Finally – always fun to spend time with the great Loren Tate. Today was the 60th anniversary of his first @news_gazette story & he’s still out there taking notes (noticed him jotting down a depth chart), writing columns & hosting radio shows. He’ll be 95 in Nov. Man is amazing.
Lead Studio Host - Big Ten Network. Author of the New York Times and Boston Globe Bestseller: The Opening Kickoff: The Tumultuous Birth of a Football Nation
- Overall – this feels like another good team. While they do go to OSU & host Ore, the rest of B1G sched is favorable – a lot of teams either at or below their “neighborhood.” Do they continue to win those close games by performing well in the margins? History tells us yes.
- Big thing at Bielema practices – he is an elite teacher. Today featured tons of situational stuff (which I can’t tape – hence lack of video). Fascinating to listen to how he communicates concepts. There’s a reason they have won more 1-score gms than any team in nation last 3 yrs.
- D has some question marks up front – but the secondary is truly elite – Matthew Bailey, Xavier Scott, Juice Clark (6) among others – all big time players.
- Interested to see how the defense does slowing down physical run attacks. Illini allowed 196 rush ypg in their L’s last yr (as opposed to 96 in W’s). How well does this approach address that vulnerability?

