Illini War Chant 

R.I.P to the greatest war chant in college sports...

Greatest chant in sports... rest in peace Chief

Heard this for the first time in person at the 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl when my Dawgs played Illinois. Even as a fan of the other team I thought this was pretty cool! And as someone who values tradition, I'd agree, the chief should come back.

As a Buckeye fan, I love the war chant. I'm sad it's gone. I was expecting to hear it next weekend.

Im cherokee and I like Chief Illiniwek. Once again, its the "White men" at the top of the NCAA telling us what we can and cant do

I'm Native American and I have no problem with the chief thing.

I'm a Gator fan but I gotta admit I've always loved the Illini War Chant

Though I am a Wisconsin Badger, I was always impressed with the Fighting Illini spirit and their Chief Illiniwek. Really unfortunate and unnecessary that they had to give him up.

The first time I ever heard the Illini Warchant. I'm an FSU fan & I think both versions sound real good. Great song to welcome the competition to your home.

I went to Ohio State, but I love this war chant, it’s great!

When Illinois had an identity.

i cry every time i hear this it hurts so bad we still love chief Illiniwek

They need to bring this back when we are playing big games with a packed memorial stadium. Imagine they bring this back in a surprise for our game at home against penn st. that'd be awesome.

I'm half Cherokee (half is better than none).. And I love this one! My high school plays the tomahawk chop... And there's never been a problem, and we are the "Braves".

My high school played this as our war chant it was even cooler when it would down pour during football games

Ahhh, love this war chant. Instantly puts me back to my undergrad years. Nothing beats it.

Chief Yesterday, Today, Forever

I am a Buckeye fan but I have always loved hearing the Illini War Chant and was deeply saddened when Chief Illiniwek fell victim to Political Correctness. I respectfully say to all "HAIL TO THE CHIEF!"

@GhostofKeene I agree, I am a FSU fan and this war chant is awesome !!! Maybe FSU and Illinois will play oneday. would be cool to hear both on the same field

I grew up in Champaign during the 80s and 90s. I remember at least one of the local TV stations always played this as a buffer while advertising either their sports news coverage or coverage of Illini games. I don't remember which station it was, but it was a symbol of broadcast television for the area. I imagine it's not played on that station anymore, which is a shame.

BRING BACK THE CHIEF!

I'm from Brazil, and I miss going to Fighting Illini games

That gave me chills. Love it.

I thank everyone here for their support. I only ever saw the chief once in person. The next year I came back and then I was super disappointed when he didn’t show. I went home and found out what happened. It’s glad to know even non Illini fans still loved to see him. HAIL TO THE CHIEF!!!

Sweet music to my ears. I love you, My Alma Mater!!

I forgot what NCAA football game I was playing when I was a kid, but when you highlighted the college team you wanted to play, it would play their fight song. And I became a fighting illini fan when I heard this song. Damn....I'm old enough 😂😂😂

Only good thing about the Illinois athletics program aaaaaand it's gone.

As a Nole, I give the edge to our warchant. But this is still damn cool. Too bad people interpret traditions like this as offensive when they could be focusing their rage on actual racism/sexism/homophobia in sports.

R.I.P cheif illiniwek

ALWAYS GIVES ME CHILLS

Mucho respect. Reminds me of the great game from the 02-03 year againt OSU with OT3. Go Bucks.

@GhostofKeene Absolutely bro, no problem. They are both excellent songs. I FINALLY had the honor of going to my first FSU home game back in November '10. The WARCHANT was even more impressive & louder in person. Loved being part of the pre game tradition. I hear it on Saturdays on T.V. but let me tell you, IT AIN'T THE SAME. I'm sure you can agree. I'll be definitely going back for more home games, even if I do live in Va.

Gives me chills :) Gotta love it!

love playing this in band

Great classin. Greeting from Columbus!

Being back The Chief!

I'm sad to see this go. I wanted to play it.

Still miss The Chief!

@GhostofKeene Couldn't have put it better myself. BOTH have those qualities that make them what they are, and make them such a treat to hear.

@pjsmoov72 Thank you. Somebody gets it. FSU and Illinois have different versions of similar songs, but that doesn't mean it has to turn into a p---ing contest as to which is better, as some might seem to prefer making it. I like the Illini War Chant's methodical pace and drive. I like the FSU War Chant's intensity and passion, especially with the massive crowd involvement.

Anyone else here after the Fighting Illini became bowl eligible??

Im a die hard fsu fan, but this chant...love it

I can’t wait until a couple more decades when this is brought back because people realize how ridiculous all this was.

Holy crap it’s so catchy

The Illini still plays this at football games

War chat 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

CHIEEEEEEFFFFFF!!!!!

So goddamn cool.

SO SAD RN

@pjsmoov72 I agree, They are both wonderful songs.

This chant 🔥🔥🔥🚀

Does anyone have the flute/piccolo music to this??

Lookin like a good year boys

0:18

This is bar none the best version of the War Chant I've found this far, where'd you get the audio?! :D

slaps

Pretty good song but too short wish it was longer. Nole here btw

I love to hate on IL, but this is just beyond freaking sad that an ages old cheer and a few notes are being punted because, well because why again? Notes are now inherently racist too? Good great f'ing Xenu is PC culture sadly taking over way too much.

Is this album available online anywhere?

@gunnerandferg Some people found it offensive. They thought it was some sort of discrimination. Too bad!

fucking sick, always loved this one

RIP

I-L-L I-N-I

Is there flute music anywhere for this song?

Really? Google says Illinois's stadium holds 60,000 at maximum capacity.

Love my Alma Mater! Lets go Illini basketball baby!

Is there a full version to this?

Chief!!

ilL iNI wEK 11 10/ 2019

Illinois is a basketball school... Football is like the ugly sister... But hey, we've won bowl games 3 years straight

Come back please War Chant

i hate the NCAA. they tell the Native Americans what they should be offended by instead of asking them if they're offended by it

hail chief!

Awesome, but FSU's seems a little more intimidating. :) In my eyes

It's okay, we forgive them.

Bro we fresh off the boat and I just saw the perfect costume for our football games! Steal that shit so we can use it. Who cares!

now if only they could put this and FSU's war chant together. . .

Did they retire this with Illiniwek or is it still used?

@kdawg7736 still used on every 3rd down of the opposing team

@SOONERman401 This war chant came long before Florida States chant. Only true football fans would know that. Go do the dishes you know nothing.

Florida state sounds the opposite of Illinois War chant

Imagine losing to Mizzou MIZ

lol right. went to the game against indianna, they started strong! but.....that faded >_

Wow this really sounds like something we should be playing lol FSU. But its awesome though.

This song is WAY BETTER THAN FSU's.....the drums in the illini war chant make you want to stop the other team on a 3rd and inches. ONE WORD......ELECTRIFYING! !!!

Thank you students Hail to the JEFE (CHIEF ill IN IWEK 11/27/2019

300 👍🏻's

Id say this is more motavating than fsu but fsu is more intimadating

Both are cool, but I like FSU's better. Its just seems more energized you know? This is good for an entrance though.

Dude don't come in on their vid and talk smack. If you're going to come on here then say something good. Im a FSU fan myself.

Scrolling through various videos about the Chief feels good when you're on your way to see Illini get molly whopped by Michigan State

That's not a war chant, it's a Hamm's Beer commercial.

But they sound very different

CHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

This sounds better than Florida State Seminoles war chant

Gad

Illinois I'm sorry for the ignorant FSU fans that have commented. We're all not like that.

And now it has been banned. 😡

This florida states chant all day everyday

So the Seminoles can keep their mascot and their warchant??? Sounds like the NCAA is picking sides...