ISU Athletics hosts Ballin’ on Beaufort in Uptown Normal

Posted on October 20, 2023
The event replaced the annual Hoopfest to highlight Illinois State men’s and women’s basketball. (Facebook/Illinois State University Athletics)

By Neil Doyle

NORMAL – Illinois State University Athletics hosted its first “Ballin’ on Beaufort” Thursday night in Uptown Normal to highlight the men’s and women’s basketball teams.

The event replaced Hoopfest as Redbird fans got to meet both basketball teams, a temporary court was installed on Beaufort Street for shooting competitions, and fans got autographs from players and coaches.

ISU men’s basketball coach Ryan Pedon spoke with WJBC’s Scott Miller.

ISU men’s basketball coach Ryan Pedon

Both ISU men’s and women’s basketball will kick off the season with exhibition games Sunday, October 29 against Illinois Wesleyan University at CEFCU Arena. We will broadcast both of those games on AM 1230, FM 102.1 and WJBC.com.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…