I thought we were down with the horrible inbound plays...just ONE inbound pass away from an incredible win.
This is what the game was all about....maybe the best and worst performance by Coach Underwood. I love watching this team play, especially when they are giving their all on defense...which was not the case in the first half. But they played elite defense with elite effort in the second half. BU did a tremendous job of getting the fire started in his charges and they finally got it lit.
But that OB play was the dumbest play I have ever seen in that situation. It put into play the only outcome that could allow MD. to win the game. Hope lessons were learned because these kids sure paid a huge emotional price for the one point 45 minute loss. All that was needed was to get the ball in bounds to someone and the game was essentially over.
Nevertheless, the second half, or more specifically the last 17.5 of regulation was one of the most exciting and memorable efforts by an Illini team. These kids deserve a pat on the butt for turning a horrendous effort into an exemplary one. You don't see that often, but speed and effort or the lifeblood of this team if they are to win.
When the week began, I thought the possibility of 3 losses was about 5 times the possibility of 3 wins. But I did not expect this team to be denied justice after 3 valiant efforts. Such is life, but they get a chance to bounce back and continue to get better and more consistent. That applies to the coach as well.
