Nov. 16, 2007

Champaign, Ill. - Throughout the football season, the Big Ten Network has visited all 11 conference schools during its "Friday Night Tailgate" show. Besides previewing the weekend's game, the show set out to crown the campus with the best campus football experience of 2007. Tonight, Illinois was named the first ever "Friday Night Tailgate" Championship Series titlist.

The duo who have crisscrossed Big Ten country over the past three months, Jordan and Andy, were at Jupiter's II in Champaign, to present Illinois with the award Friday night. The Illini scored 209 points in the contest, edging Wisconsin (182), Ohio State (179), Penn State (146) and Purdue (137). The competition was broken down into five segments -- Old School, School of Thought, School Spirit, My School and School of Rock.

"The Big Ten universities not only have great academic reputations, but also great athletic programs and passionate alumni and fans," said Steve Greene, University of Illinois DIA Director of Development/Big Ten Network coordinator. "Considering all the great campuses across the Big Ten, winning this award is truly an honor. We appreciate what our fans have meant to what has been and continues to be an exciting football season for Illini Nation."