Illinois 31, Nebraska 24 OT Postgame

#427      
WyattEarp
aaeismacgychel said:
All fanboards are a mess after a loss and we know that better than most, but I will say that the Nebraska boards are an absolute sight to behold right now. The posters who were brash in the pregame mocking our team and fanbase talking blowout are losing their minds saying stuff like if the refs called a fair game they would've won by 14 and that us Illini deserve no credit for the win. The more conservative members seem to be doing their best to reign them in, telling them to shut the hell up but even they're apoplectic about what their coordinators and players were doing. They're in complete meltdown mode- closest comparison I can make is how our fanbase was after the Northwestern loss in basketball during the Skyy year.

I really never had an issue with the Nebraska fanbase before this game, but I think the offseason and 3-0 start went to some of their heads making them behave like Michigan fans.
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I agree with everything you said. It sure has been fun wading through all that. Lol. Perhaps, not surprisingly we were getting plenty of props here and there, too…mostly in backhanded a way. (Which was nice.)

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#428      
therealmiket86
aaeismacgychel said:
All fanboards are a mess after a loss and we know that better than most, but I will say that the Nebraska boards are an absolute sight to behold right now. The posters who were brash in the pregame mocking our team and fanbase talking blowout are losing their minds saying stuff like if the refs called a fair game they would've won by 14 and that us Illini deserve no credit for the win. The more conservative members seem to be doing their best to reign them in, telling them to shut the hell up but even they're apoplectic about what their coordinators and players were doing. They're in complete meltdown mode- closest comparison I can make is how our fanbase was after the Northwestern loss in basketball during the Skyy year.

I really never had an issue with the Nebraska fanbase before this game, but I think the offseason and 3-0 start went to some of their heads making them behave like Michigan fans.
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Nebraska fans need to lay down the crack pipe if they think the refs wanted Illinois to win. The missed face mask on Altmeyer was a huge play. To mention their oline was trying to tackle jacas just about every play
 
#429      
Capt.Illini1975
I thought we used the pass to set up the run. There were times we passed on first AND second down. Perhaps that was what Loren was suggesting. Overall it was a nice mix by our OC. It looked like our team knew they belonged in this game and were ready to win it. So much fun.
 
#436      
Keisersose
How many times did we punt? Nebraska made two great plays to force fumbles and once they were gifted a turnover on downs bc of a missed face mask. It’s not like their defense was causing a bunch of problems throughout the game. (Other than the two great plays I mentioned above.)
 
#437      
ChiefGritty
To be in and win big time games against your rivals (I'll allow Nebraska for the sake of good cheer) is what college sports is all about, and I've just got a lot of gratitude for Tim Killeen, Robert Jones, Josh Whitman, Bret Bielema, Brad Underwood, there has been great and forward-thinking leadership getting the University of Illinois back to where it belongs in providing that to its community.

#WeWillWin
 
#441      
RabidDawgClassic
Much like our current road streaks in basketball at the Kohl Center (4 in a row, only us) and Crisler Arena (4 in a row, no team has won 5 in a row), I wondered if any team has gone into Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium and won three in a row.

Well… it turns out this accomplishment isn’t anything special, history wise. Several teams have gone into Lincoln and won three in a row — even Missouri. At one point in the 1940s and 50s, Oklahoma won 16 games in a row, eight of them in Lincoln. Texas has a current five game Lincoln winning streak over the Huskers, with NU’s lone win in Lincoln coming in 1933. That one’s gotta hurt.

So, nothing special with last night’s victory… except, of course, it a special win to us.
 
#443      
Saturdaze
EyeoftheIllini said:
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.
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I checked the play DB and it looks like only 8 designed runs to the running back for 29 yards in the first half. I don’t mind the running, but how predictable it’s been in the past has been the biggest problem imo.

1st drive - 6 plays, 2 run, 5 yards
2nd drive - 2 plays, no runs
3rd drive - 8 plays, 3 run, 11 yards
4th drive - 9 plays, 3 run, 13 yards
 
#444      
Roundball Sage
aaeismacgychel said:
All fanboards are a mess after a loss... Nebraska boards are an absolute sight to behold right now... in complete meltdown mode.
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Sports blogs are not the place to go to look for calm and reasoned analysis and open-minded fairness.

Losing a game for a team one cares about brings out the hurt child in us. We want 'Our Way' all the time... and that means to Win! all the time. And when we don't get that we quickly resort to pounding our fists on the high chair and crying our eyes out. And blaming Mommy and Daddy.

And that's what happened last night to Husker fans in an Illini program-defining win for The Boys From The Prairie State. They turned the legendary Nebraska Sea-Of-Red... into something Red all right -- lots of red eyes in the stands from anger and tears.

And how did our Basketball State do that? Because the Illini played with SWAGGER. Not the swagger of arrogance, but the swagger of confidence of believing in yourself and knowing you can get the job done. And that's what The Orange Helmets went out and did. Went into the Cornhusker Sanctuary and turned all those Red Faces... Blue.

The Illini are riding a high right now that feels good. There will be a stumble on the road ahead... but the landscape has changed. Our expectations have changed. National expectations of the Illini have now changed.

Can the Illini add football now to the roster of Being-Brad-Level-Style 'Elite'? The road is open and wide. The spirit is willing. Fans are ready. Winning does feel good after all. And we promise not to melt down if and when the Illini stumble because who wants to act like Michigan or Ohio State or 'Pee' State U. Or some Husker fans last night.
 
#445      
altgeld88
So much to be grateful for today after that win last night. What I enjoyed most, however, was watching our boys go toe to toe with a ranked foe on the road in an electric atmosphere, trail nearly the entire game, and just keep getting up and responding while I was confident that they'd be in it to the end. And then absolutely breaking the Huskers' will in OT, snapping them like a dry twig.

I felt that way mildly about Zook's team in '07, and about a Turner team only in '01. Maybe '00. Before that, it was when Mackovic coached and, of course, '83. Even with Mack you'd get embarrassments like that 54-28 Nick Bell/Iowa pasting of the Illini when we were Top 5 in '90.

It has been a long time. The best thing about having BB at the helm is that he isn't White, Mack, Turner or Zook. He's stable; runs a solid program; has a long-term, patient outlook and the wisdom to understand what he is building and probably won't bolt our program; and develops and mentors players, coaches and esp the coordinators. Best of all, he's a really competent CEO. He's as complete a package, having staying power, as I've ever seen on our sideline since I became an Illini fan in '83.

Last night was wonderful because our offense was balanced and creative and our defense tenacious and creative. My brother @Retro62 and I both noted that AHen has scaled the learning curve and appears to be coming into his own. Those blitz calls late were filthy and bold and we've got the talent to pull them off. And Barry called what seems to me to be the most complete game since he has been here. Perhaps that's because, with the WR talent we enjoy, and Luke having the time and protection to become comfortable and confident, we're able to open things up, incorporating the TEs and the run.

The best part of last night: it was fun the entire way, and I never feared a collapse or boneheaded miscues. I've been in that place only briefly and rarely over 40+ years. Am going to enjoy that feeling next Saturday and the rest of the way. Just last month I found myself unable to get up for football season for the first time since BB arrived, and wondering whether we could reach 0.500. Was thinking about that last night, too.

And then we won. On national TV on the road against a 19-year-old Patrick Mahomes. Bonus.
 
#446      
abchew2
Guest said:
Actually, I would like to revisit the Kansas board and ask if they still think Illinois is terrible and won’t win more than 3 games.
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I too was interested in this. Seemed like most still think we suck and saw a few comments that UNLV was the better team they lost to. Admittedly we played much better in this game and they are preparing themselves for a West Virginia loss.
 
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