Illini 411: What happened to the movie Homecoming Spirit?

(Photo-illustration by Dana Smith)

A: In 1990, Condor Productions of Los Angeles announced it would film a $6.4 million movie at Illinois, Homecoming Spirit, about a group of friends “who come together on the U. of I. campus for the big game.” Over the next few months, Homecoming Spirit posters appeared all over campus. You could buy branded sweatshirts and hats at local bookstores, and The Daily Illini reported that Michael J. Fox would play the lead, ginning up plenty of excitement among students. In October 1991, Condor announced that filming would be delayed to secure additional funding. And then… nothing happened. In November 1992, the DI’s “Campus Scout” column noted that the film’s posters had disappeared from campus. And that was the last anyone heard of Homecoming Spirit.

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Illinois Alumni, Fall 2026