The 2012 football season sure did mark the “dawn of a new era” — an era of utter disappointment, that is.

As a member of the Marching Illini, I stood in Memorial Stadium for the entirety of every home football game this season. And it’s not a bragging point when I say that not many others can say the same. As the season progressed and the Illini’s record continued to be bottom-heavy, I watched the stands thin, and the mass exodus of fans leaving the stadium during the second half increase. I listened to friends gripe about the losing streak and their loss of hope and confidence in the team.

As a tour guide for Illinois, it has been difficult to answer questions about school spirit on campus, because frankly, there isn’t any.

Until now.

While Memorial Stadium closes down for the year, Assembly Hall is heating up, and fast. The Illini men’s basketball team is currently undefeated and ranked No. 10 in the country, the first time the Illini have broken the top ten since 2006. 

The team is still very early into its regular season, as they have not played any conference games yet.

But Illinois’s win against then-No. 10 Gonzaga (we were ranked No. 13 at the time) on Dec. 8 is a promising sign that this season will be an exciting one, and one that can hopefully overshadow the stain of the football season. Because as much as the University is about academics, the quality of athletics plays a big part in the atmosphere of campus and how others look at the University.

When a school can boast a top-50 ranking by the U.S. News & World Report and either a successful basketball or football team, its attractiveness increases exponentially for prospective students. And most importantly, current students can be excited about going to games and can take part in the spirit that is so closely associated with a Big Ten university. After all, college really isn’t all about academics. We’ve got to have fun too. It would do the University a huge favor if the team can continue to be a powerhouse. There’s a long way yet to go in the season, hopefully bringing excitement that flows out of Assembly Hall and into the spirits of the students on campus. The team can bring meaning to the new motto coined by the Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics: “Illinois. Our state. Our team.” Let’s put our faith and support behind this team.

Go  Illini!

Kirsten is a sophomore in Media. She can be reached at [email protected].