MEDIA COVERAGE
Illinois enjoys extensive coverage by the media, both print and electronic. The Big Ten Conference boasts one of the best television packages in college football, especially with the creation of the Big Ten Network. Every conference game, and the vast majority of non-conference games, that each Big Ten team plays is broadcast nationally through such partners as ABC, ESPN, espn2 and the Big Ten Network. Click here to check out the Big Ten football television schedule.
Aledo, WRMJ-FM 102.3
Alton, WBGZ-AM 1570
Bloomington, WTRX-FM 93.7
Canton, WBYS-AM 1560
Carlyle, WCXO-FM 96.7
Champaign, WDWS-AM 1400
Champaign, WHMS-FM 97.5
Chicago, WIND-AM 560
Danville, WDAN-AM 1490
Danville, WDNL-FM, 102.1
Davenport, IA, WFXN-AM, 1230
Decatur, WSOY-AM 1340
DuQuoin, WDQN-AM 1580
Dwight, WJEZ-FM 98.9
Effingham, WCRC-FM 95.7
Fairfield, WFIW-AM 1390
Galesburg, WGIL-AM 1400 |
Jacksonville, WJIL-AM 1550
Jerseyville, WJBM-AM 1480
Kankakee, WGFA-FM, 94.1
Kewanee, WKEI-AM 1450
LaSalle-Peru, WLPO-AM 1220
LaSalle-Peru, WKOT-FM 96.5
Litchfield, WSMI-FM 106.1
Litchfield, WAOX-FM, 105.3
Macomb, WKXQ-FM, 92.5
Mattoon, WCRC-FM, 95.7
Moline, WFXN-AM 1230
Mt. Carmel, WSJD-FM 100.5
Murphysboro, WINI-AM 1440
Olney, WSEI-FM 92.9
Paris, WIBQ-FM, 98.5
Paxton, WPXN-FM 104.9
Peoria, WIRL-AM 1290 |
Pittsfield, WBBA-FM 97.5
Quincy, WTAD-AM 930
Robinson, WTAY-AM 1570
Robinson, WTYE-FM 101.7
Rockford, WROK-AM 1440
Rushville, WKXQ-FM 92.5
Salem, WJBD-AM 1350
Salem, WJBD-FM 100.1
Sparta, WHCO-AM 1230
St. Louis, KRFT-AM 1190
St. Louis, KFNS-AM 590
Springfield, WTAX-AM 1240
Taylorville, WTIM-FM 97.3
Terre Haute, IN, WIBQ-FM, 98.5
Vandalia, WCRC-FM, 95.7
Watseka, WGFA-FM 94.1
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The 46-station statewide Illini Sports Network is managed by the UI Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, including distribution, sales operations, affiliate relations and programming. ISN programming includes Illinois football, men's and women's basketball, volleyball and baseball, along with the "Illini Today" series.
Brian Barnhart |
BRIAN BARNHART, football and men's basketball play-by-play
Barnhart begins his eighth season as the "Voice of the Illini" after a long stint in professional baseball, including two years as the play-by-play voice of the Anaheim Angels. Barnhart serves as the voice of the Illini Sports Network, providing play-by-play coverage of football and men's basketball and as the host of the statewide "Ron Zook Show" call-in program every Thursday night at 7:05 p.m.
A native of nearby Tolono, Barnhart graduated from Unity High School and Liberty University before beginning a 15-year career in professional baseball in 1986. He served as the play-by-play voice of the Lynchburg Mets and Salem Buccaneers before moving up to the Oklahoma City 89ers, the Class AAA affiliate of the Texas Rangers, from 1988-94. Barnhart did high school football and other sport play-by-play for 11 years and was also the voice for Oklahoma Baptist basketball from 1992-94 and Oklahoma City Blazers minor league hockey in 1993. From 1996-98, he handled news, sports and play-by-play at WWLS in Oklahoma City.
In 1998, Barnhart was named the play-by-play announcer for the Angels and spent two full seasons with the American League club before returning to the Champaign-Urbana area in 2000. He currently is a news and sports announcer at WDWS-AM 1400 in Champaign. During the 2007 season, Barnhart was honored by the Illinois Broadcasters Association with the "Silver Dome Award for Best Sports Play-by-Play" for his call of Illinois' football upset of No. 1 Ohio State.
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Kurt Kittner |
KURT KITTNER, football color analyst
Former Illini quarterback All-American Kurt Kittner is in his third season as expert analyst. Kittner lettered at Illinois from 1998-2001, leading the Illini to a the Big Ten title, a 10-win season and a trip to the BCS in 2001. The three-time team MVP was the signal caller for the most proficient offenses in school history. During his time under center, Illinois posted the two highest scoring seasons with 32.5 ppg in 2001 and 32.3 in 1999. Kittner still holds school records for career total offense (8,880), single-season (27) and career (70) touchdown passes thrown. Kittner was the starting quarterback as a sophomore for the Illini in 1999 when the Illini mounted two upset road victories at ninth-ranked Michigan and at Ohio State. That season, Illinois went on to romp Virginia 63-21 in the Micronpc.com Bowl, where the squad broke 22 records. Kittner was a two-time All-Big Ten selection, won 24 games in an Illinois jersey, finished 12th in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2001 and was a finalist for the Johnny Unitas National Quarterback Award. The Schaumburg, Ill. native was a fifth-round draft pick by the Atlanta Falcons and started four games during the 2003 season.
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Jerry Hester |
JERRY HESTER, men's basketball color analyst
Jerry Hester is now in his fifth season serving as the expert analyst on Illini Sports Network men's basketball broadcasts. Hester started at Illinois from 1994-98 and was a key member of the UI's 1998 Big Ten Championship team. Following graduation, he played professionally in Poland, England and Italy. Hester is currently a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual.
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Steve Kelly |
STEVE KELLY, football pre-game, halftime and post-game
Along with Barnhart and Kittner on the broadcast again this fall is Kelly, a veteran Illini sportscaster who handles pre-game, halftime and post-game host duties. Kelly has covered Illini athletics for two decades on television and radio. He hosts the popular "Sports Talk" show on WDWS-AM 1400 in Champaign and also hosts "Gameday" extended coverage of Illini athletics on WDWS and Lite Rock 97.5.
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Loren Tate |
LOREN TATE, men's basketball pre-game, halftime and post-game
Joining Barnhart and Hester on the broadcast again this year is Loren Tate, who will handle pre-game, halftime and post-game host duties. Tate, now in his 55th year covering the Fighting Illini, is a longtime sports columnist and former sports editor of The News-Gazette in Champaign. He also has covered Illinois for decades as a radio and television broadcaster.
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Dave Loane |
DAVE LOANE, women's basketball, volleyball and baseball play-by-play
Dave Loane is in his 22nd season as the play-by-play voice for Fighting Illini women's basketball, volleyball and baseball. Loane is the sports director at NewsTalk 1400 WDWS-AM in Champaign-Urbana, where he anchors the daily morning show sportscasts and produces the daily feature "Illini Today," which airs on the Illini Sports Network statewide. He also serves as the host of the Jolette Law Show, which airs weekly on WICD-TV in Champaign and nationally on the Big Ten Network during the women's basketball season. In 2005, Loane was named the winner of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's Mel Greenberg Media Award for displaying a commitment to Women's basketball and to advancing the role of the media in the women's game.
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The "Ron Zook Show" airs Thursday evenings from 7:05-8 on the Illini Sports Network. The live call-in show originates from both the WDWS Radio (Champaign) studio and, during away-game weeks, at the Colonnades Club in Memorial Stadium, when the Quarterback Club hosts the program. The show, emceed by Brian Barnhart, the play-by-play voice of Fighting Illini football, is also available through Illini All-Access on the official UI Athletics website, www.fightingillini.com.
The Bruce Weber Show is a weekly call-in radio show aired statewide on the Illini Sports Network. The show is hosted by Illini play-by-play announcer Brian Barnhart and airs Mondays from 7-8 p.m., beginning Dec. 7. In addition to the studio shows, the radio show will occasionally move to different location on the UI campus and in the Champaign-Urbana community. A complete schedule of the show will be listed in the weekly notes update.
This weekly half-hour television program, produced by the UI Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, features highlights of the previous week's game with analysis by Coach Ron Zook, as well as features about the Illinois football progam. Brian Barnhart, Illini Sports Network play-by-play commentator, hosts the show with Coach Zook.
- Big Ten Network: Wednesdays, 4 p.m. CT
- Champaign: WICD-TV, Channel 15--Mondays, 10:35 p.m. CT
- Springfield: WICS-TV, Channel 20--Mondays, 10:35 p.m. CT
- St. Louis: Fox Sports Midwest--Tuesdays, 4:30 p.m. CT
This weekly 30-minute television program, hosted by Ryan Baker of WBBM-TV in Chicago, features game highlights and interviews with coaches, players and others involved with the Illinois basketball program. Viewers should consult their local listings for the dates and times of the telecasts in their area.
- Big Ten Network: Tuesdays, 4 p.m. CT
- Champaign: WICD-TV, Channel 15--Sundays, 10:35 p.m. CT
- Springfield: WICS-TV, Channel 20--Sundays, 10:35 p.m. CT
- St. Louis: Fox Sports Midwest--Tuesdays, 4:30 p.m. CT
Each week during the Big Ten schedule and up through the Big Ten Tournament, Coach Jolette Law films the Jolette Law Show. The Jolette Law Show will air on WICD-TV in Champaign each Sunday at 11 p.m. starting Jan. 10. It will also air on the Big Ten Network at a time yet to be determined. For information on the show, contact Marty Kaufmann (217-244-6532) or Derek Neal (217-244-3707). The Jolette Law Show is produced by Illini Productions. Archived video of the show may be available on the University's athletic website (www.fightingillini.com) after the show is aired.
(updated 2/10)
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