By Sean McDevitt
FightingIllini.com
If you've gone to any Fighting Illini sporting event in the last couple of years, chances are you've seen Tiffany Hand. From softball to football, baseball to basketball, and nearly every sport in-between, Tiffany is there rooting for her favorite Orange and Blue teams.
On one particular night, Tiffany is cheering on the University of Illinois Women's Basketball team in a matching cheerleader outfit. She matches the cheer squad moves and yells for her favorite players to score.
Tiffany says she loves cheerleading the most and she practices her cheers at each game. For this game, Sami Bourjas is her favorite cheerleader. Her father, Bill, smiles knowing her favorites change with each sport.
She's sitting in a row right in front of the cheerleaders and right in front of several men's basketball players taking in the game. When possible, she brings her friends to the games, and they yell, scream and cheer on the team no matter the score.
Tiffany said, "I'll sit with Darren [Wolken] and Patrick [Tessene], and we go (makes the sound of a roaring crowd)."
Under Their Wing
The Hand family has been fans of Illinois athletics for years. However, the last two and a half years have been bittersweet. In 2016, Bill's wife, Cindy, suffered a severe stroke and is currently in a nursing home. Since then, Illinois student-athletes and coaches have come forward to help.
"They all kind of adopted Tiffany and they've really taken her under their wing," said Bill Hand. "We've had cheerleaders come over to help her get ready for Prom. We've had a football player come and go trick or treating with her. We've had other athletes stop by the house to spend time with her. We've had athletes go to the nursing home to spend time with my wife. It's a horrible situation that we're in, yet U of I athletes are just phenomenal."
Tiffany's favorite sports and student-athletes are numerous and trying to pin her down is impossible. From women's basketball student-athletes Alex Wittinger and Brandi Beasley to football student-athletes Mikey Dudek and Nick Allegretti, she rattles them off. However, she does have a particular fondness for Barry Houser and the Marching Illini.
Tiffany said, "I like the band and Barry. He's so cute."
Tom Jones Challenger Baseball
Bill Hand is one of the driving forces with the Tom Jones Challenger Baseball League in Champaign. The Tom Jones Challenger League is designed to give children with varying degrees of physical or mental challenges the ability to play baseball. The field is at AMBUCS Park on East University in Urbana.
Tiffany has played since she was old enough to hold a bat.
When asked if any of the baseball or softball players gave her any tips she smiled and said, "All the boys."
David Craan and other members of the Illini baseball team have helped as Challenger League volunteer buddies helping the players achieve fun in the field, on the bases, and at the plate.
Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman took an enthusiastic interest in the Challenger League and helped maintain an Illini Day where coaches, student-athletes, and administrators come out to be buddies.
"What strikes me the most about Tiffany is how much love she has to give," Whitman said "There's not a person in this Athletics Department who doesn't know and appreciate what Tiffany means to Illinois sports. Her support is unconditional."
After experiencing Illini Day at Challenger Baseball, gymnastics head coach Justin Spring called and said he was bringing his whole team to be buddies the following week.
"Whenever I see Josh Whitman I always tell him about who stopped by to see my wife or to see Tiffany, and he's always very appreciative," Bill said. "These kids, they talk to Tiffany all the time. They come out and help with her ballgames. They're taking really great care of her."
Making A Difference
Over the years, Tiffany has made an impression.
After spending time with Tiffany, countless student-athletes and coaches have been moved to service. A great example is recently graduated offensive lineman, Nick Allegretti. After spending time with Tiffany as a Challenger League buddy, he took it upon himself to be a volunteer and board member of the Tom Jones Challenger Baseball League.
"Tiffany is one of the best Illini fans ever! Whenever we had a game or I went to another Illini event, it was almost a guarantee that Tif would be there with a huge smile and her Orange and Blue on," Allegretti said. "I am so grateful to know her and her whole family. They are amazing people and true Illini!"
Bill Hand is continually surprised by the impact his daughter has made with Illinois student-athletes. One of those surprises was former softball player Allie Bauch.
"Her hometown newspaper did a feature on Allie during her senior year, and they had a picture of Tiffany in it," Bill said. "One of the things that really struck me was Allie mentioned one of the biggest impacts she had playing softball at Illinois was meeting a kid with Down Syndrome. She talked about Tiffany and how it made a difference in her life. These kids might go on and play pro at the next level, but when you can have a child with a disability change your life forever, you can't hide that."
Next time you attend an Illinois athletic event, look for Tiffany Hand. She'll be the one decked out in Illinois gear or maybe her favorite cheerleading outfit. You'll see her laughing as the band tries to influence a free throw with a silly chant. You'll see her doing the same routines as the cheerleaders. You'll see her yell loudly every time one of her Illini friends scores a basket, a touchdown, a run, or an ace.
And when it's all over, win or lose, you'll see they joy that Illinois' number one fan got from spending a few hours doing what she loves.
