Pregame: Illinois vs Akron, Saturday, August 31st, 11:00am CT, BTN

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#2      

foby

Bonnaroo Land
Good guys will win.
 
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No nothing about Akron this year (or any year to be honest), so was looking to see what I could find out about them. Here is a quote from ESPN article on first-year coaches this year -- "He [Tom Arth] inherits a team that was horrible on offense (but returns seven starters) and compelling on defense (but returns only four starters)." Two of the players they lost on offensive are their leading rusher and their second leading receiver. They've lost 4 of their leading 6 tacklers from last year (2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th), which includes their top sack guy.
 
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BZuppke

Plainfield
Mix it up. We need to let our qb throw and get comfortable but I also expect some big runs.
 
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ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
No nothing about Akron this year (or any year to be honest), so was looking to see what I could find out about them. Here is a quote from ESPN article on first-year coaches this year -- "He [Tom Arth] inherits a team that was horrible on offense (but returns seven starters) and compelling on defense (but returns only four starters)." Two of the players they lost on offensive are their leading rusher and their second leading receiver. They've lost 4 of their leading 6 tacklers from last year (2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th), which includes their top sack guy.

We should score and score and score on this team and cover easily.

Illini 63 Akron 28
 
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Sad I’ll be in Nashville for the first weekend, but I’m expecting a win. We should get an easy win, and I hope we get a lot of guys PT. I think starting out with some confidence will be especially important this year...

Also recently saw that Brickyard (by Wrigley) seems to be a legit Illini bar? They have a great mimosa deal, so I think I’ll wind up there at least once this year, considering how often our games are “Breakfast With the Illini.” :p
 
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any other Chicago bar recommendations to watch the game? Will have a group of about 10. Never been in the big city for a game
 
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We should score and score and score on this team and cover easily.

Illini 63 Akron 28

And we should force tons of turnovers. +5 turnover margin with some defensive touchdowns

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Time for the yearly depressing question of the crowd at the home opener. Do we stop our downward slide? :cry:

2016: 48,644 vs. Murray State (2:30 pm)
2017: 42,505 vs. Ball State (11:00 am)
2018: 38,898 vs. Kent State (11:00 am)

Can't really blame our fans for bailing, but it's always sad to see an empty Memorial Stadium. I hope we get a convincing and fun victory in this first game, pick up a win at UConn and take care of EMU to bring out a decent sized crowd out for the Nebraska game. Nebraska should be pretty good, and if we could somehow score an upset there or at least give them a hell of a game, that would do WONDERS for this season ... 4-0 is a bit too crazy to even consider for what we've seen from this regime over the past three years, frankly, but we can't afford another Purdue catastrophe.
 
#16      
Akron-Illinois is on BTN here. Yay!

Going to Uconn-Illinois the following week. Yay!
 
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Deleted member 654622

D
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Time for the yearly depressing question of the crowd at the home opener. Do we stop our downward slide? :cry:

2016: 48,644 vs. Murray State (2:30 pm)
2017: 42,505 vs. Ball State (11:00 am)
2018: 38,898 vs. Kent State (11:00 am)

Can't really blame our fans for bailing, but it's always sad to see an empty Memorial Stadium. I hope we get a convincing and fun victory in this first game, pick up a win at UConn and take care of EMU to bring out a decent sized crowd out for the Nebraska game. Nebraska should be pretty good, and if we could somehow score an upset there or at least give them a hell of a game, that would do WONDERS for this season ... 4-0 is a bit too crazy to even consider for what we've seen from this regime over the past three years, frankly, but we can't afford another Purdue catastrophe.
We bought four tickets and then my wife hit me with a "hey were going to Branson on that weekend now"....
But I found a buddy that wants to go. Hopefully last year's opener doesn't deter anyone. That was brutal to watch
 
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I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: The University of Illinois does nothing to make it “fun” to actually be AT the game. Constant complaints of people standing, can’t bring umbrellas in, they make you pay for a child to sit on your lap, getting rid of third down chants, etc...

The product on the field has been subpar, but there are still ways to make the game experience fun. Illinois just refuses to do so. It’s like a prison the second you get your ticket scanned.

Why would people pass up tailgating outside or having friends over to subject themselves to that?

Signed - a 15 year season ticket holder
 
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Deleted member 29907

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I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: The University of Illinois does nothing to make it “fun” to actually be AT the game. Constant complaints of people standing, can’t bring umbrellas in, they make you pay for a child to sit on your lap, getting rid of third down chants, etc...

The product on the field has been subpar, but there are still ways to make the game experience fun. Illinois just refuses to do so. It’s like a prison the second you get your ticket scanned.

Why would people pass up tailgating outside or having friends over to subject themselves to that?

Signed - a 15 year season ticket holder
Having gone to alot of VaTech games - depending on where your seat is the crowd is always standing for the entire game. You pretty much have to sit in the more expensive club seats (ie older rich people seats) to sit for most of the game. Umbrellas are never let in games - I am not sure why any sporting event would allow it as they obstruct views - ponchos or rain gear are the name of the game to keep dry. That being said - the game experience is awesome with the scoreboard entertainment, Enter Sandman, other music (band and non-band) etc.

Although I haven't been at an Illini game in a long time, you can feel the dead air during the broadcasts. Winning of course makes a huge difference, but win or lose you can provide a MUCH, MUCH better experience for the fans during the game.
 
#21      
I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: The University of Illinois does nothing to make it “fun” to actually be AT the game. Constant complaints of people standing, can’t bring umbrellas in, they make you pay for a child to sit on your lap, getting rid of third down chants, etc...

The product on the field has been subpar, but there are still ways to make the game experience fun. Illinois just refuses to do so. It’s like a prison the second you get your ticket scanned.

Why would people pass up tailgating outside or having friends over to subject themselves to that?

Signed - a 15 year season ticket holder
Agree..the card section can be good sometimes...music is either too new for the old guys or too old for the students... need to win and been waiting a long time..have improved the outside experience with Grange Grove.
 
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What is, uh, the fun part of bringing an umbrella?

Yeah, I suppose that one was a little out there... but the rest of my post stands.

A really good friend of mine is a Michigan fan (so... not that good of a friend of mine). He'll attend the Michigan games at Illinois, and afterwards will always tell me how it feels like a funeral every time he's in that stadium.

He's not wrong.

Winning will change some of that... I hope...
 
#25      
Yeah, I suppose that one was a little out there... but the rest of my post stands.

A really good friend of mine is a Michigan fan (so... not that good of a friend of mine). He'll attend the Michigan games at Illinois, and afterwards will always tell me how it feels like a funeral every time he's in that stadium.

He's not wrong.

Winning will change some of that... I hope...

I'm going to guess that the Weasel fan didn't attend any games in the 80s. The experience during the White years was much different than in the Smith - years.
 
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