By Sean McDevitt
FightingIllini.com
With a celebration of past, present, and future as the theme of this year's Fighting Illini Men's Basketball reunion, you might think Charles Dickens was in charge with Christmas just around the corner.
The Varsity I event drew more than 50 former players, managers, coaches, and their families. A breakfast event started off the festivities followed by an Illinois Men's Basketball victory over UNLV and a reception in Club 53 in State Farm Center.
"When you recognize the fact that we've got guys here that played in the 50s, 60s, 70s all the way up through last year is just a fun group of people who have been great Illinois basketball players, managers, and fans," said Rod Cardinal, Coordinator of Special Projects for Men's Basketball. "It's really a terrific opportunity to see them all back."
An Illini For Life
Reunions are well-known for generating a feeling of nostalgia.
Ryan Baker, former Fighting Illini basketball manager and current CBS 2 Chicago lead sports anchor echoed the idea, "You know when I come back, whether it's doing a coach show with basketball or football or coming to a game, there's no greater feeling than once you get off on Exit 235. Once you turn on Kirby, go under the viaduct, and you see Memorial Stadium and State Farm Center and it all comes flooding back."
For many, coming back is a privilege.
"I've been coming back here since I left 30 years ago," said Kenny Battle, captain of the 1989 Flyin' Illini team. "It's an honor, but once you wear the orange and blue you're dedicated to the program."
Being a part of the Fighting Illini basketball family is important, but being an alum is equally important.
Take a stroll around State Farm Center and the history of Illinois Basketball is everywhere. From the jerseys hanging from the support beams to the displays inside the Mannie L. Jackson Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame.
"You look up in the rafters and you see these names," said Battle. "It's a history. Once you get into the basketball fraternity, I call them, that's for life. No matter whether you played or didn't play, you were on that roster, and your name was in the book, you're a part of the family. You don't have to play one minute. You're an Illini for life."
Truly Special
While these types of reunions have happened in the past, the current coaching staff is making an effort to closely align the current team with former players and managers.
"One of the things that Coach Underwood has certainly professed is trying to perpetuate this basketball family and trying to connect with guys who have worn the Illinois jersey in particular, wanting them to always know that they're welcome here, that we embrace them here," said Cardinal. "Coach talks about building a program, not just to have great teams. Building a program. Part of that program is to have this type of environment where our former players and managers can come back and be a part of it."
"Brad understands the history of the program," Baker said. "It means something to him. It's tough with young people because they don't always know. We have to bring guys back and share the history because if you don't know your history you don't know where you're going."
Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood addressed the reunion after the UNLV game. Hoarse and happy, he let the honored guests know exactly how he felt about the group.
"Everyone in this room is why I came here," said Underwood. "It is rare that you have a family like this. I tell our players all the time when they wear the jersey for the last time that there's this group that you can come and join and have the best time of your life telling the stories about your career. It's truly what makes this program special."
Stick Together
Led by Rod Cardinal, Steve Lanter, and Larry Lubin, members of University of Illinois men's basketball family recently created a scholarship fund in honor of Coach Lou Henson and his wife, Mary, providing former basketball players degree completion opportunities.
Named the Lou and Mary Henson Men's Basketball Academic Assistance Fund, it will be used for Illini men's basketball student-athletes who wish to return to the University of Illinois to complete their undergraduate degrees. The first scholarship will be awarded beginning Fall of 2019.
"Maybe these programs are all around the country and maybe they're not," said Steve Lanter, a guard on the Fighting Illini basketball late 70s squad. "But if they're not, then you have a selling point that the family of Illinois basketball is going to stick together."
The Lou and Mary Henson Academic Assistance Fund is a game-changer for former Illini student-athletes.
For many, the basketball reunion was an opportunity to come and see Coach Henson and reminisce. It was just as important for him to have the opportunity to reconnect as well.
"You know, it's great to go to the game. We enjoyed that and we won it. But it's nice to be here with people we've known for a long time," Coach Henson said. "Friends, players, we've got all of them here. When you coach players and you have close friends... these are people we've known forever. So, it's good to see them all."
Watching former players, managers, and their families interact with Coach Henson and his wife, Mary, you could feel the love in the room. For example, Deon Thomas sat with Coach Henson for several minutes and never once let go of his hand. The line to say a few words was always long.
"To be around our family and then to be around the Hensons, it's fantastic," said Larry Lubin, also a member of the late 70s men's basketball squad and best friend of Lanter. "You know what they've done for us. The environment of success that they created for us as men, for our team.
"How that has transpired across the university and the community and all the things they've done. The fund is a way for all of us together to give back to the community the way they've given so much more over 40 years now. We get a chance to do something really special here. Plus, any time we're around them now it's really great because we don't have to worry about making a turnover or missing an assignment."
