Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:01 AM on Thu, 08/19/2010
welcome everybody to the 2010-11 sports season for the Fighting Illini!
Glad to be back up and running with the weekly chats. We will do them each week on Thursdays at 11 am.
Lets get week #1 started
Cecil from Arlington Heights, Illinois — 11:01 AM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Brian
Welcome back!@ Is Kittner going to be calling the games this year again.
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:05 AM on Thu, 08/19/2010
cecil,
Great to be back! Yes Kurt Kittner is back this season on the Illini Sports Network. I just saw him at the Rantoul scrimmage and he was excited about getting back to work soon. I know he has visited with freshman QB Nathan Scheelhaase a little bit before the season and likes his potential. Just FYI..Kurt attended a wedding in Greece this summer for his good friend Tony Pashos. Pashos had a traditional Greek wedding.
Will from Chicago, IL — 11:05 AM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Brian,
Nothing against Troy Pollard but can we expect to see a years worth of Terry Hawthorne and Justin Green returning kickoffs? Also, who is on the Punt Return? Will that be one of those two...or Fayson perhaps?
Thanks.
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:09 AM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Will,
I think you will see a lot of Terry Hawthorne and Justin Green returning kickoffs. They are 2 of the faster guys on the team. I also wouldnt mind seeing freshman Ryan Lankford back there also. He seems really athletic.
On punt returns I have seen Jack Ramsey handling punt returns (among others) in camp. They didnt do many punts in the Rantoul scrimmage.
Dave C from Champaign, IL — 11:10 AM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Mr Barnhardt
Thanks for the chat. Strange question - do you ever get to broadcast volleyball? I ask because i think I'd be fantastic to hear you call an Illinois game or two since they're projected as one of the best teams in the entire country this year.
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:13 AM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Dave,
I actually have done a couple of volleyball matches in the past when I have filled in for Dave Loane...who I believe is one of the finest volleyball announcers in the country.
They are going to have a great team this year...ranked 6th in the pre-season polls.
If they ask me to help out...I would be glad to do another one sometime.
Wes Gillaspie from Saginaw, MI — 11:13 AM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Brian, any chance the Illini radio network can get on one of the powerful Chicago stations like WGN or WBBM? I'm just out of WIND's range up here in Michigan.
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:21 AM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Wes,
Thanks for the question!
I dont directly handle the statewide radio affiliates but I can tell you that it is not as easy as it might seem to pick what station will carry the games. For example WGN is already committed to carrying the Cubs....Blackhawks...and the Northwestern broadcasts. WBBM is pretty much all news and they do have a lot of time tied up in covering the Chicago Bears....as well as carrying the Bears games. It wouldnt be a problem on WBBM with football as much...but might be for basketball.
Other stations carry the Bulls....and there might be game and coaches show conflicts during the year. Plus you have to think about strength of signal as well when considering affiliates and when you commit to a station...you are usally committed for 3-5 years.
The Illini games were on 670 The Score for several years but WIND 560 won the rights to the games a few years ago and have had them since.
One thing to think about if you cant hear the games on the radio is to check out XM satellite radio. The XM folks have the Big Ten broadcasts on their channels.
Mike from Wheaton, IL — 11:24 AM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Brian, how does Missouri look this year?
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:26 AM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Mike,
Havent had a chance to look at them too closely yet...but Gabbert is back at quarterback and they will have a lot of weapons to throw at the Illini again. I am curious to see what their defense looks like...and how the Tigers will respond to a new-look Illini offense. I know that Nebraska (their last year in the Big 12)is picked to win the Big 12 North.
ScottR from Fort Worth, TX — 11:27 AM on Thu, 08/19/2010
There has been a lot of talk about the Running Back, how about the Full Backs. Who will it be? Will they get any carries in this Offense?
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:28 AM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Scott,
Zach Becker is the fullback this year and I expect they will use him to do a variety of things this season. I think he could have a big season.
Bill Bleecker from Downers Grove, Illinois — 11:29 AM on Thu, 08/19/2010
I have been predicting to anyone who will listen that the Illini men will beat Purdue and Michigan State in basketball this season. Do you agree?
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:30 AM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Bill,
I like your optimism!
They have certainly proven that they can beat those 2 teams over the last few years. Dont see why they cant this year either!
Brian Barnhart (moderator) — 11:32 AM on Thu, 08/19/2010
Sorry guys...I am going to have to cut out on you this week. I have to be somewhere else in about 15 minutes.
I will be here each Thursday at 11am..so those of you that didnt get your question answered ...can send those again next week.
welcome everybody to the 2010-11 sports season for the Fighting Illini!
Glad to be back up and running with the weekly chats. We will do them each week on Thursdays at 11 am.
Lets get week #1 started
Brian
Welcome back!@ Is Kittner going to be calling the games this year again.
cecil,
Great to be back! Yes Kurt Kittner is back this season on the Illini Sports Network. I just saw him at the Rantoul scrimmage and he was excited about getting back to work soon. I know he has visited with freshman QB Nathan Scheelhaase a little bit before the season and likes his potential. Just FYI..Kurt attended a wedding in Greece this summer for his good friend Tony Pashos. Pashos had a traditional Greek wedding.
Brian,
Nothing against Troy Pollard but can we expect to see a years worth of Terry Hawthorne and Justin Green returning kickoffs? Also, who is on the Punt Return? Will that be one of those two...or Fayson perhaps?
Thanks.
Will,
I think you will see a lot of Terry Hawthorne and Justin Green returning kickoffs. They are 2 of the faster guys on the team. I also wouldnt mind seeing freshman Ryan Lankford back there also. He seems really athletic.
On punt returns I have seen Jack Ramsey handling punt returns (among others) in camp. They didnt do many punts in the Rantoul scrimmage.
Mr Barnhardt
Thanks for the chat. Strange question - do you ever get to broadcast volleyball? I ask because i think I'd be fantastic to hear you call an Illinois game or two since they're projected as one of the best teams in the entire country this year.
Dave,
I actually have done a couple of volleyball matches in the past when I have filled in for Dave Loane...who I believe is one of the finest volleyball announcers in the country.
They are going to have a great team this year...ranked 6th in the pre-season polls.
If they ask me to help out...I would be glad to do another one sometime.
Brian, any chance the Illini radio network can get on one of the powerful Chicago stations like WGN or WBBM? I'm just out of WIND's range up here in Michigan.
Wes,
Thanks for the question!
I dont directly handle the statewide radio affiliates but I can tell you that it is not as easy as it might seem to pick what station will carry the games. For example WGN is already committed to carrying the Cubs....Blackhawks...and the Northwestern broadcasts. WBBM is pretty much all news and they do have a lot of time tied up in covering the Chicago Bears....as well as carrying the Bears games. It wouldnt be a problem on WBBM with football as much...but might be for basketball.
Other stations carry the Bulls....and there might be game and coaches show conflicts during the year. Plus you have to think about strength of signal as well when considering affiliates and when you commit to a station...you are usally committed for 3-5 years.
The Illini games were on 670 The Score for several years but WIND 560 won the rights to the games a few years ago and have had them since.
One thing to think about if you cant hear the games on the radio is to check out XM satellite radio. The XM folks have the Big Ten broadcasts on their channels.
Brian, how does Missouri look this year?
Mike,
Havent had a chance to look at them too closely yet...but Gabbert is back at quarterback and they will have a lot of weapons to throw at the Illini again. I am curious to see what their defense looks like...and how the Tigers will respond to a new-look Illini offense. I know that Nebraska (their last year in the Big 12)is picked to win the Big 12 North.
There has been a lot of talk about the Running Back, how about the Full Backs. Who will it be? Will they get any carries in this Offense?
Scott,
Zach Becker is the fullback this year and I expect they will use him to do a variety of things this season. I think he could have a big season.
I have been predicting to anyone who will listen that the Illini men will beat Purdue and Michigan State in basketball this season. Do you agree?
Bill,
I like your optimism!
They have certainly proven that they can beat those 2 teams over the last few years. Dont see why they cant this year either!
Sorry guys...I am going to have to cut out on you this week. I have to be somewhere else in about 15 minutes.
I will be here each Thursday at 11am..so those of you that didnt get your question answered ...can send those again next week.
Talk to you soon...and GO ILLINI!!