Inspired by student trip, Illini alumni hit the road for tour of American sports, culture 

For 28 University of Illinois alumni, eight days on the road offered more than a chance to visit famous stadiums, museums and monuments. It became a traveling classroom—one built around shared history, new friendships and plenty of Illini pride. 

Led by Recreation, Sport and Tourism Clinical Associate Professor Michael Raycraft, the Illini Alumni Roadtrippers embarked on a journey through some of the nation’s most historic sports and cultural institutions. The experience drew inspiration from Raycraft’s RST 180 Hall of Fame Tour, an RST course that brings the history and cultural influence of sports to life beyond the classroom. 

The alumni version gave travelers an organized way to explore that history together, with transportation, lodging, admissions, meals and expert guidance incorporated into the itinerary. 

Scott Williams said he registered for the experience through the University of Illinois Alumni Association, with travel organized by Sports and Entertainment Travel LLC. Every destination offered something worthwhile, he said, but one stop stood apart. 

“I was most surprised and intrigued by Saratoga Springs and the extensive culture and history surrounding horse racing,” Williams said. 

The itinerary took the group through a broad stretch of American history. Stops included the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York; Saratoga Springs and Niagara Falls in New York; the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio; the NCAA Hall of Champions in Indianapolis, Indiana; and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

Two other popular spots for these travelers were the National Comedy Center and the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum in Jamestown, New York. 

“For that group, it was pretty meaningful,” Raycraft said, noting that the students he takes on RST 180 likely are not familiar with the legendary TV show “I Love Lucy.”  

The Ball Arnaz museum features a full-scale replica of Ricky Ricardo’s famous Manhattan nightclub, known as the Tropicana Room. 

“We had dinner at the Tropicana,” Raycraft said. “(The Roadtrippers) really loved it; they really could connect with it.” 

The mix was intentional. Rather than treating sports as a collection of scores and trophies, the journey placed athletic history alongside stories about communities, entertainment, nature and national identity. 

For Mike Waldbusser, the chance to experience unfamiliar destinations without having to coordinate the details made the trip especially appealing. 

“I am a sports fan and had never been to any of these places, so it was a great opportunity to see them on an organized, planned trip—especially with fellow alums,” Waldbusser said. 

He had previously participated in senior alumni day trips organized by Lou Liay, the retired executive director of the University of Illinois Alumni Association. Liay helped develop the Roadtrippers concept with Raycraft but was unable to join the eight-day tour because of health concerns. His daughter, Alicia, traveled in his place and brought along a Lou Liay bobblehead. 

She photographed “Little Lou” at the tour’s destinations and sent the pictures to her father, giving him a playful presence throughout the journey. 

“So ‘Little Lou’ did actually make the trip,” Waldbusser said. 

For Waldbusser, choosing a favorite destination proved difficult because each offered a different experience. Niagara Falls, however, had the biggest impact. 

“The sheer power, magnitude and beauty of Mother Nature left an impression,” he said. 

Waldbusser advised future travelers to bring dry socks and shoes and to “double bag” their belongings before entering the Cave of the Winds. 

Saratoga Springs delivered another unexpected highlight. The group explored the city’s horse racing tradition, toured the Oklahoma Training Track and visited natural springs in Saratoga Spa State Park. 

Waldbusser said he had not closely followed horse racing before the tour but came away with a new interest in the sport. After returning home, he found himself watching “Racing From the Spa” on television. 

The group also encountered reminders of Illinois’ contributions to American sports history. At Cooperstown, travelers found former Illini baseball star Lou Boudreau. In Canton, they encountered connections to George Halas, Red Grange, Dick Butkus, Ray Nitschke, Bobby Mitchell and George “Papa Bear” Halas-era football history. At the NCAA Hall of Champions, they found former Illini basketball player Mannie L. Jackson, a donor to the College of Applied Health Sciences and the man who endowed the Illinois Academic Enrichment and Leadership Program, or I-LEAP. 

Those discoveries connected nationally recognized institutions with the travelers’ own experiences at Illinois. 

“Traveling with fellow alums and exchanging stories and experiences” created new friendships, Waldbusser said. 

Raycraft added context at each stop, using questions and stories to encourage the group to look beyond exhibits. One discussion explored why the Baseball Hall of Fame was placed in Cooperstown and asked travelers to compare that community with Canton, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

“I appreciated all of Mike’s insights and stories to enhance our trip,” Waldbusser said. 

The Roadtrippers experience grew from conversations involving Raycraft, Liay and David Bambrey, president of the University of Illinois Alumni Association, according to Kristina Oncken-Cortez, associate director of alumni experiences for the association’s Explorers travel program. 

Oncken-Cortez said she had not known about RST 180 until Raycraft explained the course to her. The alumni tour translated elements of the student experience for a different generation of Illini, retaining the emphasis on learning through firsthand encounters. 

It also became part of a much larger alumni travel program. Oncken-Cortez said the association offers more than 50 Explorers tours each year. 

Life aboard the bus supplied its own memories. The travelers shared refreshments, meals, advice and jokes as the miles accumulated. Gary Earls, the group’s driver, kept the trip moving smoothly and offered one memorable recommendation: avoid the bus restroom while the vehicle was bouncing down the road. 

Williams also said the combination of destinations and companionship made the experience easy to recommend. 

“I’d encourage any Illinois alumni to experience this diverse collection of unique experiences in the effortless company of friendly fellow explorers,” he said. 

Asked what he would tell another Illinois graduate considering a Roadtrippers journey, Waldbusser’s answer was direct. 

“Go! Sign me up,” he said. “Everything is arranged—hotels, admissions, bus refreshments and most meals. Just get on the bus and leave the driving to Gary.” 

After eight days, the lasting images were not limited to plaques, exhibits or celebrated landmarks. Waldbusser also remembered the sight of travelers enjoying one another’s company. 

It was, he said, a “great, easy way to see all these venues,” guided by an experienced and knowledgeable leader and shared with “a great group of Illini.”  

And that knowledgeable leader would love to do it again. 

“I’m optimistic,” Raycraft said of a July 2027 trip. If alumni are interested in going on the trip, Raycraft encouraged them to email him at mraycraf@illinois.edu.

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