Night games became feasible in Memorial Stadium following installation of lighting upgrades as part of the 1974 “Golden Anniversary” fundraiser, so-named as it marked 50 years since the Galloping Ghost trounced the Wolverines during the stadium’s dedication in 1924. Since that time, Memorial Stadium has had a few memorable evenings of Illini football.
Before the Illini host the Nittany Lions on Friday evening, let’s take a trip down memory lane and remember some of the best night games in Memorial Stadium’s history.
September 23, 2000 - Illinois 31, Michigan 35
As was often the case in the Big Ten until fairly recently, night games at Memorial Stadium were something of a rarity.