Thrilled to be Chief

New Chief Illiniwek portrayers announcedLogan Ponce is the latest Chief Illiniwek, and likely will be the second in a row who never gets to perform the famed halftime dance at University of Illinois events.

Ponce, a junior from St. Charles majoring in general engineering, was announced as the 37th Chief Illiniwek on a rainy Monday morning in front of the Alma Mater statue on campus. UI sophomore Rob Zaldivar of Palatine was announced as assistant Chief Illiniwek.

The two were selected this past weekend by the Council of Chiefs, a group of former chiefs, following a weekend audition in Gibson City.

The UI officially retired the Chief in 2007.Comment:  Ponce talks about how he and his fellow students are happy to see him assume the Illiniwek role. What he doesn't talk about is how Indians feel about the Chief. Like a typical Euro-American, the only thing that matters to Ponce is what he wants.

For more on the subject, see Team Names and Mascots and The Big Chief.