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Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves.

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Like always, Pat Bryant was a class act Friday night. It's part of the reason he won the Loren Tate Media Award, which goes to the Illinois football player who helps the press do its job.

Tate, 93 years old and still a hard-working member of the Illinois media contingent, presented the award to Bryant at the State Farm Center before the Illinois-Purdue basketball game.

Tate pointed out Bryant's clutch grab that gave Illinois a victory against Rutgers during a 10-win season.

"It was lost without that catch," Tate said.

Tate has seen a lot of Illinois football during his day. He mentioned classmate Rex Smith's winning catch against Michigan in a snow storm. And John Wright's exploits.

Bryant said he values the media.

"You guys have a job to do," Bryant said. "It allows us as players to let the outside world know what's going on in the locker room and on the practice field."

After his playing career ends, Bryant might join the media. He would be a natural.

"I feel like I'm an expert at the game," he said. "I could see myself calling games."

At the Senior Bowl, he did an interviewer with announcers from the NFL Network. They saw his potential.

"They said I have a future in being a media analyst," Bryant said. "That would be pretty cool."

Bryant has advice for younger players in dealing with the media:

"Just be yourself," he said. "Express how you feel after a loss, after a win.

"At the end of the day, I feel like it can help you."

Bryant said he had a great experience at the NFL combine.

"I see everything as a competition," he said. "It was an amazing experience. It was a dream come true."