UI alumnus focused on concussion treatment, prevention
By Ryan Wilson
February 17, 2016
When Kevin Jackson goes to Illinois football games, he’s not following the ball like the fans; he’s following the players.Jackson, a former running back for the Illini from 1991-1994, sits up in a booth and spots for the team during games. He follows every Illinois player in the game and watches for an...
The ever-changing hunt: the evolution of college football recruitment
By Michal Dwojak, Staff writer
February 1, 2016
John Holecek fulfilled a lifelong dream when he committed to play football at the University of Illinois in 1991. Holecek was a three-sport athlete at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois, and received offers to play football from multiple Big Ten schools. Now an IHSA ...
Our kind of thing: a Fighting Illini family
November 17, 2015
Being a student-athlete is a tricky thing. It’s an emotional thing, it’s a mental thing, and it’s a physical thing.And as surprising as this may sound, I haven't found many outside of college sports that are able to do justice to just how amazing an experience it is.But balancing all of these feeli...
Our kind of thing: the Fighting Illini family
November 15, 2015
Being a student-athlete is a tricky thing. It’s an emotional thing, it’s a mental thing and it’s a physical thing.And as surprising as this may sound, I haven’t found many outside of college sports that are able to do justice to just how amazing an experience it is.But balancing all of these feel...
Illini football gets its revenge against Purdue
By Peter Bailey-Wells, Sports editor
November 8, 2015
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA — Bill Cubit didn’t sleep much after his team was punched in the mouth 39-0 by Penn State last week. And despite Illinois’ 48-14 stomping of Purdue on Saturday, he said his restless nights will continue, because his team’s season isn’t done yet. The Illini’s ...
Reaching across enemy lines: Purdue Boilermakers
By The Daily Illini Football Staff
November 4, 2015
Editor’s note: Every week, The Daily Illini football staff will chat with a sports editor or football beat reporter from an opposing school’s paper. Up this week is The Exponent sports editor Brock Reish. His answers have been edited for space.The Daily Illini: How big of a win was the Nebraska game...
For Cubit and Illini, grace period is over
October 28, 2015
Bill Cubit’s time has come: He bought himself some time by beating Nebraska 14-13 in Illinois’ Big Ten opener. He has survived a pair of tough losses to strong Iowa and Wisconsin teams — his team lost, but in a mostly respectable fashion.Now, his feet are headed for the fire. His grace period is up...
A conversation with an Illini: Reilly O'Toole
October 27, 2015
He wore the No. 4 on the field, but was always No. 1 in the hearts of those all the way from the ole’ Blarney stone near Cork to the bustling town of Champaign. The former Illini starting quarterback and current graduate assistant coach sat down to talk with me about everything from Spongebob to Juice ...
Illinois football’s defense can’t hold up against Wisconsin’s Bart Houston
By Michal Dwojak, Staff writer
October 26, 2015
The Illinois football team had finally gained momentum against Wisconsin on Saturday. Freshman running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn had scored on a 35-yard run in the third quarter and the Illini were leading 13-10. Illini fans all over Memorial Stadium were excited — Illinois was leading Wisconsin, ...
Illini got beaten by the Badgers, and that's OK
October 25, 2015
Ke’Shawn Vaughn said the Illini beat themselves. Bill Cubit talked about injuries and lack of execution. Mike Phair said there are some good things to take away from Illinois football’s 24-13 Homecoming loss to Wisconsin, but that winning the game is ultimately the only thing he wanted to do.However y...
Matchups to watch in Illinois-Wisconsin game
October 20, 2015
Wes Lunt vs. Wisconsin defense.Wes Lunt has a tall order to fill on Homecoming against the Badgers. Wisconsin's defense gives up around 11 points per game, led by linebacker Joe Schobert, who ranks second in the conference with 9.5 sacks. Freshman linebacker T.J. Edwards had 16 tackles agai...
October 9, 2015
Tim Beckman wasn't the only coach involved in player mistreatment and injury abuse with the Illinois football teamATHLETIC DIRECTOR MIKE THOMAS/ INTERIM CHANCELLOR BARBARA WILSON announced (day) that ASSISTANT COACHES NAMES HERE (HAVE) been fired. NAME was fired after the complete report from the Fr...
