New Illini trainer Bret Bielema to make homegrown ability a

CHAMPAIGN — New Illinois trainer Bret Bielema stated Monday he hopes to have a team of workers in position via early January and is already targeting homegrown recruiting. “I called (the Illinois Department of Transportation) and told them to put up roadblocks so kids won’t be allowed to leave the state,” he joked at his introductory information convention. “Seriously, I can’t tell you how many Illinois high school football coaches I have talked to already. We are making Illinois kids a priority here.” Bielema, a local of tiny Prophetstown in northwestern Illinois, replaces Lovie Smith, who went 17-39 general in his five-year tenure and posted a 10-33 Big Ten report. Bielema’s preliminary contract is for 6 years starting with