RANTOUL — The owner of a motel where Illini football players stayed during Camp Rantoul said new coach Lovie Smith's decision to end the team tradition will be a big blow to his business.
Meanwhile, the owner of another Rantoul business said she turned away bookings, assuming Camp Rantoul would return despite last month's unexpected change in coaches.
"I'm rather shocked," said Tim Mathews, owner of The Quarters Inn. "We're just a small company. It could be the nail in the coffin."
Mathews said the motel has had "to shoo quite a few people away" who have wanted to book rooms in August over the years.