Illinois 31, Nebraska 24 OT Postgame

#352      
aaeismacgychel
Illini1977 said:
Great win!

Still can’t believe people prefer the block I helmet over the slant Illinois. Slant Illinois all day for me
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My first memories of Illinois football was Simeon Rice hunting down quarterbacks while wearing that slant Illinois helmet so they've always been nostalgic to me. But if wearing them means we beat ranked teams, there's going to be nostalgic for even the most opposed fan. Hell, I might wear a slanted Illinois helmet to work Monday at this point.
 
#353      
Brosky
I'd like to see Altmyer's passing rating for the game. He's very savvy about managing. the game. Lunney has to be given huge credit for this one. We also had a good running game. Every aspect of this team game was in place.. I've said it before a W at PSU is well within reach.
 
#354      
Deep
happy music awards GIF by BritAsia TV
 
#355      
kmunt09
DeonThomas said:
* A balanced and creative offense
* A solid and steady defense
* Superior special teams play
* Discipline and dependability (just 3 penalties for 20 yds. The CMU game was a blessing, giving us the chance to clean things up.)
* Offensive line absolutely had its best game of the year
* Our 4 RB's are capable and interchangeable. What a rotation!
* Defensive backfield is extremely deep and talented
* QB Altmyer hit 78% of his passes, with zero interceptions
* We finally have DEPTH up and down the roster!

Bielema is a program builder and a master program Director. He leaves no stone unturned.
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Well said. Enjoying the ride, but in the back of my mind during the game was thinking, “we need to keep this guy at all costs.”
 
#356      
Oldskoolkoach
Am I the only one that could care less if we wear chartreuse helmets with dancing hula girls on top of them as long as we win, lol?

Thank goodness we don't play city connect, or the bold uniform game, people would be losing their minds on here about our outfits!

PSU we wear white top, navy pants, navy helmet. Opposite of them
 
#359      
aaeismacgychel
Genesis said:
This turned out as I hoped. Lunney, and Henry, kept some key plays in the bag until they pulled them out late in the game. They worked to perfection.
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Start to finish, our gameplan on both sides of the ball was absolutely superb. Nebraska had no idea what was coming next all night. Massive credit also to our line coaches in Miller and Jamison and our strength and conditioning crew. Not only did our linemen come to play from the opening whistle, they imposed their will on a highly talented opponent, breaking the will of Nebraska's vaunted lines by the 4th quarter. You could see in the 4th quarter and OT, Nebraska's lines were cooked, huffing and puffing with hands on their hips. They were done and just wanted to go home while we looked ready to play another half of football.
 
#360      
OrangeBlue98
SoCal Illini said:
Ya… like Corey Feldman and Michael Jackson. Down to headband and haircut. Hype is probably the last thing that kid needs right now.

Although on our end altmyer must’ve seen an old picture of Jeff George, and thought it looked cool. Anyone else see the resemblance and make that connection, or just me?
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Yeah, Raiola is trying WAY too hard to be a Mahomes clone. I guess if you want Tim Brando glazing you on a Friday night Fox broadcast, then it’s a good idea. Not sure if it’s a good idea in the world of reality.

Really big talent, but he risks putting the focus on the outside stuff.
 
#361      
aaeismacgychel
IlliniCaboose said:
As unlucky as the Nebraska fans think they were, there were 4 total fumbles in this game and they recovered all of them. We get even 1 of those and this game probably doesn't even make it to OT. They didn't blow it, we went and took it.
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100 percent agreed. We did get some calls go our way, but all of the football luck based bounces went in Nebraska's direction last night. And absolutely, they didn't blow that game, we took it along with their lunch money and will to live
 
#363      
ohioillini77
Genesis said:
This went as I had hoped. Both Lunney and Henry held certain plays until just the right time. It's what I hoped for but figured I'd never get to see it executed so perfectly.
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Last week at the Homecoming game I told my fraternity brothers the offense and defense seemed very vanilla against CMU. I hoped that they were saving something for Nebraska. We all agreed to go with that theory.
 
#364      
Chukwuwumba
IlliniCaboose said:
As unlucky as the Nebraska fans think they were, there were 4 total fumbles in this game and they recovered all of them. We get even 1 of those and this game probably doesn't even make it to OT. They didn't blow it, we went and took it.
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Checked the drive charts. Offensive plays for each possession:
6-td; 2-fumble; 8-fg; 9-downs; 9-punt; 11-td; 9-td; 2-fumble; 8-td. Just incredible play calling and execution to sustain drives.
 
#367      
EyeoftheIllini
Saturdaze said:
But they didn’t run early like usual which is why imo it was a better game call.
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I agree that Lunney had nice game plan, but they still ran plenty and early. They had 23 rushes for 66 yards in first half. Finished game with 38 for 168.

It’s not about pure numbers though. As I said in a previous postgame thread, too many on here look at each individual play call at the time and complain when that play goes up the middle and gains little. Just have to read game threads for first half of games to see that. But just have to look at a gassed Nebby team last night late to realize it is a 4 quarter game and those interior runs that net little early on turn into 4, 8, 12 yards gains late.

As much as we all might love a higher octane offense, in general and with a Bielema team specifically, the first half is almost as much about setting up and wearing down opponents for later as it is about scoring points or racking up yards on each particular play.
 
#370      
Mr. Tibbs
Illini92and96 said:
For me, I always hated the Giants helmet and it reminds me of it. I also prefer symbols/graphics over longer words on uniforms. I can't think of any iconic helmets with words on them. To each their own :)
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the Ucla helmet , if that counts as a word
 
#373      
ILLFAN67
Great Game! Both OL and DL look much improved from week to week! Several incredible plays to help us win this game. Nebraska being undisciplined helped also. Gave us some key penalties. We absolutely looked like the stronger team in the 4th and OT. Lunney and Henry with great calls. I still don’t think we have the depth on the lines that we need. Hopefully everyone stays healthy and we develop some of the youngsters along the way. Keep Rolling Illini!
 
#374      
Calvin
aaeismacgychel said:
Start to finish, our gameplan on both sides of the ball was absolutely superb.
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Couldn't agree more. I went into the game thinking Nebby was going to win, but it seemed like every play there was no quit, and no panic when guys made mistakes or caught a bad break. They fought like champions all the way. Guys going down, Nebraska making plays, whatever. I do think they caught a break or two on the officiating, but I'm sure that goes both ways.

Maybe the best game I've watched in a long time. Entertaining as heck, and fun to see them prevail. :illinois:
 
#375      
DeonThomas
Hoping our start to the 2024 season resembles this exceptional and successful run (against a gauntlet of ranked teams) from our not-too-distant past, and which ended with a shot at the national title on New Year's Day, 1984.:

W 17-7 vs Stanford
W 20-10 @ #19 Michigan State
W 33-0 vs #4 Iowa
W 27-15 @ Wisconsin
W 17-13 vs #6 Ohio State
W 35-21 @ Purdue
W 16-6 vs #8 Michigan

Sure could be lots of fun (all over again)!!!
 
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