Somewhere, in a dark little corner of his cave, Taylor Bell was compiling this story.  In his 86 years as a sportswriter, Bell has never been more excited to type out some breaking news.  Illinois fans – the fans he truly, truly hates from the innermost chamber of his Grinch-like heart – will have to wake up to the news that their top recruit is reneging and heading to Iowa.  On Thanksgiving, no less.

My guess is that Bell could hardly type this fast enough.   This man – who simply despises Illini football the same way I hate Blaine Gabbert and you hate Jimmy Claussen – had to eat these words back in June when Fiedorowicz verballed to the Illini.  Now, he’s been given the opportunity to vomit them back up for you and I to read.  On Thanksgiving, no less.

What’s that?  You don’t think Bell hates you and me?  Read this.  He hates us, and our little coach, too.

Unfortunately, this time, he wins.  He gets to stick another pin in his Ron Zook voodoo doll, and we just have to take it.  We’re 3-7. One of our top 10 recruits this decade just bolted for Iowa.  We’re 20 point dogs in a non-conference game tomorrow.  I would add this to my “we will have our revenge someday – yes, we will have our day” list, but the cache is full.  I just need to sit down, shut up, and take it.

Which is what I intend on doing tomorrow.  I’ll watch, for sure. Couldn’t skip it if I tried. I’ll even talk myself into a shocker a few hours before the game (you know, with Juice back and a defense that has started to play a little better each game…”).  But for the most part, I’ll just have to sit there and take it.  I’ll have to watch their 1 returning starter defense shut down our 9 returning starters offense.  I’ll have to watch their 2-star offensive linemen push around our 4-star defensive line.  And as Mardy Gilyard returns a kickoff for a touchdown, ruining the only remaining positive from this season (“well, our kickoff coverage is greatly improved”), I’ll be reduced to “thank you sir – may I have another.”

But you know what?  I still love this team.  I still will be excited at 10:15 tomorrow morning, wishing the clock would hurry up.  I’m glad I’ll be in Champaign next weekend to cheer for our seniors.  I’m already handicapping the QB competition in spring ball.  I came to truly love college football while on campus, and realized years later how fortunate I am to have a BCS team.  Fate could have landed me at St. Louis University, where I’d spend my fall cheering on the soccer team.  But I have a seat at the table.  It’s an obstructed view, but at least it’s a seat.

I’m reminded of the lobby of my Los Angeles hotel a few years ago on New Years Eve.  My friends and I were headed to Manhattan Beach for the day, and we headed down to the lobby of our hotel.  As the elevator doors opened, I saw 6 orange shirts.  As we rounded the corner towards the front doors, I saw a dozen more.  Illini fans – Illini Nation, as Taylor Bell likes to disparage call us – everywhere, wearing their colors.  I was so geeked up that I made my friends wait while I went back up to the hotel to change into some orange.  What was I thinking with that blue t-shirt?  The Illini had descended on Pasadena (finally), and I needed to represent.  I was never more proud to wear orange.

23 months later, here I sit, having to just take it.  My Arkansas coworker is making bowl plans.  My Minnesota boss gets to watch his team over the holidays.  And I have to sit at home and take it.

Cincinnati 41, Illinois 20