lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Yep, I think we see Chase Brown a lot in the first half. Establish the run, build up a lead, then allow the other backs to get the bulk of the carries in the second half.
Pregame: Illinois vs Chattanooga, Thursday, September 22nd, 7:30pm CT, BTN
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Chattanooga is not a slouch FCS team but they are not a powerhouse FCS team. If we turn the ball over 4 times a game like we have each of the last two games than yes Chattanooga will hang around.
I put a stat up earlier on this thread but I think Chattanooga will get worn out. Will be coming off of a Saturday game coming into a Thursday game against the toughest team on their schedule. Played cupcakes Wofford and EIU so far (around18-20 pt favs in those games) with North Alabama on Saturday. Chattanooga Time of Possession was over -10 minutes against Wofford and over -3 minutes vs EIU. I don't wish for any injuries but I hope North Alabama can at least keep it close and if not that even just wear Chattanooga down a bunch to keep the starters in awhile. Confident in the Illinois D and just need the O to keep moving the chains without the turnovers and we will be more than fine.
Think BB is teasing me a bit......licking my chops to see RB Aidan Laughery still. With McCray out, JMO but I think Laughery could produce better numbers than Love or Hayden and be the #2 guy. I don't make to many random off the wall comments (well I think
) but will stick by this one. He has let Bailey and Jacas get more action and produce, love to see Aidan get that chance soon.
I put a stat up earlier on this thread but I think Chattanooga will get worn out. Will be coming off of a Saturday game coming into a Thursday game against the toughest team on their schedule. Played cupcakes Wofford and EIU so far (around18-20 pt favs in those games) with North Alabama on Saturday. Chattanooga Time of Possession was over -10 minutes against Wofford and over -3 minutes vs EIU. I don't wish for any injuries but I hope North Alabama can at least keep it close and if not that even just wear Chattanooga down a bunch to keep the starters in awhile. Confident in the Illinois D and just need the O to keep moving the chains without the turnovers and we will be more than fine.
Think BB is teasing me a bit......licking my chops to see RB Aidan Laughery still. With McCray out, JMO but I think Laughery could produce better numbers than Love or Hayden and be the #2 guy. I don't make to many random off the wall comments (well I think
) but will stick by this one. He has let Bailey and Jacas get more action and produce, love to see Aidan get that chance soon.
I don't know that I'd necessarily call EIU a cupcake. They're not a great program right now but the new coach is also rebuilding after what Adam Cushing left of the program. They certainly haven't been pushovers in their first two games this season. They only lost at NIU by 7 (Huskies were a 35 point favorite coming into that game) and the spread in the Chattanooga game ended up being a push. EIU's offense appears to be in a lot better place now and their starting QB the first two games of this season has a quick release that is similar to Garoppolo (though he's obviously not the same type of QB at this point in his career).
Cupcakes can have good games. NIU was up 2-3 possessions in the 4th quarter. NIU was up 34-20 with just over 3 minutes left and missed a FG to seal it. EIU took it down quick and scored to make it 34-27. EIU played decent and gave NIU a little scare at the end but that is it. I like the fight of EIU but they are still a cupcake in the FCS level. Like you mentioned, Adam Cushing destroyed this program. 3 wins in the last 3 seasons is a joke. Good hire to bring alum Wilkerson back to coach this program. I think he can turn them around to a more respectable program.
Little difference in competition between levels. FCS teams can upset the bigger schools and have this year. JMO but I see Chattanooga seeing stars against us after a short week and playing the likes of only Wofford, EIU and North Alabama coming into the Illinois game.
Maybe longer than Iowa
That NIU was a lot closer game than the final score would indicate. NIU still has issues with yards given up by their defense and I wouldn't be surprised if it costs them games this season.
Let me be clear, I don't think Chattanooga will beat the Illini though the Mocs are a good team. But saying EIU is a cupcake is not really accurate either. If you were talking under Cushing, then I'd buy that argument. But from what I've seen in the first two games, Wilkerson has shown one thing that Cushing didn't have and that's competency.
illini80
- Forgottonia
That is not good news.
Not be surprised to see EIU win a few games this season. That being said we don't have to agree on a free forum either
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
ESPN TOP 150 NCAA PLAYERS OF ALL-TIME (January 2021)
8. Dick Butkus (LB, Illinois, 1962-64)
Tackles: 374 | Tackles per game: 14.4
Butkus, who was honored in 2019 with a statue outside of the Illini's football stadium, signed with Illinois early during Pete Elliott’s tenure. Writes Illini Inquirer Jeremy Werner, "after going 0-9 in Elliot’s second season in 1961, Butkus played center and started at linebacker for the 1962-64 seasons. The Illini went 2-7 in 1962 but won the Big Ten Championship in 1963 with an 8-1-1 record, which included a Rose Bowl win over Washington, before a 6-3 campaign during Butkus’ senior season. Butkus was a consensus All-American in both 1963 and 1964 and finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1963 and third in 1964."
7. Earl Campbell (RB, Texas, 1974-77)
6. Red Grange (RB, Illinois, 1923-25)
Rushing yards: 2,071 | Yards per rush: 5.3 | Touchdowns: 31
Grange was a multi-sport star, but his football career was most impressive at the college level after he was a an All-American every season with the Illini. He rushed for 723 yards and scored 12 touchdowns in seven games during his sophomore season, leading Illinois to an undefeated season. The most notable individual performance came in 1925 when Grange scored a 95-yard touchdown vs. Michigan on the opening kickoff and scored five touchdowns on the ground, threw a touchdown pass and picked off two passes against the Wolverines. That performance has never been matched.
5. Jim Thorpe (RB, Carlisle, 1907-12)
4. Archie Griffin (RB, Ohio State, 1972-75)
3. Bo Jackson (RB, Auburn, 1982-85)
2. Herschel Walker (RB, Georgia, 1980-82)
1. Jim Brown (RB, Syracuse, 1954-56)
Butkus the number one college defensive player. All the ones ahead are offensive players.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
I'll be that guy, Grange at 6 is ridiculous.ESPN TOP 150 NCAA PLAYERS OF ALL-TIME (January 2021)
8. Dick Butkus (LB, Illinois, 1962-64)
(Photo: Illinois Athletics)
Tackles: 374 | Tackles per game: 14.4
Butkus, who was honored in 2019 with a statue outside of the Illini's football stadium, signed with Illinois early during Pete Elliott’s tenure. Writes Illini Inquirer Jeremy Werner, "after going 0-9 in Elliot’s second season in 1961, Butkus played center and started at linebacker for the 1962-64 seasons. The Illini went 2-7 in 1962 but won the Big Ten Championship in 1963 with an 8-1-1 record, which included a Rose Bowl win over Washington, before a 6-3 campaign during Butkus’ senior season. Butkus was a consensus All-American in both 1963 and 1964 and finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1963 and third in 1964."
7. Earl Campbell (RB, Texas, 1974-77)
6. Red Grange (RB, Illinois, 1923-25)
(Photo: CBS Sports)
Rushing yards: 2,071 | Yards per rush: 5.3 | Touchdowns: 31
Grange was a multi-sport star, but his football career was most impressive at the college level after he was a an All-American every season with the Illini. He rushed for 723 yards and scored 12 touchdowns in seven games during his sophomore season, leading Illinois to an undefeated season. The most notable individual performance came in 1925 when Grange scored a 95-yard touchdown vs. Michigan on the opening kickoff and scored five touchdowns on the ground, threw a touchdown pass and picked off two passes against the Wolverines. That performance has never been matched.
5. Jim Thorpe (RB, Carlisle, 1907-12)
4. Archie Griffin (RB, Ohio State, 1972-75)
3. Bo Jackson (RB, Auburn, 1982-85)
2. Herschel Walker (RB, Georgia, 1980-82)
1. Jim Brown (RB, Syracuse, 1954-56)
Brown, Jackson and Thorpe are all getting placed there in large part due to their exploits beyond college football (though that's also true of Butkus if we're being honest) and Archie Griffin was a product of the program and system he found himself in as surely as guys like Chris Weinke or Matt Leinart were.
Ron Dayne should be ahead of all of those guys.
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Butkus actually played both ways - he was also a center.
Not be surprised to see EIU win a few games this season. That being said we don't have to agree on a free forum either
With the changes to the OVC this season, it wouldn't be a surprise if they did.
If I had a reliable form of transportation, I would have considered driving up to Normal for the game this weekend.
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
Look how full the stadium was in 1924!
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
At the risk of being redundant...........I really love our Assistant Coaches! I've come to know them only as they joined BB's staff, but I sense that they are as a group:
- Extremely knowledgeable
- Very articulate
- Highly likable
- A bunch of really good guys
- And, they seem to have great chemistry
With just one BB-driven change last winter in Tony P., I will be anxious to see what sort of turnover we see this winter. Sorta hoping it's all of the same faces again in 2023!
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
The 150 greatest players in college football history: Jim Brown is No. 1
A 150-member blue-ribbon panel ranks the 150 greatest players in the sport's entire history and the running backs are the clear stars.
If anyone wants to peruse the whole list.
Ludicrously biased in favor of players with legendary NFL careers (Emmitt Smith ahead of Tim Tebow!) but a fun scroll nonetheless.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Hoping Chase's night is over at halftime. I'd love to see a bunch of deep backups get some snaps, particularly Laughery.
Somehow he dropped 5 spots in ESPN's all-time ranking, even though no one ahead of him played in the 2008-2020 era. Just like our recruits, they realized he played for Illinois. ;-)
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
Same, something like a 10-117-2 line at halftime with Illinois up 21-3 would be ideal for obvious reasons. Give Love more meaningful carries in hopes he can be a worthy 2nd RB in Madison.
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