Sept. 5, 2008

The Illinois Renaissance is complete; the celebration has begun. The massive, $120 million-plus, two-year renovation project at historic Memorial Stadium is being unveiled to Illini fans this weekend. More than 60,000 fans will go through the turnstiles tomorrow to witness not only the home opener, as the Fighting Illini take on Eastern Illinois, but they'll see some of the Orange and Blue's brightest gridiron stars honored during the contest.

Fans voted on-line during the spring to determine the Top 10 Illini in each position group to have played at Memorial Stadium over the years. Eighty former Illinois football players were selected from amongst the quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers, defensive backs and specialists. Fourty-seven of those 80 will be on campus this weekend, and most of those were on hand Friday night to enjoy the inaugural event at the stunning Colonnades Club in the brand new stadium-west structure.

Those former players were greeted by Director of Athletics Ron Guenther, Head Football Coach Ron Zook and Varsity "I" Director Chris Tuttle and partook of hors d'oevres, but most notably, they thoroughly enjoyed meeting Illini gridders from different eras, as well as renewing friendships with teammates, many of which began more than 30 years ago at the University of Illinois.

The common themes in a great many conversations included the pride in Illinois' football resurgence and the marveling over the magnificence of new-look Memorial Stadium. To a man, the former players have responded extremely positively to the aggressive efforts of Guenther, Zook and their staffs in extending invitations to them to remain an active part of the Illini family. Hear what several of the honorees had to say in this VIDEO of conversations with DB Henry Jones, 1987-90; QB Kurt Kittner, 1998-2001; DB Chris Green, 1987-90; K Dan Beaver, 1973-76; and LB Scott Studwell, 1973-76.

One of the highlights of the evening was assembling five former Illinois players who were selected to the College Football Hall of Fame for a photo. Check out the picture, along with a number of others taken during the evening's festivities in this PHOTO GALLERY.

The 80 honored athletes will be spotlighted by videos on the stadium scoreboard prior to Saturday's game, and they'll be on the field to be introduced to the crowd (by positions) during various breaks during the contest.