By Sean McDevitt, FightingIllini.com

It's been almost two years since something like this has happened.

On a sunny day in June, a room full of reporters and media from all across the state converged on the Bielfeldt Administration building to listen to Illinois Athletics Director Josh Whitman present the state of Illinois Athletics.

There was, at the risk of sounding premature, a feeling of normalcy in this event.

There was loose chatter in the Hall of Fame room as the 20 or so seated waited for Whitman. The room might have been set at a cool 66 degrees, but as Whitman came in and started his remarks, he was warm and inviting. He had a lot to say, and, of course, it had been a while. Outlining the past year from COVID to social justice to Name/Image/Likeness to in-state gambling, he emphasized the one thing that mattered most to him: the student-athletes, coaches, and staff at the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Whitman is many things, but at his core he cares.  The well-being, development, and success of everyone under his leadership are personal to him. He is not sequestered away in his office. You will find him at Illinois sporting events cheering on student-athletes. You will find him in meetings with lawmakers in Springfield advocating for student-athletes. You will find him asking student-athletes to hold him accountable over social justice issues.

In the two-hour roundtable, three areas were emphasized: COVID, financials, and the implications of upcoming NCAA rulings.

COVID and Competition

In the media roundtable, Whitman spent time detailing, often with statistics, how the university and the department handled the myriad of challenges during the COVID pandemic and how it affected competition and competitors.

He especially wanted to call out the coaches and student-athletes for their understanding. Whitman said, "They have shown remarkable character, commitment, and resilience throughout this year. We threw a lot of things at them that, in ordinary times, we would consider unthinkable. We put schedules in front of them two or three weeks before the seasons were supposed to start. I think it was a testament to all of our teams that they were able to rally themselves and come up with such unusual circumstances to allow them to go out and do the things that they enjoyed."

He rattled off impressive statistics regarding the COVID numbers, including having no hospitalizations of staff, coaches, or student-athletes and no myocarditis cases, which was a serious concern early in the pandemic. Also, unlike other college athletic programs, there were no sporting events canceled because of COVID, and at no point were any even considered to be canceled.

Testing was an essential part of the success. Whitman estimated they conducted over 105,000 COVID tests on student-athletes, coaches, and support staff who work day-to-day with student-athletes. Of that large group, the entire program only had 175 positive tests (122 student-athletes and 53 staff).

"What we found was that we were identifying positive cases with the virus sometimes two, three days before those tests turned positive through the Big Ten protocol," Whitman said. "And so we were able to take those student-athletes out of circulation. It was actually before they were technically contagious. So that allowed us to really nip these situations in the bud and avoid spreading of the virus amongst teams or teammates."

Currently, about 75% of student-athletes are fully or partially vaccinated, and Whitman expects the number to increase throughout the summer. Additionally, about 90% of the staff is fully vaccinated, and that number is also expected to grow.

Financial implications

Whitman said the department estimates a net loss of $12 to 18 million due to the ramifications of the pandemic. While a significant number, it is far better than what was estimated at the start.

Whitman said, "Given what we've gone through and then certainly compared to our early projections, which were sometimes in excess of $40 million, we actually feel really good about that number. It compares favorably to many of our peer institutions across the country."

A byproduct of the pandemic was the ability to have expanded scholarship numbers. The NCAA created "super seniors," and many Illinois student-athletes took advantage of the opportunity. These additional scholarships were paid for in full by a group of donors who Whitman described as having the education of student-athletes as a cause "close to their hearts."

Even with the financial struggles, new facilities continue to be seen going up with support frames being set and dirt-moving at various locations. Contrary to popular opinion, there isn't just a pile of donor money available for any number of new buildings or to pay for scholarships. The fundraising for projects such as the Susan and Clint Atkins Baseball Training Center, the Rex and Alice Martin Softball Training Center and the remodeling of the Ubben Basketball Complex came from donors who have earmarked their donations accordingly and who have expectations regarding completing those projects.

Whitman said it did not seem like a good idea to halt construction when significant money and time were already invested. Plus, Whitman believes it can provide the athletic program a competitive advantage.

"This was a chance for us to hit the gas and to look for a way to continue to try and put ourselves in the most advantageous position we could be as we headed out of the pandemic," Whitman said.

The Future of College Athletics

Continuing to look toward to future, Whitman sees significant changes on the horizon. "I believe 2021 will go down as what I've termed the most consequential year in the modern history of college sports."

The big changes include the Supreme Court decision regarding NCAA vs. Alston, Name/Image/Likeness (NIL), and in-state gambling on college athletics.

Depending on what the Supreme Court does, the NCAA vs. Alston case has tremendous consequences for college athletic programs. In simple terms, the lawsuit asks if prohibiting compensation for college athletes violates federal antitrust law. A ruling against the NCAA would start the ball rolling on schools offering benefits and compensation to student-athletes. A decision is expected by the end of June.

Related to the NCAA vs. Alston case, NIL is a very active topic of conversation around college athletics. Currently, several states have implemented laws going into effect this summer allowing student-athletes to make money with their name and image. Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker is expected to sign a similar law for Illinois.

As several states start legislating NIL, Whitman prefers a national solution. "Whether that solution comes through NCAA rules making or federal legislation, we certainly would prefer to see something done at the national level that provides the best we can and an even playing field across the country."

If Illinois enacts its NIL legislation, it will face a long series of questions.

"We don't know exactly how all of it will work out," said Whitman. "It's an entirely new frontier. It's one of the biggest changes to come to college athletics in modern memory."

At the state level, Whitman is working with lawmakers regarding legalizing gambling on college athletics. He has been vocal in his opposition to the proposal because he doesn't feel it is in the best interests of student-athletes.

Whitman said, "I think that we as administrators in college athletics are always looking out for what we believe in the best interest of our student-athletes. And I think that this situation clearly is not in the best interest of Illinois student-athletes or any college for that matter. I do feel that this was one of those areas where there's a strong line to be drawn between professional and collegiate athletics."

Whitman is not alone in his unwillingness to allow this legislation to occur. "I tip my hat to my colleagues across the state. There are 13 of us representing the Division I institutions, and all 13 feel similarly on this particular issue."

Keeping the best interests of student-athletes at the forefront is not just lip service from Josh Whitman. Through keeping student-athletes safe during COVID and still competing at the national level, providing "super seniors" an opportunity to continue to further their education and play the sport they love, and working with legislators and the NCAA on what the future looks like for college athletics, Whitman is proud and humbled to present his vision of Illinois athletics.