CHAMPAIGN — One by one, the Flyin' Illini were introduced during halftime of the Illinois-Penn State game at State Farm Center on Saturday afternoon. The place they called the Assembly Hall back in 1989.The fans welcomed their heroes, with the cheers rising for each name: Marcus Liberty, Stephen Bardo, Lowell Hamilton, Larry Smith, Kendall Gill, Nick Anderson and Kenny Battle.
They saved the loudest and longest applause for Lou Henson.
As they should have.
Wearing his familiar orange jacket, like the ones he rocked during his Hall of Fame career, Henson was the star of the show.