The people participating in tailgate celebrations range from young college coeds in the back of a pick-up to seasoned veterans with a decked out orange and blue motor home. You can find these celebrations in the parking lots surrounding the stadium, Assembly Hall, and lining Florida Ave. Local businesses also take part in the festivities offering entertainment, food, beverages, and souvenirs.

The Marching Illini performs a short parade as they march from the Band building (next to the Armory) to the stadium. They stop at the official tailgating bandstand, on Kirby, and perform a short concert for awaiting fans, before heading into the stadium.

As students, alumni, or simply just fans, I encourage you all to take part in this tradition of celebration. If you plan to host your own tailgate party, check out The Quad’s Tailgating guide for locations, rules, and regulations. Most people don’t know that by contacting the MI, you can have a small band perform for you at your tailgate party. See the benefits from reading this blog?!

Continue to monitor The Quad for the next part of this story and its complete coverage of Illinois football.

Today is Quad Day.

Over 600 registered student organizations will be showcasing their stuff on the main quadrangle from 12pm-5pm today.

Check it out. Join a club. Get some free stuff.

There will also be a performance from the Marching Illini and the Illinois Cheerleaders, so it is guaranteed to be a good time.