Yeah, he does.Whitman doesn’t get to swing and whiff on another football coach and staff right?
Remember Mike Thomas? It can get much worse.
Yeah, he does.Whitman doesn’t get to swing and whiff on another football coach and staff right?
I just don't understand how we went from last year to here. Yes we lost NFL talent, but we've gone from a well coached extremely solid team to one that looks so overmatched at every single level that it just makes no sense. The O-line has 3 upperclassmen, 2 of which were being talked about as possible draft picks. How do you go from that to looking like first day cuts from the high school varsity team?This is the beginning of the end for Bielema. I don't see any way he recovers from this.
I think they will get worse, that's the thing. there's not one Bert player that I feel good about going forward. the only players on this team with a pulse are Lovie guys, and those guys will be gone next year. I'm not saying he should be fired now, but I would just be shocked if he salvages this going forward.And who will come fix this mess next?
He absolutely needs time, and yes I know this year is a disaster. But things can get worse, much worse.
Pretty sure the beginning of the end for an Illini football coach is the introductory press conference...This is the beginning of the end for Bielema. I don't see any way he recovers from this.
Yeah, Illinois fans need to chill with the idea of firing a head coach every time we have a bad year. It’s only his 3rd year and he did very well in his second year. Best season for us in YEARS.Holy balls. Yes, let's start contemplating firing Bret because we are such an absolute unit of a powerhouse that we are attractive to all of the coaches out there.
That's game thread stuff.
The defense is doing fine…it’s the offense and the offensive line that’s the issue. They aren’t giving the defense any breaks. Playcalling sucks and the OL is downright brutal. I noticed tonight that the ball was being snapped below Altmyer’s ankles quite a bit. LolI just don't understand how we went from last year to here. Yes we lost NFL talent, but we've gone from a well coached extremely solid team to one that looks so overmatched at every single level that it just makes no sense. The O-line has 3 upperclassmen, 2 of which were being talked about as possible draft picks. How do you go from that to looking like first day cuts from the high school varsity team?
How did the unbelievably promising Jacas and Coleman last year just disappear?
What even happened with special teams today? That was one of our few bright spots this season. What happened today looked like they haven't been coached.
I just really have no idea what is going on and why it gets worse week after week. In one year after a tremendous season we suddenly and drastically become the worst P5 team in the country? I just don't get it. Doesn't add up.
You either haven't been watching Illini football long enough or have a small imagination lol The 6-0 then 0-6 season would like a word with you... But I hear you. There was going to be an inevitable drop off on D with the studs we lost, but that side of the ball is holding their own all things considered. The offense on the other hand is in total shambles with the second O coordinator in 3 years. Will we have a third in 4 years after this season? That may be unprecedented.The final week of October 2022, we were 7-1, ranked #14, first place in the west, and had arguably the best defense in college football.
To go from that height to this low in less than one year is a collapse on a scale and at a speed I never imagined was possible in my worst nightmares.
That's just the residue of the fire earlier this week...The only thing I can think of... there is ZERO point in the university making this an uphill battle. Drop athletic academic requirements to NCAA minimums for all sports. We're not the Harvard of the Midwest anymore, and we do not need to make this any more difficult than necessary. I'd say maybe boycott it until the administration comes to their sense, but honestly nobody is going to attend at this rate anyway. Meh. Even Nebraska is managing to crawl out of the basement (and good for them... I thought they looked much improved this evening). Illinois. I know it's just one year, but this team is starting to look a bit dumpster'ish and I think I smell smoke.
You are absolutely right!!!Past time to fire Lunney (and possibly Bart Miller as well). And Josh W should not be too comfortable in his seat; but I have no confidence anyone in the administration cares enough about the athletic programs for him to be in jeopardy. This season has been absolute trash on the field. Youth, inexperience, injuries, there are no excuses that justify it being this bad in BB's third year. All of his coordinator hires - excepting Walters and Henry (the jury is still out) - have been abject failures. I fear this season relegates IL to bottom feeder status in the B10 for good after gaining some momentum in the first half of last season. How is this program going to look against Oregon or USC?
The fans deserve more. The 10,000 folks who ponied up for new season tickets, the students, deserve more. Personally, I have been following since the early 80's, graduated from U of I and have two kids that graduated from there. We all deserve much, much more than we have gotten for the support of the program we have provided over the years. Nobody cares, I know, but just getting it off my chest. It's frustrating to suck this bad year after year.