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Chicago Sun-Times

National

Steve Greenberg

Illinois’ Bret Bielema on old friend Mike Leach — and one last, laugh-filled conversation

Mike Leach Bret Bielema Illinois Sydney Brown Devon Wirspoon Fergie Jenkins Mississippi State Bears Colts Cubs

Mike Leach coaches his final game, Mississippi State against Ole Miss. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

CHAMPAIGN — A day after Bret Bielema learned Illinois would be matched up against Mississippi State in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. 2 in Tampa, he started texting with Mike Leach.

A day after that, they gabbed on the phone for half an hour.

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