CHAMPAIGN — Turns out, the third floor of Memorial Stadium's west side was the place to be Friday night. Who was there? The No. 1 pick in the 1990 NFL draft, the 1994 Butkus Award winner and a two-time Super Bowl champion who once scored eight touchdowns in a game.
Jeff George, Dana Howard and Howard Griffith were joined by Hall of Famers, All-Americans and NFL draft picks during the stadium's 100th anniversary celebration gala at the Colonnades Club. On Saturday, many of the same stars will be back for Illinois-Michigan (2:30 p.m.
CBS). But Friday it was all about the building they all once called home. They didn't experience the luxury of the Smith Center, which has a bowling alley and a miniature golf course.
In fact, guys who played before the late 1990s, didn't have any kind of indoor facility. And the weight room was in the basement. The old place has been fixed up, modernized and, with some much-need renovations to the East and South ends, will be good to go for another century.
The timing of the weekend festivities worked out perfect for Griffith. He made the drive down from Chicago and is part of BTN's pregame coverage. He visits campus often for work and family reasons.
His son Houston is on Bret Bielema's staff. His past with the Illinois program "means a great deal" to Howard Griffith, "As I think back as a senior, it didn't have the meaning it has now because you've had a chance to look back," Griffith said. During Friday's shindig, Griffith recounted his recor.
