Pregame: Illinois vs USF, Saturday, September 15th, 2:30pm CT, BTN
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FYI they aren't even selling the top tier at SF for this game. Not sure what that means for overall capacity but 45k sounds ambitious.
I will be there though!
I think some of you had false expectations going in to these first two games and it's clouding your outlook. I wasn't expecting blowouts these first two games, so here's why I'm still bullish on my 5 win pre-season prediction:
- Illinois never scored more than 24 points in any game last year, but they've surpassed that total in both games.
- Illinois dominated the second half of the game against Kent St. Last year, Illinois struggled with the worst team in the MAC (0-8), and never dominated any part of the game. This year's Kent St. team is arguably better than last year's Ball St. team.
- How many of you said, "If we had better quarterback play, we would have won a couple more games last year." Well, I'm happy to announce: We have better play at quarterback than last year!
- You don't have to dominate another team to win, you just need to outscore them. Let's look at some of the woes of the "winnable" Big Ten teams on the schedule:
- Rutgers - more QB questions as their Fr starter was injured against Ohio State - status unknown. 9th different offensive coordinator in as many years.
- Purdue - defense has taken a significant step back and no definitive starting QB.
- Minnesota - skating on thin ice with only one QB, a walk-on but a good one; Sr. running back Rodney Smith injured - status unknown.
- Nebraska - only QB on scholarship injured against Colorado St.
- Northwestern - secondary is vulnerable and haven't settled on a starting QB.
Good lord
A lot of interesting names on that list too, Jerry Kill, Ralph Friedgen, Ron Prince, Kirk Ciarrocca.
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South Farms
- near Ogden & Rt 83
it is more than likely that Lovie's hands are tied on this, even if he wanted to give them a break. I don't think he can
Anything is bulletin board material if you look at it the wrong way.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
I would think that Lovie is the one calling the shots on this. No reported legal matter, it's a team rules thing from what I have gotten through my news source (this site). I would think Lovie is the one to come up with and enforce the team rules.
foby
- Bonnaroo Land
Sure, but please clear it up if I am processing it incorrectly. It sounds like a dis.
I agree with pretty much all of this, but the selfish part of me says, who gives a damn what message this sends to our team? I think our team would be happier if we had our best foot forward and could pull off an upset here.
Honestly Lovie's hands might very well be tied with how long he must hold them out but like I said, if they're fine in terms of the law as well as academically, Illinois football of all teams is in no position to take any kind of moral high ground which sacrifices on-field results.
Dan
Admin
Lovie: AJ Bush injured his hamstring. We'll see how it goes this week. #Illini
Lovie: Edwin Carter ... significant knee injury. He will be lost for the rest of the season unfortunately. #Illini
https://twitter.com/srrichey
Lovie: Edwin Carter ... significant knee injury. He will be lost for the rest of the season unfortunately. #Illini
https://twitter.com/srrichey
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
Had to expect Carter to be gone for the year, but darn, that hurts.
Freshman shows up with major contributions, then goes out.
Really sucks
Freshman shows up with major contributions, then goes out.
Really sucks
Do we have any official word on the suspended players for this weekend?
Statement of the obvious on Carter, but all season ending knee injuries are not created equal. I wish we had a bit more info, but I'm sure we won't get it.
The Bush situation will be interesting to monitor. Will they push it with him? You could argue they shouldn't from a save-him-for-conference-play perspective or also from a Rivers-is-better perspective.
The Bush situation will be interesting to monitor. Will they push it with him? You could argue they shouldn't from a save-him-for-conference-play perspective or also from a Rivers-is-better perspective.
SampsonRelpenk
- Edwardsville, IL
I DEMAND that Lovie Smith personally fax me a copy of Edwin Carter's MRI. This is a SOUND and REASONABLE request as a fan that attends one game per year and checks twitter daily. COWARD that he is, I am sure I will simply receive a generic form letter ending in "Go Illini", WITHOUT an exclamation point.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
Anyone know what the line was for the game vs. the Ramblin Wreck? Curious.
Dan
Admin
Lovie: Getting closer. They didn't play last week. New week coming up. (On suspended players). #Illini
https://twitter.com/srrichey/
https://twitter.com/srrichey/
I read it same way as you. Essentially Strong is saying he has to keep his guys up because they are playing a garbage team this week, whose only chance is if USF doesn't show up.
Theoretically, if Bush doesn't go (whether hes incapable or the safe is being cautious) and Rivers has a good/great game, can you really justify putting Bush back in for PSU? Training camp stories aside, lots of good from Bush for sure, but he's partly to blame for a lot of drives stalling. Obviously Rivers is still an unknown but he looked fantastic slinging the ball around. A lot less bad decisions if you ask me. Actions vs. real competition for both QB's remains an unknown.
SampsonRelpenk
- Edwardsville, IL
It was GT -3.5 on my book.
I won't support a scumbag operation. (Note, the OP isn't advocating such, and is just expressing the urgent desire to win now.)
The way I was taught leadership was to set a high standard, enforce the minimums with a hammer, and help your people achieve their full potential. If you're letting your people slide or cheat, they aren't meeting the standards and will never grow to their potential. Only crappy 'leaders' lower their standards, let people slide, and fail to help their people grow.
Conversely, an organization where everyone knows the standards are tough going in, and that everyone will be held to account for their performance and conduct, will attract high-performers with integrity. And those organizations can perform at a high level over a long period of time, even under significant adversity.
I think of it as being professional. These kids want to go pro? Okay, teach them how a professional conducts themselves, and hold them to that standard. Not easy, but definitely not rocket science. And in Lovie we have and exemplary model for how a true professional conducts themself. That bodes well for the future of Illinois.
Oh, and I'll say it again for all the impatient fans reading; Lovie's most experienced recruit has played 14 games under him. That means on the field, we're still in the position of a year two coach. There are limits to putting talented 18 y/o's against talented 21 y/o's with years in the S&C program. We're going to be frustrated by those limits continuously until Lovie's recruits are juniors and seniors. That isn't Lovie's fault, it's just biology.
So it matters to you whether it is the anterior cruciate or the medial collateral ligaments?
The way you composed this message, it is not clear the extent to which sarcasm is employed.
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