Illinois 14, Minnesota 6 Postgame

#101      
This team had a lot of changes to get used to. Defensively they have done well. Offensively they have a way to go. Needs a QB, line and receivers in my opinion. And maybe a better OC. Overall they are beating my expectations.
And these wins make watching the other Big 10 games, in fact all college games so much more enjoyable šŸ˜‰. I guess I feel I'm not a pretender, I have a legitimate team to get behind and of which to be very proud!
 
#103      
Great win! OC still needs work although I think BB may be too involved there. In the end, great win and the D continues to improve.
 
#104      

illini80

Forgottonia
Iā€™m somewhat shocked at how so many seemed to give Underwood time to turn the basketball program around but expected BB to win in season one at one of the worst P5 programs in the nation. These guys have to learn how to win. The culture is changing. Give it a chance.
 
#107      
Iā€™m somewhat shocked at how so many seemed to give Underwood time to turn the basketball program around but expected BB to win in season one at one of the worst P5 programs in the nation. These guys have to learn how to win. The culture is changing. Give it a chance.
I think a very small group "expected" him to turn it around quickly. Of course people are hopeful.
 
#108      
Iā€™m somewhat shocked at how so many seemed to give Underwood time to turn the basketball program around but expected BB to win in season one at one of the worst P5 programs in the nation. These guys have to learn how to win. The culture is changing. Give it a chance.

Agreed, we will be fine once the younger guys drop the affinity for losing. Where it seems like we find a way to lose (Maryland comes to mind).

I think our issues come more from the QB position than the OC, actually. He is incredibly limited with zero faith in the pass game. Hit the transfer portalā€¦
 
#111      
Iā€™m somewhat shocked at how so many seemed to give Underwood time to turn the basketball program around but expected BB to win in season one at one of the worst P5 programs in the nation. These guys have to learn how to win. The culture is changing. Give it a chance.
People on here said many of the same things about Underwood his first year. Winning often leads to short memories of past frustrations.
 
#113      

JJE

Bethalto, IL
Iā€™m somewhat shocked at how so many seemed to give Underwood time to turn the basketball program around but expected BB to win in season one at one of the worst P5 programs in the nation. These guys have to learn how to win. The culture is changing. Give it a chance.
I think part of the thinking that they might turn it around quickly had a lot to do with the roster. Lots of holes but a lot of experience. Either way, glad to see them get a couple quality wins. Hopefully that translates to some recruiting wins.
 
#114      
Iā€™m somewhat shocked at how so many seemed to give Underwood time to turn the basketball program around but expected BB to win in season one at one of the worst P5 programs in the nation. These guys have to learn how to win. The culture is changing. Give it a chance.
I remember a LOT of pissing and moaning when Undie lost a school record number of games early on.
 
#115      

orange100

time to hop on the wife
Ski-U-Nah lol
Vince Vaughn Lol GIF by filmeditor
 
#116      
Iā€™m somewhat shocked at how so many seemed to give Underwood time to turn the basketball program around but expected BB to win in season one at one of the worst P5 programs in the nation. These guys have to learn how to win. The culture is changing. Give it a chance.
These guys knew how to win two years ago and quite a few of them are still around.
 
#118      
Glass half empty post up-coming: Are we going to playcall not to lose with a lead in the second half forever? Can we, for once, step on some necks with a lead and end the game in the third quarter? Score at any point in the 3rd and we don't spend the entire 4th with clenched butt cheeks.
I was on an airplane and unable to watch the game. It seemed like our first drive of the second half was called pretty well. Iā€™m not sure how the Griffith pass play looked live, but I thought, ā€œok, weā€™re not just trying to hide.ā€ Then, the rest of the half, we were clearly trying to hide. Again, not complaining with a road win against #20, but thatā€™s how the written play-by-play seemed to me.
 
#119      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
People on here said many of the same things about Underwood his first year. Winning often leads to short memories of past frustrations.
Underwood's first year was a catastrophe. In retrospect there were some green shoots to build on later on in year 2, but that first year was just a disaster and a total write-off.
 
#120      

skyIdub

Winged Warrior
Underwood's first year was a catastrophe. In retrospect there were some green shoots to build on later on in year 2, but that first year was just a disaster and a total write-off.
To call BU's first year "a catastrophe" is to imply that he did damage to the program....which is the exact opposite of what BU has done to this program.

Underwood's first year was just a bad first year of rebuilding the program.
That's not a catastrophe. Not even close.

If BB manages to have similar success over the next 3 years.....this is going to be one of the happiest places in the world.
 
#122      
My biggest issue so far is that whenever we get a lead, our playbook gets to be about as diverse as Tecmo Super Bowl, and we wear our defense out by riding them like Seabiscuit in the second half with short drives that have zero ambition.

If our leads were children, Peterson and/or Bielema are terrible helicopter parents who don't let them do anything at the park but yell at them to stop climbing on stuff.
 
#123      
My biggest issue so far is that whenever we get a lead, our playbook gets to be about as diverse as Tecmo Super Bowl, and we wear our defense out by riding them like Seabiscuit in the second half with short drives that have zero ambition.

If our leads were children, Peterson and/or Bielema are terrible helicopter parents who don't let them do anything at the park but yell at them to stop climbing on stuff.
If I remember most of my scores were kickoff returns....lol.
 
#124      

the national

the Front Range
Glass half empty post up-coming: Are we going to playcall not to lose with a lead in the second half forever? Can we, for once, step on some necks with a lead and end the game in the third quarter? Score at any point in the 3rd and we don't spend the entire 4th with clenched butt cheeks.
My butt checks were definitely not clinched. I enjoyed the defense shredding Minn. We had enough points. The defense doubled down, and locked jaw on the prey. BB does enjoy himself some old school football. Pretty much the opposite of mike white.
 
#125      
My butt checks were definitely not clinched. I enjoyed the defense shredding Minn. We had enough points. The defense doubled down, and locked jaw on the prey. BB does enjoy himself some old school football. Pretty much the opposite of mike white.
I was more in the clenching crowd. I'm an Illini fan... I've SEEN THINGS man. I was super happy to see all those different looks offensively in the earlier parts of the first half. Mid second quarter and I have a friend GUARANTEEING we win. JINX!!! Gotta throw crackers and cheese and celery at him to get him to shut up (didn't throw any of the wings). Defense had Minnie on lockdown for most part (how did we DO that?); Minnie had one drive where they had us off balance and drove the field. Pretty good day, but I'd be just a tad more comfortable coming away with a couple field goals in the second half. Is the under going to be 19 next week?!?!? There have been disappointments this season, yes, but if you told me we'd be in games against ranked teams on the road this year? Coach B is giving us an identity we've lacked for a LONG time. Lots of work to do in the next two years, but it's fun watching games again. Let's repeat that, "It's fun watching games again." Guesses for the Iowa score? 9-6?