Football
March 25, 2022
Gabby Hajduk
Feature
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August 28, 2021 was a monumental day for head coach Bret Bielema and the Illinois football program. It marked the official start of Bielema’s tenure leading the Illini on the field, which was opened by a win over Nebraska.
But after having several months to reflect on that day, Bielema continues to remember one part of it the best — the fans at Memorial Stadium. That Saturday was the first time Illini fans had been back at the stadium since the end of the 2019 season.
In Bielema’s postgame press conference he started his opening statement with a thank you to over 40,000 fans, including a packed student section, that were in attendance for his coaching debut. He noted his players reacted well to that energetic atmosphere.
That first game was a significant indicator of what Bielema hopes to see for this program — a crowded Memorial Stadium every time the Illini go to battle on Zuppke Field. So following the first spring practice, Bielema met with 2021 first-year ticket holders over Zoom who bought into the Illini product before they even saw it last fall and have since renewed to spend another season at Memorial Stadium. The support and confidence that group expressed in Bielema from the start still resonates with the coach and his staff.
“It was great to Zoom with our 2021 first-year season ticket holders who have renewed for 2022 after our first spring practice,” Bielema said. “To see the passion of our Illini famILLy who are bought in with season tickets was energizing. Our players…
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