The Drive with Lon Tay & Derek Piper

05/30/25 Hour 2: Bret Bielema Cooks The SEC on Twitter! Plus our Friday Toasts

Bret Bielema has some FIRE responses on Twitter today about the SEC vs B1G TEN, and cooks an unfortunate Ole Miss fan.

Plus, should college football expand the playoffs to 16 teams? And we give our Friday Toasts!

05/30/25 Hour1: "What If this happened in Illini basketball history?"

Pipes looks at the last 25+ years of Illinois Basketball and asks this question, "What if history turned out differently?"

What if Bill Self stays at Illinois? What if the Illini LOSE to Arizona in the '05 tournament? This is a FUN conversation. 

05/29/25 Hour 2: Caleb Williams Addresses Rumors He Didn't Want to Play for the Bears, more

Caleb Williams addresses rumors that he didn't want to play for the Chicago Bears. Listen to his statement and hear our reactions. 

Plus, what were the worst interviews we've ever done? It's The Drive!

05/29/25 Hour 1: Trevor Vallese from The Field of 68, Illini Pro Wrestling Continues, and more

Join us for a FUN convo with former Drive teammate Trevor Vallese from The Field of 68 catches up with us. 

 

Plus, our Pro Wrestling / Fighting Illini discussion continues and we answer your texts.

05/28/25 Hour 2: Which former Illini basketball players would make great Pro Wrestlers?

Derek and Kurtis discuss the hype around Illinois vs Michigan this basketball season. Who are the #BalkanBrutes? And which former Illini basketball players would make great Pro Wrestlers? It's The Drive!

05/28/25 Hour 1: Cards & Cubs at the trade deadline, Big Ten vs SEC Football Challenge

Buyers or sellers? What should the Cardinals do at the trade deadline. Plus, Brian Kelly opened a can of worms. Will we get a Big Ten vs SEC football challenge soon? What about a super conference? The guys discuss!

05/27/25 Hour 2: Brian Ames recaps the Indy 500 and is Lon losing his mind?!

Brian Ames joins the guys to recap The Indy 500. Plus, is Lon getting lazy or losing his mind? Your texts help us decide. It's The Drive!

05/27/25 Hour 1: Jeff Jones talks Cardinals & Cubs, We answer your texts, and more

Jeff Jones from The Belleville-News Democrat joins the show to discuss the Cardinals keeping pace with the Cubs. Plus we answer your texts, recap the Indy 500, and NBA playoffs.

05/23/25 HOUR 2: Brian Ames talks Indy 500, We Talk Fast Animals, And Friday Toasts!

Brian Ames joins us to discuss the 109th Greatest Spectacle in Racing - The Indianapolis 500! Plus the Coca-Cola 600, the fastest animals in the world, and our Friday Toasts! 

05/23/25 HOUR 1: Bielema's Contract vs Other Coaches, Pipes vs T-Ball, and Tawny Kitaen vs Baseball Players

The guys compare Bret Bielema's contract with the Top 10 highest paid coaches in college football. Plus, Lon and Kurtis give Pipes advice on T-Ball. And which MLB player did Tawny Kitaen (from the Whitesnake video) beat up back in the day?

05/22/25 HOUR 2: Cubs & Cards Talk, Michael Jordan Going To NBC, and More

Are the guys buying the Cubs as a playoff contender already? Plus, what can the Cardinals do to keep pace and win the division. Also, Michael Jordan is going to NBC. We chat about his potential role and more.

05/22/25 HOUR 1: A Breakdown of Nasir Rankin's Signing, Game 1 Pacers vs Knicks, and More

Nasir Rankin had an all-timer presser to announce he's joining The Illini. We discuss all the hat tosses.

Plus, is Bret Bielema putting together one of his best teams ever? And we chat about Game 1 of Pacers vs. Knicks. NO CHOKE! It's The Drive.

05/21/25 Our Live Reaction to Nasir Rankin Commiting to Illinois Football

Lon's back in the studio with Derek and Kurtis. Get our live reaction to Nasir Rankin's epic commitment to Illinois Football. Plus, why Dan Hartlieb had every right to be upset with today's Illini Baseball game, and more.

05/20/25 Hour 2: Breaking News on Brad Underwood's New Contract & more

Details emerge on Brad Underwood's new contract, and the guys discuss the expectations for the next several seasons. Plus Cubs & Cards 2 months in, we answer your texts, and more!

05/20/25 HOUR 1: Isaac Trotter from CBS Sports, Illini Football Recruiting News, and Recruiting Chicago

Isaac Trotter of CBS Sports joins the show for a great chat, some big news on Illini Football recruiting, and does recruiting Chicago matter as much as it once did? The fellas break it down!

5/19/25 Hour 2: Scott Dochterman Joins The Show

Scott Dochterman from The Athletic joins the boys to discuss all things Big Ten, Illini, Iowa, Caitlin Clark, and more!

5/19/25 Hour1: Joey Wagner's Draft Experience, Bret Bielema's Biggest Wins, & Illini Football Schedule

Joey Wagner joins Pipes and new guy Kurtis Allen to chat about his NFL draft experience. Plus, the guys break down Bret Bielema's biggest wins so far and look at the upcoming Illini Football schedule.

5/16/25 Hour 2: Is it still worth it to invest in high school recruits?; 247 Sports' Big Ten QB rankings

Derek and Kyle discuss whether it's even worth it to invest in high school recruiting anymore in the current landscape and what they anticipate the Illini's approach to recruiting being going forward. Later, the guys react to 247 Sports' Big Ten quarterback rankings for 2025.

5/16/25 Hour 1: Have brawls and bad blood gone away in baseball?; PGA Championship, NBA Playoffs thoughts

Derek and Kyle talk some baseball and discuss why we haven't seen very many bad blood rivalries and benches-clearing brawls in baseball in recent seasons. Later, the guys share their thoughts on the first two days of the PGA Championship and potential NBA conference finals matchups.

5/15/25 Hour 2: Chris Block (Chris Block Racing Stables) on Preakness, if Triple Crown schedule needs tweaked; New book details Caleb Williams draft drama

Chris Block, owner of Chris Block Racing Stables joins the show to share his insight into the Preakness field and if the Triple Crown schedule needs to be adjusted to allow for more horses to chase the Triple Crown. Later, Lon and Derek discuss Illini football's season opener getting moved to Friday and the new book coming out that details drama surrounding Caleb Williams and the Bears before the draft.