Tradition makes saying goodbye difficult
By Jeff Armstrong
IV Leader Staff, Mar 15, 2007
A tradition is something very special to a group or
family, especially when it has been going on for over 81 years.
Whether it’s a holiday or an anniversary, tradition is one of
the few pure things left in this world. But no tradition is known better in
Illinois college sports than Chief Illiniwek’s halftime dance. And on Wednesday
Feb. 21, Chief Illiniwek preformed his final dance.
What also made the night special was not only was it his
final dance, but it was the senior’s last home game against the University of
Michigan.
The Fighting Illini won and Senior Warren Carter scored 14
points to lead the team in his final game at Assembly Hall, but that wasn’t the
only reason why 16,000 came to the game.
No offense, Illini basketball team. Before the game, Orange
Krush members passed out black shirts outside while they waited for hours to be
let in.
As Chief Illiniwek took the floor for the last time, a video
montage of chiefs past played on video screens above the court.
After the halftime dance, hundreds of students and others in
the normally orange-filled arena shed their shirts to reveal black T-shirts worn
underneath, mourning the loss of the chief.
“I feel like a big part of the Illinois tradition has been
taken away,” said Orange Krush member Pat Sanchez. “Along with many of my
colleagues, the Chief was a very enjoyable part of football and basketball
games, and it's too bad that people have to put such a big spotlight on the
Chief when there are more important issues to be dealt with.”
Chief Illiniwek came dancing out of the tunnel as usual and
did his same dance routine. Once he was done he walked out with his hands folded
over, Indian style, and left with the crowd in a standing ovation.
But the Chief wasn’t ready to say goodbye just like that. He
then walked back out, welcomed with cheers, and bowed goodbye to the fans .
The decision by the university's board of trustees came after
two decades of protests stating Chief Illiniwek portrayed a degrading image of
American Indians, rather than instilling pride in the university.
"To me the chief is spirit," said Paul Bruns, a retiree who
worked for the university for 38 years. "Why did (American Indians) dance? They
danced for spirit."