Pregame: Illinois vs Central Michigan, Saturday, September 14th, 11:00am CT, Peacock
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Mikey Dudek being honorary captain this week is awesome. One of my favorite players and I just wish he could have stayed healthy.️
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OrangeBlue98
- Des Moines, IA
If you think Cris is bad, his kid is way worse-and I’m not one to usually really say that about announcers."Jac Collinsworth (play-by-play), Michael Robinson (analyst), and Caroline Pineda (reporter) have the call on Peacock."
Illinois Takes On Central Michigan for Homecoming Clash - University of Illinois Athletics
Homecoming week at Illinois celebrates its 114th year of Illinois traditions.fightingillini.com
Wish I could sync the radio feed, but that doesn’t work on a live Peacock feed.
I'd like the Illini to run up a 3 touchdown lead by halftime, then selectively rest starters to avoid any unneeded injuries, give the backups some game experience, and give us a better picture of what quality of depth we have, as well as reward backup players for the hard work they have devoted to the program. We have an absolutely brutal stretch of B10 games coming up, and will need to be as rested and healthy as possible. This team has great potential, and the ability to make a positive statement this year that will be attractive to potential recruits.
Yea, I get it.
I'm OK with that reason. As long as everybody wears Blue and Orange to temple. Sincerely not meant to be disrespectful. Just my stupid sense of humor.
Update Sellout Watch. The last several rows of sections 112-115 have never shown as available for sale. Either they are being held back or given away (to a class reunion, for example). With 113 now showing zero green dots and no other rows being "released" to show as available for sale, I'm starting to assume the latter, so I have considered them sold. That accounts for the majority of the increase in estimated sold from last night to tonight.
My heart broke for him.
chiefini
- Rockford, Illinois
One of the nicest kids and best football families I’ve ever met. I’ll be wearing my signed Dudek jersey next Saturday…Mikey Dudek being honorary captain this week is awesome. One of my favorite players and I just wish he could have stayed healthy.
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
It's easy to wishcast but I'd love to see a list of Beiema era attendance numbers by game and where these games would slot in. Would help contextualize these numbers and trends; would CMU be the highest attended non-conference home game that's not KU or Virginia? Is this a top 25th percentile for Bielema era attendance? I've seen some folks list them, so I know it's doable, just want a rolling list.
??? Are you saying this about our group? Pretty low class my friend.
The Fighting Scotts.X and Miles....
MoCoMdIllini
- Montgomery County, Maryland
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
This will probably shock you
... but I have done this before. I'll post a repeat later today, haha. Long story short:- Bielema has only been here for a little over 3 seasons, so the sample size is too small to make too many definitive statements about, say, an 11:00 am vs. 2:30 pm game and how that affects attendance with other factors held constant.
- Weeknight home games have significantly dragged down our average attendance. Saturday attendance - and Saturday attendance vs. Big Ten teams specifically - is much higher.
- Overall, the attendance under Bielema has improved materially and consistently since he got here. Our opener vs. Nebraska in 2021 saw a big uptick compared to 2019 and previous years, and in his second season we got multiple crowds over 45k (and one over 55k) for the first time in several years. Last year, we were near 50k or over in a majority of our home games. This year, of course, we got our first sellout in 8 years. It's been a really fun trend to observe!
purcy51
- Nappanee, IN
I have a dilemma....I really want to take advantage of the two pack for CMU and Michigan games. However, my alma mater (Wabash College) also has homecoming this Saturday @ 2pm. It's only about an hour away from Champaign. Do I a.) Attend the Illini game, leave early and jet to Crawfordsville for the Wabash game ( knowing I'll miss out on tailgating with my Wabash guys) or b.) Buy the two pack and sell/give the CMU game tickets away and just skip it?
Leaning towards the latter, but can't make up my mind.
Leaning towards the latter, but can't make up my mind.
I intentionally was waiting to respond since I knew you had some of this data already compiled.This will probably shock you
- Bielema has only been here for a little over 3 seasons, so the sample size is too small to make too many definitive statements about, say, an 11:00 am vs. 2:30 pm game and how that affects attendance with other factors held constant.
- Weeknight home games have significantly dragged down our average attendance. Saturday attendance - and Saturday attendance vs. Big Ten teams specifically - is much higher.
- Overall, the attendance under Bielema has improved materially and consistently since he got here. Our opener vs. Nebraska in 2021 saw a big uptick compared to 2019 and previous years, and in his second season we got multiple crowds over 45k (and one over 55k) for the first time in several years. Last year, we were near 50k or over in a majority of our home games. This year, of course, we got our first sellout in 8 years. It's been a really fun trend to observe!
Off the top of my head though, Toledo was about 49k and Florida Atlantic was over 53k last year. Both those games were not in the 11am time slot though, and Florida Atlantic had the added benefit of thousands of free tickets given away to teachers and HS band day.
Basically, attendance these days blows away anything from 2021 and even early 2022, but 2023 attendance was pretty strong on the heels of an 8-win 2022 season.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Yeah, I will delve into the time slots later, but this is kind of a cool representation of our attendance in thousands since Bret's first game. Clear and steady improvement. For simplicity's sake, Thursday and Friday night games are in red, and the dreaded attendance killer that is Northwestern on Thanksgiving weekend is in purple.I intentionally was waiting to respond since I knew you had some of this data already compiled.
Off the top of my head though, Toledo was about 49k and Florida Atlantic was over 53k last year. Both those games were not in the 11am time slot though, and Florida Atlantic had the added benefit of thousands of free tickets given away to teachers and HS band day.
Basically, attendance these days blows away anything from 2021 and even early 2022, but 2023 attendance was pretty strong on the heels of an 8-win 2022 season.
2021: 5-7 and 3-4 at Home
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2022: 9-5 and 5-2 at Home
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2023: 5-7 and 3-4 at Home
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2024: 2-0 and 2-0 at Home
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In Lovie's last season, we averaged fewer than 37,000 fans per game, with a low of 30,654 for our home opener. Since the Iowa game in 2022 (when our attendance got back above 45k for the first time in years due to increased excitement), we have averaged over 50,000 fans per game.
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
Bret Bielema: He may not have been exactly what most fans wanted at the time, but he was exactly what we needed. And now, I think most of us are glad we have him.
Hard to figure how a guy who started 13 games last year for a CFP team, and who the staff made a significant portal recruiting priority, can’t earn a single snap among our current CB room.I would love to be a fly on the wall with Terrence Brooks situation. I just feel like it’s something more than his playing ability. I don’t know if he is not giving it his all in practice or what, but Henry doesn’t sugarcoat it at all.
Lou Tepper's next head coaching job after Illinois was for the Edinboro Fighting Scots.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
After a big win on Saturday night, and a projected nice weather day (not to mention Homecoming), I will be very disappointed if attendance in seats does not pass 50,000.
I was at the Virginia game, but hardly anyone else was. I was with a Virginia fan friend and it was very embarrassing. We started at Kam’s and did not leave until after kickoff. Kam’s had the Iowa game on the televisions and our game was nowhere to be found!!! I asked the bartender what was up and he said, “We suck.” I was very embarrassed to be an Illini football fan that day, despite our throttling of Virginia.
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