When Josh Whitman is introduced today as the new athletic director at the University of Illinois, onlookers will see a 37-year-old polished, poised young professional who's always known which direction he wanted to go.
But his journey — college and professional football player, law student, athletics administrator, clerk to two federal judges, lawyer and director of athletics at two smaller schools — was a long one. There were plenty of bumps along the way.
Eight years ago, Whitman, then a lowly third-year law student, discussed his place in the world with The News-Gazette.
He talked about being physically overmatched as a freshman tight end playing against older, stronger players but still "thrilled to be in there.