The Chief doesn't do the Chicken Dance....

Well, it's official.  After starting up the tradition once again, the requests for off the field performances has started up again. 

Yesterday, the council received a request by a notable alumnus of the University of Illinois who wanted the Chief to perform at his upcoming wedding.  I'll admit, now that we aren't under the University banner, the opportunity to promote the chief more extensively has come up now and then.

I actually talked to another proud Illini dad earlier this year asking the same thing.  His daughter, another Illini grad, was getting married and there were multi generational Illini alums in attendance.  This proud father wanted to give his daughter an unforgettable gift.

I can understand, but I just couldn't do it.  And we can't do it for this notable alumnus, who I know both the husband and fiance and would do most everything else for them to make their wedding special.  However, we just can't do it.

While it's wonderful to think of how cool it would be to have Chief Illiniwek show up to your wedding or bar mitzvah or prom, it goes against the grain of the respect and tradition we owe this tradition and the potential of opening a pandora's box of problems in the future.

The allowance of one, albeit pure in nature, opens the door to two, then three and more opportunities. Every opportunity forces us to determine why one and not another.  Well, maybe we start charging higher fees to raise money or start a committee to review these requests.  Ultimately, there will inevitably be disappointed people who will feel hurt that we didn't pick them....all because they love the tradition so much.

Therefore, at this time, the Chief won't be open to "gigs" today, tomorrow or most likely ever.  In my mind, it's not right and to those who have been thinking about calling us for an event, I'd ask you to call The Other Guys, an Alumni Band, or even a former football player to come to your reception.  They'd love to do it and would take your money handily.

We however will continue to work on the new direction of the tradition and hope the next time he dances, it's once again in the right venue for the right purposeand at the right time.

Go Illini!  Beat Georgia!

Comments

[Judith Siess]

How about appearing outside graduation? or at band concerts?

[Jeanne Glogowski, BS '83]

I think you made the right call. Pretty soon you would be doing kids' birthday parties too.