By Sean McDevitt
FightingIllini.com

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When the Fighting Illini Football family returns to campus each year for the annual football reunion weekend, its non-stop laughter, bragging, and "remember whens?" The Varsity "I" event has grown each year, welcoming back former players, managers, coaches, staff, and their families.

One thing was evident among all the attendees: this is a brotherhood.

"We talk all the time with recruits about how this isn't just a four-year decision, it's a lifetime decision and I don't think there's any better demonstration of that than this reunion," Athletic Director Josh Whitman said. "When you finish playing here and you start coming to this reunion as an alumnus you start to realize you are part of something so much bigger than yourself, it's that brotherhood.

"All the guys who wore the uniform and suited up in this stadium, it's something that binds all of us together. Guys come here from every background, every experience, every geographic location. This is the thing we have in common and it's pretty powerful."

Video highlights playing on the big board inside the stadium and on monitors inside sparked plenty of conversations, but it was seeing familiar faces and being on campus that solicited the most emotion.

"It's a great feeling to see these guys," said Kevin Mitchell, co-captain of the 2008 Rose Bowl team. "Swapping stories and catching up is such a blessing."

Many of the former players hadn't been back to campus in several years. Troy Pryor, who played linebacker on the 2006 team, said, "It's always great to come back. When I walked into the Indoor facility the nostalgia just hits you. The smell of the turf is so ingrained in my pores."

College Football Hall of Fame member and 2018 Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Jim Grabowski said how great it was to be back, hang around and see guys he hadn't seen in a while. "New faces, old faces. It's always great," he said.

Throughout the night there were plenty of smiles, selfies and bear hugs.

"One of my teammates just had a baby and I'm engaged," said Pryor. "Now, we're at the table talking about weddings."

Tim Simpson, winner of the Dike Eddleman Athlete of the Year in 1992, repeated the same sentiments,

"This is always a great time of year. You always look forward to the spring and see some faces you hadn't seen in a long time. I think the fact that you have a common ground and everyone has orange and blue blood here. Seeing people from the 50s and 60s. It's just a great time."

Soon the talk turned toward the current program and Coach Lovie Smith.

"I love the direction it's going," said Simpson. "We just have to keep continuing the positive momentum that we're seeing. The last couple of weeks we've had interest from some incredibly talented recruits and I know the goal is to make Illinois a destination."

"I think Lovie has it turned around," Grabowski said. "The only way you get it turned around is to get players. Casey Stengel once said you win with players and I know all the coaches know that."

The oldest attendee was Vern Ingalsbe who played in the late 40s. At 92 years young, he's seen several Illinois football teams take the field.

"I've been to every one of these reunions and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon."