Good Reads

Good Reads: 10/21/19

The biggest Illini football win in decades, serious discourse on the pedestrianization Green Street, and much more round out today's Good Reads.

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Saturday proved why we pay attention to the Illini even when they're down

It gets hard to constantly follow/root for the Illini, but Saturday showed why we do this to ourselves. We sat through Eastern Michigan for this. We stay in Memorial Stadium until 11 pm watching Nebraska carve up our defense like Rodin's Thinker, knowing in the back of our minds what the outcomes are going to be before we even tune in.

And yet we watch, tied desperately to an emotional investment that hasn't paid a serious dividend in about a decade, all the while becoming colloquially known for our underachievement.

But we care because we know it'll be worth it. We do it because of days like Saturday. When's the last time the University of Illinois led Sportscenter?

Fandom's a goofy thing, but anyone who's been following the Illini through the mud knows that the sleeping giant fan-base is waiting for any excuse to come back. The University's alumni base is simply too massive for it not to. The giant might not wake up for a while, but Saturday should be a preview of how amazing it can be, and could be in perpetuity.

I-L-L (can't remember the last time I typed that non-facetiously)

Here are some good takes:

Whoever runs the PA trolled Wisconsin pretty well (they play "Jump Around" before every 4th Quarter at their stadium):

People aren't afraid to wear their Illini merch any more:

Kam's closed (sort of)

But folks didn't give it up without a fight:

Report: 2 Illinois routes among Amtrak’s worst performing

Amtrak’s Illini and Saluki trains run between Union Station in Chicago and Carbondale in Southern Illinois.

The Chicago Tribune reports that the Office of Inspector General for Amtrak released a report Thursday revealing that only 6% of northbound Illini trains arrived within 15 minutes of their scheduled time during the 12-month period ending last September. Only 17% of southbound Saluki trains arrived on time, and 18% were late by more than an hour.

Very cool.

(Associated Press)