Pregame: Illinois vs Iowa, Saturday, October 8th, 6:30pm CT, BTN

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#626      

Bleedorangeandblue44

B
Bleedorangeandblue44
I posted a few days about getting 6 tickets tomorrow and bringing my high school sons and a few of their friends - we are all ready, got the SUV gassed up and ready for a road trip, have our orange.

Was just wondering quick advice to make the experience tomorrow as memorable as possible for them - especially picking their colleges in a year or two

Grange Grove - what time do you need to be there to see the team walk in? The Marching Illini? Are there any food options or is just everyone already tailgaiting? Does anyone have a tailgate we can crash? (just kidding) I saw a few weeks ago you could meet the basketball team - was that just a one-time thing; if they are doing that again the kids would love that.

Campustown bars/restaurants - any you recommend, obviously not a big drinking type thing (yet) but just more a bunch of college football games on TVs, good burgers, a ton of Illini fans getting ready to head over to the game, festive atmosphere...

I figured if we ate somewhere along Green Street and then walked toward the stadium, they get a good feel of a campus pumped up for a big game, go by the various frats, etc.

Any tips welcome and go Illini. Got to get the W.
 
#627      

illiniguy

illiniguy
illiniguy
illiram11 said:
I'm going to tell you something I've kept to myself for years -- None of you ever knew Red Grange. It was long before your time. But you know what a tradition he is at Illinois...

And the last thing he said to me -- "Bret," he said - "sometime, when the team is up against it -- and the breaks are beating the boys -- tell them to go out there with all they got and win just one for the Galloping Ghost...

I don't know where I'll be then, Bret", he said - "but I'll know about it - and I'll be happy."

Illinois -- 35
Iowa -- 3
Bielema -- Contract exension

​
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Bret was born 1/13/70... Red passed away 1/28/71...it’s entirely possible...

1665180758387.jpeg
 
#628      

SescIllini

SescIllini
SescIllini
4 years ago Iowa beat us 63-0. I sat watching that game from start to finish. My wife asked why would I do that to myself. I told her that there was going to be a time coming that Illinois will turn around the program and I wanted to remember this defeat. I believe tomorrow is a day of reckoning.

Iowa's QB is not Mertz or Devito, he ok for short or 10 yard passes to the TE. Nothing deep and the WRs aren't elite, below average for Iowa. Their defense is good, but not good enough to keep the Illini from scoring into the 20s. Key is don't let their defense or special teams get TDs or in the red zone. Don't let them block our punts or turn us over. On offense, we need to shut down their TEs, this is their best offense.

Illinois will have size on their DBs, isolate them and do what we did to Wisconsin by targeting our taller WRs with over the shoulder passes. Obviously utilize C. Brown, he will get stuffed but will get enough to create problems. Keep Isiah in the game and use our TEs as well.

Prediction 24-13 Good Guys. Iowa will get a turnover and special team play (block punt likely IMHO) that will set up their scores.
 
#629      

Mr. Tibbs

Mr. Tibbs
southeast DuPage
Mr. Tibbs
The last thing he said to me, "Doc," he said, "some time when the crew is up against it, and the breaks are beating the boys, tell them to get out there and give it all they got and win just one for the Zipper. I don't know where I'll be then, Doc," he said, "but I won't smell too good, that's for sure."
 
#632      

Mr. Tibbs

Mr. Tibbs
southeast DuPage
Mr. Tibbs
ptgrd23 said:
I see Chase Brown having an historic game tomorrow

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can you imagine the excitement if an historic game anywhere in the ballpark of that event were to occur?

I mean, odds are , it occurs at some point after 98 years right ?
 
#637      

chiefini

chiefini
Rockford, Illinois
chiefini
Bleedorangeandblue44 said:
I posted a few days about getting 6 tickets tomorrow and bringing my high school sons and a few of their friends - we are all ready, got the SUV gassed up and ready for a road trip, have our orange.

Was just wondering quick advice to make the experience tomorrow as memorable as possible for them - especially picking their colleges in a year or two

Grange Grove - what time do you need to be there to see the team walk in? The Marching Illini? Are there any food options or is just everyone already tailgaiting? Does anyone have a tailgate we can crash? (just kidding) I saw a few weeks ago you could meet the basketball team - was that just a one-time thing; if they are doing that again the kids would love that.

Campustown bars/restaurants - any you recommend, obviously not a big drinking type thing (yet) but just more a bunch of college football games on TVs, good burgers, a ton of Illini fans getting ready to head over to the game, festive atmosphere...

I figured if we ate somewhere along Green Street and then walked toward the stadium, they get a good feel of a campus pumped up for a big game, go by the various frats, etc.

Any tips welcome and go Illini. Got to get the W.
Click to expand...
What fun! The Illiniwalk is usually approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes before kickoff so I’d be in Grange Grove by 4 at the latest. There should be a great, amped-up crowd for the team’s march along the sidewalk. The Marching Illini will be playing on the steps to the Stadium. If you start out at Murphy’s or Legends for lunch, hit the GameDay store, and then take a walk to the stadium, you should get much of the experience. Not sure the GG beer tent is still there, but just walking around Grange Grove and the tailgate lot directly across the street to the west is fun. The basketball team usually has a tent set up close to the street. Not sure if they’re signing autographs again. Make sure you bring extra warm coats, hats, gloves, and a blanket to sit on. It’s going to be cold…
:illinois:-L-L
 
#647      

1970 John

1970 John
1970 John
oldman said:
I hope they have worked out the problems getting people though the gates in time to see the opening kickoff.l
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I appears to be better, but just go in early and watch whatever is happening on the field.
 
#650      

Fighter of the Nightman

Fighter of the Nightman
Chicago, IL
Fighter of the Nightman
Obviously hoping for a different outcome tonight, but I was looking at two old YouTube videos of big night games we’ve hosted vs. Michigan over the years:

2000 - Michigan/Illinois Intro
2000 - #11 Michigan at #17 Illinois
2007 - Michigan at Illinois

I included the first video just to remind us all that Champaign CAN be thought of as a tailgating destination again. 😎

The main thing that stuck out to me, though, is how LOUD our crowds were!! While both sellout crowds, the first game had an attendance of 72,524 and the second one had 57,078 (similar to what we expect tonight??). Those aren’t huge numbers compared to other places, and Memorial is quite open.

Any acoustics nerds have any thoughts? I mean, our stadium is REALLY loud in both! One commenter on the 2007 video couldn’t believe how loud it was for a crowd under 60,000. While I’m willing to just say we are some really great fans (😉), I always assumed the structure of our stadium was actually somewhat of a handicap for containing noise … now I’m cooking up pseudoscientific acoustics theories about the east and west side stands being symmetrical helping to make it loud. 😂

Either way, I hope it’s electric tonight!
 
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