Football

Illinois has added its first transfer portal piece to […]

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Today marked the first practice following the […]

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Bret Bielema finally let all of his current players at Illinois get a taste of what he has historically referred to as “live, old American football”.

For the first time in this preseason camp, Bielema’s Illini program conducted a two-hour full-contact scrimmage inside the Memorial Stadium Monday afternoon.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 9, 2021

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Today marked the first preseason scrimmage and so the 15-minute viewing period of Monday's practice session was essentially nothing more than watching the players go through pre-game stretching.

I've had the pleasure of meeting some amazing people in my career.  None more colorful nor more affable than Bobby Bowden.  There are those few among us whose personality is so large that it enters a room before the person does...and that was Bobby.

I first met Coach Bowden 29 years ago this month.  He was already a coaching icon, having constructed the Florida State program more than a decade earlier into a powerhouse and putting this former all-women's school permanently on the football map. 

This was the first day in full pads for the Illini players and also marked the arrival of the Big Ten Network crew (Dave Revsine, Howard Griffith, Gerry DiNardo and Joshua Perry) for its annual preseason look at all 14 teams in the league. Illinois was the second team they've seen as they began this tour with Nebraska on Thursday.
Today marked the first sign of senior tailback Mike Epstein to fall camp after he was absent for the first five days of practice as he continues to work his way back from injury.

Illinois running backs coach Corey Patterson was not only the only retained staff member from Lovie Smith’s tenure but is now in charge of Bret Bielema’s prized offensive possession.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 6, 2021

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- There is obvious third-party evidence to suggest Corey Patterson’s interview with Bret Bielema to keep his spot on the Illinois coaching staff went well.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 6, 2021

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Welcome to the fifth straight day of fall camp for the Illinois football program and the first day where they used the grass practice fields across from the Smith Family Football Center.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 5, 2021

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Some additional notes after speaking with head coach Bret Bielema, safety Sydney Brown.

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When he arrived back at his alma mater in Champaign, Illinois wide receivers coach George McDonald knew his early objective at Illinois was simple: “Add players.” 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 5, 2021

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Over eight years ago, Bret Bielema reached an agreement to hire a young assistant football coach named George McDonald who the then-Arkansas head coach had sought after for some time.

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Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 5, 2021

Like the previous and the rest of this week, it was a 15-minute viewing period but here’s the quick notes (and just to be clear, these are going to continue to get shorter and shorter):

IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst Matt Stevens has been hard at work reporting all the ins and outs from the first week of preseason practice.

A busy day Wednesday as several coaches and players talked to the media. That and a somewhat surprising analysis on tight end Luke Ford. right here.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 4, 2021

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Welcome to the third day of fall camp for the Illinois football program and the first day where the players were in shoulder pads.