June 8 – CAMPAIGN – Illinois coach Bret Bielema famously got his start in college football as a walk-on.
The Prophetstown native tried out in Iowa. Not only did he make the team, but he earned a scholarship, was a starter, and eventually became team captain.
Being walk-on is an important part of Bielema’s coaching origin story.
Now, there is talk that the new college football model may not include visitors.
“I think the walk-on world as we know it is definitely going to evolve and change,” Bielema said during a press conference Thursday at the Smith Center, where the fourth-year Illini coach addressed a number of different topics. “More visitors will have to start with scholarships.”
Like other coaches, Bielema expects some clarity from the powers that be.
“Everything from the visualization of the exchanges to the size of the lists, no one knows the answer,” Bielema said. “Maybe a lot more fluid.”
Bielema has seen three of his former assistants now on scholarship from Group of Five or FCS schools. Good for the players, but hurts your team’s roster depth.
Bielema wants there to be equal conditions. Or as close to it as possible.
“If we allow each school to have a list of 100, some of the schools that have been around for 50 years as powerhouses, it will be easier for them to add more to their list,” Bielema said.
Moving away from the possibility of visits seems like a horrible idea for college football. Each school has a compelling story. The movie “Rudy” wouldn’t have been made without the walk-on aspect.
We all like to root for the underdog and those around us are, by nature, oppressed. It is not valued enough, at least initially to earn a scholarship. Now, they hand out an award to the best former player, the Burlsworth Trophy. Past winners include Baker Mayfield, Hunter Renfrow and Stetson Bennett.
Last year’s winner was Missouri’s Cody Schrader, who is now with the 49ers after signing with San Francisco as an undrafted free agent.
Two-way street
Bielema became concerned when the 2023 Iowa-Northwestern game, played at Wrigley Field, saw the teams share the same sideline.
With his team playing Northwestern at Wrigley on Nov. 30, Bielema has an ally in his search for separate spots: Ohio State coach Ryan Day. The Buckeyes play at Wrigley two weeks before Illinois.
“They basically assured me that we won’t be on the same sideline,” Bielema said. “I love Wrigley. I’m a Cubs guy. I’m all there. Ryan Day and I have been on the same page since day one. This can be easily avoided, so there’s no reason to do it.”
It will be Illinois’ second game against Wrigley, following the 2010 victory against the Wildcats. This game was played with attacks going in one direction. It worked all day for Illini running back Mikel Leshoure, who rushed for 330 yards.
Feeling better
Some key players missed spring practice at Illinois because of injuries.
The medical tent is now almost empty.
“Everyone is really flush and running 100 percent except (linebackers) James Kreutz and Kenenna Odeluga,” Bielema said.
Odeluga is expected to be back up and running in late summer. Kreutz will be closer to the start of the season.
Never a dull moment
Illinois wrapped up the school year with a Memorial Day meet, which set the stage for summer workouts.
Illinois coaches were on the road recruiting throughout April and May. The payoff could come soon when Illinois welcomes official visitors to campus.
This weekend, players who have committed to other programs stop by to take a look.
“June should be big for us,” Bielema said. “We don’t do a lot of visits in May just because our players are gone. For us at Illinois, our best recruiters are our players.”
An important person beyond player recruitment at Illinois, Pat Embleton, just received a promotion. He is now the program’s general manager.
“Pat is so important in this world we live in, knowing what’s going on not just here but everywhere else,” Bielema said.
Illinois added four new coaches to the staff: Archie McDaniel, Corey Parker, Clint Sintim and Justin Stepp. They create an opportunity for Illinois to expand its recruiting footprint.
“They brought dynamic areas that we hadn’t been exposed to here,” Bielema said.
Like….Texas.
“I’ve always tried to get into the Dallas area,” Bielema said.
Staff ties make this possible.
