PRIOR 2007 EVENTS

The Houston Illini Club will be attending the August 8th game between the Astros and the Cubs!  Note: Derek Harmon mailed out tickets for the game to those members who had sent in money and a self-addressed pre-stamped envelope.  Otherwise, tickets have been left at the "will call" window at Minute Maid Park.  Please contact Derek with questions. 

Plan to meet us at the old ball game!!!!

Saturday, February 17th @ 2:00 p.m.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet Street Houston, TX 77005 713.639.7300

Update from Event Organizer Graham Duhamel:  For those of you who are going to the Jan 5th Rockets - Jazz game, I picked up the tickets and mailed them out, so you should have received them by now.  As with last year's meeting after the game the group will gather by the Administration entrance across the hallway from sections 107 / 108.  We will be escorted to a Rockets media room where we will meet the players. 

Based on overwhelming interest the Houston Illini Club is pleased to announce our second annual event at the Toyota Center to watch the Rockets vs. Utah Jazz!  The game is on Friday, January 5th and will demonstrate the top caliber of former Illini Rocket Luther Head, and his former Illini teammates - now with the Utah Jazz - Deron Williams, Roger Powell and Dee Brown!

As with last year the Rockets have committed to provide the Houston Illini Club (joined by the Austin and Dallas Illini Clubs) an opportunity after the game to meet Luther, and hopefully Deron, Roger and Dee!  So, be sure to wear your orange and blue and bring your cameras.

So, on a first come first served basis for these limited tickets by December 10th please send your check for $34 per to the UIAC of Houston, P.O. Box 542314, Houston, TX 77254.  Please include with your check a self-addressed and stamped envelope, which we will use to return your tickets prior to the game.  Note that this offer only applies to active Houston Illini Club Members and your guests.

After the game we will be presenting each of these Illini stars the pictured Block I Fighting Illini cap.  If you'd like to join in our order include with your check $16.95 per cap, which we'll supply you at the game. 

P.S. - For those of you interested in supporting the Rockets annual "Tux and Tennies" charity event, where Luther Head will be present, please click on the following link.

From Coach Weber to the Houston Illini to Luther Head and the 120+ Houston and Austin Illini Clubs):

"What an exciting night, to have the Houston Rockets playing the Utah Jazz and to have Deron, Dee and Luther reunite. Those three formed a special bond at the University of Illinois and remain the closest of friends today. 

I only wish that Roger could have remained on the Jazz roster and was there tonight as well. He has worked very hard and I know his teammates are disappointed as well, but unfortunately that's the business side of the NBA.

As I think about the almost 30 years I've spent in college coaching, nothing can compare to the thrill and enjoyment I had coaching that 2004-05 team. I know I didn't recruit them, but as I told each of them when they left Illinois, I hope they consider me their coach. They obviously provided us countless great moments on the court, but as coach, what I enjoyed so much was being in practice with them every day, and watching their drive to improve and succeed. I've often said this, but no players I've ever had can match the competitiveness and determination of Deron, Dee and Luther.

They competed at whatever they did, whether it was basketball, ping pong, video games, anything. And that competitive drive spread to our entire team and allowed us to elevate our game to where we became one of the best teams in recent NCAA history. It was without question the best backcourt I've ever been fortunate enough to be around, and it has to rank among the best guard trios of all-time. Just think for a second about their amazing achievement, it might be unprecedented for THREE guards from the SAME team in the SAME season to be named All-Americans, but that's what Deron, Dee and Luther became. They all enjoyed such outstanding careers because of their unselfishness, work ethic, and dedication to the game.

Unfortunately I am not able to watch as many Jazz and Rockets games as I would like to see due to our busy season, but I watch ESPN News for the scores every night and look at the box scores every morning. I also try and call and text the guys to check in with them and see how everything's going.

They are all off to outstanding starts to their NBA careers, and have bright futures ahead. From talking to them, I know it means the world to them to have Illini fans such as yourselves show up at arenas across the country to cheer them on and offer your support.

I don't know if you've heard about the following story, but I think it sums up the passion of Illini fans. Mehmet Okur of the Jazz has a website so his family and friends in his home country of Turkey can keep up with him.

One day his entire journal entry was about Illini nation. He was going out to shoot before the game at Indianapolis against the Pacers. He walked onto the court and saw hundreds of fans in Orange cheering, and was confused because the thought "Indiana doesn't wear Orange, and I know we don't wear Orange."

Then he saw the fans cheer when Deron and Dee and Roger came into the arena and began signing autographs and taking pictures with the crowd. Mehmet was amazed at what he saw and said, "There must be something in the air or the water at that place. They sure love their players. I guess I have no choice but to go see a game in Illinois after I retire. Must be fun and a bit crazy."

What a tribute to our great fan base! Enjoy being reunited with Deron, Dee and Luther tonight and continue to support them throughout their NBA careers. It's that kind of support that makes Illini fans the best in the country.