Marcus Jackson/About Town: It's been a lifelong UI thing

Former Illini pitcher Lee Zerrusen, the new director of the Varsity I program for engagement of former student-athletes, stands outside the Bielfeldt Athletic Administration Building on Wednesday, June 21, 2017, on the UI campus in Champaign.

CHAMPAIGN — One of Lee Zerrusen's first memories is watching his dad, Dan, go nuts in their Teutopolis home when Andy Kaufmann drilled a desperation buzzer-beating shot to stun Iowa in 1993.

"My dad jumped up and knocked out the ceiling," recalled Zerrusen, who wasn't even 5 at the time. "From that young age, all things Fighting Illini have just been ingrained in me."

As a youngster, he ran around in a Kiwane Garris jersey and dreamed of one day wearing…