The University of Illinois is moving on without athletic director Mike Thomas. He’s been let go following an investigation into allegations of mistreatment of football and women’s basketball players at the school. Interim chancellor Barbara Wilson says the report did not find any wrongdoing by Thomas himself, but a change in leadership is still needed to move forward.
Former Braves and Angels pitcher Tommy Hanson is dead at 29. Hanson had been in a coma in an Atlanta-area hospital. The Braves tweeted a photo of Hanson early this morning with the quote “RIP, Tommy”. Hanson hadn’t pitched in the majors since 2013 and spent the last two years in the minors.
The Bears scored 15 points in the fourth quarter to rally for a 22-19 win over the Chargers on “Monday Night Football”. Jay Cutler became the franchise’s all-time leader in touchdown passes in the victory.
The St. Louis Rams signed wide receiver Wes Welker, hoping he can help them dig out of a third-down problem. The Rams are 4 for 37 on third down conversions the last three games. They won the first two thanks to a stout defense that permitted just 12 points, but lost 21-18 in overtime at Minnesota on Sunday.
The NFL is suspending Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib [[ TUH-leeb ]] one game for poking Colts tight end Dwayne Allen in the eye on Sunday. Talib was penalized in the 27-24 loss for unnecessary roughness. He claims the poke was an “honest mistake” and is appealing.
Nikola Mirotic [[ MEER-oh-titch ]] led six in double-figures with 20 points as the Bulls blasted the 76ers, 111-88, in Philadelphia. Doug McDermott dropped in 18 points for Chicago, which improved to 5-and-3. Derrick Rose had 12 points, five rebounds and seven assists in the victory. The Bulls will host the Hornets on Friday.
With school president Tim Wolfe stepping down, the Missouri football team will now return to work. The team plans to practice today and will play this Saturday against BYU. Players had threatened to boycott all team activities until Wolfe stepped down over his handling of several racially-charged incidents on campus.
Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett is retaining his starting role as he returns from a one-game suspension for his arrest on charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence. Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyers says as long as the redshirt sophomore has a good week of practice, he will return as the starter.
Coming up Saturday afternoon, it’s Millikin University football on Talk 101 as The Big Blue are home for the season finale against Augustana. The Pepsi Pregame Show gets underway at 12:30p.m. and the kickoff follows at 1:00p.m. Join Scott Busboom and Kevin Hale this Saturday afternoon from Frank M Lindsey Field in Decatur with all the action. You can also listen to the game online at www.decaturradio.com. Then Saturday Night on Talk 101 it’s the tipoff of the College Basketball Season as the Millikin Men host the Engineers of Rose Hulman. The Pepsi Pregame Show gets underway at 7:00p.m. and the tipoff follows at 7:30p.m. It’s a day night college sports doubleheader this Saturday on Talk 101!