She’s there. Again. On the pages of the News-Gazette (see the Monday in California gallery.)
She is Mandi Patrick, the longtime Illini baton twirler who hung up her sequins in 2005 after seven years of performing during timeouts and on the sidelines. You may remember her very public marriage proposal at halftime of a football game a few years ago, or her sappy farewell performance at the Assembly Hall. Well, she certainly is a loyal alumnus and dutifully follows her alma mater all over the planet. From Hawaii to California to Chicago, there she is in orange and blue, rooting for the Illini on the field or on the court. How do I know this? Because somehow, no matter where she goes, a camera will find her.
Maybe she is in the right place at the right time. Maybe the News-Gazette photogs (hey guys and gals!) have a thing for her. Maybe she hasn’t been able to let go of the spotlight.
Call me crazy, but I think her 15 minutes have long since expired.
6 responses so far ↓
Bro // January 2, 2008 at 11:24 am
I’m waiting for the Rose Bowl wrap-up….
Leeanthro // January 2, 2008 at 11:39 am
Seven years? I hope she got a grad degree during that time.
I keep telling my husband I want our daughter to take up baton twirling. There must be college scholarships out there for twirlers. I’m half joking, but half serious. Funny thing is that our dance studio teaches it!
My daughter keeps asking to see the “Go Illini” float again, but I erased it off our DVR. Drat! I wonder if the parade will air again.
lbotp // January 2, 2008 at 11:55 am
Bro — you might be waiting a long time.
Leeanthro — I don’t know about a replay on TV, but you can watch it online …
http://ktla.trb.com/extras/ktla/roseparade2008/video2008.html
Mrs. Chicken // January 2, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Seven years? Whoa! So she was what, a third-year senior when she graduated? Yikes.
bettycat // January 3, 2008 at 8:05 am
I was a baton twirler, then a majorette for our high school marching band. I burned with shame every time I put on that 70’s polyester short-skirted jumper and fuzzy white hat because we stunk sooooo bad. Not just the twirlers, but the entire band. My kid has the knack for twirling things - tho he prefers sticks and swords, they weren’t allowed in his elementary talent show so I bought him a baton. He refused to allow me to show him any moves so he free-styled it, and was great. That was years ago but he still has the knack - closet rods, tree branches, whatever.
I can’t believe I never saw that baton twirling Mandi girl. Seven years? Maybe I simply blocked it out. I’m still embarrassed. But it’s a cool thing to know how to do…I can still do some of the finger-twirly things but it’s the getting up in front of a zillion people in a stuuuuupid outfit and being a dork that I still have a problem with. Shudder.
Pitcairn // January 8, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Mandi is the quintessential ambassador for all things Illini, not to mention beautiful.
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