Illini at Wrigley Field
July 23, 2017 | Football
CHICAGO, Ill. – Ahead of the annual Big Ten Media Days in Chicago on July 24-25, the Fighting Illini got a jump on the festivities in the Windy City Sunday night. Illinois head coach Lovie Smith, Director of Athletics Josh Whitman and Illini players Christian DiLauro, Jaylen Dunlap and Malik Turner all took in the Cubs-Cardinals Sunday Night Baseball matchup at Wrigley Field.
Smith, who spent nine seasons as coach of the Chicago Bears, was on the field prior to the game to present the lineup card. Smith also spent some time catching up with Cubs manager Joe Maddon, who was manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2014 when Smith was coaching the Buccaneers.
Following the on-field presentation, the Illini contingent moved to one of the famed Wrigley Rooftops for an I FUND event during the game.
Prior to the game, Illini fans gathered at Schoolyard Tavern for a 2017 Fighting Illini Kickoff Party, hosted by Ryan Baker.
On Monday, the Illini will make the rounds at Big Ten Media Day. Coach Smith will take the podium at 12:30 pm CT live on BTN and will be on the set of BTN Live at 2:45 pm CT. The trio of Fighting Illini players will join BTN Live at 4:30 pm CT.
Checkout some photos from Sunday in Chicago.
A little #ILLINI ORANGE in Wrigley tonight! @LovieSmith draws a crowd everywhere he goes. It's almost time for @IlliniFootball! pic.twitter.com/kSX6pmDvSs
— Josh Whitman (@IlliniAD) July 23, 2017
#Illini hitting up Wrigley. ????#B1GMediaDays pic.twitter.com/U4kBbG2Ygt
— Illini Football (@IlliniFootball) July 23, 2017
Lovie presents the lineup card before tonight's @Cubs v @Cardinals game. #Illini ???? #B1GMediaDays pic.twitter.com/R7Guo5XDqU
— Illini Football (@IlliniFootball) July 24, 2017
Lovie and Joe. #Illini #B1GMediaDays @Cubs pic.twitter.com/NlHV7EdHd1
— Illini Football (@IlliniFootball) July 23, 2017
Chicago loves Lovie! ?? #Illini ???? #B1GMediaDays pic.twitter.com/y19JSOSgZz
— Illini Football (@IlliniFootball) July 24, 2017
These two have coached in some pretty B1G games in their careers. ??@LovieSmith presented the lineup card to the @Cubs Sunday night: https://t.co/RwNhyxxqj7
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) July 24, 2017
Play ball! pic.twitter.com/WQ57MR3Csb
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 24, 2017
Kicking off our time Chicago with @IamtheIFUND and #Illini fans at @schoolyardbar. ???? #B1GMediaDay pic.twitter.com/vHXnMpHaTR
— Illini Football (@IlliniFootball) July 23, 2017
A lot of ??&?? at @schoolyardbar with @LovieSmith! Thanks for joining us! #goillini pic.twitter.com/z6H8XlZDWM
— Illinois I FUND (@IamtheIFUND) July 23, 2017
