When #Illini HC Bret Bielema was in high school, he thought he'd play college football at D3 Augustana. But his father, Arnie, encouraged him to chase the biggest opportunities possible. Bielema came home after school and found a letter on his bed from his dad, who passed away this weekend. It said, "What you conceive in your mind and believe in your heart you will achieve." "I tattooed (the quote) on my calf when I was at the University of Iowa," said Bielema. Arnie, who sold sporting goods, used his connections to help get Bret at Iowa football camps and be discovered. Bielema would walk on at Iowa, become a team captain and play in the Rose Bowl. After his collegiate career, he started his coaching career at Iowa. Bielema said, "I just think about where I am now, 56 years of age. The decision he helped me make when I was 18, without helping me make it, he let me kind of come to that decision, has affected my life forever."