Writing Illini
Fansided

Celebrating Illini sports with Bret Bielema, Andre Curbelo, Omar Payne

By Zain Bando

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 21: Andre Curbelo (5) of the Illinois Fighting Illini brings the ball up the court in the game against the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers during the first half in the NCAA Basketball Tournament second round at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 21, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 21: Andre Curbelo (5) of the Illinois Fighting Illini brings the ball up the court in the game against the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers during the first half in the NCAA Basketball Tournament second round at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 21, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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I had the unique opportunity to partake in a meet-and-greet with fellow Illini on July 25.

We’re less than a month away from kicking off the 2021-2022 football season, which also means that the countdown has officially begun for men’s basketball as well. As the sports seasons draw closer, Illinois Athletics decided to welcome fans and alumni for a celebration of a new era and a chance to meet some of their favorite athletes and coaches.

First, I’m a student at Illinois. I take great pride in saying that I bleed Orange and Blue nearly every day, whether people like it or not. When I first heard that Illinois was bringing new football head coach Bret Bielema, along with sophomores Andre Curbelo and Omar Payne, to Wrigley Field for the Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks game for a pre-game meet and greet, I knew I had to attend.

The event took place at Brickhouse Tavern, which is right next to a secure entrance that lets fans into Wrigley Field. On the second floor of the restaurant was where all of the bells and whistles took place.

My dad and I were two of the first people to arrive, and shortly thereafter, so did Bielema. The new coach wore a blue Illinois polo and had a bright grin, eager to meet everyone who had driven as short as 45 minutes or up to two hours to get a glimpse of the new ball coach.

Full disclosure, I have met Lovie Smith before, but never in my undergraduate journey have I ever seen him put on an event geared towards alumni as a way to give back to the fans that make the spirit of the Block I possible. Bielema was the exact opposite. He went to every table of the bar and back patio, interacting with fans for a solid 10-12 minutes before making more rounds. He was kind, dedicated, and grateful for the overwhelming support that greeted him.

Eventually, Bielema left the premises and that’s when the real fun began.

https://twitter.com/zainbando99/status/1419342093680529410?s=20

Enter Illini basketball, or the future at least

Another hot advantage of spending all day in Chicago was getting a chance to meet Curbelo and  Payne, two sophomores who will hopefully continue to steer the program in the right direction. And boy, were they excited.

Just a few weeks into the NIL movement, Curbelo and Payne welcomed everyone with open arms, and yes, Payne is significantly taller than me. But it’s okay, I embraced it.

https://twitter.com/zainbando99/status/1419362743551938562?s=20

And to top it all off, I was featured in Curbelo’s weekend recap video courtesy of Fighting Illini Productions. If that isn’t a home run (pun intended), I don’t know what is.

https://twitter.com/zainbando99/status/1420556778975150090?s=20

Overall, it was a day I will never forget, and the Cubs picked up a much-needed win, 5-1.

Next. Illini moving up in way-too-early top 25. dark

Let the return of Illinois sports begin as normally as possible. I-L-L!

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