CHAMPAIGN — There weren’t many hard-core Fighting Illini tailgaters there, but those who were pronounced the new Grange Grove tailgate area — directly west of the entrance to Memorial Stadium — a good idea.
Conditions were tough for the debut Friday before the season-opener against Kent State — 94 degrees with an unforgiving sun in the late afternoon, followed by an extended thunderstorm 45 minutes before kickoff that prompted the evacuation of the area and delayed the start of the game — but there was plenty of space, free music, inflatables for kids and a lot of giveaways.