You won’t find Karleton Thomas’ top spot on any official map of campus.
But ask any Illini athlete about ‘the row,’ and they’ll know exactly what you’re talking about.
“It’s a slab of concrete that sits between Lincoln Hall and the English Building,” says Thomas, a former Illini wide receiver, now director of entrepreneurship for the Urban League of Washington, D.C.
“It’s where, as athletes, we would sit in between classes — and sometimes skip classes — to chat, laugh and get mentally ready for the grueling practice ahead. Any combination of players would be out there, which is what always made it fun.”
