From Brave to Boilermaker: The Saddest Night in Mackey Arena and the One Missing Out

The final night in Mackey Arena for the 2010-2011 season was one full of emotions. For everyone involved. It was the last time we were going to see E’Twaun and JJ play in Mackey. This was the last game of the season. This was a season we would never forget. With a win, we would go undefeated at home for the first time since 1969. But most of all, it was sad. Because 1/3 of the brotherhood wasn’t going to walk out on Mackey Arena one last time with his brothers; he wasn’t going to get the feeling of going out there with the group of guys he came in and played one more time. For Robbie, this was going to be a tough night. I know exactly how he felt too. Knowing that you couldn’t go out there and play your last night. That is the worst feeling in the world. While the rest of your class is enjoying playing on the court for the last time, you are standing off to the side. Trying not to be emotional, because it is so exciting for them that you don’t want to take the importance off of them, but you can’t help the feelings you get inside of you.

Before the game even started, I was tearing up. Just knowing that I was walking into Mackey for the last time with E’Twaun and JJ out on that court, I didn’t know how to deal with it. But, I knew also that it had to be tough on all of the senior members of the Paint Crew. They have invested 4 or 5 years of their lives in this team. They have been through the highest of highs and lowest of lows with this team. They never walked away. No matter what. Reading the scouting report, it brought tears to my eyes. Mike wrote it. This was his last one- he made it good.

It was game time. There were so many emotions throughout the whole stadium. People got there early. People were on their feel when they came out one last time. You could just see the looks in E’Twaun and JJ’s eyes. They were ready for this night. They were going to make it the best they could. They were ready to shine one last time. They had accomplished so much in their careers at Mackey. So many records had been broken, Sweet 16’s had been accomplished, Big 10 Tourney Championships had been won, Big 10 regular season championships had been won. Now, there was only one thing left. - Getting an undefeated season at home. It wasn’t going to be an easy task. Illinois was a team on a mission. But, I knew that no matter how much they wanted to beat us, the guys wouldn’t go out with a loss. But, for the first half of the first half, we were playing with so much emotion. Too much emotion. Illinois was all over us. They couldn’t miss and we couldn’t hit. I was a little nervous. But I knew with JJ and E’Twaun as the head, anything was possible. Boy, was I right. JJ took over, and then E’Twaun in the second half. He was on fire. We started to pull away; and with 2.1 seconds left in the game, the guys got what they deserved. They got a standing ovation from the crowd. I got a little teary eyed. I knew this was the last time I was going to get to see them play in Mackey. I couldn’t help but look over at Robbie during all of this, and he had a smile on his face, but I could just tell he was wishing that it was him. He wanted to be getting that standing ovation. He wanted to have that moment with those guys.

But, he didn’t. So he was as okay with it as he could be. But I knew that after the game was going to be even harder.

We got the win, making this the first undefeated season at home since 1969. Just another thing to put in the memory book for E’Twaun and JJ. The game was over, now for the hard part. Coach Painter called out all of the cheerleaders, managers, and finally E’Twaun and JJ. But, there was someone missing. Standing in the line with the rest of the players, there was Robbie. I knew how bad he wanted to be out there with those guys, he had spent 4 years of his life with these guys, they were brothers. He was having a tough time keeping it all in. You could just tell. Robbie went over to T’Twaun and JJ’s parents during the ceremony, and you could see their mom’s telling him that he should be out there with them. I’m sure that didn’t make it any easier on Rob. But, he kept it together. After the ceremony was over, the 3 guys came over in front of the Paint Crew and took pictures. I snuck down there so I could get one of them, and as they were walking away, I turned my poster around. It said “Final Four for #4”. I yelled at Robbie so he could see it. He had a look on his face of sheer appreciation. He looked like he was getting ready to cry. He said thanks, I love it; and walked away. E’Twaun stayed around and was signing anything he could get his hands on. That was awesome. He took my poster right out of my hand and read it. Told me that it was awesome how I didn’t check off the Final Four spot yet and signed it and then gave it back. That was pretty awesome.