Inside Fighting Illini Athletics

Illinois alum Taylor Rooks is covering the restart of the NBA for Turner Sports and Bleacher Report. She talks about the hyper-basketball environment inside the NBA Bubble and what to expect for the rest of the season. Rooks also discusses covering Illinois games as an undergrad, interviewing famous athletes, and her family lineage – which includes former Fighting Illini Thomas Rooks and MLB legend Lou Brock.

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Tim Sinclair is the familiar PA voice at Illinois basketball games. He’s currently in Orlando, just out of the NBA quarantine, and ready to call games in the NBA “Bubble”. Tim shares his experience and some fun stories from Orlando and how he was selected to participate in the unique NBA season.

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For a long time, college sports was seen as a “Man’s World”, but more and more women are finding their place and making great strides in climbing the ranks. Listen as we chat with three executive level women administrators in Illinois Athletics.

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If you’ve watched an Illinois men’s basketball game on TV or at State Farm Center, you’ve no doubt seen Illinois super fan Lisa Joley going crazy from her courtside seat. She’s one of the biggest Fighting Illini fans and a major supporter of Illinois Athletics as an I FUND member. Lisa talks about her favorite moments sitting courtside for Illinois basketball games – including getting thrown out of State Farm Center - and what it means to be an I FUND supporter.

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Four all-time Fighting Illini greats on the court have also witnessed some of the best moments in Illinois basketball as television and radio analysts over the past 25 years. Doug Altenberger played from 1983-87 and spent 16 years covering the Fighting Illini on local television and just finished his third year as a radio analyst for the Fighting Illini Sports Network. Stephen Bardo played from 1987-90 and works as a Fox Sports television analyst after working as the Illini radio analyst from 2000-2005. Jerry Hester played from 1994-98 and worked as a radio analyst from 2005-17. Deon Thomas - the all-time leading scorer in program history and Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame inductee - played from 1991-94 and is the expert analyst for the Fighting Illini Sports Network crew. Hear about their journeys from the court to the booth and their favorite moments calling all the Illinois action.

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Brian Barnhart joins Matt Park from Syracuse and Andrew Monaco from Texas A&M in a round table discussion on the status of college sports at their schools.

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The Marching Illini is such an iconic part of Illinois game days. Director Barry Houser leads the 375-member Marching Illini, in addition to teaching marching band procedures. He talks about the time and detail it takes to put together a halftime show and some of his favorite moments from his perch for Fighting Illini games.

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Fighting Illini Spring Coach's Show

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A Fighting Illini All-American turned assistant coach, Mike Bellamy bleeds Orange and Blue. He talks with former letter winners about his memories as an Illinois wide receiver and his offensive weapons going into next season.

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Mike Pearson, Illini historian and author of “Illini Legends, Lists and Lore,” discusses the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame and which legendary Fighting Illini personalities are destined to be in enshrined in future induction classes.

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