Overdue report and photos from Illinois roadtrip

I would recommend a trip to Champaign if you have the opportunity.  For me it was a relatively easy 8-hour drive, though the gameday weather certainly could have better, it was easy enough to get around campus and get parking for the gameday.  The tailgaters were a bit subdued, probably a combination of the weather and the failboat that is Illini football this year.  The retiring of Chief Illiniwek in 2007 is still a simmering controversy.  I chatted with Matt Suhey's and Dennis Landolt's parents while they were waiting at the bar for a table at Buffalo Wild Wings.  They still can't believe they lost to Iowa.  They have an RV and have traveled to away games in the last couple of years.  There's a place called Radio Maria downtown where the hot chicas salsa dance on Saturday night.  The local yokels hang out at the Esquire Lounge, where one guy admitted that he was once tackled in a hospital.  I didn't press for details, we were busy watching the Steeler game Sunday night.  The pictures linked show, among other things, John Black, JoePa during pre-game, and DC17.  All in all it was a good weekend, and I managed to keep expenses relatively low.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28303662@N04/sets/72157622594603288/