Can't Wait For Saturday | East stands looking spiffy compared to old days

Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves

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If you are tiring of my stories where I write how much better things were in the past, don't worry. This is not that.

Here's a different take: I saw something Monday that is clearly better than it used to be.

I'm referring to the East stands and concourse at Memorial Stadium, which quite frankly used to be disgusting and grimy. Back in the old days, when I was attending every practice at the stadium, I once dropped a piece of candy in what should have been a heavily-trafficked area. I think it was a Milk Dud. Or a Mike and Ike. Doesn't really matter. Anyway, three months later during the season, the piece of candy was still there. In a word, yuck.

Based on what I saw Monday, the same accidental experiment now won't end the same way. The East hall is cleaner and brighter than ever and has received the fresh coat coat of paint that was needed.

Down the road, when the money is available, I hope Illinois looks at serious upgrades to the East stands. The folks who sit on that side of the stadium deserve some of the cool things available on the West side. Like suites and elevators and a fancy lobby.

The building is about to turn 100. Before it hits 200, the East needs to renovated, too. Actually, make that 125.