Happy College Football Week Zero to those who celebrate- to honor the occasion, re-booting this classic once again from 2018, enjoy! I absolutely loved ESPN College Gameday, about a decade and half ago when it was only one hour long, instead of three. Back in those days, it was not overrun with wall-to-wall native advertising, and it was much more about football than what's … [Read more...] about ESPN College Gameday: From Transcendent Genius to Unwatchable Dreck
Illinois Fighting Illini
Ex-ESPN Pres. John Skipper Predicted College Sports Reckoning in 2014
The total chaos that is unfolding right now in college sports may or may not have been predicted by John Skipper, then President of ESPN, back in 2014. The comments he made almost a decade ago, although vague, were prescient in the grand scheme of things. Let's flash back to that now, and then consider how those remarks stand up today, given what's going on in regards to … [Read more...] about Ex-ESPN Pres. John Skipper Predicted College Sports Reckoning in 2014
R.I.P. Rose Bowl, College Sports “Leagues” and “Conferences”
The Rose Bowl game will still go on, but in non-College Football Playoff years it will never be anything close to what it once was now that the Pac-10 (later the Pac-12) is officially dead. The whole concept of a Big Ten champion versus Pac 10 champion was ingrained in the very DNA of the Rose Bowl game. It will still be held, but when it's not in a CFP format will exist in a … [Read more...] about R.I.P. Rose Bowl, College Sports “Leagues” and “Conferences”
Lovie Smith to Northwestern is Not a Bad Idea at All
Lovie Smith as your next Northwestern head football coach? Seriously? The idea might seem lazy, and even crazy, at first, but the more you think about it, the more it makes sense. We're not the first media outlet to float this idea, and we certainly will not be the last either. Northwestern football fans don't want to hear this, but it's reality- much more pain lies ahead. … [Read more...] about Lovie Smith to Northwestern is Not a Bad Idea at All
Remember, Sen. Tommy Tuberville Got Out-Smarted by the Worst Football Coach Ever
Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) is once again trending, and, as always, it's because he's done or said something utterly stupid and morally reprehensible. Save this post, and refer back to this URL the next time Senator Tuberville behaves in a manner that is egregiously dumb and/or totally evil. Because it will happen again; and again and again. … [Read more...] about Remember, Sen. Tommy Tuberville Got Out-Smarted by the Worst Football Coach Ever
Former MLB COO Tony Petitti Takes the Big Ten Reins
Exactly two weeks from today, former Major League Baseball Chief Operating Officer Tony Petitti will take the leadership role of the Big Ten Conference. He becomes the league's seventh commissioner, replacing Kevin Warren, who has now become President and CEO of the Chicago Bears. Warren was on hand for Pettiti to greet the media, for the first time, on Friday. College … [Read more...] about Former MLB COO Tony Petitti Takes the Big Ten Reins
Devon Witherspoon Could go Top 5 Overall in 2023 NFL Draft
"I'm a Devon Witherspoon fan," said NFL Network Draft expert Daniel Jeremiah on a media conference call. "I love his game. He has that good Miami vibe. He brings good energy." Yes, cornerback Devon Witherspoon has, by far, the highest NFL Draft stock of anybody on the 2022 Illinois Fighting Illini team that went 8-5. Although it's worth noting that Johnny Newton will be … [Read more...] about Devon Witherspoon Could go Top 5 Overall in 2023 NFL Draft
Illini DB Jartavius Martin Projects as a NFL Day 1 Starting Nickel
Illini Football returned to relevance last fall, and with that, they are back with a presence this spring at the NFL Draft as well. Defensive back Jartavius Martin rocked it at the NFL Combine last month, and he's gonna parlay that into a nice mid-round selection this weekend. Martin set the Illini Combine record in the vertical jump, and he posted the 8th-best 40-yard dash … [Read more...] about Illini DB Jartavius Martin Projects as a NFL Day 1 Starting Nickel
Dan Hartleb to Break Illini Baseball All-Time Wins Record
With Illinois baseball coach Dan Hartleb closing in on the school’s all-time wins record, we are re-publishing this piece, in two parts from May of 2021. The first part can be found at this link. Tonight Illinois takes on the Missouri Tigers in the Braggin’ Rights Game at GSC Credit Union Ballpark in Sauget, Illinois (just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis). First … [Read more...] about Dan Hartleb to Break Illini Baseball All-Time Wins Record
Exclusive: Illini Baseball Coach Dan Hartleb on Achieving Milestones
Illinois baseball coach Dan Hartleb is closing in on the school's all-time wins record. Tonight the Illini baseball program will take on the Missouri Tigers in the Braggin' Rights Game at GSC Credit Union Ballpark in Sauget, Ill. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the home of the Gateway Grizzlies, a Frontier League franchise. Hartleb is currently tied with Lee … [Read more...] about Exclusive: Illini Baseball Coach Dan Hartleb on Achieving Milestones