Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
I still think there is more to that story than just him getting beat out in fall camp
doesnt matter, I think he starts tomorrow night, and if not, he gets lots of snaps anyway, more than last week.
Pregame: Illinois vs Kansas, Saturday, September 7th, 6:00pm CT, FS1
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doesnt matter, I think he starts tomorrow night, and if not, he gets lots of snaps anyway, more than last week.
OrangeBlue98
- Des Moines, IA
A lot of these games are definitely in that mode. For me, two will always stick out.I could not agree more! As far as perception and momentum of the program goes, winning a HOME game vs. a ranked opponent EARLY in the season is just so important for us at this stage of the Bielema Era.
- 2021 was a gimme, and nearly making a bowl (how on Earth did we manage to not get to 6 wins that year, haha...) was a huge improvement, especially when you consider that we got two top 25 wins on the road. A very impressive debut for Bret, given the recent history of this program and where Lovie left us.
- 2022 was a smashing success, even with a subpar finish to the season. To take a 2-win team and get them into the top 25 and a New Year's Day Bowl in your second year is just straight-up impressive. At that point, BB had hit a homerun here, IMO.
- 2023 was our chance to prove it was not a fluke, even after losing all of that talent to the NFL and our DC to a head coaching job. I would argue last year's Big Noon Kickoff game vs. Penn State was an equally huge opportunity to make a statement for the program, but there are a few big differences that make this year's a bit different:
1. We have a sold out crowd compared to the under 50k we had vs. PSU last year. It will be essential to not re-teach all of these fans the same lesson that you cannot count on Illini football to not let you down when it looks like there is once again some hope.
2. You could reasonably make excuses for bumps in the road last year due to all of the changes in the offseason, as mentioned above. However, we showed real improvement throughout the year, and this is the year to prove that things have stabilized.
3. Our psyche as fans is in a much more optimistic and exciting place than when PSU came to town last year (evidenced by the sellout!). FCS opponent or not, coming off of a dominant shutout win just has folks feeling better than returning home from a butt whoopin' in Lawrence.
4. Revenge aspect. Whereas we had won on PSU's home field the last time we faced them, Kansas embarrassed us on national TV in our last matchup. We now have them coming into our house thinking they can do that again. This simply has to be about pride.
Win or lose, we can still make a bowl. However, I think for the overall "health" of this program, we have to put up a SERIOUS fight on Saturday night and look like a competent and competitive program that can play with anyone. Losing a hard-fought game allows us all to maintain hope that we can win enough Big Ten games to go bowling and maybe even upset Michigan depending on how overrated Michigan is or how underrated Kansas is. However, a win sends a loud and clear message that this program is continuing to take steps forward. And that vague notion is what keeps fans' enthusiasm up. We went 2-10 in 2006, but we still had big crowds ready to go in 2007 (well before we had beaten PSU or Wisconsin) because there was HOPE. We had a lot of talent, and we played almost everyone close the year before. Fans simply need hope, and so do recruits. Winning vs. KU gives our fans a LOT of hope that things have finally changed for Illini football!
1) Illinois home vs Penn State, 1994 - We had them dead to rights, and they got back in the game against a defense with that linebacking corps. That was the first game where I felt like maybe things could start declining.
2) Illinois home vs Michigan, 1995 - Lou Tepper's famous line about wanting to play Michigan twice opening weekend (or something similar to that) still sticks in my head. Michigan absolutely embarrassed us, and I remember the Illini sideline in major dispute on the offensive side of the ball. I wasn't sure it would turn into what the rest of the 1990s turned into (and then of course after that), but I remember walking out of Memorial Stadium with a sick feeling that stuff was going to hit the fan.
Tomorrow's game is a BIG game. Maybe I'm placing too much stock in the feelings of three decades ago and later, but this game feels like one of those that could define the remainder of Bret Bielema's tenure. I'm not saying Illinois will win, but it's a winnable game. At the very least, it's a game that the Illinois program should be up for and play well. If they come out with a clunker like Michigan 1995 or North Carolina 2016, I think a lot of fans - both die-hard and casual - will not be feeling good in any way.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
We hired the right guy:
OrangeBlue98
- Des Moines, IA
To be fair to Leipold and to give him his credit, it’s also awfully easy to go above and beyond for really good people.
If Brooks isn’t playing it tells me it’s one of two things:
1. He had a bad attitude and lack of effort which caused either Bret or Aaron to teach him a lesson. If that’s the case, fine, but we need to figure out how to get on our athlete’s behaviors before it starts affecting personnel decisions. Either identify that in recruiting or sort it out before game day. Does make me start to feel uncomfortable with last year’s lack of on-field discipline already in the back of my head. Can Aaron Henry control big egos or is he too buddy buddy to do it without benching someone?
Or;
2. Brooks got beat. If he got beat out by Patterson and Cox, then great. They looked good against an FCS opponent minus a few lapses here and there. I’m hopeful this is the answer, though dang it if we can’t take a prior all Big-Twelve corner and develop him into a starter at Illinois what hope do we have?
1. He had a bad attitude and lack of effort which caused either Bret or Aaron to teach him a lesson. If that’s the case, fine, but we need to figure out how to get on our athlete’s behaviors before it starts affecting personnel decisions. Either identify that in recruiting or sort it out before game day. Does make me start to feel uncomfortable with last year’s lack of on-field discipline already in the back of my head. Can Aaron Henry control big egos or is he too buddy buddy to do it without benching someone?
Or;
2. Brooks got beat. If he got beat out by Patterson and Cox, then great. They looked good against an FCS opponent minus a few lapses here and there. I’m hopeful this is the answer, though dang it if we can’t take a prior all Big-Twelve corner and develop him into a starter at Illinois what hope do we have?
Joel Goodson
- dawgville
Penn St was the game where we would had won IF Damian Platt could have converted a third down late in the 4th quarter. But with no one around him, he tripped over the 35 yard line and came up just short.
the results say otherwise so..........
i'd hope...
Robert is great because I believe if he was offered the choice between either ending world hunger, 25 million dollars tax free, or Illinois football winning a national championship...I sincerely believe he would choose the latter.
Illinois football needs fans like that!
Joel Goodson
- dawgville
purcy51
- Nappanee, IN
Stubhub was just as bad. I got my tickets last night for $76 ea + something like $40 in fees per ticket. Oof. Oh well, it's my first game in 30 yrs (been living out west & in Alaska most of that time) , so I'm not going to complain much. Just excited to be going!!!
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
enjoy the experience my friend and hopefully an Illini victory.............
Been having similar thoughts. Was thinking that it would take winning here, against CMU, AND against Nebraska (4-0) to firmly hit the top 25….
Let’s start with step 1 tomorrow!
wondering the same...
my guess would be Elzy but just based on the fact that Brooks is the transfer but...
Username checks out
Our overall Football record is full of "lack of results". Ol' Berty Boi has done more for this program in the last 3 years than I've seen ever since I started watching in 1999. I haven't seen the hype train this long ever since Zook was announced as the HC. We're back on the national stage in basketball...and it's about time we get there in football. This fan base went through overall hell for over a decade. It's about time things break our way!
"PleaseMakeABowlGame"...Username checks out
Our overall Football record is full of "lack of results". Ol' Berty Boi has done more for this program in the last 3 years than I've seen ever since I started watching in 1999. I haven't seen the hype train this long ever since Zook was announced as the HC. We're back on the national stage in basketball...and it's about time we get there in football. This fan base went through overall hell for over a decade. It's about time things break our way!
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