MACOMB — No need to tell Western Illinois coach Joe Davis directions to Memorial Stadium. Or the best places to eat in Champaign-Urbana.
While he lives and works at Western Illinois, second-year Leathernecks boss Davis still owns a home in the area. Actually Tolono, which is 8 miles from where Davis will be on Aug. 29.
FCS school Western Illinois opens the 2025 season at Illinois. The game was originally scheduled for Aug. 30 but will be played one day sooner on a Friday. While no TV provider has been set, BTN in prime time is the likely destination.
Back to Davis. Why does he have a home in Tolono?
Multiple reasons. First, before taking over at Western Illinois going into the 2024 season, he spent the previous two years on the staff at Eastern Illinois. He served as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, helping the Panthers to eight wins in 2023.
The Davis family — Joe, wife Whitney and daughters Zoey and Jolie — found a place in Brian Cardinal’s hometown.
C-U is home territory for Whitney, an Urbana High School graduate and an Illinois alum.
“We’ve spent quite a bit of time in the past decade or so in and around Urbana-Champaign,” Davis said.
The Davis family is looking forward to the game.
“It will an exciting opportunity for us as a football program to take another step,” Davis said. “But certainly personally to have a lot of family and friends around will be a big positive.”
The family will be decked out in Western Illinois’ purple.
Davis has been to Memorial Stadium for Illinois games in the past, often during visits to see Whitney’s family at the holidays.
“Tons of respect for Coach (Bret) Bielema,” Davis said. “He has built the program the right way. Him…
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Publish date : 2025-05-17 14:47:00
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