This week’s hiring of Lovie Smith as the 25th football coach in Illini history has generated huge interest among fans and sportswriters.  U of I graduate Will Leitch falls into both those categories.  In a column this week for Sports On Earth, the Mattoon native recalls another optimistic time for Illini football, more than 25 years ago.

With the Cubs and Cardinals meeting in the Major League Baseball playoffs for the first time ever, we thought it would be fun to make a friendly wager with our colleagues at St. Louis Public Radio.

The founding editor of Deadspin made his name writing about sports, but has turned to politics in time for the 2016 presidential election.  Will Leitch stopped by the WILL studios to talk with Brian Moline.