DaChief4ever
- Urbana
Illinois 28.....IU...21 ( Illinois misses 4 field goals)
Pregame: Illinois at Indiana, Friday, September 2nd, 7:00pm CT, FS1
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pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Illinois football's offense looks for strong encore vs. Indiana Hoosiers
Illinois football had more offensive yards in its season opener than it did in any game in 2021. The Illini will try for an encore vs. IU.
By Anderson Kimball Decatur (Ill.) Herald & Review
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois’ new offense had a solid start under new coordinator Barry Lunney Jr.
Against a Wyoming team that had to turn over its roster after a rash of transfers, the Illini (1-0) put up 477 yards — more than they had in any game last season — in a season-opening 38-6 win.
Syracuse transfer quarterback Tommy DeVito completed 27 of his 37 passes for 192 yards and a pair of scores while Chase Brown had 167 total yards and three touchdowns. An offensive line kept him from getting sacked and did enough for Illinois to start the season off on the right foot.
Illinois coach Bret Bielema was happy with the start, but Lunney wasn’t quite satisfied.
“I had a moment Saturday night when I got back and I reached out to him and I just expressed my gratitude for the work that he put in to have that day happen,” Bielema said. “And his response was, ‘Thanks, Coach, but we’re going to get much better next week.’ Right? Like he is constantly thinking like that.”
Lunney’s offense will have a bigger test when it faces Indiana on Friday (7 p.m., Fox Sports 1) in its Big Ten opener.
One of the keys to success for Illinois in the passing game was keeping DeVito clean. He didn’t get sacked, and the only time he got put on the ground was after he threw his first touchdown of the day.
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Impressive debut by both Lunney and the Illini offense.............................
I love the way Illini coaches think and what they say.
Beat Indinia!
Just wondering: say a game today nearby at Indiana, do Illini arrive yesterday, stay in hotel, have meetings, practice? Or do they stay in Champaign today and travel later? Neither here nor there, who cares?, but thanks anyway.
Beat Indinia!
Just wondering: say a game today nearby at Indiana, do Illini arrive yesterday, stay in hotel, have meetings, practice? Or do they stay in Champaign today and travel later? Neither here nor there, who cares?, but thanks anyway.
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illini80
- Forgottonia
I’m sure they are already there. Coach likes the routine to be the same.
After watching the Purdue game, it looks like the offenses are ahead of the defenses. Friday's game will be tough. Good luck Illini!
Hopefully the week 0 game puts our defense ahead of theirs
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
This is a conflicting day for me as the Illini and the Cardinals play tonight at the same time.....I have the illini game set to record and the Cardinals game I have to use Sportsurge website to view them.......I guess i will watch the Cardinals game live then flip over to watch the Illini replay.......
I'm so conflicted..........................just an earthbound misfit , I...........................
..Now I'm even more conflicted...........................
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
You've got it backwards, my friend. The Illini play only 13-14-15 games in a season.
It's got to be Bret Bielema's Fighting Illini of Illinois LIVE and the nerd-birds on Tivo delay. In fact, maybe you'll be fortunate and the Tivo won't work and you'll get to skip the cardinals altogether!
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
I'm with you. We have a real coach and a real staff. The recruiting void needs filling but I haven't felt this good about a coach and his potential since Mackovic.
BTW, that "30 years" thing stung. 30 years. Wow. My entire adulthood & small change. It's true, though it hurts. Am just thankful I was there in '88-'90 to see it.
I don't think you'll see top classes out of BB here....middle of the road in the B1G and 30-40 range nationally when he gets established here.
Illinois 30-24
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
With Wisconsin/Iowa player development.................totally acceptable! (And a top notch weight loss program for BB to ensure he's still around to see it bear fruit.)
Saw the players loading up on the bus about 1:15 yesterday afternoon.
He keeps going to wrong direction in that department….
Mixing sports, but I hear that Mark Smith's treadmill is available.
Do your thing pru but im watching Illini! 162 games vs 12. Its a no brainer here. Redbirds will be playing in October. Lets go!
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
Playing in Week 0 for the past two seasons has been a great decision for a variety of reasons. As such, being able to take the jump from game 1 to game 2 is likely to be the key difference tonight. It will be a very competitive game, but I expect the Illini defense to hold the Indiana offense in check and some defensive breakdowns on the IU side (though I anticipate their defense being better than it was at end of last season). Being in Illinois is a good thing so I cannot bet on the game; but if I could, I would definitely sell some points to get Illini at -2.5. That extra game to get out the pre-season kinks cannot be stated enough.
Illini 27 (either two fg's or a missed extra point...can go either way)
IU 17
Illini 27 (either two fg's or a missed extra point...can go either way)
IU 17
31-10.............
line's moved down to -1 IU
That is what I like to see! Probably just me being over optimistic but I was thinking like 41-17
Illinivek23
- Gurnee
BU seems like the only P5 coach to have lost 30+ lbs - probably aided by the Covid walking craze. Hopefully BB is able to get that figured out...
easier to manage a roster of 15 than 85+....Gives BU a chance to get out of Ubben....BB literally is in the smith center from 5:30am to at least 10:30-11pm
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
I just set my hulu live + to record the Illini game ..........................It will be a game time decision.......................lol
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