Illinois Staff using Catapult Tech
By Gavin Good, Staff Writer
April 22, 2019
Illinois always wants to know more about the physical outputs and performance capabilities of its players. That’s part of why the program bought 44 Catapult vests that provide coaches with a live feed of data as players go about their everyday efforts in practice and workouts. Fit with a GPS device...
Illinois looks forward to fall
By Gavin Good, Staff Writer
April 15, 2019
Filed under Football, Men's Sports, Sports, Sports Top Stories, Top Stories
There may still be about four-and-a-half months before Illinois football’s season opener against Akron, but Illinois put on its first spring game since 2015 on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. Though there will likely be many changes to the Illini’s lineup, and since the class of 2023 is...
Illini prepare for upcoming season
By Tati Perry, Staff Writer
April 15, 2019
Filed under Football, Men's Sports, Sports, Sports Top Stories
At this point hearing that the Illini football squad looks good and will finally have a good season is just a loaded cliche that leaves fans more disappointed because they dared hope. For the entirety of coach Lovie Smith’s time with the team, all I have heard is, “Just wait, this team will be something...
Illinois signs second USC transfer to 2019 roster
By JJ Kim, Assistant Sports Editor
April 14, 2019
Filed under Football, Men's Sports, Sports
The Illinois football staff continued to make splashes in the recruiting world today as they poached another graduate transfer from the Trojans with commits former four-star wide receiver Trevon Sidney Sunday afternoon and from former five-star defensive end Oluwole Betiku last week. https://twitter....
Coaches looking to assess players’ performances during spring game
By Gavin Good, Staff Writer
April 12, 2019
Filed under Football, Men's Sports, Sports
It may be head coach Lovie Smith’s fourth year in charge of Illinois football, but Saturday will mark the program’s first spring game with Smith at the helm. With three returning scholarship quarterbacks healthy and on the roster — a first since Smith has been in charge — Illinois finally...
Illinois Football scores Southern California DE transfer
By JJ Kim, Assistant Sports Editor
April 12, 2019
Filed under Football, Men's Sports, Sports, Sports Top Stories, Uncategorized
The Illinois football staff continued to make splashes in the recruiting world today as they poached graduate transfers from the Trojans with commits from former five-star defensive end Oluwole Betiku Thursday. Betiku, the first USC graduate transfer to commit to Illinois, made his decision early T...
Athletic director gifts $100,000 in honor of football alumni
By Sports Staff
April 11, 2019
Filed under Football, Men's Sports, Sports
Illinois' new 107,650-square-foot, $79.2 million Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Performance Center will add a corridor recognizing athletic director Josh Whitman and his wife Hope, made possible by the family's $100,000 gift. "Hope and I are making this gift to solidify our personal commitment,...
Junior Day pulls in new recruits
By Gavin Good, Staff Writer
April 11, 2019
Filed under Football, Men's Sports, Sports, Sports Top Stories, Top Stories
On Saturday, Illinois football had zero commits for the Class of 2020. But that changed after the Illini took advantage of hosting a slew of elite recruits for its Junior Day, turning the visits into commitments. By early afternoon on Monday, Illinois had racked up big-time commitments from thre...
Illini make changes for upcoming season
By Gavin Good, Staff writer
April 8, 2019
Filed under Football, Men's Sports, Sports, Sports Top Stories
Three seasons removed from Lovie Smith’s decision not to retain Mike Bellamy on staff, Illinois football is in nearly the same position it started in when Smith arrived. Now, Smith has brought Bellamy back, but in a different role. After working with receivers for three years at Illinois, Bellamy is working w...
Beer sales coming this fall
By Gavin Good, Staff writer
April 4, 2019
Filed under Football, Men's Sports, Sports, Sports Top Stories, Uncategorized
A decade ago, it was rare for a school to allow alcohol or beer sales at football or basketball games. On Tuesday, the University joined a rising tide of institutions that are selling beer at athletic events. The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced Memorial Stadium and the State Farm Center will a...
Smith, Pearl swap positions
By Gavin Good, Staff Writer
April 1, 2019
Filed under Football, Men's Sports, Sports, Sports Top Stories, Top Stories
Kendall Smith came to Illinois from Bolingbrook High School as a receiver. Two years later, after being moved to safety in 2018, Smith is back where he started. The 6-foot-1-inch, 200-pound athlete is a welcome addition to an Illinois receiving corps that's admittedly thin and lacks proven Big Ten...
Illini add Richmond grad transfer receiver
By Gavin Good, Staff writer
March 18, 2019
Filed under Football, Men's Sports, Sports, Sports Top Stories
On Sunday, former Richmond wide receiver Dejon Brissett announced he was headed to Illinois as a graduate transfer. Brissett redshirted in 2018 after playing just three games due to a foot fracture. As a junior in 2017, though, he racked up 896 yards on 63 catches to go along with seven touchdowns, ea...
