When head coach Bret Bielema was hired at Illinois back in November, one of his first commitments to the program was strengthening relationships with high school football programs in the state. He started by calling every high school football head coach in Illinois along with leaders within the IHSA.
Behind the scenes, Bielema and the Illini program had been thinking of other ways to honor the tradition of Illinois high school football. The department started by putting the IHSA coaches Hall of Fame wall back up after it was temporarily removed during the construction of the Smith Center.
But in order to honor the entire history of IHSA football, Bielema and the Illini staff decided on building a Illinois High School State Champions wall. The display would showcase the most recent 1A-8A state champions while also recognizing every championship team in IHSA history.
"Every state champion of every year of every class is on that wall," Director of High School Relations Pat Ryan said. "To me that means something. So for us to reach out and say, we value high school football coaches, we value high school football programs. We want kids to know that, to know that we're all connected. Those relationships are going to be so important."
Ryan, an IHSA Hall of Fame coach himself, joined the Illini staff under Bielema after a 30-year coaching career at Metamora High School. As a winner of two state titles and seven state championship appearances, Ryan believes the new display is not only a unique way to show appreciation to Illinois high school football, but it also tells young kids in the state that they are valued.
While Ryan said there have always been a relationship between the Illini and high school football coaches, he has been excited to see the increased efforts Bielema and his coaching staff have made to spend more time on in-state programs.
"I think Coach B sensed the fact that there was a disconnect for whatever reasons," Ryan said. "It doesn't really matter why because that's all in the past. But from the very moment he got here, he said, 'we're going to reconnect with high school coaches and high school programs in the state of Illinois and that's going to be a priority.'"
The wall, located in the Great West Hall of Memorial Stadium features the helmet of all eight state champions from the most recent season. Within the display, the winners of each state championship are written out in chronological order by classes.
With the championship games returning to Memorial Stadium in 2022 and every other year after that, Ryan can't wait to see memories of past games relived and for the display to be changed every year.
"The message that it sends is, it's important to the University of Illinois," Ryan said. "That is a recognition completely separate of any other recognition. It's a reach out saying, 'we value the fact that the state championships are here and we want to recognize the history.'"
Fans will be able to see the wall in person for the first time at the Illini's home game against Charlotte on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT and tickets are available at FightingIllini.com/tickets.
