The purpose of posting this crap is to get our blood boiling, and I can attest that it was effective!!! The only positive I can take from this is that various people are predicting improvement from Nebraska, Wisconsin, Mich St and others. Very few, if any, are predicting improvement from us so we have a perfect opportunity to surprise a lot of people. We have a lot of talent that is set for their breakout years. Is anyone in the B1G better positioned to be the Sleeper of the Year than the Illini?
Illini Football 2024
- Status
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
I’ll guess 800,000 - 1,000,000
they have no travel expenses other than 50 miles for a semi & 3 buses
$500K according to a Daily Eastern News Article I found. Northwestern is only paying them $450K. They play Alabama next year.
Joel Goodson
- dawgville
good (and free) article from Werner:
In years past, these games have clued us in on how our season will go, particularly in the trenches. I'm looking forward to our offensive line just absolutely controlling the LOS, or else we're in bad shape once the conference slate starts.
Dan
Admin
Memorial Stadium’s Rededication Plans Announced - University of Illinois Athletics
Illinois will host its Memorial Stadium Rededication the evening of Friday, Oct. 18.
fightingillini.com
If they win some of their coin toss games this year, I think 6-6 is very doable.
But they can't afford to throw on the pads and recreate.
I think they have varying degrees of a chance in 11 games this year (I will be happy if they can keep it within 17 points of Oregon), but they can also lose those 11 games very easily.
But they can't afford to throw on the pads and recreate.
I think they have varying degrees of a chance in 11 games this year (I will be happy if they can keep it within 17 points of Oregon), but they can also lose those 11 games very easily.
One of the longer ones but truly...terrific article...
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
It's been a massive boost that Bielema's Illinois teams are always competitive game-to-game. That said, it's also been a trend that those same teams rarely blow out inferior teams. Even the comfortable wins against non-conference teams have traditionally been the defense dominating moreso than offensive excellence. That trend needs to break against EIU and CMU this season.
Yes, a Great Story!
I hope he provides a significant talent upgrade in our offensive line unit.
I will definitely be rooting for Melvin during his Illini career.
TheFlyingIllini1317
- Chicago, IL
So true. First three games we need to spank EIU and preferably not give up a TD, push around KU in the trenches (even if we lose we won't face skill talent like that again til Oregon), and beat CMU by at least 21.
Priestly has a chance to do something absolutely incredible. We need a RT that pans out so desperately. Props to Isaiah Adams last year for filling gin how he could, but we struggled at RT overall last year. Him and JC Davis have the keys to this car in their hands and I really hope they can drive it.
Both Georgia and Alabama gave up a touchdown to a FCS team last year, so allowing no TDs is a lofty goal. The average FBS vs FCS score in 2023 was 43 to 13.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
My initial "expectations" (or hopes...) for the season are pretty simple - have fan enthusiasm for the Michigan game to the point where we are in striking distance of a sellout for such a special game. Given our attendance history, that will mean we get off to a pretty decent start to the year, and our fans truly believe we can at least be competitive with Michigan.
So, to do that, we HAVE to win the following:
vs. Eastern Illinois
vs. Central Michigan
vs. Purdue
And we have to take one of these three:
vs. Kansas
at Nebraska
at Penn State
In other words, I think we need a 4-2 record before the Michigan game, and to me that means beating KU.
So, to do that, we HAVE to win the following:
vs. Eastern Illinois
vs. Central Michigan
vs. Purdue
And we have to take one of these three:
vs. Kansas
at Nebraska
at Penn State
In other words, I think we need a 4-2 record before the Michigan game, and to me that means beating KU.
To call it what it was...the staff really didn't do a good job last offseason from a roster construction standpoint. We didn't bring in a proven piece in the secondary and bet on unproven pieces. Same for that RT spot. Both areas were a disaster.
Much better job this offseason.
Outside of the main ones - Zakhari, Brooks, Davis - Priestly to me is by far the biggest transfer get. Tbh, I wouldn't really argue if you were to mention him in the same category as those other three. Provides stability at that RT spot - Just not having that led to so many problems last year. Stability and then some...sounds like he's really impressed.
Much better job this offseason.
Outside of the main ones - Zakhari, Brooks, Davis - Priestly to me is by far the biggest transfer get. Tbh, I wouldn't really argue if you were to mention him in the same category as those other three. Provides stability at that RT spot - Just not having that led to so many problems last year. Stability and then some...sounds like he's really impressed.
Last edited:
This is kinda where I stand as well. I know some might think this is putting the bar too high but this is a reasonable expectation IMO in terms of the first six.
4-2 expectation.
5-1 an absolute pipe dream which I don't think has much of a shot at all but hey...not too many expected us to start 7-1 in '22.
6-0 virtually impossible.
If we go below 4-2...3-3 let's say...no the sky is not falling...but I'm just talking expectations. If we go 2-4 however, that's a disappointment.
Last edited:
I think the realistic expectation is to be 3-3 heading into the Michigan game, but that doesn't mean there isn't a road to bowl eligibility.
IMO everyone is sleeping on KU for some reason. They're going to be good. The early season hopes for an ok season don't end with a KU loss; they end with a Purdue loss.
Basically we need to win 4 of these 5 to head to a bowl: Purdue, Minn, MSU, Rutgers, and Northwestern.
IMO everyone is sleeping on KU for some reason. They're going to be good. The early season hopes for an ok season don't end with a KU loss; they end with a Purdue loss.
Basically we need to win 4 of these 5 to head to a bowl: Purdue, Minn, MSU, Rutgers, and Northwestern.
TheFlyingIllini1317
- Chicago, IL
With the starters on the field then, or no tds at half.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
FTR, it’s not a knock on KU … I just think IF we are going to start 4-2, it’s because we beat them. We spent our luck in Happy Valley in 2021, and I do believe our chances in our first road game (in Lincoln) won’t be kind to us … so upsetting KU under the lights at Memorial Stadium seems the most likely.
Illinivek23
- Gurnee
We need fo exact revenge on how poorly we played at home last year against Nebraska.
I'd word it as "we need to sweep Purdue, Minn, MSU and Northwestern." It's very possible, but it only happens because we have multiple players play above the market's expectations.
so i guess RU, KU, NEB are all guaranteed, sure losses.
LOL...
Last edited:
No one claimed that. They're just significantly lower probabilities. Bet as much as you'd like on those games.so i guess RU, KU, NEB are all guaranteed, sure losses.
LOL...
I mean...you're penciling it in so...
We're probably not even gonna be more than like a 5.5 underdog in any of those three games (KU, NEB, RU). Underdogs...but slim. Now I get that there might be reasons to not feel optimistic about those games...whether that be trend wise trend wise (like I've mentioned several times with the NEB game) or whatever...but to count all 3 of them as Ls before the season even starts is just not a fair assessment IMO.
I'm not saying we should be talking Cfp births or whatever...this program has proven it does not deserve the benefit of the doubt on several occasions...but with the offseason additions and present personnel, feel like BB and co. deserve some
.
We'll see though...not ready not pencil in many losses (outside of maybe MICH, ORE, PSU)...but not ready to pencil in many wins outside of EIU and CM either though. But 6+ wins should be the expectation...and getting there shouldn't be much of a "dream everything goes right in this" moment IMO. Just me...
I'm not saying we should be talking Cfp births or whatever...this program has proven it does not deserve the benefit of the doubt on several occasions...but with the offseason additions and present personnel, feel like BB and co. deserve some
.We'll see though...not ready not pencil in many losses (outside of maybe MICH, ORE, PSU)...but not ready to pencil in many wins outside of EIU and CM either though. But 6+ wins should be the expectation...and getting there shouldn't be much of a "dream everything goes right in this" moment IMO. Just me...
Last edited:
- Status