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UI CAMPUS – Welcome, Illini freshman. It's check-in time for your new cultural-educational adventure. I'm not here to offer advice, just an open letter that may assist and enlighten your path. This can be a fun experience.

– If you see President Michael Hogan, give him a wave. He's a rookie, still getting acquainted, just like you ... and a huge sports fan. Just because he spent time at Iowa doesn't mean he's a bad guy. And since the Illini don't play Iowa in football (and don't have to worry about the weakened Hawkeyes in basketball), this is a relief for him and us.

– Be advised: Wear a hard hat around the Quad. Construction is everywhere, from fully fenced-off Lincoln Hall to engineering to Ikenberry Commons. The financial stress consuming the institution doesn't seem to slow construction. Even Huff Hall is getting a north-end addition. Oh, and about the Quad, it may not quite match the stunning view of Mellon Square in Pittsburgh or Central Park in New York City, but it's high on the list of the most iconic public spaces in the country.

– Yes, it's football season but, face it, this is a basketball school with fans consumed by games in the winter and recruiting in the offseason. The Orange Krush is booming so you may have to stand in line at the Assembly Hall. Whatever it takes, don't miss the North Carolina game (Nov. 30, 8:30 p.m.). Those teams met for the national championship in 2005. I can't recall how it turned out.

– Protect your laptop. Secure it and watch it. Lock your car when you're carrying stuff in. This isn't Mayberry. There's been a rash of disappearing computers. Treat it like you would your bicycle ... or your billfold.

– Give your football team, and especially Martez Wilson, a chance. If upperclassman friends, having grown negative from 5-7 and 3-9 seasons, grump that Martez didn't meet expectations in 2008 and was injured in 2009, remind them that he still has two years of eligibility and is on the watch list for the Butkus Award (one of seven linebackers from the Big Ten alone). If you're not up on Butkus, he was a linebacking menace who enrolled nearly a half-century ago and will someday have a Grange-like statue if they ever get around to renovating the horseshoe. Oops, I didn't mean to minimize facility improvements. With the recent renaissance at Memorial Stadium, the Ron Guenther regime has put nearly $300 million into south campus facilities since 1992. You should have seen this place when your parents were here.

– Get to know the largest public library in the country. It is a far better place to study than a noisy dorm. If you need to cram, that's the location ... unless you're an athlete and have the advantages of the academic center.

– Student sales are down for the football openers against Southern Illinois and Northern Illinois, so you can get a good seat and avoid the big rush after (it's OK to dream, isn't it?) Illinois upsets Missouri in St. Louis. Illinois is overdue, having lost five openers to Missouri in the past decade. Those outcomes have brought the series to an end even though the teams are guaranteed $1 million apiece and receive excellent TV coverage.

– Before hitting Kam's on Friday and/or Saturday night, visit Huff for the volleyball tuneups. Senior Laura DeBruler stacks up as the premier female athlete in town, and this will be the hottest women's team in these parts for years to come.

– If you bump into a 6-foot-6 fellow newcomer with a football body and a Georgia twang, that could be Evan Wilson. Early practices can be misleading, but this little-known recruit, who caught 12 passes as a high school senior, looks like the best pass-catching tight end since Ken Dilger. You don't know Dilger? The Hoosier product caught 48 passes in 1994, helping Illinois beat Missouri and Ohio State that season. Wouldn't that be a nice beginning this fall?

– Want the best fish sandwich? Legends is still the place. Hungry for a Chicago-style pizza? How about Papa Del's?

– Take advantage of the spacious ARC and CRCE workout opportunities. You're paying for it so you might as well. And you own the Illini Union, too.

– If you bump into a young, blond guy around Kenney Gym – I know, you have no reason to go there anymore – that's not a classmate. That's the gymnastics coach, Justin Spring. You should have seen him on the high bar. Fantastic! Now he's coaching the men's team, and they have a shot at the national title. They won their second straight Big Ten title last season, but Michigan caught fire and captured the NCAA crown.

– Visit the 12-foot Red Grange statue alongside Memorial Stadium. It is marvelous architecture and might give you a feel for Illini tradition, part of which disappeared with the departure of Chief Illiniwek. The Chief will dance during the halftime music at the home football opener against Southern Illinois but, as everyone knows, you have to close your eyes to see him. Imagination is a wonderful thing.

– Don't stare at freshman Meyers Leonard. Yes, he's almost as tall as 7-1 Mike Tisdale. And he can run faster and jump higher. But he isn't ready to replace the senior center who, as you'll discover, is the most accurate 7-footer anywhere.

– After the tuition hit, you're all looking for cheap books. Try the website BigWords.com. Everything is cheaper if you go the computer route, particularly replacement cell phone chargers.

Loren Tate writes for The News-Gazette. He can be reached at ltate@news-gazette.com.