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Apr. 3—Mylas Copeland, in-venue host and hypeman for the Fighting Illini, remembers saying at the beginning of the year that the men's basketball program had "everything in place to be a championship team."
Now, with the program headed to its first Final Four in 21 years, he thinks the team is capable of doing even more than what fans have seen up to this point.
"They still haven't played to their full potential," Copeland said. "They still haven't put together a full 40 minutes. If they do, they're one of the toughest teams I've ever seen. So if they play like they can play, I think we beat UConn and then whoever's sitting on the other side ... we've got the talent to beat them."
Among those cheering on the team is the Springfield Illini Club. Despite the fact that Copeland only launched the group a few weeks ago, the club has nearly 1,000 members, and about 500 people attended the Illinois vs. Iowa watch party this past weekend.
Copeland will host the club's watch party Saturday night at Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill, and he expects it to be their biggest event yet.
"I've tried to kind of replicate what we do inside the State Farm Center," Copeland said. "... I've done free-throw contests like we do over at the center, had a golf challenge like we've done. So just anything to make people feel like they're at the game."
Former Illini Sergio McClain was with Copeland during the most recent watch party and will also be in attendance at Saturday's event.
Closer to home, Danville's American Legion Post 210 will be holding another watch party and "carry-in," with fans invited to bring a dish to share. Doors open at 4 p.m.
"We have a tremendous amount of Illinois basketball fans, and we really pack the house on those days that we have these carry-ins," said Post Commander Danny Mullins. "And what's fantastic is everybody brings something that they've created themselves, so we have a tremendous amount of food. The camaraderie is fantastic, and the atmosphere is just ecstatic."
Further west, the St. Joseph-Stanton Fire Protection District will have the game on during its spaghetti and garlic bread dinner, which begins at 4 p.m.
However, as anyone who's taken a quick look around town — or social media — can see, fans haven't been waiting for Saturday to celebrate. Excitement has been bubbling up all week long, including in local schools.
Students and staff at Unity West Elementary in Tolono showed their support by wearing orange and blue on Wednesday, and Heritage CUSD No. 8 in Homer and Broadlands did the same on Thursday.
"We're excited to join communities across the state in celebrating the Illini's incredible run to the Final Four," said Superintendent Kimberly Norton. "There is definitely a sense of pride and excitement throughout our schools, and it has been fun to see that energy shared among our students and staff."
Although it seems likely that everyone in central Illinois has a little bit of orange in their closet somewhere, fans are certainly eager to add more, if sales from Campus Ink's NIL Store are anything to go by.
The business' Illini merch includes a special Final Four design that mimics the one printed by co-founder Jedd Swisher in 2005.
More than 5,000 shirts with the new design were sold to fans in the first 24 hours, and another 4,000 to 5,000 to retailers, said Campus Ink co-owner and CEO Steven Farag on Monday night.
"On Sunday we broke our all-time single day direct-to-consumer sales record, fueled by our home community in Illinois," the NIL Store shared on Instagram. "Illini sales drove 87% of this record."
The business recently got a helping hand from University of Illinois football players, who stopped by the Campus Ink warehouse earlier this week to assist with printing shirts.
Additionally, the NIL Store Live trailer has been making the rounds locally since Saturday night's win, popping up at sites such as Green Street in Campustown on game night, Briks Pizzeria in Mahomet, Busey Bank in downtown Champaign, The Crossing, Old Orchard Lanes in Savoy and Riggs Beer Company in Urbana.
"We are probably going to keep it here this weekend and figure out an Indy plan if they win," Farag said. "People in the community have been loving it, and we would rather just stay here."
For those looking to show off their spirit with a classic touch, Homestead Vintage Market in Savoy offers Illini clothing and memorabilia.
"We have a lot of collectibles, basketball, football, we have a lot of clothing, apparel," said owner Steve Jukes. "It just kind of depends on the vendors. ... Obviously, they're constantly searching for Illini collectibles. And there's a huge following of Illini collectors here in town."
While he's seen a little bit more interest in these items recently, he expects more of a spike once the Final Four concludes.
Jukes noted that in addition to collectors, visiting parents who are UI alumni also like to buy vintage items that remind them of their time on campus.
"I'm very excited for the Illini," he said. "It's been a really good season, so we've had quite a few students in here picking up merchandise."
There's also been some interest in more formal Final Four attire. Josh Hendricks with The Brass Horn in Decatur said that the business has heard from a couple of people who are interested in getting a copy of the custom Illini-colored sport coat that athletic director Josh Whitman wore while cutting down nets after Saturday night's game.
The item is one of several the men's clothing store made for Whitman.
Clothing stores aren't the only ones hoping to benefit from Illini fever; Glass FX in Champaign is offering a 25 percent discount on orange-and-blue fused-glass items — such as pendants, nesting plates and ornaments — through Saturday.
Additionally, multiple restaurants in central Illinois are offering Illini-themed beverages, such as:
* Blind Pig Brewpub, located in downtown Champaign, has an Illini Berry Smash cocktail on the menu. Owner Matt Monahan said the drink features gin, fresh raspberries, blueberries, lime juice, simple syrup, and Topo Chico.
* For Illini fans in Macon County, Bargenta is serving up a Final Four Fizz with vodka, blue curaçao, orange juice and lemon-lime soda.
* Looking for a non-alcoholic option? The Blend Spot in St. Joseph has an orange-and-blue iced tea featuring passionfruit and blue raspberry.
There are also themed goodies for any Illini fan with a sweet tooth, including doughnuts with orange and blue sprinkles at Parlor Doughnuts in Champaign and a Final Four special from The Main Scoop.
The ice cream parlor, which has locations in Mahomet, Monticello, Urbana and Paxton, is offering a $6 flight with four scoops of the customer's choice.
"It's been so fun seeing the excitement about the Final Four, and we are a huge Illini family," said co-owner Jessica Hanson.
So, the Hansons thought, what better way to celebrate than by offering their own Final Four lineup?
"We had a great turn-out from our communities (on Sunday) when we rolled out the special," Hanson said in a text. "It will continue through Saturday! Go Illini!"
Additionally, cottage bakery business Whipped Up Wishes is selling Illini cookie cakes, basketball cookies and cookies shaped like the classic block "I."
Owner Laura Bradbury, Champaign, is a "huge" Illini fan who's from the area and doubles as a full-time employee in UI's human resources department. She earned her bachelor's degree from the university in 2008 and her master's degree the following year.
"I've been getting flooded with requests from people," Bradbury said. "A lot of people are going to be having watch parties and want some treats."
All in all, it's a good time to be a part of the Illini family, Copeland said.
He added, "The number of people that have told me, 'Hey, you took a job as a hypeman and all of the sudden, they're making a run for the Final Four.' I said, 'Yeah, I'm just lucky.'"
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Now, with the program headed to its first Final Four in 21 years, he thinks the team is capable of doing even more than what fans have seen up to this point.
"They still haven't played to their full potential," Copeland said. "They still haven't put together a full 40 minutes. If they do, they're one of the toughest teams I've ever seen. So if they play like they can play, I think we beat UConn and then whoever's sitting on the other side ... we've got the talent to beat them."
Among those cheering on the team is the Springfield Illini Club. Despite the fact that Copeland only launched the group a few weeks ago, the club has nearly 1,000 members, and about 500 people attended the Illinois vs. Iowa watch party this past weekend.
Copeland will host the club's watch party Saturday night at Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill, and he expects it to be their biggest event yet.
"I've tried to kind of replicate what we do inside the State Farm Center," Copeland said. "... I've done free-throw contests like we do over at the center, had a golf challenge like we've done. So just anything to make people feel like they're at the game."
Former Illini Sergio McClain was with Copeland during the most recent watch party and will also be in attendance at Saturday's event.
Closer to home, Danville's American Legion Post 210 will be holding another watch party and "carry-in," with fans invited to bring a dish to share. Doors open at 4 p.m.
"We have a tremendous amount of Illinois basketball fans, and we really pack the house on those days that we have these carry-ins," said Post Commander Danny Mullins. "And what's fantastic is everybody brings something that they've created themselves, so we have a tremendous amount of food. The camaraderie is fantastic, and the atmosphere is just ecstatic."
Further west, the St. Joseph-Stanton Fire Protection District will have the game on during its spaghetti and garlic bread dinner, which begins at 4 p.m.
However, as anyone who's taken a quick look around town — or social media — can see, fans haven't been waiting for Saturday to celebrate. Excitement has been bubbling up all week long, including in local schools.
Students and staff at Unity West Elementary in Tolono showed their support by wearing orange and blue on Wednesday, and Heritage CUSD No. 8 in Homer and Broadlands did the same on Thursday.
"We're excited to join communities across the state in celebrating the Illini's incredible run to the Final Four," said Superintendent Kimberly Norton. "There is definitely a sense of pride and excitement throughout our schools, and it has been fun to see that energy shared among our students and staff."
Although it seems likely that everyone in central Illinois has a little bit of orange in their closet somewhere, fans are certainly eager to add more, if sales from Campus Ink's NIL Store are anything to go by.
The business' Illini merch includes a special Final Four design that mimics the one printed by co-founder Jedd Swisher in 2005.
More than 5,000 shirts with the new design were sold to fans in the first 24 hours, and another 4,000 to 5,000 to retailers, said Campus Ink co-owner and CEO Steven Farag on Monday night.
"On Sunday we broke our all-time single day direct-to-consumer sales record, fueled by our home community in Illinois," the NIL Store shared on Instagram. "Illini sales drove 87% of this record."
The business recently got a helping hand from University of Illinois football players, who stopped by the Campus Ink warehouse earlier this week to assist with printing shirts.
Additionally, the NIL Store Live trailer has been making the rounds locally since Saturday night's win, popping up at sites such as Green Street in Campustown on game night, Briks Pizzeria in Mahomet, Busey Bank in downtown Champaign, The Crossing, Old Orchard Lanes in Savoy and Riggs Beer Company in Urbana.
"We are probably going to keep it here this weekend and figure out an Indy plan if they win," Farag said. "People in the community have been loving it, and we would rather just stay here."
For those looking to show off their spirit with a classic touch, Homestead Vintage Market in Savoy offers Illini clothing and memorabilia.
"We have a lot of collectibles, basketball, football, we have a lot of clothing, apparel," said owner Steve Jukes. "It just kind of depends on the vendors. ... Obviously, they're constantly searching for Illini collectibles. And there's a huge following of Illini collectors here in town."
While he's seen a little bit more interest in these items recently, he expects more of a spike once the Final Four concludes.
Jukes noted that in addition to collectors, visiting parents who are UI alumni also like to buy vintage items that remind them of their time on campus.
"I'm very excited for the Illini," he said. "It's been a really good season, so we've had quite a few students in here picking up merchandise."
There's also been some interest in more formal Final Four attire. Josh Hendricks with The Brass Horn in Decatur said that the business has heard from a couple of people who are interested in getting a copy of the custom Illini-colored sport coat that athletic director Josh Whitman wore while cutting down nets after Saturday night's game.
The item is one of several the men's clothing store made for Whitman.
Clothing stores aren't the only ones hoping to benefit from Illini fever; Glass FX in Champaign is offering a 25 percent discount on orange-and-blue fused-glass items — such as pendants, nesting plates and ornaments — through Saturday.
Additionally, multiple restaurants in central Illinois are offering Illini-themed beverages, such as:
* Blind Pig Brewpub, located in downtown Champaign, has an Illini Berry Smash cocktail on the menu. Owner Matt Monahan said the drink features gin, fresh raspberries, blueberries, lime juice, simple syrup, and Topo Chico.
* For Illini fans in Macon County, Bargenta is serving up a Final Four Fizz with vodka, blue curaçao, orange juice and lemon-lime soda.
* Looking for a non-alcoholic option? The Blend Spot in St. Joseph has an orange-and-blue iced tea featuring passionfruit and blue raspberry.
There are also themed goodies for any Illini fan with a sweet tooth, including doughnuts with orange and blue sprinkles at Parlor Doughnuts in Champaign and a Final Four special from The Main Scoop.
The ice cream parlor, which has locations in Mahomet, Monticello, Urbana and Paxton, is offering a $6 flight with four scoops of the customer's choice.
"It's been so fun seeing the excitement about the Final Four, and we are a huge Illini family," said co-owner Jessica Hanson.
So, the Hansons thought, what better way to celebrate than by offering their own Final Four lineup?
"We had a great turn-out from our communities (on Sunday) when we rolled out the special," Hanson said in a text. "It will continue through Saturday! Go Illini!"
Additionally, cottage bakery business Whipped Up Wishes is selling Illini cookie cakes, basketball cookies and cookies shaped like the classic block "I."
Owner Laura Bradbury, Champaign, is a "huge" Illini fan who's from the area and doubles as a full-time employee in UI's human resources department. She earned her bachelor's degree from the university in 2008 and her master's degree the following year.
"I've been getting flooded with requests from people," Bradbury said. "A lot of people are going to be having watch parties and want some treats."
All in all, it's a good time to be a part of the Illini family, Copeland said.
He added, "The number of people that have told me, 'Hey, you took a job as a hypeman and all of the sudden, they're making a run for the Final Four.' I said, 'Yeah, I'm just lucky.'"
Continue reading...
