Pregame: Illinois vs Toledo, Saturday, September 2nd, 6:30pm CT, BTN

[TampaToo]

Hulu Live TV and then cancel after Feb(if you are a NFL fan and want to watch the SB) will run you about 432 bucks at 72/month. Carries the B1G Network and you'll be able to watch in region NFL games.

YouTube TV would be an excellent option as well. Roughly similar in price.

 

[mhuml32]

Probably a bit. I always root for our opponents after they play us unless its Ohio State, Bowling Green or NIU. The better the Illini finish regardless if Toledo wins Sept 2nd, the better our resume is to end. Digging ourselves out of the MAC tie in bowls or at least landing a top G5 matchup post MAC Championship is key. 10-2 or better with a game vs. an 8 win Illinois who is likely to be our only top 50 opponent is important maneuvering bowl season.

What’s the root of the NIU angst?

 

[pruman91]

Ah, much better. I've managed to conjure the old Pru. All is well.

lol.............I've been hibernating lately due to the onslaught of uniform's , realignment and other threads that aren't my cup of tea......but as you know I will hasten my step into gray area subject matter and you usually tee it up for me and I appreciate that......

I really really do.........

BTW , the only vacuum I like is my Shark Master Lift vacuum.......cleans like a mf'er........it really really does............

Now back to our regular non bikini programming..................

I love your restraint pru...............I really really do......................

 

[Illini2010-11]

Key to beat Kansas. Toledo being slighted a bit when the chance was given to prep 2 full weeks for game 1.

And that's one of my gripes with Illinois schedule. You'd like to have FAU earlier or some 17+ pt favored gimme game in there for rest, and prep for other teams. Yalls schedule is not easy. Winning the West would prove this tough SOS OOC, helped you. If Illinois goes 6-6, this was a scheduling blunder.

Sorry, but this is absolutely ridiculous. I would much rather have the two "toughest" non-conference games at the front end of the schedule and the third wedged in between conference games (as the Illini have done this year). The staff is getting paid big bucks to start game planning for the first two to three games of the season, whereas the players' focus is always one week at a time. I think a very good opening week test is much better for development of a team than a cupcake week 1. Look at Nick Saban, he has always saved his biggest cupcake game of the year for near the end of the season to allow for resting of key players, etc.

Illini have had plenty of gimme games at the front end of the schedule over the years and it has not translated to many more wins. Ultimately talent and coaching is the most important, regardless of when games are scheduled. No matter how the season plays out, this was not a scheduling blunder. As Illini0440 said, you worry about you. For whatever reason, you seem intent on continuing to criticize Bielema. Did he not tip you well when you delivered his pizza?

 

[Dan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1694748993253790176

 

[SuperMetroid]

Yeah, to echo earlier sentiments, there has been AT LEAST as much fretting about how Toledo could easily beat us (and a host of other Power Five teams) on our home field if we do not execute and remain disciplined and/or if some of our units are actually worse than we expected in the offseason. If anything, the fans who are displaying confidence are likely just reacting to several months of the worrying ... I don't think many fans are "cocky" in the true sense of that word, which seems to be what UofToledoFans is insinuating.

Obviously the Bielema Era is (so far) a territory of stability that we haven't felt in decades so in one sense the past is the past, but ... we have lost to 6 non-Power Five opponents in Champaign in the last 25 years. It is literally ingrained in our psyche not to take opponents lightly, lol. In case anyone wants a torturous trip down memory lane...

2021 vs. UTSA (37-30) ... at least we took their OC, right?!
2019 vs. Eastern Michigan (34-31)
2016 vs. Western Michigan (34-10)
2012 vs. Louisiana Tech (52-24)
2009 vs. Fresno State (53-52)
2002 vs. San Jose State (38-35)

2006 vs. Ohio University (20-17)

 

[Ransom Stoddard]

I do not know his camp routine. In his past he has slept on opponents though, and I bet if PSU was week 1 and FAU was week 2, he'd be plan differently.

Is this another statement you're basing on a sample size of 1?

 

[UofToledoFans]

Is this another statement you're basing on a sample size of 1?

Yes haha. He made national news for quite literally overlooking a team. I'm not sure any coach in my lifetime has made fun of another team for a schedule and gone out to lose that week to a "weak" opponent.

 

[UofToledoFans]

Sorry, but this is absolutely ridiculous. I would much rather have the two "toughest" non-conference games at the front end of the schedule and the third wedged in between conference games (as the Illini have done this year). The staff is getting paid big bucks to start game planning for the first two to three games of the season, whereas the players' focus is always one week at a time. I think a very good opening week test is much better for development of a team than a cupcake week 1. Look at Nick Saban, he has always saved his biggest cupcake game of the year for near the end of the season to allow for resting of key players, etc.

Illini have had plenty of gimme games at the front end of the schedule over the years and it has not translated to many more wins. Ultimately talent and coaching is the most important, regardless of when games are scheduled. No matter how the season plays out, this was not a scheduling blunder. As Illini0440 said, you worry about you. For whatever reason, you seem intent on continuing to criticize Bielema. Did he not tip you well when you delivered his pizza?

Go take it up with the Illinois Inquirer guys who agree with me. This schedule if unscathed is beautiful. But ya don't get a trial, nor rest before your first B1G matchup.

 

[UofToledoFans]

What’s the root of the NIU angst?

non-rivals. Hate em. Biggest divisional rivalry in the MAC since 2010. If the MAC was divisionless Toledo and NIU would have played each other in the title 3 times. Instead it was NIU vs. a lame duck BGSU, Buffalo or Ohio.

 

[Ransom Stoddard]

Yes haha. He made national news for quite literally overlooking a team. I'm not sure any coach in my lifetime has made fun of another team for a schedule and gone out to lose that week to a "weak" opponent.

In his past he has slept on opponents though

A team.
A single team.
8 years ago.
And you use the plural as though there's a pattern you can cite.

You're weak sauce, sally. Looking forward to UIUC "having Toledo's number" after the 2nd.

 

[UofToledoFans]

A team.
A single team.
8 years ago.
And you use the plural as though there's a pattern you can cite.

You're weak sauce, sally. Looking forward to UIUC "having Toledo's number" after the 2nd.

BB gloriously has made a gaf in his past against the school he plays against in week 1. For Toledo fans it's relevant to our history.

Just as Illinois beating Ohio State was in 2007. Now imagine the week that happened Ohio State made fun of USCs conference before falling on its face to Illinois. And then... imagine playing Jim Tressel as the head coach of Toledo in week 1... no one here would say "rEMemBeR wHEn TrES OverLoOkEd uS iN 2007 bHahaha??"

What a nitpicky thing to care about a Toledo fan saying. It's for us, don't take it too seriously.

 

[Ander1345]

BB gloriously has made a gaf in his past against the school he plays against in week 1. For Toledo fans it's relevant to our history.

Just as Illinois beating Ohio State was in 2007. Now imagine the week that happened Ohio State made fun of USCs conference before falling on its face to Illinois. And then... imagine playing Jim Tressel as the head coach of Toledo in week 1... no one here would say "rEMemBeR wHEn TrES OverLoOkEd uS iN 2007 bHahaha??"

What a nitpicky thing to care about a Toledo fan saying. It's for us, don't take it too seriously.

What precedent is there for this? He's only lost 1 season opener in his entire career. When he lost to Toledo at Arkansas that was week 2.

 

[UofToledoFans]

What precedent is there for this? He's only lost 1 season opener in his entire career. When he lost to Toledo at Arkansas that was week 2.

Still talked sh!t and got h!t. This is about overlooking an opponent, and specifically the team I root for.

The practice schedule in late August is an aside and nitpick from what I consider a payoff or fall on your face strategy if these two squads are as roster talent rankings suggest.

 

[Ransom Stoddard]

BB gloriously has made a gaf in his past against the school he plays against in week 1. For Toledo fans it's relevant to our history.

Just as Illinois beating Ohio State was in 2007. Now imagine the week that happened Ohio State made fun of USCs conference before falling on its face to Illinois. And then... imagine playing Jim Tressel as the head coach of Toledo in week 1... no one here would say "rEMemBeR wHEn TrES OverLoOkEd uS iN 2007 bHahaha??"

What a nitpicky thing to care about a Toledo fan saying. It's for us, don't take it too seriously.

This is an Illinois board, if you hadn't noticed, and you're the only one here waving his red rocket around, so I don't know who "Us" is.

 

[UofToledoFans]

This is an Illinois board, if you hadn't noticed, and you're the only one here waving his red rocket around, so I don't know who "Us" is.

Guy on thread about next opponent, with opponents name as his user name, and you can't figure out who "us" is when they speak? Jeez.

 

[pruman91]

This is an Illinois board, if you hadn't noticed, and you're the only one here waving his red rocket around, so I don't know who "Us" is.

go ahead and do it Ran.............you will feel better....................you really really will........................

 

[Ransom Stoddard]

Guy on thread about next opponent, with opponents name as his user name, and you can't figure out who "us" is when they speak? Jeez.

Generally when someone says "us" they're referring to more than just themselves. Deviations from that often signal mental illness, but you do you.

If you wanna talk irrelevant shite with your fellow Toledonians while you're playing with your red rockets, go right for it, but doing it here makes you look like a delusional tween.

 

[Homecoming 2019]

Guy on thread about next opponent, with opponents name as his user name, and you can't figure out who "us" is when they speak? Jeez.

 

[Krombopulos_Michael]

 

[pruman91]

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

Yes, announced attendance will surpass butts in seat by a few thousand next Saturday. With an infant at home, at least this year, I will only be able to get out once or twice with my season tickets (long drive from Chicago suburbs), and then giving away the other games to friends/family. I am sure I am not alone, so I expect the bump in season tickets will come with a few games of those seats not being used/sold cheap on secondary ticket sites, which could hurt overall attendance numbers slightly in the sense of trying to sellout.

I actually think that we may get close to a sellout for Penn State game, especially if the Illini get off to a 2-0 start. Mixed in with week of game promos to get more students to game and Penn State traveling well, I expect very high ticket sales (actually attending the game is a whole different ballgame). There is potential to get close to sellout...I mean we sold out the North Carolina game in Lovie's first year (granted many fans around me had overly unrealistic expectations and fans very quickly stopped attending at first indication of team not matching perceived hype). So there is history of fans attending when the hype is real. If we can sustain some success over this year, then ticket sales in 2024 should be even better. Hopefully long ago are the days of ESPN making fun of our extinct student section in the North End Zone. I remember when the North End Zone opened in 2007 as a student, and we had those seats filled regularly (we used to have to get out first thing Monday to get seats there, otherwise seats were relegated to the overflow section in East Sideline).

This bolded sentence really cannot be denied. We sold 10k extra tickets last year between the Minnesota and MSU games! In Lovie's first game vs. a name opponent, we got our first sellout in years just because people were excited again. Also, it's not like the "fandom situation" in the state of Illinois or Champaign was fundamentally different in 2008 when we drew almost 63k multiple times or in 2000 and 2001 when we put over 70k butts in the seats multiple times. We have a very, VERY loyal core of fans to be sure (this board being active every year being an example), but the fact is there is a VERY large contingent of casual Illini fans who have seen enough crap over the years that they only buy in when the hype is real. There is an even larger group that WOULD eagerly buy back in if we had sustained success for 5+ years. We were especially beat down by the end of the Lovie Era (that carried over into Bret's first year), but...

- A "meh" 6-6 Illini team can count on 40k in the stands most games.
- After just one exciting season, we are looking at closer to 50k for most conference games, IMO.
- Put together another 8+ win season, and that number will continue to grow.
- We have PROVEN that if you get the fans really believing, 60k+ will be in the stands most games ... see our 2008 attendance.

If we had the history Iowa or Wisconsin had since 2000? You could put 80k in Memorial Stadium, easily. We just don't have ANYWHERE close to that history, and it will take several years to build it ... but the building has begun.

 

[Illini2010-11]

- A "meh" 6-6 Illini team can count on 40k in the stands most games.
- After just one exciting season, we are looking at closer to 50k for most conference games, IMO.
- Put together another 8+ win season, and that number will continue to grow.
- We have PROVEN that if you get the fans really believing, 60k+ will be in the stands most games ... see our 2008 attendance.

If we had the history Iowa or Wisconsin had since 2000? You could put 80k in Memorial Stadium, easily. We just don't have ANYWHERE close to that history, and it will take several years to build it ... but the building has begun.

I mentioned somewhere earlier in this thread that the effects of 2007 Rose Bowl team had tremendous dividends on the crazy high hype going into 2008. That 2008 season really killed Zook's momentum, which he never got over (and translated over to ticket sales). We really need back to back seasons with winning regular seasons. After some research, that has not happened since 1988-1990 where we had three straight winning regular seasons. There is no denying that 2023 is a very important season to continue to build on the foundations set in 2022. Until we have sustained success year over year, we will continue to see major fluctuations in attendance. We need to get back to the moderate sustained successes of the 1980s. If we do, those seats will quickly get filled at Memorial Stadium consistently.

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

I mentioned somewhere earlier in this thread that the effects of 2007 Rose Bowl team had tremendous dividends on the crazy high hype going into 2008. That 2008 season really killed Zook's momentum, which he never got over (and translated over to ticket sales). We really need back to back seasons with winning regular seasons. After some research, that has not happened since 1988-1990 where we had three straight winning regular seasons. There is no denying that 2023 is a very important season to continue to build on the foundations set in 2022. Until we have sustained success year over year, we will continue to see major fluctuations in attendance. We need to get back to the moderate sustained successes of the 1980s. If we do, those seats will quickly get filled at Memorial Stadium consistently.

Agree with everything you said. Attendance also naturally lags - our attendance in 2009 when we were 3-9 was way higher than we were drawing in 2011 when we started off 6-0. Why? Because 2009 was still enjoying coming down from the Rose Bowl high, and fans in 2011 were waiting to see if we were for real! Spoiler alert ... we were not.

2023 really is huge. I hate to be melodramatic, but the national narrative constructed by people who don't follow our program really could vary this wildly with the following records this season:

5-7: "Arkansas Bielema" is real Bielema, and Illinois was "good" (still finished losing 4 of 5!) because Chase Brown was a beast and DeVito was better than expected. Once he was gone, they literally went right back to the same losing record as 2021. Plus, they played in the Big Ten West. Yeah, they're better than they were under Lovie but not by that much, and their ceiling will be random 8-win seasons and mostly 6-6 seasons. It's just hard to win there, and this is the best coach they have had in a long time.
9-3: Bret Bielema flat-out knows how to win in the Big Ten, and this isn't your dad's Illinois; they finally have someone who can realize that program's potential. He took them from 2 wins to 5 to 8 to 9, with this latest season being an IMPROVEMENT after losing a ton of talent to the draft! Memorial Stadium has even turned into a hard place to play! It really isn't hard to win there, they just needed to wait for the right guy, and that looks to be Bielema!

Again, might sound dramatic ... but this year can make or break our ascension, so to speak. Perception is fragile.

 

[Knee brace]

The Toledo guy the night before our game