The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini Fan Podcast

Mike Carpenter and Harry Black are basking in the glow of three straight Big Ten wins for Lovie Smith and Illinois football.  Meanwhile, Brad Underwood's Illini basketball program begins their season with three big games in 7 days, just after the commitment of 2020 PG Andre Curbelo.  On this day, truly, everything is awesome.

Illinois football followed up the biggest upset in program history with a dominating road win at Purdue.  Mike Carpenter and Harry Black ponder best-case scenarios for the Fighting Illini, and if the team has in fact turned a corner.

History was made at Memorial Stadium, as Illinois upset #6 Wisconsin and gave Lovie Smith a long-awaited signature win.  Mike Carpenter, Harry Black and Trevor Vallese talk about how the win affects the long-term picture for Illinois football, while previewing an all-of-a-sudden crucial game at Purdue.

Illinois is 2-4 with a Homecoming matchup against Wisconsin looming.  Mike Carpenter and Harry Black look back on a very weird game against Michigan, look forward to American football in Ireland, and ponder a brush with greatness at a urinal in Memorial Stadium.

It's all over for Lovie Smith after another lifeless performance by the Illini, this time a 40-17 drubbing by PJ Fleck's boat rowers.  Carp and Trevor ponder how the team could come out so flat in a "must-win" game, while Harry reflects on his experiences as a football player with Beckman, Cubit and Lovie.

Lon Tay and Jeremy Werner hop on with Mike Carpenter for a Tay & J Show reunion. Later, Harry Black and Trevor Vallese begin looking at options for Illinois in a post-Lovie world.

Normally, a 4-point loss to Nebraska wouldn't be SO bad.  But, nearly 700 yards later?  Mike and Trevor look at the upcoming schedule and play a rousing game of "It SHOULD Matter, But It Won't", while Harry brings some much-needed real talk to the proceedings. 

Illinois loses to Eastern Michigan, and the Lovie Smith era is on the brink.  Mike talks with Bret Behrens about his path in sports media and whether or not he's sick of covering Illinois revenue sports.  Trevor and Harry try their best to pick up the pieces after the worst loss since . . .