The News-Gazette · Jan 14, 2018
Loren Tate: Hard work in selling a winning message
Josh Whitman, University of Illinois Director of Athletics, speaks after accepting the 2017 Man of the Year award during the 10th annual Forty Under 40 luncheon at the Hilton Garden Inn in Champaign Sept. 28, 2017."We Will Win!"
Josh Whitman's motto rings an optimistic bell ... but can become the object of mockery in the wake of seemingly unending losses.
As it stands, the UI's two money sports are languishing. In Big Ten play, the football team has lost 12 straight and 47 of 57. Men's basketball has dropped the last six league games and hasn't had a winning conference season since 2010 (10-8).
Worse yet, the women's basketball team has dropped 16 conference games in a row.