The Drive with Lon Tay & Derek Piper

07/02/25: The Derek Piper Farewell Show Hour 2

Our celebration of Pipes continues. We've got more of your calls, texts, Hans D, Magic, and Derek's wife Haley! 

Plus Lon, Kurtis, and Derek say their goodbyes. This is a must listen!

07/02/25: The Derek Piper Farewell Show Hour 1

Today is the day. We're sending our guy off in style with special guests on the phone and in studio. Hour 1 features station owner Stevie Jay, Trevor Vellese, and your texts.

07/01/25 Hour 2 - The Derek Piper Farewell Tour with James Haring

Former Illini Assistant Coach and current LaSalle coach James Haring joins us this hour to help celebrate Pipes.

James shares some awesome stories about Illini recruiting, and being a Groomsman in Pipes' wedding. Which Illini bar hosted the wedding reception? We're having fun on The Drive!

07/01/25 Hour 1 - The Derek Piper Farewell Tour with Kyle Tausk and JC Sutter - Illini Football News

An old friend stops by to help us send Pipes off in style. Kyle Tausk is in-studio and shares some great memories with us about Derek & Lon.

Plus, JC Sutter has decided to play for Ole Miss. What's next for Bret Bielema and staff? We discuss! It's The Drive!

06/30/25 Hour 2 - The Derek Piper Farewell Tour Day 1, Cardinals and Cubs News

Lon shares one of our first tributes to Pipes. Plus, what celebrity cameos should we get Derek in his last week?

And things are TIGHT in the NL Central between the Cardinals & Cubs. It all comes to a head over 4th of July Weekend. It is The Drive!

06/30/25 Hour 1 - The Derek Piper Farewell Tour Day 1, Illini Football Recruitment News

We're sending Pipes out in style this week. 

There will be a new NCAA College Basketball video game. We'll finally find out who would win between The Flyin' Illini and The '05 Squad! Plus, what's the best sports video game of all time?

Will Coach Bielema and the Illini land a new tight end this week? We discuss.

06/27/25 Hour 2 - Illini Hall of Famer Kurt Kittner and a MAJOR announcement about The Drive

Kurt Kittner is going into the Illini Hall of Fame! Check out our conversation with Kurt. We cover his entire career at Illinois, talk about his NFL run, and what made his Big Ten Championship team so special.

Plus, we have a MAJOR announcement about The Drive and we do our Friday Toasts. Grab a beer and toast with us in Hour 2 of The Drive!

06/27/25 Hour 1 - Pipes is back from the NBA Draft and the Illini were well-represented!

Derek Piper was in Brooklyn for the NBA Draft. He has a full of report about on KJ and Will Riley going back to back in the First Round. Plus, what did Brad Underwood think?

And the Cubs and Cardinals split their 4 game series. The taunting continues!

06/25/25 Hour 2 - Derek Piper Live From the NBA Draft in Brooklyn!

Pipes is in Brooklyn covering tonight's NBA Draft. He's got the details on everything happening and expectations for where KJ & Will Riley could be drafted. 

Speaking of which, the Illini Men's Basketball team did an incredible tribute to both players. We'll have that for you as well. It's a big day for the Illini and The Drive!

06/25/25 Hour 1 - It's Draft Day for the Illini's Jakucionis & Riley, and Kyle Tausk talks Cardinals vs. Cubs

It's a huge day for Illini Nation! The NBA Draft is tonight and KJ & Will are expected to go in the First Round. Derek Piper is LIVE from Brooklyn, with the latest.

Plus, our good friend Kyle Tausk joins the show to talk Cardinals vs Cubs. The Redbirds have a 2-0 lead in this week's series. 

06/24/25 Hour 2 - Illini Football's Toughest Road Opponents This Year and Bars in Illini Country

Pipes quizzes Lon and Kurtis on the toughest places to play in the B1G TEN. How will things play out after Illinois plays Ohio State?

Plus, where are the best bars for live music in Illini Country?

06/24/25 Hour 1 - The Fighting Illini Hall of Fame Class of 2025 and Cardinals vs Cubs Series

The Illini have announced the Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Take a trip down memory lane with us and find out who's going in this year.

Also, things get a little HEATED when we discuss this week's Cardinals vs Cubs series. Guess who got fired up? 

06/23/25 Hour 2: Matt Silich joins us to discuss the Illini, KJ, Will, NBA Finals, and more. Plus the Cubs vs Cardinals

Our friend Matt Silich joins the show to chat about the Illini, KC, Will, the NBA finals, and more!

Plus, our predictions for the Cubs vs Cardinals 4 game series.

06/23/25 Hour 1: The OKC Thunder are NBA Champs! Could the Illini Alums be headed there after the draft?

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the NBA Champs! And they have two First Round Picks in the NBA Draft. Could Kasparas Jakucionis or Will Riley be headed to OKC? 

Ryen Rusillo LOVES KC and Will. Where does he think they'll land? Find out in Hour 1!

Plus, who didn't get invited to Lon's big party on Friday?

06/20/25 Hour 2 - Best food & drinks in Illini Country, more on Bielema, Juice Williams' legacy, Pacers vs Thunder Game 7, and our Friday Toasts

Who has the best food in Illini country? How about the best bars? What are some underrated spots?

Plus, more on Bielema being the "villain" that college football needs.

We chat about Juice Williams' legacy for Illini football.

We have a game 7 for the NBA Finals! Get ready for Pacers vs Thunder.

And our Friday Toasts! Cheers!

06/20/25 Hour 1 - Big week for Illini football recruits, and is Bret Bielema "The Villain" of the Big Ten

Joey Wagner is in the studio today with a TON of info on the new Illini football recruits. Four star recruits, the markets where Illinois is having success, and more.

Plus - a clip from Paul Finebaum's show made the rounds today about Bret Bielema being the "new villain" on college football. And why that's a good thing!

06/18/25 Hour 2: Illini Football Landing a TE Soon? How did Bielema, Altmyer, and Underwood do at Wrigley Field?

Will the Fighting Illini land one of the top TE's in the nation? How about two of them?

Plus, how did the Illini represent at Wrigley Field last night? We break it down!

06/18/25: Hour 1 - Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune Talks Cubs, Illini Football Commits, and more!

Illini alum and Cubs beat writer for the Chicago Tribune Meghan Montemurro joins the fellas. We chat about PCA, Cubs playoff moves, and more.

Plus, the Illini landed a 4-star recruit for football! Find out who will be joining Bret Bielema's squad this year.

06/17/25: NEXT QUESTION - MLB Homerun Derby, All Stars, and Playoffs

We do an MLB edition of Next Question.

Who do you want to see in the Homerun Derby, All-star Game, and Post Season? What are the reasonable expectations for the Cubs and Cardinals?

06/17/25: Hour 1 NBA Finals Recap, Is Pipes An Author, and More

The Thunder lead the Pacers 3-2 and Tyrese Haliburton is playing hurt. Are the Pacers doomed?

Plus, is Piper about to be an author? He's an Illini historian and we think it should happen!