When Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the United States, gave his farewell address it included this famous quote: "only when you're in the lowest valley, do you know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain." As the Illinois men's basketball team heads to Indianapolis this weekend, to face UConn in the Final Four, one can't help but think of this quote. Illinois … [Read more...] about Josh Whitman Brought a New Golden Era to Illini Athletics
Bret Bielema
Bret Bielema Has an $88,000 Super Bowl Ring
As Super Bowl 60 approaches this Sunday, it's a good time to be reminded of the bodacious bling possessed by Illini Coach Bret Bielema. In addition to the Rose Bowl ring that he earned during his playing days (1990 Iowa Hawkeyes, Big Ten Co-Champions, who lost to Washington 46-34), he also has a ring Super Bowl ring. It's from Super Bowl LIII, when he served as the defensive … [Read more...] about Bret Bielema Has an $88,000 Super Bowl Ring
Illini Football Hasn’t Been This Good in a Quarter-Century
Yesterday saw the Illini get their first non-conference road win over a power four conference team since 2007 (Syracuse 41-20). While they entered as favorites by a slim margin (-2.5) at Duke, they won by a resounding 26 point margin (45-19). As such, they moved up two spots to #9 in the AP poll, which marks the program's highest ranking since December of 2001. It's worth … [Read more...] about Illini Football Hasn’t Been This Good in a Quarter-Century
#12 Illini Football vs Western Illinois Leathernecks Game Preview
It is the most anticipated Illinois Fighting Illini football season in a generation, and it begins Friday, at home, against FCS opponent Western Illinois. The wait is finally nearing an end! Last year, this Illini football team doubled their win total (from 5 in 2023 to 10 in 2024) from over the previous season. So how did they do it? … [Read more...] about #12 Illini Football vs Western Illinois Leathernecks Game Preview
Illinois Football Enters Season with Highest Expectations in a Generation
The annual spring and summer sports lull is about to end! Yes, the "we have no revenue college sports going on at the moment" dead zone of the calendar concludes...now. The Illinois football team began their training camp on Friday at Memorial Stadium, with Illinois football coach Bret Bielema holding a press conference on Thursday to preview fall practice. And the current … [Read more...] about Illinois Football Enters Season with Highest Expectations in a Generation
Illini Return 16/22 Starters, Look Very Strong in 2025
Is 2025 going to be the year that the Illinois Fighting Illini football program finally starts stacking winning seasons? It certainly looks that way on paper. And while there was obvious cause for optimism in 2000, 2002, 2008 and 2023 (four seasons that followed major program breakthroughs), it just didn't work out that way, and all four of those years were mere five-in … [Read more...] about Illini Return 16/22 Starters, Look Very Strong in 2025
Luke Altmyer, Bret Bielema Sing Stretch at Wrigley, Coach Trolls Brewers Fans
Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer, widely considered to be among the best in the Big Ten this upcoming season, had a very exciting Tuesday night. He got to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," alongside his head coach Bret Bielema, at Wrigley Field tonight during the Chicago Cubs 5-3 win over the arch-rival Milwaukee Brewers. … [Read more...] about Luke Altmyer, Bret Bielema Sing Stretch at Wrigley, Coach Trolls Brewers Fans
Illini Football: Very Early 2025 Season Preview
With 18 of 22 starters returning, Illini football should be special in 2025. Winning ten games, including the Citrus Bowl, has put the program back up at a level relevance that hasn't been seen since 2001. And perhaps most importantly, the Illini have done it by finding and maintaining an identity. Defensive Coordinator Aaron Henry has perfectly articulated the Illini … [Read more...] about Illini Football: Very Early 2025 Season Preview
Illini Citrus Bowl Win Broke Program Barriers, Set New Milestones
Believe it or not, the Citrus Bowl includes a college football game- it's not just an infomercial for cheese-flavored crackers. It was one hell of a ballgame too as the #20 Illinois Fighting Illini came in as 10 pt. underdogs and upset #15 South Carolina 21-17, marking the school's first ever win over a SEC team! It was also the first win for the Illini in a traditionally … [Read more...] about Illini Citrus Bowl Win Broke Program Barriers, Set New Milestones
2024 Illini Football vs the 2022 Team: Who’s Better and Why
It is quite common, within the world of sports, to feel that the status quo will never change for the better. Until one day it finally does, and then that one long-awaited breakthrough leads to a new standard, and with that, a new ceiling. You saw that with the 2022 Illini football team, which was Bret Bielema's second year in charge of the program. That team laid the … [Read more...] about 2024 Illini Football vs the 2022 Team: Who’s Better and Why