A jersey of men’s basketball senior guard Kylan Boswell recently seen on campus is quite unique: It’s about 5 feet tall and adorns the beloved campus statue Alma Mater.
Alma Mater received her new outfit just two days before Illinois’ Final Four appearance on Saturday.
Standing nearly 9 feet tall herself, Alma Mater’s get-ready routine looked a bit different than most people’s. According to Tiffany Rice, program development and logistics specialist in University Strategic Communications and Marketing, and the tailor behind the statue’s iconic look, decking Alma Mater out in Boswell’s jersey and signature headband was a time-consuming but rewarding project.
“This moment is just incredible,” Rice said. “Alma is such a powerful symbol for the University, and being involved in creating a new jersey for her … is truly special.”
Alma Mater stands with her arms wide open, so normal shirts would be impossible to put on. Instead, Rice said she often makes “ponchos,” so the University can easily drape the creations over Alma Mater’s head.
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Rice referred to a pattern she tailored to the statue’s measurements, but making the jersey still took Rice around 40 hours. She made all of the trim and lettering by hand.
“We wanted Alma to share in the excitement of the Final Four,” Robin Kaler, Chief of Staff and Vice Chancellor for Administrative Strategy, wrote in an email statement to The Daily Illini. “While we were dressing her today, I’m sure I heard her say she predicts Illinois will win it all! Also, she asked students not to hang on her arms. It makes her really tired.”
