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Illini Sports Network
Barnhart begins his third season as the "Voice of the Illini" after a long stint in professional baseball, including two years as the play-by-play voice of the Anaheim Angels. Barnhart serves as the voice of the Illini Sports Network, providing play-by-play coverage of football and men's basketball and as the host of the statewide "Ron Turner Show" and "Bruce Weber Show" call-in programs every Monday night at 6:05 p.m. A native of nearby Tolono, Barnhart graduated from Unity High School and Liberty University before beginning a 15-year career in professional baseball in 1986. He served as the play-by-play voice of the Lynchburg Mets and Salem Buccaneers before moving up to the Oklahoma City 89ers, the Class AAA affiliate of the Texas Rangers, from 1988-94. Barnhart did high school football and other sport play-by-play for 11 years and was also the voice for Oklahoma Baptist basketball from 1992-94 and Oklahoma City Blazers minor league hockey in 1993. From 1996-98, he handled news, sports and play-by-play at WWLS in Oklahoma City. In 1998, Barnhart was named the play-by-play announcer for the Angels and spent two full seasons with the American League club before returning to the Champaign-Urbana area in 2000. He currently is a news and sports announcer at WDWS-AM 1400 in Champaign. Grabowski returns for his 26th season as a color analyst for Illini football games. The Big Ten's career rushing leader when he finished his career, the popular Grabo was a first-round draft choice of the NFL-champion Green Bay Packers and played six years of professional football with the Packers and Chicago Bears. Grabowski was a two-time consensus All-American and earned MVP honors as a sophomore in the 1964 Rose Bowl. In 1997, Grabowski became the fifth UI player to be inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame. Grabowski was an Academic All-America selection and was inducted into the GTE Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 1993. In 1995, Grabowski earned the honor of being selected for membership in the College Football Hall of Fame. Joining Barnhart and Grabowski on the broadcast again this fall is Kelly, veteran Illini sportscaster, who will handle pre-game, halftime and post-game host duties. Kelly has covered Illini athletics for two decades on television and radio. He hosts the popular "Sports Talk" show on WDWS-AM 1400 in Champaign and also hosts "Gameday" extended coverage of Illini athletics on WDWS and Lite Rock 97.5. The statewide Illini Sports Network is managed by the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, including distribution, sales operations, affiliate relations and programming. ISN programming includes Illinois football, men's and women's basketball, volleyball and baseball, along with the "Illini Today" series. The "Ron Turner Show" can be heard statewide on the Illini Sports Network every Monday beginning Aug. 30 at 6:05 p.m. For information, contact Dave Johnson at (217) 333-8221.
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