John Paul Producer Perspectives
Being a producer of the Memorial Stadium documentary fed four of my passions: journalism, television, history and Illinois athletics. Realizing that stadium renovation was about to start, I began working on the documentary prior to the 2006 football season. I knew this would be a good time to document the iconic campus structure. As a U of I graduate and Illini fan for more than 30 years, I had a fascination with the athletic aspect of the stadium, but didn’t fully appreciate the historical significance until my research began.
I developed the title of the documentary, Memorial Stadium: True Illini Spirit from lyrics in “March of the Illini,” part of the famous Three-in-One performance by the Marching Illini. During the Three-in-One, you hear the band sing:
We are marching for dear old Illini
For the men who are fighting for you
Here’s a cheer for our dear Alma Mater
May our lover for her ever be true
While we’re marching along life’s pathways
May the Spirit of old Illinois
Keep us marching and singing
In true Illini Spirit
For our dear old Illinois.
I believe “True Illini Spirit” accurately captures the essence of how the stadium came to be — the spirit of the two men who are the fathers of the stadium, the students, the athletes, the veterans and their families, alumni, donors, the campus, community and fans. I believe many Illini feel that spirit still exists at the stadium — every game day.
Another driving force in production of the documentary is my belief that far too many Americans view history as starting on the day they were born. Many fail to appreciate the significance of people, places and events prior to their arrival on Earth. I think that’s especially true of the memorial aspect of the stadium. Yes, it’s called Memorial Stadium, but why? What difference does it make? Those are some of the things we set out to answer in this documentary.
Through my research, I expected to learn about World War I’s “Fighting Illini,” the famous colonnades and about the legendary Red Grange. I didn’t expect to find out so much about 1920 architecture, the economics of construction during that period, how money was raised in the post-war years and the fascinating stories of George Huff and Robert Zuppke — the true fathers of Memorial Stadium. The vast amount of rich history — athletic and otherwise — about the stadium surprised me. For example, like many people, I always assumed the “honor the war dead” spirit brought about the stadium. Indeed the tribute to Fighting Illini of World War I was important, but the decision to build the stadium was made several months before a memorial aspect was adopted. I was also amazed at the number of historic photographs of campus and Champaign-Urbana — including the pre-stadium years at Illinois Field.
My first personal impressions of the stadium came as a high school sophomore from Peoria visiting campus for a game. The pageantry of that game in 1970, the enormity of the stadium and the passion of the Illini fans left no doubt about where I wanted to attend college and watch future games. The teams during my college years were not very successful, but attending games was always a great time.
To get a head start on documentary production, I decided to do quite a bit of videotaping at Illini football games during 2006 to capture scenes at the stadium before the first signs of renovation altered the look of the arena. Being on the field during games, in the press box, the concession stands, among the tailgaters, Marching Illini, excited fans and even atop the towers as fireworks were set off, gave me new appreciation for the complexities of game day. What we witness as fans—except for the outcome of the game of course—is choreographed and sometimes scripted to the minute. That fall, I also began researching the stadium in the University archives and by speaking with key people in athletic and university history.
Among the nearly 30 interviews we did, one of the most poignant was with Marching Illini director Peter Griffin. The structure and dedication of the MI has always been impressive but even more so when my son joined the band as a university student in 2003.
During the interview with Griffin, he pointed out things I had not considered about the spirit of the Illini, the stadium and game day. He told us that the spirit of the stadium, of Red Grange, Dick Butkus and every Fighting Illini is re-created at every game. “We have a history that we recreate all the time,” Griffin said to us. “We have a stadium that falls right into place with what we’re trying to do. It’s all a part of it.”
I have newfound appreciation for George Huff, too. Not only was “G” a player on the very first football team at Illinois, he was football and baseball coach and for nearly 40 years, the Illinois director of athletics. During my interview with current AD Ron Guenther, who played for the Illini in the 1960s, we talked about Huff’s tenure and drive to build the stadium. It was something that impressed Coach Guenther.
Another surprise came as I interviewed Sid Rotz. Sid is a passionate former Illini radio broadcaster. He announced games for Decatur radio stations for three decades, calling some of the most exciting Illini contests in the stadium, Huff Hall and the Assembly Hall. During our discussion, Sid surprised me by telling me he had attended the October 1924 dedication game as a 5 year old! I had anticipated reflections on his days in the broadcast booth, not recollections he walked into the mammoth stadium as a five year old in 1924. Among other things, Sid told me about the day he emptied his pipe and nearly set the old wooden press box on fire, and other mishaps behind the microphone.
I truly hope Illini fans and others who love history will like the documentary.
