Good morning, everyone. It is Wednesday, May 18th. You are listening to the College Football

Daily. I'm your host, Lance Glynn. Got a fun one today, I'm joined for an in-depth look at Illinois

by the head coach of the Fighting Aligni, Brett Bilema. But before we get to that, I just wanted to remind

everyone to give us those five-star ratings and shoot a review on Apple Podcasts. Also, I wanted to make sure I let you know to stay tuned to the College Football Daily feed over the next few weeks. We have a few bonus episodes coming your way, not just Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, but also some sprinkled in on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well. It was great speaking with Brett Bilema about the Eliani really a fun conversation with him. So without holding you any longer, here's my conversation with the Illinois head coach. Join now by the head coach of the Illinois fighting Aligni entering his second season in Champaign. Brett Bilema, Coach, how we doing? Thanks so much for joining me and giving me some time today. Really appreciate it. Absolutely, Lance. Good to be with you and excited about the year ahead of us. So, Coach, first and foremost, I know you have a big day coming up this week. Thursday, if I have my details, right? You're set to saying, take me out to the ballgame at Wrigley Field during the seventh inning stretch when the Cubs take on the Diamondbacks. You did it previously once, so you have experience, which I think for something like this is really important.

Are you nervous going into it?

Are you practicing?

How do you plan to do even better this time around than he did last season?

You know what?

Actually, Lance this is my third time.

I did it once after my rookie season as a head coach of Wisconsin.

The Cubs organization kind of found out indirectly that I was a Cubs fan growing up. So I was asked back in the day in 2007, I believe it was, and went down there and did my rookie debut. I think I knocked it out of the ballpark, me personally. But I tend to be overconfident with my voice. My wife would tell you that I think I'm a hell of a singer, but she disagrees. So I did

this last year as well. When I came back in, they said they'd like to make this an annual event. And I for sure knew I didn't need to check with the Big Ten office on scheduling. I said absolutely. And yeah, it's a lot of fun. Actually, now it's a little bit of a step up. They actually have you practice with the organist

beforehand and give you a little

rundown on how it's going to go.

And then now you

you actually... step up, they actually have you practice with the organist beforehand and give you a little

rundown on how it's going to go. And then now you actually stay in, you kind of lean out the window, give a little bit of a one, two, three. But like before my first time you were on a platform and I'm scared to death of heights, and it was a platform on I believe the eighth floor without railings. So it's a much safer environment.

I think in the world of COVID that we. So it's a much safer environment.

I think in the world of COVID that we're all in now, everybody's made things safer. And hopefully we won't have any glitches on Thursday. It shouldn't be no problem. Yeah, look, it's a big day. Obviously, an important one, I think for you. I had no idea you were a Cubs fan. So I'm sure you're kind of every time you go sing, take me out to the ballgame, kind of living a childhood dream of yours, so to speak, because obviously, you know, so many

celebrities. you were a Cubs fan. So I'm sure you're kind of every time you go sing, take me out to the ballgame, kind of living a

childhood dream of yours, so to speak.

Because obviously, you know, so many celebrities have done it in the past.

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