Illini superfan remembers her hero: Red Grange

TUSCOLA, Ill. (WCIA) — One diehard Illini fan will be hitting a huge milestone at Memorial Stadium’s 100th anniversary game.

Fifty years ago, Marci Shoemaker had her newspaper article signed by Red Grange on the weekend of the stadium’s 50th anniversary. This article, about Grange and printed in orange and blue font, was one of her first at the Tuscola Journal. It was also her most memorable.

Marci and her husband Alan went to the airport to meet Grange and show him the article. He loved it and signed right there on the spot.

To commemorate the moment and her fandom, Shoemaker is leaving a carved brick in Grange Grove to remember the cherished memory.

“I was thrilled to death because that’s October 18 and we get to go there and see where the bricks are laid,” Shoemaker said. “I’m very excited about that, just knowing that I’ve got grand [children] and knowing that they could go see that, it’s going to mean a lot.”

Shoemaker has read multiple books about Grange’s life, wore his jersey in the interview and said she believes he’s the greatest football player of all time.

The brick will be placed down around the Red Grange statue at the stadium. For Shoemaker, looking back at that moment 50 years later will be a treat.

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