College ball is going to be just like any one of those neighborhood games we all play/played in at the community gym or out on some blacktop where you choose up sides and have at it. The only difference now is that the choosing-up-sides will happen every season on a bigger stage and you hope to piece together enough good players to keep “Getting Next”. And both sides get to be “Shirts” with no “Skins” needed.
I don’t in any way regret all the nice things I said about Miller yesterday. He initially chose the Illini when so many other in-state talents over the years quickly turned their backs on the Prairie State and went elsewhere. If for whatever reason it didn’t work out the way he wanted, so be it. You make your choices and make your life changes and live with the consequences. When we dump on somebody for leaving, we justify (in their minds) that they chose to go away. But when you wish them well (honestly) and show good will to them, it makes them question if they did the right thing. And even if they don’t do that, it’s still a good attitude to project. And new talent out there can see that.
Illini Nation is rightfully dazed and confused after a shocking and disappointing flameout in the Dance and now the departure of one of the future’s centerpieces. But the Illini program must be more about reloading-oriented just like the (other) Blue Bloods who have a guy around for one season and then leaves. The Beloved have to be about more than any one guy regardless who that might be or what the circumstances are.
Trent, Ayo, DaMonte, and Kofi have laid the foundation for a lofty program back up where the Illini belong. Time to hand it off to the next wave of talent who value the Orange and Blue and have the passion for it like all those just-mentioned guys have.
And if TOO many guys want to leave... then we know a big problem is elsewhere.
Good luck, Adam. Hope you find your Place In The Sun. You (and Illini Nation) will all be fine.
I don’t in any way regret all the nice things I said about Miller yesterday. He initially chose the Illini when so many other in-state talents over the years quickly turned their backs on the Prairie State and went elsewhere. If for whatever reason it didn’t work out the way he wanted, so be it. You make your choices and make your life changes and live with the consequences. When we dump on somebody for leaving, we justify (in their minds) that they chose to go away. But when you wish them well (honestly) and show good will to them, it makes them question if they did the right thing. And even if they don’t do that, it’s still a good attitude to project. And new talent out there can see that.
Illini Nation is rightfully dazed and confused after a shocking and disappointing flameout in the Dance and now the departure of one of the future’s centerpieces. But the Illini program must be more about reloading-oriented just like the (other) Blue Bloods who have a guy around for one season and then leaves. The Beloved have to be about more than any one guy regardless who that might be or what the circumstances are.
Trent, Ayo, DaMonte, and Kofi have laid the foundation for a lofty program back up where the Illini belong. Time to hand it off to the next wave of talent who value the Orange and Blue and have the passion for it like all those just-mentioned guys have.
And if TOO many guys want to leave... then we know a big problem is elsewhere.
Good luck, Adam. Hope you find your Place In The Sun. You (and Illini Nation) will all be fine.
