Pregame: Illinois vs Kansas, Saturday, September 7th, 6:00pm CT, FS1

Status
Not open for further replies.
#226      
DeonThomas
Illinir1 said:
Attended last year's game in Lawrence and can confirm that their dinky stadium was nowhere near sold out.

"The David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium at the University of Kansas has a seating capacity of 47,233. The stadium is located at 11th and Maine streets in Lawrence, at the base of Mount Oread."
Click to expand...
I was also in attendance last year --- I believe we sat right next to one another (I was on the 35 yard line, and I recall you on the 45).

Not filled to capacity. Agreed.
 
#227      
Ander1345
skyIdub said:
If you are an Illini fan that does not own something orange, we can't be friends.
Click to expand...
My only Illini gear right now is a gray pullover with an orange I from Costco and a gray t-shirt from the game vs Washington at Soldier Field... none of the orange shirts left were my size :(
 
#229      
Chukwuwumba
skyIdub said:
If you are an Illini fan that does not own something orange, we can't be friends.
Click to expand...
As a fan, I have orange gear. My wife and kids are not fans and did not own Illini gear until we went to games last year. That was fun to see them wearing gear, even then they went for blue with orange writing.
Kids had gear before but they grow out of it almost every year.
game day spirit store had some different options that were relatively cheaper, but probably too late for this game.
 
#230      
Second place is 1st loser
Let's be honest....if we were a top 25 team last year into this year and returned a ton of offense which hung 34 points and 550 yards on them last year...what would our confidence level be? We'd have this one in the win column.

That's not to say that some of their fans aren't delusional, but we don't exactly manage expectations well here either. Neither fanbase should be throwing stones.
 
#232      
DeonThomas
Fives are wild! Vegas is settling in at +5.5 with an O/U of 55.5. Overall, this game is so eerily similar to the UNC home game in 2016. Very tough to predict, but I believe the team that wins the turnover battle also wins the game. (Hoping we can get at least 3).

Pros:
Bret Bielema. This team has been built the right way
Momentum. Things just feel good.
Game is being played at Memorial Stadium. Sellout crowd. Orange craziness. 5-8 hours of pre-game tailgating!!
We have some hidden gems on this roster who are ready to blow up on national TV.

Cons:
Lance Leipold is really good. He significantly out-prepared BB last fall.
Overall, I feel KU has a more talented roster.
KU's speed and quickness

33 ILLINI
31 kansas
 
#234      
Fly Illini Fly!
One thing that could prove notable: They did not play Franklin a single snap in the slot vs EIU. Ya just wonder...Is this gonna be the game where you sort of work out that "hidden gem" and really make some mayhem...

To just think about it...Elzy, Bryant on the outside and Franklin in the slot...those three on the field together at the same time...that lineup from a physical talent standpoint has the potential to really terrorize defensive backs if things come together.
 
Last edited:
#235      
Guest
This is just a general FYI in regard to the announced sell-out. I post this mostly because I don’t understand it and it might be interesting to someone. So, it was announced Tuesday evening (I think that is right) that the game had sold out. We were thinking about going to the game but waited too long but my niece decided to give it a shot. She was able to find 5 contiguous seats right away Wednesday afternoon. She texted me, "There are seats available, all the seats that were at a discount through their family weekend portal have been put back into general consumption so the costs are more”. So, if you are looking for tickets, evidently there are still some available. I don’t know what service she used to procure them. They were on the expensive side, though, I don’t know how out of line they are with the prices people generally pay. They were $70 each. So I don’t understand how it is sold out but she was able to get tickets pretty easily. I mean, I guess there are always places to get tickets if you pay enough. But I don’t think she used any kind of “scalper” service.
 
#236      
Fly Illini Fly!
foby said:
Averaging less than 2 wins a year. I mean, we've had some futility, but that's really bad.
Click to expand...
Oh Yeah It Was Terrible GIF by Amazon Prime Video
 
#237      
SoCal Illini
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Not a lot of respect on the KU board, even speculating the only reason it’s sold out is the large contingent they’ll bring, lol. Which even if that is true, I don’t understand the arrogance on that subject … our meh crowds would sell out their smaller stadium. Even if they have over 15% of the 60,670 crowd (and they won’t), we’d have more folks in Orange than they literally ever have at a game.

Anyway, I guess respect is earned, and we haven’t earned it. Let’s go earn it Saturday.
Click to expand...
Not that its unusual for other teams’ fans to overlook the illini, but for some reason reading that rubbed me the wrong way. Wasn’t long ago Kansas was the worst of the worst for over a decade. Their cockiness is reminding me a little of Iowa state basketball… hopefully football can produce a similar outcome vs ku.

After reading further into thread seems others generally agree lol. For any ku fans here, I caution getting too optimistic too fast, you could be let down. Trust us on that one. Go illini
 
Last edited:
#238      
fuddrules
Other than Michigan this year where I asked a few people about tickets (they accepted), I just had a friend of a friend inquire about tickets to this game. That's never happened before, at least in recent memory. I'm really surprised. And no, I don't think it's KU fans driving this ticket frenzy.

The "giving" away of tickets to bands and teachers has actually created a strong ticket demand via the sell-out. Intentional or not, it worked. People want what they can't have. People want to be part of this club. I tried to give tickets away to EIU to at least 30 people. I had zero takers, they went unused. I considered going in and out of the turnstile a few times myself :) , I didn't, I got caught up in checking out Memorial Stadium updates. One guy walks into the south end zone bathroom and goes, "What, they took away my pissing wall?" LOL

This will also create a stronger demand for season tickets next year......as long as Illinois doesn't flop this season. I don't think they will.

If Illinois wins, it will be interesting to watch CMU fan attendance.
 
#240      
pruman91
After watching Warner's podcast last night with Joey Wagner I have a better feel about the Ku game being a favorable outcome for the Illini......using Franklin in the slot should open up routes for Bryant and Elzy on the sidelines and open up some good routes for our TE's......

I am forever the optimist about all things Illini and with the way the defense played against EIU , ( a notable less competitive team than KU ) I feel the Illini , at home , will prevail and get the upset.................

Illini 34
KU 30

psyc117.gif


Get up Illini Nation......get loud...............we can do it !!!!!!!!!!.....we really really can.................
 
#242      
chiefini
Our crew will be there in our Orange for Orange Out. Just a reminder for those planning to just wear orange tee-shirts: It will be very cool at this 6:00 p.m. start. Weather in Champaign on Saturday is supposed to be a high of 67 and a low of 42 with 10 mph winds. Hopefully, Illini fans can find orange sweatshirts, sweaters, and coats to wear for the game and its overhead Orange Out photos…
I-L-L
 
#243      
RockfordIllini
What has me concerned is KU went 8-4 last year, primarily with their backup QB (and of course with Illinois’ luck, their game was pretty much the only game where Daniels was 100%). That 8-4 included a close road loss and 2 close home losses. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that their starting QB may have been enough to flip 2 of those games, so we are really talking about closer to a 10 win team for all intents and purposes who bring back all of their skill players. That’s a tall task for any team.

But, first road game for them. I think our offense can score some points and I also think we can control the clock with our RB room. If we can control the clock and get a couple of turnovers we’ve got a shot.

In a vacuum I think they beat us 8 out of 10 times. But first true road game, sellout crowd, etc. I think this game is a toss up.
 
#245      
Glaurung44
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Not a lot of respect on the KU board, even speculating the only reason it’s sold out is the large contingent they’ll bring, lol. Which even if that is true, I don’t understand the arrogance on that subject … our meh crowds would sell out their smaller stadium. Even if they have over 15% of the 60,670 crowd (and they won’t), we’d have more folks in Orange than they literally ever have at a game.

Anyway, I guess respect is earned, and we haven’t earned it. Let’s go earn it Saturday.
Click to expand...
KU fans are pretty confident. Some of that is from the travesty that the 2010-2021 stretch was. Now that we finally have a good program going, some are gonna be too optimistic.

That said, there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic about this KU team. They went 8-4 last year, but 2 of those were close losses where the starting QB was injured and KU was forced to play a walk-on at QB, and still almost won those two games. Then the OSU game where KU had a lead late in the 4th quarter, but a gust of wind knocked a deep ball off course that would have been a game winning TD(you could literally see the ball just go dead halfway to its target). KU was very close last year to being 10-2 or even 11-1. And KU returns nearly all of the playmakers from that team. Should be better on defense and offensively should be similar, so long as Jalon Daniels is healthy.

So KU has a chance to be really good, IF the ball bounces their way and injuries are avoided. But KU doesn't do it with elite talent like other ranked teams. KU has to execute at a high level, which happens more often than not due to the experience on this team, but bad games will be had. KU can beat any team on its schedule this year, but KU can also lose to most of the teams on the schedule this year(including Illinois) depending on effort and execution. KU could finish anywhere from 7-5 to 10-2 this year, depending on how well they execute, how much some teams have improved(including Illinois), etc.

And you're right. Respect is earned. KU fans have seen a lot of that as we've continued to improve, with opposing fans doubting us, and respect has only slowly started to get better. I hope for your sake that y'all can be saying that in the future too. Just not Saturday :)
 
#247      
Glaurung44
SixthandWhite said:
On the Illinois Football Twitter post announcing the sellout, a KU fan in the comments predicted there would be 20,000 Jayhawk fans in attendance. LOL indeed.
Click to expand...
lol, that's crazy. I do think you see a good group though. Between 5K to 8K more than likely. Chicago is the 2nd largest KU alumni base. I know a lot of KU fans in Chicago who are going to the game.

Oddly enough, KU football fans tend to travel fairly well. Yet we struggle to sell out our 50K stadium every week. The fanbase isn't huge, but there is a dedicated contingent of hardcore KU football fans who have stuck it out over the bad years and travel a lot. But predicting 20K is crazy.
 
Last edited:
#248      
Glaurung44
DeonThomas said:
I was also in attendance last year --- I believe we sat right next to one another (I was on the 35 yard line, and I recall you on the 45).

Not filled to capacity. Agreed.
Click to expand...
It will take time to move some of the casual fans to start going to games. So many KU fans still think the football team is bad or think a good year or two was a fluke. Not to mention, KU lost a whole generation of football fans due to that terrible decade. It will take time to build the fanbase back up. I'm fairly confident we aren't going back. KU's AD leadership is much improved and has made football a priority. He's the guy who hired Lance Leipold, and I'm confident if he has to replace LL, he'll make a solid choice. KU also has a wealthier alumni base and will be able to offer more in NIL than a lot of Big XII schools, which should help keep things competitive. But KU will never be one of those schools who will just be able to be a dominant program that wins 10 games every year. They don't have the resources or tradition for that.
 
Last edited:
#249      
Fighter of the Nightman
Glaurung44 said:
KU fans are pretty confident. Some of that is from the travesty that the 2010-2021 stretch was. Now that we finally have a good program going, some are gonna be too optimistic.

That said, there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic about this KU team. They went 8-4 last year, but 2 of those were close losses where the starting QB was injured and KU was forced to play a walk-on at QB, and still almost won those two games. Then the OSU game where KU had a lead late in the 4th quarter, but a gust of wind knocked a deep ball off course that would have been a game winning TD(you could literally see the ball just go dead halfway to its target). KU was very close last year to being 10-2 or even 11-1. And KU returns nearly all of the playmakers from that team. Should be better on defense and offensively should be similar, so long as Jalon Daniels is healthy.

So KU has a chance to be really good, IF the ball bounces their way and injuries are avoided. But KU doesn't do it with elite talent like other ranked teams. KU has to execute at a high level, which happens more often than not due to the experience on this team, but bad games will be had. KU can beat any team on its schedule this year, but KU can also lose to most of the teams on the schedule this year(including Illinois) depending on effort and execution. KU could finish anywhere from 7-5 to 10-2 this year, depending on how well they execute, how much some teams have improved(including Illinois), etc.

And you're right. Respect is earned. KU fans have seen a lot of that as we've continued to improve, with opposing fans doubting us, and respect has only slowly started to get better. I hope for your sake that y'all can be saying that in the future too. Just not Saturday :)
Click to expand...
Thank you for the polite reply. I actually have no problem with KU having confidence (even overconfidence) for results on the field going their way. It's the total lack of respect for Illinois as a fan base and basic entity that is bizarre. As I said, they should not be poo-pooing our attendance when KU is significantly lower. Home crowds last year for both teams, with Illini in orange and Kansas in blue:

54,205 ILL
53,512 ILL
53,157 ILL
49,099 ILL
48,898 ILL
47,233 KU
47,233 KU
47,233 KU
47,233 KU
46,703 ILL
46,107 KU
45,809 KU
42,310 ILL
41,091 KU

Those KU fans were supporting a team that went 9-5 and spent 5 weeks in the top 25 ... we watched a 5-7 team that never sniffed the top 25 and only got 2 of our 5 wins at home, lol. Again, I can live with confidence when it comes to the game ... but the KU message board is indeed giving off the vibe Iowa State basketball fans were before our Sweet Sixteen game vs. them last year, where they were making the asinine claim that they had a bigger fan base than Illinois (L-O-L, what a basic failure in math/statistics), and that Boston would be full of ISU fans ... of course, Illinois fans outnumbered ISU fans there by quite a large margin, and thankfully we also beat them!!

Point is, the KU fan base has earned zero right to question (let alone mock) the passion, loyalty and especially the size of the Illinois football fan base. To be in disbelief that a bigger university in a bigger college town in a MUCH bigger state with WAY more alumni than KU could ever sell out its own stadium without the help of traveling fans from KU's vaunted Chicago alumni base (which wouldn't even crack the top 10-15 in the Chicago MSA if I had to guess) seems so weird and delusional and confrontational and shows an utter lack of respect for the Illini fan base ... and KU fans simply have not earned the right to be that arrogant. THAT is what I took issue with. :)

Plus, I have zero problem with the Jayhawks and root for them to beat most other Big XII teams. So, it is unfortunate to see their (online) fans speak so dismissively of Illinois ... hard not to get a bad impression of them as fans after that display.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back