This season marks the 10th anniversary of the last Illinois football Rose Bowl team. However, let’s not think too hard about the final result, but rather the journey!
Specifically, this November will be ten years since one of the greatest upsets in Big Ten football history, when Juice Williams led the unranked Illini into Columbus to take on the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes.
While I highly encourage you to watch the whole clip and relive the memory, the everlasting moment comes at the 1:24 mark, when the Zooker elected to go for it on 4th-and-inches in our own territory with less than 7 minutes to go and up one touchdown.
Everyone remembers that. What I forgot about, until writing this blog, was how dope the rest of that possession was. Following the Juice sneak, the Illini continued to move the chains on 3rd-and-7, 3rd-and-10, and 3rd-and-2 to run out the clock.
Like all great moments in time, and even the ignominious ones, it’s interesting to look back and remember where you where when “it” happened. So, I turned to the ultimate source of good and evil for some insight.
For @WritingIlliniFS: Where were you on Nov. 10, 2007, when Juice led the #Illini to an upset of No. 1 OSU in Columbus? Reply or quote!
— Vader Johan (@jobin_theman) August 1, 2017
Personally, I recall sitting on the couch in my room at the frat house, slamming Natty Lights and shots of UV Blue with my roommate because, well, #college. I was a 19-year old sophomore at the University of Illinois. Times were good!
Well, what about you?
Fellow blogger Eric was probably already an old man/dad so, this seems natural. It’s OK, Eric, I’m well on my way there.
Joes on Weed
— Bobby Chilver (@BobbyChilver) August 1, 2017
Bobby here had already graduated, and he’d moved on to blacking out at Illini bars in Chicago!
I was with my fellow Block I members in the Horseshoe witnessing first hand the greatest Illini Football game alive ever seen.
— Brian Schaffer (@orangekrusher) August 2, 2017
Mr. Schaffer had the fortune and foresight to travel for the game itself. Ballsy. I dig it.
At home, in bed, recovering from an ACL reconstruction. Got up out of bed and hopped on one leg when Juice got that last 1st down needed.
— Robbie Jeffers (@WRJeffers10) August 1, 2017
Damn, dude. Respect.
Watching at my dorm room @ Illini Towers. Once it ended, ran to the alma statue at Green/Wright. Was a beautiful, beautiful time.
— Michael Berns (@MichaelBerms) August 1, 2017
I agree, Michael, it was a beautiful, beautiful time.
Next: Reaction to new Scout.com 2018 player rankings
Wherever you were, and whatever you were doing, cherish it. 2007 was a great year for Illinois football. Here’s to hoping Lovie and Josh can bring us back.