CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the historic Memorial Stadium, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has produced a new documentary. “A House of Brick: 100 Years of Memorial Stadium” explores the stadium’s origins, its significance and several unique uses for the stadium over the years.
Illinois football legend Red Grange carries the football during the 1924 victory against Michigan on Oct 18, 1924.
“A House of Brick” premieres at 9:30 p.m. CT Monday, Oct. 14 and is repeated at 9:30 a.m. CT Thursday, Oct. 17; 3:30 p.m. CT Friday, Oct. 18 on the Big Ten Network. At 5:30 p.m. CT Wednesday, Oct. 16, the program can be viewed prior to the Illinois volleyball match versus Indiana. In central Illinois, viewers can watch the documentary on WCIA 3-TV at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16.
The drive for a new stadium began in 1921, led by George Huff, the director of Illinois Athletics, and Robert Zuppke, the winningest football coach in Illinois history. It was funded entirely by donations from students and alumni, with no state funds used. The construction of the stadium also motivated the state of Illinois to invest in developing hard road systems, enhancing connectivity between the campus and more remote areas of the state.
The documentary also delves into several fascinating events that occurred within the stadium, such as the birth of a baby in its northwest tower, the construction of a secret radar shack in the 1950s and the memorable Farm Aid concert held there in 1985.
“A House of Brick” was produced by Kaitlin Southworth for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Office of Strategic Communication and Marketing. The documentary is narrated by Illinois alumnus Ryan Baker.
