July 15, 2008

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Seven University of Illinois student-athletes were the focus of a series of commercials shot Tuesday at the Bielfeldt Athletic Administration Building. The commercials will appear on the Big Ten Network in the coming year as part of the "Faces of the Big Ten" campaign.

Defensive end Will Davis, gymnast Daniel Ribeiro, runner Angela Bizzarri, midfielder/forward Courtney Bell, wrestler Mike Poeta, catcher Lana Armstrong and third baseman Dominic Altobelli told their stories to the cameras of Teamworks Media, who is producing the commercials.

Topics ranged from the extremely young age at which Ribeiro started his gymnastics career at his parents' gym to Poeta's Yorkshire terrier to a regretful baseball card trade Altobelli made when he was younger. Fans can expect to see the commercials, along with spots from each of the other 10 Big Ten institutions, during the 2008-09 school year.