By Sean McDevitt
FightingIllini.com
There are two kinds of fans in this world—dedicated fans and fairweather fans.
There are dedicated fans across Illini Nation. You don't have to be in attendance at every game to be dedicated. They tune in to the broadcasts via radio, online, or on their televisions. They have their rituals and customs before tipoff or kickoff, and they stay true through and through.
One such group of dedicated fans come together for every Fighting Illini home football game. They come from Rockford and Champaign. One from California and a couple from Atlanta. This group has come together, in various forms, for nearly 25 years.
The Rockford contingent consists of John and Kris Paulsgrove and Bill and Babs Erickson. The left coaster is Jim Stotz. Residing currently in Atlanta are Jim and Jenny Gillespie. Lastly, the Champaign members include Kent Kasserman and Mary Lou Bedient. Each member has their own unique Illini story. Some married into the madness. Others are proud alums. All are Dedicated fans.
They call themselves the Gang of Nine.
THE BIG THREE
The Gang of Nine started as a gang of three. Jim Gillespie, John Paulsgrove, and Jim Stotz joined the Chi Psi fraternity on the University of Illinois campus in the 1960s. The three became close friends and have maintained that friendship for nearly 60 years.
"My path to the University of Illinois began back in 1935 when my father came to the campus as a Freshmen," said Stotz. "He played football for the Illini under Coach Zuppke from 1935-39. My fate, along with my twin brother's fate, was sealed after numerous trips downstate to watch the Illini with my Dad's old teammates. When we graduated from high school in 1963, we had our ticket punched to Illinois."
Stotz played varsity football under Coach Pete Elliott. He bounced off Dick Butkus during practice, which, unsurprisingly, he said was not fun. Additionally, he kicked the winning point to beat Ohio State in 1966 and was the tenth leading scorer in the Big 10 conference. After graduating with a degree in Applied Life Studies, he joined the Marine Corps and served in Vietnam. When he got back to the States, he went on to a 27-year career with the YMCA.
John Paulsgrove's father encouraged him to go to the University of Illinois after high school graduation. After receiving a small scholarship to Illinois, the choice was clear. The University allowed Paulsgrove to pursue both his love for sports and education.
Paulsgrove said, "As a student at Illinois, I was involved in the campus-wide intramural system, eventually becoming one of three Senior Intramural Managers. I was also Intramural Chairman for Chi Psi Fraternity many of those years. I earned a degree in education and even stayed an extra year to earn a Master's degree in 1968. Following a two-year stint in the Army, I began my education career in Rockford, Illinois, and retired as a Middle School Principal before mentoring young educational professionals through 2015."
For Jim Gillespie, he became a lifelong Illinois fan at ten years old.
"My parents took me to an Illini football game," said Gillespie. "I watched J. C. Caroline, my first Illini hero. We tailgated with my Mom and Dad eating fried chicken out of Dad's trunk with two of their married friends."
Gillespie graduated from the University of Illinois in 1967 and received his Master's in 1968. After graduation, he taught school and worked for two YMCA's before beginning a real estate career. From 2004-2012, he was president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Real Estate. He retired in 2013 and served two- and one-half years as Chairman Emeritus.
Jim Gillespie's wife, Jenny, attended Illinois State but has been an Illini fan since marrying Jim. "We watch all the games together, and Jenny has almost more Illini gear than I do," said Jim.
Jenny's uncle was Burdette Thurlby, who played basketball with Bill Erickson's father in the late 1940s and early 1950s and was his roommate. She has a more initial connection with Illinois as her grandmother, Marjorie Rowen, attended the University in 1911.
ROUNDING OUT THE NINE
In the latest incarnation of the Gang of Nine, Kent Kasserman and his wife Mary Lou Bedient have joined. Both graduates from Illinois, the couple reside in Champaign and play host with their Airbnb to athletes, parents, students, and people from all over the world when they visit campus. Additionally, both are instructors at the University of Illinois School of Social Work.
For Bill Erickson, it was easy to become an Illini fan. His father was a Collegiate All-American in basketball for the Illini in 1949. Although his father pleaded with him to go to a warm-weather school, Erickson only wanted to attend the University of Illinois.
He met his wife, Babs, as a senior at Illinois. After graduation, they married and moved to Rockford. Helping to establish the Rockford Area Illini Club, the pair were long-time friends with the Paulsgroves and ultimately joined the Gang of Nine.
"IT NEVER STOPS"
The combination of people in the group changed throughout the years. Early on, it was pretty much the three fraternity brothers who would go down to the games. Jim Stoltz's twin brother was also part of the first group. Over the years, they added the Paulsgrove and Erickson families. However, in the last 25 years, it's been this set group of nine.
For about ten years, the group would include the Gillespie's flying in from their home in New Jersey, getting picked up at the airport, and everyone meeting for Stadium Club and the game.
The most significant change happened in 2009. The group had been reserving hotel rooms for the home football game get-togethers, but it was starting to cramp their "party style." So, they started looking at real estate.
"Jenny and I bought a second home townhome/condo in Champaign to eliminate hotel rooms," said Gillespie. "That became our base of operation from our Friday afternoon greetings, dinner that evening, and then gameday. After the game, we'd cook out on the deck while watching football all evening."
The move also helped find a home for the group's overflowing Illini memorabilia. Gillespie said, "Jenny was happy to have a second home in Champaign because we could now move all my Illini posters, pictures, plaques, into our Champaign condo."
During the season, the group would often send texts flying about starters, recruits, and game day developments. The build-up would continue during game weeks culminating in the Friday get-togethers and Saturday game day. "It never stops," said Gillespie.
For a large group, you might think there are some rituals and superstitions they adhere to during a game week and game day. Surprisingly, there aren't many. A few special outfits and T-shirts come out, but not much else.
However, Gillespie recalled watching the Arizona come back game during the 2005 NCAA Basketball Tournament. When the team started mounting a comeback, being down nearly 20 points, he put his hands on his head in disbelief. "I never moved from this position until the game was over. I just was like this the whole time."
GIVING BACK
Whether leading Illini clubs or becoming donors to the athletic department, the Gang of Nine has always made a point of giving back to the University of Illinois.
For the Gillespies', education was the most critical factor in deciding to contribute.
"Over 20 years ago, it was suggested we raise our contribution level to endow an athletic scholarship, and we did," said Gillespie. "It's so important for us to help the kids that come here that maybe don't have the means. I want to be able to say to the University, 'Here's my contribution and use it in a way that's best for the kids.' I don't have an ego where I've got to have my scholarship go to a quarterback or a point guard. I don't care about that."
Additionally, the Gillespie's decided to leave half of their estate to the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Illinois.
Gillespie said, "I wanted to give back to the University I have always loved, who taught me how to develop into a man and who gave me 57-year best friends Jim Stotz and John Paulsgrove."
THE TRADITION CONTINUES
Wins and losses are not always the important thing. Sometimes it's just the traditions of coming together and making a brotherhood and sisterhood. The Gang of Nine will continue. It's what Dedicated fans do.
Gillespie said, "We realize, you know, you win some, you lose some, but we're always going to be there. We'll always come together to have a good time. Whatever the record, I don't care. I'm there. This group will continue to cheer on the Fighting Illini."
