I am not sure Archie Bunker would have approved of the Peach Blossoms, but IMHO, the 70s were the glory days for fan interest at WIU football games. I generally dont like people showing up after kickoff for games, but in the case of the Peach Blossoms, it was all part of the show. The Vets would make their appearance in a beat up old green pickup truck (at that time anyway, I read they used to show up in a camoflaged jeep in the 60s) around late 1st quarter, early 2nd, make a round or two on the old cinder track and kick up a little dust doing it, then debark into stands and get ready to party. This was theater at its very finest. Fans young and old loved it. So what does this have to do with a coach search? I think the new coach needs to be one who can think outside the box, try something orginal, use the trickiest of trick plays, ... You get the idea. Ask the prospective candidate what he (or she) thinks about the old WIU Peach Blossom tradition. If they say it is horrible and would never work today, move on to the next candidate.
From the Sequel Archives:
https://collections.carli.illinois.edu/ ... 7774/rec/1
From the Courier Archives:
Parent's Day 1977. Place: Hanson Field Occurrence: While sitting quietly on the bleachers with my roommate and his family, I felt something on the back of my head. Thinking it was just some canned fan, I ignored it. It was followed, however, by an arm placed around my shoulders. A glance backward revealed two of the ugliest legs that ever stuck out from under a skirt. The ends of these legs were concealed by a pair of beat up boots, which was probably for the best. Confused, I glanced at the arm. ""'It, too, was a hairy monstrosity. Fear had now begun to over rule my better judgement. Then I saw the face. Under a bright mop head was a bearded, mustachioed, make up covered face with very big, very red lips that were rapidly decreasing the distance between them and my face. It happened. Not only did it kiss me, but it also left a, big mark on the side of my face. Chastitie had struck again. Actually, I know Chastitie's human counter part. I won't tell you who it isthough. Had his Peach Blossom alter ego not taken over that fateful Saturday morning none of this would have transpired. The human counter part is. Well, he's not a Peach Blossom, normally. This happens every time WIU's football Leathernecks play a home game. Eight men (?) show up in full wierdo regalia and are unleashed on a deserving crowd. The members of this ""organization"" are: Candie, Chastitie, Pussie, Nookie, Hornie, Cherrie, Queenie, and Rosie. The Peach Blossoms are composed of Vet's Club members who; ""want to be Peach Blossoms; are in good standing with the university; and can handle a fair amount of liquor,"" says Greg Pro, who is the unelected/ elected captain of the squad. Why do they do what they do? Pro says, ""It's our own form of contribution to team and school spirit. We do it because we enjoy it.'' The Peach Blossom tradition is 11 year old and was brought about by the Vet Club. Expenses to maintain the club at Peaches run about $200 per year. They include wigs (which have to be replaced about every year), uniforms and, of course plungers. The plungers are an integral part of the Peaches. During their activities, the plungers are passed into the crowd. The comeback filled with booze, hence the requirement that the Peaches be able to handle their liquor.
