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Sports Editor Matt Daniels’ Daily Pitch: October 15, 2024 | Contents

Sports Editor Matt Daniels’ Daily Pitch: October 15, 2024 | Contents

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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s happening in the area:







Illinois running back Josh McCray scored a total of three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) against Purdue at Memorial Stadium in Champaign on Saturday afternoon. McCray and the Illini escaped with a 50-49 overtime win.




Three reasons why we love sports today

➜ 1. The success of the No. 22 Illinois football program is making television executives sit up and take notice. Case in point: The Illini’s game at No. 2 Oregon will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 26, the Big Ten announced Monday.

➜ 2. CBS will handle the call for the Illinois-Oregon game after Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson and Jenny Dell are in Champaign this Saturday when the Illini at 2:30 p.m. 24 hosts Michigan to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the dedication of Memorial Stadium.

➜ 3. Speaking of Memorial Stadium, a special section in Friday’s News-Gazette We’ll look back over the last 100 years and show why the building at First and Kirby in Champaign is so memorable.







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Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman (left) congratulates Illini running back Aidan Laughery after the Illini defeated Kansas on September 7.




Numbers game: 30

College football teams that win one away from bowl eligibility. Like Illinois. Nine teams – Army, BYU, Indiana, Iowa State, Miami, Oregon, Penn State, Pittsburgh and Texas – have already done so thanks to their 6-0 starts. If the Illini can beat ranked opponents Michigan on Saturday or Oregon on Oct. 26, it will be the 13th time in program history that Illinois has had six wins before November.







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Brooke Mosher and the Illinois volleyball team host Indiana on Wednesday night at Huff Hall in Champaign.




Crowd control

Three events that I pay attention to

➜ 1. Michigan at Illinois football. Michigan’s above-average run offense – the Wolverines are 39th in the country, averaging 191.3 yards – and Illinois’ suspect run defense – the Illini are 77th in the country, averaging 149.2 yards – will collide Saturday afternoon.

➜ 2. Indiana at Illinois volleyball. The Illini (11-5, 3-3 Big Ten) have a chance to earn their fourth straight victory when the Hoosiers (9-7, 2-4) visit Huff Hall for first serve on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

➜ 3. Parkland at Danville Area Volleyball. All ticket proceeds from the meeting of these two local programs on Wednesday at 6 p.m. will benefit Hurricane Helene relief efforts.







Chris Stevens family

From left, the Stevens family: Lucas, Diane, Chris and Addi.




Coach’s corner

Three questions for St. Joseph-Ogden boys soccer coach Chris Stevens, whose Spartans open the Class 1A postseason Friday night against St. Anne or Iroquois West:

➜ 1. My favorite sports team is… the Michigan Wolverines.

➜ 2. Three trainers I would like to have dinner with are… Jose Mourinho, Bob Schembechler and my father Richard Stevens.

➜ 3. My biggest pet peeve is… Lack of effort.