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Top of the morning, Jan. 7, 2017

Related Topics: Outback Bowl, Marching band

I figured the Big Ten's dismal performance at this week's Outback Bowl — Florida 30, Iowa 3 — might have sucked the fun out of Blue Ridge High School's marching band trip to Florida.

I figured wrong.

"Being a lifelong Illini fan, I could think of no way better for the game to end," said band director CHRIS MITCHELL, who grew up in Champaign and whose father taught at the UI for 40 years. "Down with (Bruce) Pearl and pink locker rooms!"

By all accounts, students and staff had a ball during their trek to Tampa.