During the past few years, almost all Illinois Fighting Illini sports fans have become frustrated fans. Perhaps the Twitter account @Frustrated_Fan is the best synopsis of what being an Illini fan is like these days. I suggest you follow it because you’ll find more Illini sports truth in that Twitter feed than you will from most Illini press conferences.
It’s witty and tells it like it is. Unfortunately for Illini fans the “is” is pretty brutal since Athletic Director Mike Thomas took over in 2011. However, there is one “is” that IS GREAT though- Illini baseball.
(Apologies for the Bill Clintonian overuse of the word “is”)
It’s probably not a coincidence that the Illini baseball coach was not hired by Thomas, and the program is thrives. While all three of Thomas’ coaching hires (football, men’s and women’s basketball) are…well, we’ve already covered that….
…Let’s try to get back to happy thoughts, ok?
Illini baseball begins the NCAA Tournament tomorrow night as the #6 overall seed in the 64 team bracket. For the first time ever, Champaign will host a baseball tournament regional. There are 16 of these, with four teams in each one. The format is double elimination. Lose two games and you’re out.
Here’s who the Illini baseball team is playing and where you can watch:
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Site: Champaign, Ill. |
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Commentators: Jim Barbar, Jerry Kindall |
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Teams: No. 1 Illinois, No. 2 Notre Dame, No. 3 Wright State, No. 4 Ohio |
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Networks: ESPN3 |
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Game 1 – Wright State vs. Notre Dame: May 29 a 1 p.m., ESPN3 |
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Game 2 – Ohio vs. Illinois: May 29 at 8 p.m., ESPN3 |
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Games 3 & 4: May 30 at 1 p.m. & 8 p.m. |
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Games 5 & 6: May 31 at 1 p.m. & 8 p.m. |
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Game 7 (if necessary): June 1 at 2 p.m. |
I know college baseball doesn’t register; especially in the cold weather parts of this great nation. You should still try to watch because this is special. Support this Illini baseball team- they deserve it.
They won 28 games in a row recently and took home the Big Ten regular season title. Read up on Illini closer Tyler Jay, and appreciate his game. He’s the real deal. Some MLB Mock Drafts have him as high as #3 overall!
Plus Illini baseball deserves high attendance. Need I remind you what happened the last time Illini football had a home game?
Remember, these pics are in game, on a nice 52 degree day, with bowl eligibility on the line, versus Penn State, the biggest brand name on the Illini home schedule in 2014.
Something like this can’t happen again. In the words of Fox Sports President Eric Shanks “if people see an empty stadium on television, they think if nobody’s there, why should I watch?”
These pics are a reminder of what the state of Illini athletics are right now, so baseball’s soaring heights are to be savored, enjoyed and celebrated as an oasis amidst a Sahara level desert.
If you live down there, buy a ticket tomorrow night. If you’re free this weekend and an Illinois grad, try to stream those Illini baseball tourney games online.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.