Thousands of fans made the trip to Springfield to cheer on the Champaign Central Maroons' boys basketball team at the Springfield Convention Center for the IHSA super-sectional on March 11, 2008. The Maroons beat Mt. Vernon 44-37 to advance to the state finals.

Thousands of students on the University of Illinois campus participated in the Unofficial St. Patrick's Day event on Feb. 29, 2008.

Thousands of wrestling fans descended on the University of Illinois Assembly Hall for the two days of the state high school wrestling championships Friday and Saturday, Feb. 15-16, 2008.

Fans from Champaign-Urbana watched Champaign Central's boys' basketball team top Urbana 71-34 on Friday, Feb. 15, 2008, in Urbana.