Chief Illiniwek's Last Dance

As I stated in an earlier blog, we have been hearing about the potential loss of Chief Illiniwek for close to twenty years. When the news first broke, it was met with disbelief.

People said it would be impossible for the University of Illinois to part with a symbol as popular as the Chief. This day, the day after the Chief’s last performance, would never happen.

As the years passed, we heard many people shout the praises of the beloved Chief. They yearned that the NCAA and the University would forget all the talk of sending the Chief away.

Many fans became downright angry, ranting and raving about how there was only a few people who did not want the Chief and that the majority of people wanted the Chief to stay.

Then, once the NCAA laid down the law and the University began to make statements they may make a decision, some of the angry voices died down (but not all) and there was a sadness in the land. Many of the Chief supporters had given up and were to depressed to fuss anymore.

Then came last night. One last hurrah. One final dance.

(I admit, I did not see it live, but will likely see it on ESPN or somewhere else soon.)

The proof that Urbana-Champaign has finally accepted the loss of the mighty Chief is in the final score. Then fans did not go home after half-time, but cheered their weak Illini basketball team to a 54-42 win over Michigan.

So there you have it. Disbelief, yearning, anger, depression, acceptance. Unlike recent scientific studies, these five stages of grief took nearly twenty years.

Is everyone over the passing of the Chief? No, and I do not expect them to be. Many people invested a lot into the Chief.

The time is now to move on and remember the Chief for what he was. It is a new day and a new century. Long live the Chief.