>>Illinois Signs Deal With Sports Media Learfield
The University of Illinois has signed a 10-year deal with Learfield Sports to take over sports multimedia marketing and production. The school says it will help generate an extra $2 million a year.
Missouri-based Learfield will produce Illini sports radio using the current announcers and handle the school's sports TV shows. The company will take over other multimedia activity and Illini sponsorship rights, too.
Illinois Assistant Athletic Director Marty Kaufman says Illinois will generate an average of about $6 million a year over the next decade on its multimedia and sponsorship rights. That's compared to the $4 million it made last year.
Learfield has similar contracts with the Big Ten and more than 50 other schools. Its Big Ten clients include Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin.
>>ISU Suspends Guard
Illinois State University's basketball team has indefinitely suspended guard Geoffrey Allen for an unspecified violation of team rules.
In a news release coach Dan Muller said only that he is "very disappointed" in the redshirt sophomore.
Allen transferred to Illinois State from Eastern Washington last summer. The NCAA gave the Los Angeles native a waiver that allowed him to play without sitting out the usual year required for undergraduate transfers.
Allen has played in six games and averaged 3.5 points and 2.7 rebounds for the Redbirds (6-3).
NCAA Top-25 Basketball ("USA Today" Rankings)
------
#7 Ohio State Buckeyes 85, Savannah State Tigers 45
