10/4 News & Notes

[Groundhogday]

Struggling Illini defense remains a mystery

Some of the offense and special teams woes could have been expected to continue, but it would have been hard to predict that the defense would fall so hard, so fast. Even defensive line coach Keith Gilmore, a holdover from the change in coaching staffs, didn’t see this coming.

“I’m just as surprised as most of you guys,” he said. “We’ve been practicing hard and practicing well, and I thought we’ve done the things necessary to play well. For whatever reason during the course of the game, we’re kind of falling apart and we’re still trying to figure it out.”

Daily Illini

Plenty of articles about Michael Mauti.

[Groundhogday]

Higher energy level might spark defense

After Wednesday’s practice, Illinois defensive players and their coaches watched film of the Illini’s 2011 game against Wisconsin in preparation for Saturday’s game against the Badgers. What they saw was a unit that looks nothing like the outfit wearing Illinois uniforms this season.

And for all the talk in the change in schemes from last year to this year, it didn’t have a whole lot to do with the play-calling.

“It didn’t matter what defense we were playing, we played hard, played with a lot of energy, and I think that’s one of the reasons we were successful against them,” UI senior defensive end Michael Buchanan said.

IlliniHQ Matt Daniels

Break out the Red Bull this Saturday?

[Dan]

Play Mathis And Bonahoom

I've never been a "booooo Smith put in Jones" guy. I have my opinions about which players I'd like to see in the rotation, but I've never thought this to be a place to advocate for benchings. I mean, I probably would have if this blog existed in 2004 (MORE THOMAS LESS HALSEY), but in the 3.5 years this website has been around, I've never really played that game.

I'd like to play that game now, please. Give me walkons.

http://alioneye.com/2012/10/04/play-...-and-bonahoom/

[Dan]

In support of @Donovonn_Young and his "dress up Thursday" theme I decided to change out of the clothes I've been wearin the last 3 days

http://twitter.com/Scheelhaase2

[mattcoldagelli]

Donovonn Young has a "dress up Thursday" theme?

[quickly runs over to DY/JF Appreciation Thread to bump it]

[FredrickFremont]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

Break out the Red Bull this Saturday?

That's funny because I actually thought about the possibility for halftime of the ASU game, but apparently that would have been an NCAA violation (I didn't really research it too much, but I couldn't figure out if it (caffeine) is banned or just "restricted", how they enforce it, etc.).

[Shenanigans]

They better plan on playing physical and aggressive or Saturday will be a looonnggg day!

[RyanK]

Originally Posted by FredrickFremont

That's funny because I actually thought about the possibility for halftime of the ASU game, but apparently that would have been an NCAA violation (I didn't really research it too much, but I couldn't figure out if it (caffeine) is banned or just "restricted", how they enforce it, etc.).

It is weird that caffeine is on the "banned" list for NCAA athletes. I asked a guy at my local nutrition store about this, and he said the NCAA tests for "spikes" in caffeine. He said it prevents a lot of kids from using pre-workout drinks. Not sure how its actually measured, but just passing along what I was told.

[BigStan97]

ya its crazy how many things that society use commonly are on the banned list....

my friend that i grew up with and still are real close is in the minor league farm system for Miami Marlins and when he came home after his first year he showed me the paperwork of banned things for MLB and its CRAZY long!!

[RHITIllini]

The caffeine thing is probably more of a liability than anything. Especially with how popular energy drinks have become, large, fast doses of caffeine like that can really spike someone's heart rate and if they aren't careful it could cause some serious problems.