Illini fans will have good reason to tune in early to BTN tonight. After this past offseason's construction of new Memorial Stadium landmark Grange Grove, it's finally time to kick off the football season -- and in style. Before taking the field against Kent State, the team will hop off the bus on First Street and walk down the red brick path into the stadium, surrounded by cheering fans in a Clemson-esque dramatic entrance.
If the Grove becomes all it's hyped-up to be, it should be a fantastic addition to the football fan experience. Illinois, which had one of the worst student attendance rates in the nation for football games last season, is looking to boost the atmosphere in a big way.