CHAMPAIGN — The last Illinois football team to post a winning Big Ten record is one Martin O’Donnell knows well.
It’s because the current Illini radio analyst, about to enter his second season providing apt description and insight next to play-by-play partner Brian Barnhart, was an offensive lineman on the 2007 team that ended up playing in the Rose Bowl under Ron Zook.
But the 31-year-old former All-America talent is eager to see what new coach Lovie Smith can bring to a program that has gone 39-60 with more coaches (Zook, Tim Beckman, Bill Cubit and Smith) than bowl appearances (Texas, Kraft Fight Hunger and Heart of Dallas) since O’Donnell graduated eight seasons ago.