This Wisch List column originally appeared in the The Daily Times (Ottawa, Ill.) in 2003, and is included in my published book, “Northern IlliNOISE: Tales of a Territory.” Ottawa’s long-lost son searches for his past The WISCH LIST Jan. 14, 2003 Almost seven decades ago, deep in the heart of the Great Depression, a healthy […]
Author Archives: Dave
Hungry Illini Fan Base Deserves To Be Fed
Today’s column from CBS Chicago … (CBS) Right now among Illini Nation, losses are on the mind. From those of the football blowout variety against Nebraska to the basketball program’s near-misses involving star point guard recruits Jalen Brunson and Jawun Evans, the University of Illinois seems to be scarfing down setbacks these days. But the […]
Great Chicago Fire Festival preparing to stoke the city
From the Saturday, Sept. 27, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … By Dave Wischnowsky The WISCH LIST In many ways, the Great Chicago Fire has come to define the very city that it destroyed by spawning an enduring bovine legend, providing a clean slate upon which to build […]
In Big Ten, Beckman Should Be Held To Higher Standard
Today’s column from CBS Chicago … By Dave Wischnowsky – (CBS) For the Illinois football team, the good news is that its record is 3-1. The bad news is that getting there hasn’t exactly been easy, while the worst news is that the actual easy part of the season is now officially over. Welcome back […]
Beating Washington would send Illini to the moon
From the Saturday, Sept. 13, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … By Dave Wischnowsky The WISCH LIST It’s 2,099 miles from Memorial Stadium in Champaign to Husky Stadium in Seattle, but for the Illinois football program that plays there this afternoon, the destination might as well be the […]
Illini Lose Brunson, But All Is Not Lost
Thursday’s column from CBS Chicago … (CBS) It’s estimated that approximately 2.5 million brides walk down the aisle in America each year. The University of Illinois is never one of them, but it sure can rock that bridesmaid dress. On Wednesday afternoon, senior point guard Jalen Brunson of Lincolnshire Stevenson became the latest five-star prospect […]
Lunt’s Slow Starts Can’t Follow Illini To Seattle
Today’s column from CBS Chicago … (CBS) Is it possible to get off to a fast start while also being plagued by maddeningly slow ones? Based on Wes Lunt’s successful two-game debut as the new quarterback of the Fighting Illini, the answer would be a resounding yes. But it can’t be for much longer, not […]
Summertime surf’s still up in Chicago this September
From the Saturday, Sept. 6, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … By Dave Wischnowsky The WISCH LIST In Chicago, summer days are precious. Even more so when so many of them feel like fall. This summer, much like last, has been an abnormally brisk one. But as August […]
With Attendance, Illini Losing The Numbers Game
Today’s column from CBS Chicago … (CBS) On Wednesday night, University of Illinois football offensive coordinator Bill Cubit made a play online when he tweeted out to his followers: “Saturday will be here before we know it. Look forward to seeing Memorial Stadium packed full of the ILLINI faithful.” To see that, however, Cubit may […]
MLB needs to take JRW’s ball and run with it
From the Saturday, Aug. 30, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … By Dave Wischnowsky The WISCH LIST I love Little League Baseball, and always have. My dad, Joe, was the winning pitcher on the 1958 Kankakee Jaycees All-Star team that was the first from Illinois to win the […]