# 07/17/26 Hour 2: WCIA Sports Director Glenn Kinley Talks Josh Whitman's New Contract; Caleb Williams & NFL Players Demand Grass Fields; Friday Toasts

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-drive-on-espn-93-5-477079/07-17-26-hour-2-wcia-sports-director-glenn-kinley-talks-josh-whitman-s-new-contract-caleb-williams-nfl-players-demand-grass-fields-friday-toasts
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-drive-on-espn-93-5-477079/07-17-26-hour-2-wcia-sports-director-glenn-kinley-talks-josh-whitman-s-new-contract-caleb-williams-nfl-players-demand-grass-fields-friday-toasts.md
Podcast: [The Drive on ESPN 93.5](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-drive-on-espn-93-5-477079)
Published: 2026-07-17T22:19:38+00:00
Episode link: https://tayandpiper.podbean.com/e/071726-hour-2-wcia-sports-director-glenn-kinley-talks-josh-whitmans-new-contract-caleb-williams-friday-toasts/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/ushs36ri6s6w55ey/07-17-26_Hour_288my0.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-drive-on-espn-93-5-477079/episodes/07-17-26-hour-2-wcia-sports-director-glenn-kinley-talks-josh-whitman-s-new-contract-caleb-williams-nfl-players-demand-grass-fields-friday-toasts
Duration seconds: 3239

## Resource

WCIA Sports Director Glenn Kinley joins the show to break down Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman's newly announced contract extension. What does it say about the direction of Illinois Athletics, and what challenges and opportunities lie ahead for Whitman as the Illini continue to build momentum across multiple sports? Then, a growing movement across the NFL has taken center stage as Caleb Williams and several other players are calling on the league to permanently replace artificial turf with natural grass fields. We'll discuss the latest push for safer playing surfaces, whether the NFL is finally ready to make the change, and what it could mean for teams around the league. We'll wrap up the week with our Friday Toasts—celebrating the biggest winners, memorable moments, and people deserving recognition from the past week in sports, while maybe handing out a few light-hearted roasts along the way. Follow The Drive on X, Instagram, and Facebook.

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