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Apr. 1—URBANA — Photos from both Houston and Champaign-Urbana on Saturday night had something in common: newspapers bearing a simple statement in orange and white.
Those "FINAL FOUR" Daily Illini papers were the brain child of Assistant Sports Editor Sahil Mattil, following a long-standing home-game tradition.
Visual Director Josh Fine is usually the one putting together those covers seen in the hands of the Orange Krush student section and other Illini supporters around State Farm Center.
"We've been doing this for a pretty long time, so I've been able to go back and see old designs in photos from games five or six years ago, and not much about the design formula has changed," Fine said. "It's still a super fun opportunity to see our product and our brand as a part of an experience for thousands of fans."
After seeing photos of players from other teams holding up hometown or university newspapers following big tournament wins, Mattil thought he could help provide the same.
"This Illinois team has a shot to make history," he said.
Mattil handed out copies to the team and staff after each win, and said they were excited to have them for their photos and to take home.
It was the same back on campus — where the Daily Illini staff weren't prepared for how much of a positive reaction they received.
"The students that climbed Alma, they were flashing our paper up there," Fine said. "We had our sports editor running around with 20 copies in hand like, 'Come grab one!'"
The next day, the Daily Illini office was met with visitors looking for their own copies, and a flood of emails and social media messages asking if they could get one, too.
Mattil and Fine said: Honestly? They're fresh out.
Days later, it's still an exciting time to be a student at the University of Illinois, they both said.
There was a rush Monday at noon to purchase tickets to the Final Four game in Indianapolis.
At $40 a pop and a limited number reserved for student fan sections, the tickets sold out fast.
"The ones that got it were super excited in class, trying to get into the portal, and ones that didn't get it were not so happy," Mattil said.
As someone who has dedicated a lot of time and energy to the team, he said it's been cool seeing more casual fans get hyped up and engaged.
UI Athletics Chief Commercial Officer Tom Moreland said the student tickets sold out in less than 15 minutes.
"The NCAA allotment is around 4,000 tickets for team and player guests, students, donors and fans and we quickly exceeded requests well above that number," Moreland said. "The support from Fighting Illini fans across the Champaign-Urbana community, the state of Illinois and the nation has been unbelievable."
Per tournament tradition, Friday's Illini open practice will be free to the public at 11 a.m. ET at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Illinois seats for the game itself are in sections 141-145, 151, 152 and 243-245 at the stadium.
Illini Pride plans to book two student buses to the game. Jillian Herter, Illini Pride and Orange Krush communications chair, said there are about 650 students headed to Indianapolis with the Krush, so there won't be a seat on the bus for everyone.
"The energy is going to be insane from students in Indy. Being a part of something so incredible as the Final Four and being able to cheer on the Fighting Illini is nothing short of amazing, and I know Orange Krush is ready to go crazy," Herter said.
The scene back on campus could look a little different than the last few weekends, at least from Mattil and Fine's perspective.
They said they're seeing cover charges of around $100 at Campustown bars.
"Never mind" was Fine's personal reaction to that. Now he's trying to gather friends from out of town for a more private watch party.
"I'm quite certain the rush to Alma Mater will be very, very large again if Illinois does win," he said.
Mattil said that even with getting to travel and see the games live, the energy on campus was so electric, he was a little jealous.
He remembered Illini center Zvonimir Ivisic asking him about the reaction back on campus after the win against Houston and, upon seeing a video of students swarming Alma, saying, "I wish I was there."
"Even when getting to the Final Four, you still want to be a part of that campus culture and feel that energy," Mattil said. "It's super special."
It isn't just students feeling it, either. Fine said professors are offering deadline extensions and the like, telling the students to just go enjoy this moment.
The Daily Illini's social media is seeing all-time attention too, he said, showing how the hype goes beyond campus.
"There are all these things where people are experiencing this joy for the first time in a very, very long time," Fine said.
Continue reading...
Those "FINAL FOUR" Daily Illini papers were the brain child of Assistant Sports Editor Sahil Mattil, following a long-standing home-game tradition.
Visual Director Josh Fine is usually the one putting together those covers seen in the hands of the Orange Krush student section and other Illini supporters around State Farm Center.
"We've been doing this for a pretty long time, so I've been able to go back and see old designs in photos from games five or six years ago, and not much about the design formula has changed," Fine said. "It's still a super fun opportunity to see our product and our brand as a part of an experience for thousands of fans."
After seeing photos of players from other teams holding up hometown or university newspapers following big tournament wins, Mattil thought he could help provide the same.
"This Illinois team has a shot to make history," he said.
Mattil handed out copies to the team and staff after each win, and said they were excited to have them for their photos and to take home.
It was the same back on campus — where the Daily Illini staff weren't prepared for how much of a positive reaction they received.
"The students that climbed Alma, they were flashing our paper up there," Fine said. "We had our sports editor running around with 20 copies in hand like, 'Come grab one!'"
The next day, the Daily Illini office was met with visitors looking for their own copies, and a flood of emails and social media messages asking if they could get one, too.
Mattil and Fine said: Honestly? They're fresh out.
Days later, it's still an exciting time to be a student at the University of Illinois, they both said.
There was a rush Monday at noon to purchase tickets to the Final Four game in Indianapolis.
At $40 a pop and a limited number reserved for student fan sections, the tickets sold out fast.
"The ones that got it were super excited in class, trying to get into the portal, and ones that didn't get it were not so happy," Mattil said.
As someone who has dedicated a lot of time and energy to the team, he said it's been cool seeing more casual fans get hyped up and engaged.
UI Athletics Chief Commercial Officer Tom Moreland said the student tickets sold out in less than 15 minutes.
"The NCAA allotment is around 4,000 tickets for team and player guests, students, donors and fans and we quickly exceeded requests well above that number," Moreland said. "The support from Fighting Illini fans across the Champaign-Urbana community, the state of Illinois and the nation has been unbelievable."
Per tournament tradition, Friday's Illini open practice will be free to the public at 11 a.m. ET at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Illinois seats for the game itself are in sections 141-145, 151, 152 and 243-245 at the stadium.
Illini Pride plans to book two student buses to the game. Jillian Herter, Illini Pride and Orange Krush communications chair, said there are about 650 students headed to Indianapolis with the Krush, so there won't be a seat on the bus for everyone.
"The energy is going to be insane from students in Indy. Being a part of something so incredible as the Final Four and being able to cheer on the Fighting Illini is nothing short of amazing, and I know Orange Krush is ready to go crazy," Herter said.
The scene back on campus could look a little different than the last few weekends, at least from Mattil and Fine's perspective.
They said they're seeing cover charges of around $100 at Campustown bars.
"Never mind" was Fine's personal reaction to that. Now he's trying to gather friends from out of town for a more private watch party.
"I'm quite certain the rush to Alma Mater will be very, very large again if Illinois does win," he said.
Mattil said that even with getting to travel and see the games live, the energy on campus was so electric, he was a little jealous.
He remembered Illini center Zvonimir Ivisic asking him about the reaction back on campus after the win against Houston and, upon seeing a video of students swarming Alma, saying, "I wish I was there."
"Even when getting to the Final Four, you still want to be a part of that campus culture and feel that energy," Mattil said. "It's super special."
It isn't just students feeling it, either. Fine said professors are offering deadline extensions and the like, telling the students to just go enjoy this moment.
The Daily Illini's social media is seeing all-time attention too, he said, showing how the hype goes beyond campus.
"There are all these things where people are experiencing this joy for the first time in a very, very long time," Fine said.
Continue reading...
