Kevin Krows/Millikin University

Women's Basketball 4/21/2020 1:00:00 PM Bryan Marshall, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information

Lett Supporting Local Restaurants

        Millikin University women's basketball coach Olivia Lett will not be going hungry during the CO-VID 19 pandemic as she is one of 12 participants in the #DecaturFoodDraft sponsored by Neuhoff Media in Decatur.
        The effort is being organized by Neuhoff's Aric Lee to support local restaurants during the stay-at-home order. Lee, the radio voice of the Big Blue, enlisted Lett and Millikin Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Travis Wilcoxen for the effort.
        Lee got assistance from the Herald & Review's Joey Wagner and Justin Conn along with St. Mary's Hospital Athletic Trainer Dustin Fink in setting up the project. Other participants include newspaper reporters, television sports reporters and area high school coaches all with active social media presence. A live draft was held where each person selected a food item from a locally owned restaurant in the Decatur/Macon County area. Once an item was selected it was removed from the draft board. Each participant selected 10 items including one item from an establishment that is currently closed. After the draft, the 12 began to eat and drink their way through their list to see who could finish first. The general public can earn points by eating any of the 120 items and posting a picture on social media using the hashtag #DecaturFoodDraft. While the 12 participants are competing for bragging rights, the person in the general public who earns the most points wins a $100 gift card to a local restaurant.
"Having worked for someone that owns restaurants, eating local has always been important to me," said Lett. "Local businesses help support our program and athletic department year in and year out; I think it's important to show that we support them when times are tough as well. When Aric came to me with the opportunity to promote something that I believe in, I couldn't pass up the opportunity."
"I wasn't sure Coach Lett would be interested, but she replied and was all-in from the beginning to help these businesses," Lee said. "I had a feeling her competitiveness could take over, and she would really enjoy it. Plus, she's a great social media follow, and she's killing it as the architect of her hoops program, so she's the perfect fit."
        Lett was strategic with her picks choosing some as much for the people involved as the food itself.
"Corey at the KC Hall knows I like garlic parmesan wings, Jimmy at Door 4 lets me know when strawberry cream is back on tap, Notorious P.I.G. did the food for our golf outing last year, and Joe at The Winery knows I prefer a chicken sandwich most of the time," said Lett. "There are a ton of great restaurants in the Decatur area, but it's the people in those establishments that really make things special. Now, I'm just as excited to see the people delivering my food as I am for the food itself. I know not everyone may have the personal connection to some of these restaurants, but I'm hoping this helps jumpstart that."
        Lett's #DecaturFoodDraft Picks:

Knights of Columbus Hall's Chicken Wings
Notorious P.I.G. Food Truck's Pulled Pork
Door 4 Brewery's To Go Growler
Carroll Lou's Sweet Potato Tots
Garcia Pizza's Pizza
The Winery's Chips
University Dog's Hot Dog
Doherty's Pub's Chicken Philly
First Wok's Crab Rangoon
Reality Bites' Tacos

"My final draft pick was Reality Bites in Bloomington because everyone that works there is family…in our program blood doesn't make you family," states Lett. "As always, Eat Local."

Olivia Lett Facebook

Olivia Lett on Twitter

#DecaturFoodDraft Information and Updates

Lett wings — Assistant Coach Tim Robertson and Coach Lett with Knights of Columbus Hall Chicken Wings

Travis Wilcoxen Food Draft — Dr. Travis Wilcoxen Enjoys #DecaturFoodDraft selection

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