The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini Fan Podcast

On the day Illinois football returns to padded practice, Mike Carpenter is relishing the ridiculous amount of live sports: MLB Playoffs, NBA Finals, the undefeated Chicago Bears, and college football. In the midst of a pandemic, sports mean more than ever, even though COVID-19 remains a lingering threat for pro and college leagues.

On the day Illinois football returns to padded practice, Mike Carpenter is relishing the ridiculous amount of live sports: MLB Playoffs, NBA Finals, the undefeated Chicago Bears, and college football. In the midst of a pandemic, sports mean more than ever, even though COVID-19 remains a lingering threat for pro and college leagues.

The ghost of Chief Illiniwek was awakened after the Orange and Blue Belted Kingfisher passed the UIUC student senate. Mike Carpenter analyzes the age-old mascot argument, along with the possibility Big Ten football completes its season uninterrupted. Finally, may Illinois basketball be on the verge of a big 2021 addition?

The ghost of Chief Illiniwek was awakened after the Orange and Blue Belted Kingfisher passed the UIUC student senate. Mike Carpenter analyzes the age-old mascot argument, along with the possibility Big Ten football completes its season uninterrupted. Finally, may Illinois basketball be on the verge of a big 2021 addition?

Mike Carpenter, Trevor Vallese and Harry Black look at the Illini football schedule and play everyone's favorite prediction game, Dare to Dream! In this edition, they analyze the path to a .500-or-above record, and identify which games will make the difference between a satisfying and disappointing season.

Mike Carpenter, Trevor Vallese and Harry Black look at the Illini football schedule and play everyone's favorite prediction game, Dare to Dream! In this edition, they analyze the path to a .500-or-above record, and identify which games will make the difference between a satisfying and disappointing season.

Big Ten Football is back . . . yet again! Mike Carpenter breaks down the announcement of a 9-game season beginning October 24, and analyzes how all the interested parties (players, coaches, admin, and disgruntled parents) come out on the other side of a month-long debate. 

Big Ten Football is back . . . yet again! Mike Carpenter breaks down the announcement of a 9-game season beginning October 24, and analyzes how all the interested parties (players, coaches, admin, and disgruntled parents) come out on the other side of a month-long debate. 

Ryan Day is peeved, James Franklin is confused, and angry parents are probably writing even more letters to Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren. Mike Carpenter tries to answer the question of "why can't they play?" as campuses quarantine, move to remote-only learning, and initiate partial shutdowns.

Ryan Day is peeved, James Franklin is confused, and angry parents are probably writing even more letters to Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren. Mike Carpenter tries to answer the question of "why can't they play?" as campuses quarantine, move to remote-only learning, and initiate partial shutdowns.