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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
‘Monday Night SportsTalk,’ at the Esquire in downtown Champaign returns in two days.
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. The first ‘Monday Night SportsTalk’ WDWS radio show at the Esquire happens in two days. To celebrate the upcoming Illinois homecoming, we’ll have Voice of the Illini Brian Barnhart on along with David and Jeanette Clark from 5-6 p.m. on Monday.
➜ 2. Barnhart will be recognized as an honorary alumni, while Dave Clark is this year’s Lou Liay Spirit Award recipient. Clark and his wife have a four-decade streak of attending every Illini home football game since he became a season-ticket holder when he was a UI student in 1975.
➜ 3. Before the Illini’s homecoming game against Central Michigan at 11 a.m. on Sept. 14, though, is the highly-anticipated nonconference game when Illinois hosts No. 19 Kansas at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Pat Bryant’s five receptions for 63 yards included a pair of touchdowns, as Illinois rolled to a 45-0 win against Eastern Illinois on Thursday night in Champaign.
Numbers game: 1
more touchdown reception Pat Bryant needs to get into the Top 10 in Illinois history. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound senior has 11 career touchdown catches after he caught two in the season-opening win against Eastern Illinois. He still has a ways to go to catch all-time leader David Williams and his 24 TD catches, but if he gets his 12th against Kansas, he’ll have the same number as Josh Imatorbhebhe, Greg Lewis, Shawn Wax, Oliver Williams and John Wright Sr.
Luke Altmyer shined in the season opener as the second-year Illini quarterback completed 19 of 24 passes for 213 yards and four touchdowns (all in the first half) of a 45-0 home win against Eastern Illinois on Aug. 29 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. Kansas at Illinois football. Contain Jalon Daniels. Limit Devin Neal. Have Luke Altmyer play a near flawless game. Establish the run with Kaden Feagin and Aidan Laughery. That’s all Illinois needs to do to start 2-0 for the first time since 2019.
➜ 2. Tennessee Titans at Chicago Bears. Every move Caleb Williams makes before, during and after his NFL debut on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field will be heavily scrutinized as the Bears try to win their third season opener this decade.
➜ 3. Illinois men’s golf at Folds of Honor Collegiate. The ninth-ranked Illini open their fall season on Monday during the 15-team tournament at American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven, Mich.
Eric Johannigmeier, his wife, Katie, and their daughter, Lucy.
Coach’s corner
Three questions with first-year Illinois cross-country coach Eric Johannigmeier. The Illini opened the season Friday in Madison, Wis., and hosts the Illini Big Ten Preview next Friday at the University of Illinois Golf Course in Savoy:
âžœ 1. My favorite sports team is … the St. Louis Cardinals.
âžœ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … Tony Dungy, Phil Jackson and Joe Torre.
âžœ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … being late.