Matt Millen underwent successful heart transplant surgery in December, after months of waiting as his health declined. Millen had to step away from his broadcasting duties last year for obvious reasons, and while he was able to call the Penn State spring game, his full return was still up in the air.
Now we know that Millen will indeed return to his duties as an analyst for Big Ten Network alongside Kevin Kugler, starting with the opening week of the season. That’s from Big Ten Network president Francois McGillicuddy at Big Ten media days in Chicago.
Big Ten president Francois McGillicuddy announces great news
Matt Millen will be back in the booth this fall with @kevinkugler
Great to hear again
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) July 18, 2019
Hello from Big Ten Media Days in Chicago. Some good news to share: Matt Millen’s recovery from a December heart transplant is ahead of schedule and he’s expected to be back in the BTN booth Week 1 after calling Penn State’s Blue-White game. pic.twitter.com/VbiMidg9R8
— Greg Pickel (@GregPickel) July 18, 2019
McGillicuddy noted that Millen’s recovery is ahead of schedule, too, via the Centre Daily Times:
“In what is probably the best news of the day, we are extremely thankful to welcome Matt Millen back to the broadcast booth his fall,” McGillicuddy said Thursday during Big Ten media days at the Hilton Chicago.
“In typical Matt fashion, his recovery has been ahead of schedule,” McGillicuddy added. “And he’ll be ready to join his partner Kevin Kugler in the booth for Week 1.
“He was able to join us for the Penn State spring game in April, and I can’t tell you how thrilled our entire team was to see him back on his feet and talking football.”
This is obviously tremendous news. Hopefully Millen’s recovery continues to progress as well as it has so far, and it’ll be good to have him back on BTN.
