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Bret Bielema rarely shies away from the microphone. So when he was asked to lead the 7th inning stretch at Wrigley Field on Friday, it wasn’t too surprising that the Illinois head coach agreed.
Bielema was in the “Friendly Confines” for Friday night’s clash between the Cubs and Diamondbacks. When he was called into action, the leader of the Fighting Illini sounded like a seasoned veteran.
Here is the clip of Bielema’s 7th inning stretch:
🎵 Guest Conductor: @BretBielema#famILLy pic.twitter.com/FoqDSUChth
— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) May 21, 2022
Bielema’s presence helped spark a 2-run 7th inning for the Cubs, drawing them closer to the Diamondbacks, trailing 9-5. It wasn’t enough, though, as Chicago fell 10-6.
Now that spring football is over, Bielema will have some opportunities to enjoy the fun of summer. And, if this kind of visit to Chicago helps on the recruiting trail and build the Illinois brand, all the better.
Illinois finished with a 5-7 record in 2021, Bielema’s first year leading the program. The Illini notched upset wins over Penn State and Minnesota on the road and closed the regular season with a rivalry win over Northwestern.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB