Students, C-U community prepare for Illinois Homecoming

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - With just one day left of Homecoming festivities at the University of Illinois, students on campus are focused on the weekend.

Thursday night, the University hosted an alumni networking event.

"As a freshman it was just a good experience to go there, check it out, get your elevator pitch down, and figure out how you're going to go about talking to potential employers," Shivam Patel, a freshman computer science major, said.

Overall, eyes in Champaign-Urbana are looking to the Illini/Central Michigan game on Saturday.

"Everyone's pretty excited," Alejandro Cahue, a recent graduate, said. "They're excited for the football game. Hoping to get a win and go 3-0 and be reunited with any of our friends that graduated last year."

Patel added, "Especially after the Kansas game, I mean that was a big one for us. It built up a lot of hype for this game, so we're excited to see how this one goes."

Much like students, the football team is not taking the game this weekend lightly.

"What we did those past two games up to this point, those wins, it doesn't matter in a sense," said TeRah Edwards, a senior defensive lineman. "We're trying to win this week, so we've got to learn from the mistakes in the past two games."

Defensive backs coach Corey Parker said, "It wasn't about Kansas. It wasn't about Eastern Illinois. It was about us. It's about who we are and what we're trying to do here."

Kickoff versus Central Michigan is slated for 11 a.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Officials with the University remind drivers Kirby Avenue closed today at 1 p.m. and will remain closed through the football game tomorrow. The rest of the closures will begin on game day, tomorrow at 6 a.m.