To pledge support and check out photos for Dave's trip, click here

News you can't leave work without:

I reached Dave Williams on Thursday morning. He was somewhere in Ohio, getting ready to bike another five hours and 60 miles.

"I'm constantly hungry," the 63-year-old University of Illinois professor of crop sciences said. "I'm constantly thirsty. Some times I think to myself, 'This was supposed to be fun, wasn't it? ' "

Think you're a fan of Illinois sports?

Try to top Williams, who decided to bike from Champaign (where he lives) to Philadelphia (close to where he grew up) to raise money for Jim Heffernan's UI wrestling program. Every day since July 1, Williams has been pedaling steadily, hoping to reach the steps of the Wachovia Center — site of the 2011 NCAA wrestling championships — at some point this month.

He's Rocky on a 10-speed.

"Rocky? I won't be running up any steps when I get there," Williams said. "I'll probably settle for a good cheesesteak. A real one."

Williams, a diehard fan of Illinois wrestling, hatched the idea a couple years ago as a way to 1) get in shape and 2) help the program. He's 2 for 2.

"(Heffernan) asked me if I was crazy," Williams said. "I told him 'If an old guy like myself can get to Philadelphia, you guys can, too.' "

The Illini were out in force when Williams left Huff Hall early on July 1. Talk about motivation.

"6:30 a.m. for a college kid is a lot different than 6:30 a.m. for someone my age," Williams said. "That was impressive."

A lot of folks have chipped in along the way.

Illinois assistant coach Jeremy Hunter rode with him on Day 1. The father of current Illini Tony Dallago, Norm, plans on riding along for a stretch near his hometown of Harrisburg, Pa. Heffernan has been checking in by phone. And Williams' wife, Kathy, has been a driving force — literally.

"I have it easy: I just ride," Williams said. "It's more stressful on her. She drives 10 miles ahead of me in our truck and worries the whole time."

Actually the journey has been beneficial to the Williams, who have made the Champaign-to-Philly drive "about 100 times but never have time to stop along the way," Dave said. "Last night we were in Columbus and took in a movie. It's been fun."

Williams wants to be finished in time for the Illinois Wrestling Golf Outing on July 25 in Savoy. Maybe then he can start thinking about doing it again.

"No way," Williams said before backtracking a bit.

"The (2012) NCAA meet is in St. Louis. That's a lot closer. I might have to do it."

— Jim Rossow