By Sean McDevitt Fightingillini.com When it comes down to it, coaches are teachers. How they teach it is what makes each coach unique. Some coaches yell. Some coaches mentor. Good ones can communicate their instructions effectively. …

By Sean McDevitt FightingIllini.com The days of direct mail, handwritten letters and phone calls have long been over. For years, “old school” single-channel tactics such as email solicitation, evening phone calls to alums, and mailings have been trending down. …

The time of brown and orange — There was a chill in the air for the first time a few days ago that was significant enough that I felt autumn might have captured a foothold. There was a gentle quietness to it, and I tried to close my eyes and enjoy it. Now is the time to…

Join Operation 11 Charlie on a mission of friendship and healing. — Words Wally Armstrong and Sean McDevitt | Photos Rory Schweighart It’s a brotherhood only a select few completely understand. When they come together there’s few things that can stand in their way. When they come together to help one of their own, the brotherhood only gets stronger. Add in the radio control hobby and it’s like magic.

Blazing a path through the skyscrapers of downtown Chicago. — Words Sean McDevitt | Photos Rory Schweighart When you think of radio control crawling, the first things that might come to mind are powerful rigs, treacherous waterways, rugged terrain to navigate, and blazing trails among the trees. These are the obvious answers. The not-so-obvious answers? Navy Pier, Montrose Beach, and the Chicago Theatre.

Aviation has always been a part of Jon Gruber. — Words Sean McDevitt | Photos Rory Schweighart It’s easy to see the connection. From building balsa planes with his father to commercial airline pilot to building a full-size plane at his local hangar, Jonathan Gruber has always loved flying. Even better he turned his dreams of flying into his career and his hobby. The dream of flying runs strong with specific individuals. When given a choice between ground-based endeavors or wandering with the clouds, the sky always wins for these certain few. For Jonathan Gruber, he turned his dream intoreality.

Maybe someday. — Will Leitch, writing in his newsletter, had a profound paragraph about sports. One of the best things about sports is that it gives us simplicity and clarity that real life cannot — and should not — provide us with. If we win, I’m happy. If we lose, I’m sad. But…

By Sean McDevitt Fightingillini.com Everyone sets goals in life. More important than just setting the goal is charting the path to reach the goal. For the With Illinois campaign, the University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics had a campaign goal of raising $300 million. …

Even the record books show it. — Will Leitch, writing for New York Magazine Intelligencer, has a strong opinion on performance-enhancing drugs and Major League Baseball. He invokes the unholy trinity of McGwire, Sosa, and Bonds. If Bonds and company had to face the caliber of pitchers standard in today’s game, would they have broken Maris’s record…