Go Nats 88 Illini
Fairfax, VA
Watching VA Tech v Clemson. Very smart coaching by Tech. They likely will lose, but not giving Clemson time to adjust. Obviously Clemson is better, but a clever approach on offense.
I live across the Potomac from you and, apparently, we graduated the same year. I grew up in Columbus and saw the Illini play in '80 and '81 when Dave Wilson and Tony Eason were at QB, White's first two seasons when he rebuilt the program with California JuCo players. In 1980 Wilson passed for 621 yards against OSU, which was an NCAA record at the time. The BT had never had that sort of passing ever. Illinois was down 28-7 at half and lost 49-42. I recall after the game that OSU fans stood and applauded the Illinois team as it left the field. I had been going to OSU games since 1973 and I had never seen anything remotely like that for an opposing team. The following year the Illini lost a very close game in Columbus and you could tell they were going to get over the hump and win the conference soon.Many of us are old (or older), and remember some great years (controversies and all). I am not sure the option now, we just can't gain tractions.
I came to Illinois the year after the 83-84 Rose Bow team, so I missed the best of times, but even on probation, an exciting team and 70,000+ every game was awesome. And we had Lou and all that was going on with B-Ball. Was working on my master's during the Flying Illini Final Four. Maybe not everyone's thing, but the volleyball team was awesome and the club hockey team was a blast. Miss those days. So much fun. Hope the kids at school now can enjoy b-ball this year and get caught up in some exciting times down the road. Tough now for everyone. But I still sing Illinois Loyalty, Oskee-wow-wow, and the Illinois March. Made my kids learn them, even though they both went to UVA. Anyway - I-L-L...
How so? I think we need a guy that can recruit the area of the Midwest, knows how to win in the Big 10, and also has the connections to bring together a strong staff. You’d be hard pressed to find a better resume for Big 10 football than Bret Bielema. No doubt it in my mind. And if you can, then I’d love to hear the names.Bielema is the exact opposite of what we need in a new coach.
Bret Bielema has never built anything. He was handed a ready made program at Wisky and had Barry Alvarez behind him every step of the way. When he thought he was really somebody and left for Arkansas he cratered immediately. And he is a major league tool to boot.How so? I think we need a guy that can recruit the area of the Midwest, knows how to win in the Big 10, and also has the connections to bring together a strong staff. You’d be hard pressed to find a better resume for Big 10 football than Bret Bielema. No doubt it in my mind. And if you can, then I’d love to hear the names.
If we want to build a program that can consistently compete with Iowa, NW, WI, Minn then what better candidate is there? We all talk about “why can’t we be as good as those teams”. Well it’s coaching, and you need a guy in here that knows how to build a Big 10 college program. It’s being able to hire strong coordinators, recognizing who is attainable in recruiting and developing those players from your area, and creating a system that you can sustain. There not many coaches out there that you’d feel more comfortable saying “this guy can consistently build an 8 win team at Illinois bc he has the system in place” than a Bielema,
I think Lou Holtz is availableWhat coaches can we realistically get to Champaign? I’m really disappointed that Lovie isn‘t working out.
Bielema is suing Arkansas. Absolutely zero chance JW hires that dilrodHow so? I think we need a guy that can recruit the area of the Midwest, knows how to win in the Big 10, and also has the connections to bring together a strong staff. You’d be hard pressed to find a better resume for Big 10 football than Bret Bielema. No doubt it in my mind. And if you can, then I’d love to hear the names.
If we want to build a program that can consistently compete with Iowa, NW, WI, Minn then what better candidate is there? We all talk about “why can’t we be as good as those teams”. Well it’s coaching, and you need a guy in here that knows how to build a Big 10 college program. It’s being able to hire strong coordinators, recognizing who is attainable in recruiting and developing those players from your area, and creating a system that you can sustain. There not many coaches out there that you’d feel more comfortable saying “this guy can consistently build an 8 win team at Illinois bc he has the system in place” than a Bielema,
Bielema is not hungry for success. I personally think he’s done as a head coach.How so? I think we need a guy that can recruit the area of the Midwest, knows how to win in the Big 10, and also has the connections to bring together a strong staff. You’d be hard pressed to find a better resume for Big 10 football than Bret Bielema. No doubt it in my mind. And if you can, then I’d love to hear the names.
If we want to build a program that can consistently compete with Iowa, NW, WI, Minn then what better candidate is there? We all talk about “why can’t we be as good as those teams”. Well it’s coaching, and you need a guy in here that knows how to build a Big 10 college program. It’s being able to hire strong coordinators, recognizing who is attainable in recruiting and developing those players from your area, and creating a system that you can sustain. There not many coaches out there that you’d feel more comfortable saying “this guy can consistently build an 8 win team at Illinois bc he has the system in place” than a Bielema,
ThisNo changes in the offing, is my guess. Just so frustrating.
Myself being a DC resident, still woefully looking for that "winnin feeling" having been outright spoiled during high school/UI days 82-92. To me John Mackovich was our best football coach seen since the 60's - aka, four consecutive wins against the Buckeyes. Total command and control guy, coach, AD and ballet aficionado all at once. Recruited legends Jeff George, Dana Howard, Kevin Hardy, Simeon Rice, Derrick Brownlow, John Holecek - a time of great offensive and defensive coaches (Lou Tepper) and NFL talent. These two ingredients, coaching and recruiting, still haven't found the recipe.I live across the Potomac from you and, apparently, we graduated the same year. I grew up in Columbus and saw the Illini play in '80 and '81 when Dave Wilson and Tony Eason were at QB, White's first two seasons when he rebuilt the program with California JuCo players. In 1980 Wilson passed for 621 yards against OSU, which was an NCAA record at the time. The BT had never had that sort of passing ever. Illinois was down 28-7 at half and lost 49-42. I recall after the game that OSU fans stood and applauded the Illinois team as it left the field. I had been going to OSU games since 1973 and I had never seen anything remotely like that for an opposing team. The following year the Illini lost a very close game in Columbus and you could tell they were going to get over the hump and win the conference soon.
I'm with you on memories of the mid-'80s volleyball team in Kenney Gym, which was a fantastic atmosphere, and the hoops. And even hockey. You and I were also in grad school at the same time in '89 with the Final Four.
I made a crummy dips**t post earlier today in the pregame thread about remembering the 3-3 Illini-Michigan tie in 1985 when we were unranked and they were #4. The game ended with a Michigan defender getting a couple fingertips on Chris White's FG attempt into the horseshoe end as time expired. It hit the crossbar and bounced back onto the field. For some reason that's one of the most memorable college football games I've ever seen. A cold, overcast November day sitting in the east balcony of Memorial Stadium with my friends and having the time of my life. 35 years later I still can't believe the way the game ended. But I looked forward to it all week long and it was thrilling to be a part of that. A 3-3 tie. Really. It was amazing. And #2 Michigan had played #1 Iowa just a couple weeks earlier, and lost.
I want students at the university NOW to have these football experiences and memories of them decades later. I don't want middle-aged farts like us to reminisce about them and have the younger fans with nothing to grab onto but defeat. And most of all I want decades of players on the field to have these memories of competing on behalf of the university and being competitive game in and game out.
It starts with someone who is smart, savvy, young enough to beat the bushes for talent, build a brand, and have an unfettered passion to succeed. JW needs to find the guy. If your marketing tag line is WE WILL WIN, then props but you need to figure out how to make it happen. Mike Thomas' tag line seemed to be "I WILL COLLECT A SALARY."
Peters has an arm, but no touch, and tries to force throws.. doesn’t check down ever to the back in the flat..I thought zook special teams were something but we have a kicker catching punts now?
The turning point was the middle screen on third down when we were up 14-0 and had a Iowa on their heels. We get the score to 21-0 and their game plan was shot. We let them back in and it as ball gameBoy those first 10 minutes were fun. How many minutes of competitive football do you think we can muster next week?
How so? I think we need a guy that can recruit the area of the Midwest, knows how to win in the Big 10, and also has the connections to bring together a strong staff. You’d be hard pressed to find a better resume for Big 10 football than Bret Bielema. No doubt it in my mind. And if you can, then I’d love to hear the names.
If we want to build a program that can consistently compete with Iowa, NW, WI, Minn then what better candidate is there? We all talk about “why can’t we be as good as those teams”. Well it’s coaching, and you need a guy in here that knows how to build a Big 10 college program. It’s being able to hire strong coordinators, recognizing who is attainable in recruiting and developing those players from your area, and creating a system that you can sustain. There not many coaches out there that you’d feel more comfortable saying “this guy can consistently build an 8 win team at Illinois bc he has the system in place” than a Bielema,
I thought after peters took the hard hit close to their own end zone, peters and off did not play well. No idea why that play design had the qb run up the middle on a likely run play. peters was lit up. Hit Washington next play, but then went like 0/5 right after that.I don't think forcing the ball is Peters problem at all. I think it's a combination of Rod trying to scheme guys open at the cost of consistency and Peters not having a secons read or the confidence to go to a second read. I think he actually takes more bad sacks and gets a little gun shy than anything.
Trying to add more likes...
That's 19 freaking seasons.
when White finally lifted us out of the Valek/Blackman/Moeller morass.
I so remember that Michigan game. I was in the horseshoe directly behind the goalpost. Maybe my memory has embellished it (like Rennie dunking on Shaq), but I swear it bounced twice on the crossbar.I live across the Potomac from you and, apparently, we graduated the same year. I grew up in Columbus and saw the Illini play in '80 and '81 when Dave Wilson and Tony Eason were at QB, White's first two seasons when he rebuilt the program with California JuCo players. In 1980 Wilson passed for 621 yards against OSU, which was an NCAA record at the time. The BT had never had that sort of passing ever. Illinois was down 28-7 at half and lost 49-42. I recall after the game that OSU fans stood and applauded the Illinois team as it left the field. I had been going to OSU games since 1973 and I had never seen anything remotely like that for an opposing team. The following year the Illini lost a very close game in Columbus and you could tell they were going to get over the hump and win the conference soon.
I'm with you on memories of the mid-'80s volleyball team in Kenney Gym, which was a fantastic atmosphere, and the hoops. And even hockey. You and I were also in grad school at the same time in '89 with the Final Four.
I made a crummy dips**t post earlier today in the pregame thread about remembering the 3-3 Illini-Michigan tie in 1985 when we were unranked and they were #4. The game ended with a Michigan defender getting a couple fingertips on Chris White's FG attempt into the horseshoe end as time expired. It hit the crossbar and bounced back onto the field. For some reason that's one of the most memorable college football games I've ever seen. A cold, overcast November day sitting in the east balcony of Memorial Stadium with my friends and having the time of my life. 35 years later I still can't believe the way the game ended. But I looked forward to it all week long and it was thrilling to be a part of that. A 3-3 tie. Really. It was amazing. And #2 Michigan had played #1 Iowa just a couple weeks earlier, and lost.
I want students at the university NOW to have these football experiences and memories of them decades later. I don't want middle-aged farts like us to reminisce about them and have the younger fans with nothing to grab onto but defeat. And most of all I want decades of players on the field to have these memories of competing on behalf of the university and being competitive game in and game out.
It starts with someone who is smart, savvy, young enough to beat the bushes for talent, build a brand, and have an unfettered passion to succeed. JW needs to find the guy. If your marketing tag line is WE WILL WIN, then props but you need to figure out how to make it happen. Mike Thomas' tag line seemed to be "I WILL COLLECT A SALARY."