Many thanks to Bob Asmussen for this gracious write up in the The News-Gazette, the hometown paper in Champaign where my TV journey started #Illini #FlyinIllini #tv #sports #news #doublenickel CBS Chicago news-gazette.com/newsletter/bob…

Wednesday's N-G sports cover features Scott Richey and Bob Asmussen on Bragging Rights in basketball and football, plus Matt Daniels on topics ranging from #Illini linebacker Dylan Rosiek and Illinois Soccer season opener to Tanner Gordon and Unity Rockets football. APSE

Always great to catch up with Ryan Baker, a manager for the Flyin' Illini and a fixture in Chicago media. Ryan gets back to C-U whenever possible. Bob Asmussen | Illinois alum Baker back on familiar Chicago sports beat news-gazette.com/newsletter/bob… via The News-Gazette Always great to

Friday's N-G sports cover features Scott Richey on Illinois Soccer's big season-opening win against Wright State, plus Bob Asmussen on #Illini football, Zach Piatt on UnityFootball and Matt Daniels on Parkland Athletics stopping by office among items in Daily Pitch. APSE

Saturday's N-G sports cover feat. Matt Daniels on Parkland Athletics volleyball entering another 'national title or bust' season, plus Bob Asmussen on #Illini football season opener vs. Eastern Illinois and Scott Richey on EA Sports College Football 25. APSE News-Gazette Photo

Thursday's N-G sports cover features Bob Asmussen on Luke Altmyer ahead of second season as #Illini quarterback, plus Matt Daniels's Daily Pitch. APSE News-Gazette Photo

Great to be back at Memorial Stadium for the #Illini opener against Eastern Illinois. Here is my column today on quarterback Luke Altmyer. news-gazette.com/newsletter/bob…

Wednesday's N-G sports cover features Scott Richey on #Illini men's basketball team getting introduced to fans at 100th CU Kiwanis Tip-Off Classic, plus Matt Daniels's latest Daily Pitch and Bob Asmussen and Loren Tate on Illinois football ahead of Kansas game. APSE

Thursday's N-G sports cover feat. Zach Piatt on three-set comeback win for Champaign Maroons volleyball over Mahomet-Seymour, plus Bob Asmussen on #Illini preparing for Kansas star QB Jalon Daniels and Matt Daniels on SJO Football standout receiver Coy Taylor. APSE

Game 2 at Memorial Stadium. Going to be a full house for the #Illini. First time at home in 8 years. Check out my story on Florida State transfer and Dad Dennis Briggs.news-gazette.com/newsletter/con…

Friday's N-G sports cover feat. Zach Piatt on emphatic win for STM Volleyball against rival St. Joseph-Ogden, plus Bob Asmussen ranks all 18 Big Ten stadiums and Matt Daniels takes look at #Illini's Big Ten opener in Top 25 showdown at Nebraska. APSE News-Gazette Photo

After jumping into the poll last week, #Illini are up to No 19. That's exactly where I have them ranked. Excellent start to the season for Bret Bielema's team. Full AP Top 25 | Illinois moves up to 19 after upset win news-gazette.com/newsletter/ful… via The News-Gazette

Friday's N-G sports cover features Bob Asmussen on historic opportunity for #Illini football, plus Scott Richey with update on Tomislav Ivisic. APSE News-Gazette Photo

Great to be back at SFC for #Illini game against EIU. Season couldn't get here fast enough for fans eager to see the rebuilt team. Easily hitting triple figures is good. Bob's Buzzer Beaters | New-look Illini pick up where they left off news-gazette.com/newsletter/con… via The News-Gazette

Thanks to former #Illini track standout Rob Mango for sharing his vision of a series of portraits he is painting. The works are a treat for UI fans. Bob Asmussen | Former Illini track standout painting unique portraits of Illini greats news-gazette.com/opinion/column… via The News-Gazette

Thanks to Chad Altmyer for the help on this story about his son Luke, the #Illini starting QB. Luke seems primed for an even better 2025 season. Bob Asmussen | One-time catcher turned quarterback, Altmyer finds the right fit at Illinois news-gazette.com/opinion/column… via The News-Gazette

Always great to catch up with former #Illini receiver Chris James, now doing a stellar job as coach at his alma mater Morgan Park. He had plenty to say about Nasir Rankin. Bob Asmussen | 'It's like a college coach built him in a lab' news-gazette.com/newsletter/con… via The News-Gazette

As I count down to the start of the #Illini season in 98 days, it is good to know the College Football Playoff is more in order. Will Illinoi make it? Can't Wait For Saturday | Again, why did it take so long to get to a 12-team playoff? news-gazette.com/opinion/cant-w… via The News-Gazette

Thanks to longtime #Illini fans the Coadys for their help with this story. John and Kathy seem like the kind of grandparents we would all want or aspire to be like. Bob Asmussen | Illini super fans sample every sport ... in one year news-gazette.com/opinion/bob-as… via The News-Gazette

Bret Bielema, #Illini make a splash in annual Big Ten poll. It is the latest sign that outside perception of the program has chaned. Can't Wait For Saturday | Illinois' Bielema just misses top spot in Big Ten preseason poll news-gazette.com/sports/cant-wa… via The News-Gazette