Illini Football 2023

[WeWillWhen]

Move students back to their original seats and have frats and sororities leadership talk to the DIA and figure out what would get them in the stadium

Yes, families to NEZ, students back to East Main, set up a college-age oriented "Greek Grove" outside the stadium, go light on the alcohol policing there, and I think you'd see a lot more kids. My current sorority member daughter agrees.

If you want to get really creative, maybe remove the benches from a few sections of the stadium to create a standing-room area where kids can both watch the game and mingle with each other more easily (like in the bars, but outside at the stadium). And target students with a lot more promotional give-aways.

 

[TheChief4Life]

In 20 games under the Lunney Jr regime the offense has scored 27 or more points 5 times, otherwise the offense has generated less points.

Just making sure I'm understanding this correctly. In 20 games, the offense has either scored 27 or more points... or hasn't.

Got it.

 

[GILL-INOIS]

Just making sure I'm understanding this correctly. In 20 games, the offense has either scored 27 or more points... or hasn't.

Got it.

First 5 games under Lunney Jr the offense scored 27 or more points three different times

Last 15 games under Lunney Jr the offense has scored maximum of 27 points two different times

Yes, they will either score or they won't

 

[Kendall Gill’s Uncle]

First 5 games under Lunney Jr the offense scored 27 or more points three different times

Last 15 games under Lunney Jr the offense has scored maximum of 27 points two different times

Yes, they will either score or they won't

Out of curiosity, why did you choose 27 as your key number?

 

[Dan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1714280228460322894

 

[GILL-INOIS]

Out of curiosity, why did you choose 27 as your key number?

27 is the most points our offense has scored 2 times in the past 15 games. Just picked the highest amount of points our offense has scored and when I wrote it originally in last week picked the number of games from a year ago until now. Show that the same sample size has been going on for a little while now.....

Also put we are 8-0 under the Lunney Jr regime when scoring 25+ points a game(includes defensive points)

Defense has a big hand in contributing to our offensive points with field position/forcing turnovers. It was nice to see the offense, defense and special teams all show up together against Maryland.

 

[Kams Blueguy]

Just saw the Iowa TE is out for the season with a torn ACL. Significantly hurts an already bad offense. Let’s go win the West!

 

[redwingillini11]

I almost forgot!

Week 8 College Football Bowl Projections: Brett McMurphy's Updated Predictions With Projected Spreads

Read for Week 8 college football bowl projections, including Brett McMurphy's updated predictions with projected spreads.

www.actionnetwork.com

Quick Lane Bowl
Dec. 26 •
Detroit, MI

Illinois
-5

Miami OH

ESPN releases 2023 College Football Playoff, full bowl projections after Week 7

ESPN has released its complete College Football Playoff and bowl projections following Week 7 of the season.

www.on3.com

Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Chase Field (Phoenix)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bonagura: Illinois vs. Iowa State

Well there isn't much here, but I didn't think that I would have anything to post this week anyway!

I don't usually post The Athletic's bowl projections as they get published later in the week than most bowl projections, but I came across this one today and thought it was worth mentioning!

CFB midseason bowl projections: Who's going bowling (for now)?

Projecting the bowl field at the halfway point of the 2023 college football season.

theathletic.com

Quick Lane

Dec. 26

Illinois (Big Ten No. 7)

Ohio (MAC)

 

[217sports]

Move students back to their original seats and have frats and sororities leadership talk to the DIA and figure out what would get them in the stadium

The main thing that would get greek life in the stadium is light on alcohol policing as mentioned above but also cheap drinks. No chance kids are paying $10 a beer so work out a deal with Joes/Kams for them to be the ones serving and the only ones in this area are students who bought a ticket that includes admission + X amount of wristband drinks already included or $3-4 beers

 

[LFOD]

I don't usually post The Athletic's bowl projections as they get published later in the week than most bowl projections, but I came across this one today and thought it was worth mentioning!

CFB midseason bowl projections: Who's going bowling (for now)?

Projecting the bowl field at the halfway point of the 2023 college football season.

theathletic.com

Quick Lane

Dec. 26

Illinois (Big Ten No. 7)

Ohio (MAC)

Man, there's nothing like Detroit in December. I'll take it!

 

[Illini in Italy]

Man, there's nothing like Detroit in December. I'll take it!

Uhhhhh, pass thanks.

 

[redwingillini11]

Detroit on December 26 sounds like a tropical vacation compared to the alternative of staying at home.

 

[blackdog]

Detroit on December 26 sounds like a tropical vacation compared to the alternative of staying at home.

Maybe true but I really enjoyed going to Tampa last year

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1714280228460322894

For some reference, here are the Big Ten NBC games so far and the TV ratings for Maryland and Illinois so far:

Big Ten on NBC
9.98 million for #6 Ohio State at #9 Notre Dame (6:30 pm)
3.50 million for West Virginia at #7 Penn State
3.06 million for #2 Michigan at Minnesota (6:30 pm)
2.17 million for Michigan State at Iowa (6:30 pm)
1.25 million for Syracuse at Purdue (6:30 pm)
1.24 million for Maryland at Michigan State (2:30 pm)
1.14 million for Illinois at Maryland (2:30 pm on NBC)
665k for Charlotte at Maryland (6:30 pm)

Maryland
4.51 million at #3 Ohio State (11:00 am on FOX)
1.14 million vs. Illinois (2:30 pm on NBC)
776k vs. Virginia (7:00 pm on FS1 - Friday)
665k vs. Charlotte (7:30 pm on NBC)
349k vs. Indiana (2:30 pm on BTN)
102k vs. Towson (2:30 pm on BTN)
--- Average: 1.26 million
--- Average without OSU/Michigan/PSU: 712k

Illinois
3.22 million vs. #7 Penn State (11:00 am on FOX)
1.36 million at Kansas (6:30 pm on ESPN2 - Friday)
1.36 million vs. Nebraska (7:00 pm on FS1 - Friday)
1.14 million at Maryland (2:30 pm on NBC)
727k*** vs. FAU (2:30 pm on BTN) - shared BTN slot
294k vs. Toledo (6:30 pm on BTN)
--- Average: 1.35 million
--- Average without OSU/Michigan/PSU: 976k

So, all in all our ratings vs. Maryland were not great ... but considering Maryland was 5-1, actually being hyped and coming off of a relatively good game vs. OSU while our fan base was completely dejected, I would say there was a great turnout of Illini viewers for this game. Either way, it once again kind of shows what a nice "floor" for ratings/exposure you have when you're in a prime TV spot. I will be really curious to see what kind of ratings Wisconsin/Illinois pulls this weekend, as it is on FS1 and with a rather down Wisconsin fan base.

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

The main thing that would get greek life in the stadium is light on alcohol policing as mentioned above but also cheap drinks. No chance kids are paying $10 a beer so work out a deal with Joes/Kams for them to be the ones serving and the only ones in this area are students who bought a ticket that includes admission + X amount of wristband drinks already included or $3-4 beers

As someone who spent much of his life in Iowa City and has plenty of friends who are Iowa fans that I go back and tailgate with a lot (my parents still live in Iowa City), I think Illini fans REALLY underestimate how many people trickle into the stadium if the tailgating atmosphere around the stadium is elite. Or, on the flip side, a lot of people on the fence will buy tickets to the game "just in case" if they know they will have a blast tailgating.

Great teams will sell out no matter what, but if you are simply okay-to-good (6-7 wins or something), it is the teams with good tailgating that have a higher attendance floor - especially for students! I bet it is an amazing time, but the fact that "Block" at the Campustown bars even exists speaks to a massive, generations-long failure of Illini football gameday experience, haha. We need Memorial Stadium to be the absolute place to be.

While Grange Grove was an absolutely massive step in the right direction, it is indeed - and rightfully! - a very family friendly area. Sure, there are student tailgates ... but I walked over there before the PSU game just to check it out, and it was pretty tame. That isn't inherently a bad thing, but I will hypothesize that the average friend group at Kams would not exactly blend in, lol. Compare that to Iowa City where there are an endless number of cul-de-sacs literally across the street from Kinnick Stadium with backyards that look like this, many of which are rented out for specific fraternities that partner with different sororities for different weekends (similar to Block, I believe?):

We don't have that same setup of residential homes in Champaign, but we have something BETTER - tons of space! I will leave it to a local to figure out what area would be best, but the idea of a "Greek Grove" would literally be so awesome.

At the end of the day, college kids want to party (HARD) on a fall Saturday, and you simply have to convince them that being around Memorial Stadium will be more fun than going to the same bar they go to all year!

 

[LocalChief505]

Yes, families to NEZ, students back to East Main, set up a college-age oriented "Greek Grove" outside the stadium, go light on the alcohol policing there, and I think you'd see a lot more kids. My current sorority member daughter agrees.

If you want to get really creative, maybe remove the benches from a few sections of the stadium to create a standing-room area where kids can both watch the game and mingle with each other more easily (like in the bars, but outside at the stadium). And target students with a lot more promotional give-aways.

As someone who spent much of his life in Iowa City and has plenty of friends who are Iowa fans that I go back and tailgate with a lot (my parents still live in Iowa City), I think Illini fans REALLY underestimate how many people trickle into the stadium if the tailgating atmosphere around the stadium is elite. Or, on the flip side, a lot of people on the fence will buy tickets to the game "just in case" if they know they will have a blast tailgating.

Great teams will sell out no matter what, but if you are simply okay-to-good (6-7 wins or something), it is the teams with good tailgating that have a higher attendance floor - especially for students! I bet it is an amazing time, but the fact that "Block" at the Campustown bars even exists speaks to a massive, generations-long failure of Illini football gameday experience, haha. We need Memorial Stadium to be the absolute place to be.

While Grange Grove was an absolutely massive step in the right direction, it is indeed - and rightfully! - a very family friendly area. Sure, there are student tailgates ... but I walked over there before the PSU game just to check it out, and it was pretty tame. That isn't inherently a bad thing, but I will hypothesize that the average friend group at Kams would not exactly blend in, lol. Compare that to Iowa City where there are an endless number of cul-de-sacs literally across the street from Kinnick Stadium with backyards that look like this, many of which are rented out for specific fraternities that partner with different sororities for different weekends (similar to Block, I believe?):

We don't have that same setup of residential homes in Champaign, but we have something BETTER - tons of space! I will leave it to a local to figure out what area would be best, but the idea of a "Greek Grove" would literally be so awesome.

At the end of the day, college kids want to party (HARD) on a fall Saturday, and you simply have to convince them that being around Memorial Stadium will be more fun than going to the same bar they go to all year!

If only we could get indy and 0440 or someone of their caliber to get the word to whitman that a complete analysis of the game day experience needs to be examined, both inside and outside the stadium. Allow season ticket holders to truly voice their opinion. Im talking a very comprehensive review. From the music thats blasted every 10seconds between downs to the pregame antics. We are so far behind other schools in this department. We have no identity when it comes to a game day experience. We have a cheap unorganized production that piggybacks off of stuff that works for other teams.

As far as tailgating…. The students set the tone. Get them to memorial stadium and leave them alone (to a certain extent). Get them into the game for little to no cost and put them on the east side where they belong. They should be the heart beat of the atmosphere every game.

ILL

 

[Dan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1714673782688723179

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

If only we could get indy and 0440 or someone of their caliber to get the word to whitman that a complete analysis of the game day experience needs to be examined, both inside and outside the stadium. Allow season ticket holders to truly voice their opinion. Im talking a very comprehensive review. From the music thats blasted every 10seconds between downs to the pregame antics. We are so far behind other schools in this department. We have no identity when it comes to a game day experience. We have a cheap unorganized production that piggybacks off of stuff that works for other teams.

As far as tailgating…. The students set the tone. Get them to memorial stadium and leave them alone (to a certain extent). Get them into the game for little to no cost and put them on the east side where they belong. They should be the heart beat of the atmosphere every game.

ILL

Amen! If we had a setup like Maryland (from what I have heard) and it just sort of "was what it was," this wouldn't bother me so much. However, the potential for Memorial Stadium and the surrounding gameday experience is just through the roof ... it stings way more to waste that than to not have it. We have endless space, all with a beautiful, unobstructed view of the magnificent stadium exterior. We have an incredibly unique stadium - to the point where I don't even think our fans realize it! - that just needs a few touch-ups (and increased attendance, of course) to be among the most iconic in college football. I honestly think people would be MORE than shocked at what Memorial Stadium could be circa the 2025 or 2026 season if the following relatively simple things happened:

1. Illini have stayed competitive (i.e., fighting for a bowl berth) and are returning the type of roster that has fans excited for an 8+ win season.
2. The students are moved back into the stadium, and the NEZ (their current location) is repurposed to become an incredibly popular family/group event area.
3. The SEZ (Horseshoe) is either rebuilt or at the very least the seats are renovated to go down to field level to give a more "enclosed" and intimidating feel for the visiting team, and the exterior is touched up to match the architecture of the rest of the stadium.
4. Grange Grove remains as is, but a separate "Greek Grove" is set up where it is sort of "understood" that students can party. Ideally, this would be welcoming to ALL students, and the "Greek Grove" thing would be a colloquial name given to it by the students themselves. Also, it should be a large enough space that it doesn't feel like we are segregating the students from the rest of the tailgating atmosphere but also "separate enough" that they can have their fun and not affect the time of families.

The sky is TRULY the limit here. And I am oh so ready for it!

 

[Ransom Stoddard]

If only we could get indy and 0440 or someone of their caliber to get the word to whitman that a complete analysis of the game day experience needs to be examined, both inside and outside the stadium. Allow season ticket holders to truly voice their opinion. Im talking a very comprehensive review. From the music thats blasted every 10seconds between downs to the pregame antics. We are so far behind other schools in this department. We have no identity when it comes to a game day experience. We have a cheap unorganized production that piggybacks off of stuff that works for other teams.

As far as tailgating…. The students set the tone. Get them to memorial stadium and leave them alone (to a certain extent). Get them into the game for little to no cost and put them on the east side where they belong. They should be the heart beat of the atmosphere every game.

ILL

IFund members and/or season ticket holders get a survey after every home game regarding game day experience, and the DIA takes it very, very seriously. I've provided very specific feedback on everything from traffic control to specific vendors inside MS (I got a food vendor worker fired via the survey because he wasn't following food safety measures) to the entertainment that goes on during timeouts. I've had personal responses a couple of times to my suggestions and have seen some of them acted on as time goes on.

As to a "cheap unorganized production" - that's not my takeaway at all. The DIA has produced a lot of hype videos featuring players, coaching staff, and even the dearly departed Dick Butkus. The MI is heavily featured throughout the gameday experience (not just halftime), and that's an iconic part of the UIUC identity.

One of the biggest problems of our game day experience--at least this season--is ticketholders not showing up or selling their tix. The latter is a huge problem IMO because it makes tickets readily available, in prime seating, for opposing fans. Both the PSU and Nebraska games had at least 1/3 or more of the East Main filled with opposing fans. Nebraska's fans actually caused a delay of game penalty on our first offensive drive that game, and that is simply unacceptable.

TL;DR: Our gameday experience is fantastic and continuing to improve compared to what it was 10 years ago. The "fans" need to get over their "I'm owed a winning team" mentality and come out and support the team they have.

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

However, yes ... we all know winning does the most to build fan enthusiasm and the gameday environment ... so back to football.

CURRENT BIG TEN WEST STANDINGS
Iowa: 3-1
Wisconsin: 2-1
Minnesota: 1-2
Nebraska: 1-2
Northwestern: 1-2
ILLINOIS: 1-3
Purdue: 1-3

REMAINING SCHEDULES OF BIG TEN WEST TEAMS
ILLINOIS: vs. Wisconsin, at Minnesota, vs. Indiana, at #24 Iowa, vs. Northwestern
Iowa: vs. Minnesota, at Northwestern (Wrigley), vs. Rutgers, vs. Illinois, at Nebraska
Wisconsin: at Illinois, vs. #3 Ohio State, at Indiana, vs. Northwestern, vs. Nebraska, at Minnesota
Minnesota: at #24 Iowa, vs. Michigan State, vs. Illinois, at Purdue, at #3 Ohio State, vs. Wisconsin
Nebraska: vs. Northwestern, vs. Purdue, at Michigan State, vs. Maryland, at Wisconsin, vs. #24 Iowa
Northwestern: at Nebraska, vs. Maryland, vs. #24 Iowa (Wrigley), at Wisconsin, vs. Purdue, at Illinois
Purdue: at Nebraska, at #2 Michigan, vs. Minnesota, at Northwestern, vs. Indiana

CURRENT BIG TEN WEST TIEBREAKERS
ILLINOIS: None
Iowa: Purdue, Wisconsin
Wisconsin: Purdue
Minnesota: Nebraska
Nebraska: Illinois
Northwestern: Minnesota
Purdue: Illinois

I do not feel mentally equipped to run all of these crazy scenarios right now, lol ... but the following appears pretty obvious! The following points obviously depend ENTIRELY on the Illini gaining some momentum and winning football games - especially pulling off an upset in Iowa City!

1. We absolutely need to beat Wisconsin to get at least ONE tiebreaker among our Big Ten West foes. That is the absolutely massive first hurdle here, IMO.
2. Root for Big Ten East teams when they play the other Big Ten West teams!!!! It is literally a gimme game on whatever Big Ten West team loses. For example, Ohio State beating Minnesota at home or Michigan beating Purdue at home immediately moves us up the standings. A team like Rutgers shocking Iowa would just be incredible for us!
3. In general, we need Iowa to start losing. I think they have a decent chance of going down to Nebraska on the Friday after Thanksgiving, and we would obviously need to beat them in Iowa City to have any real hope at the West ... but it sure would be nice if they could drop another one!

FWIW, though, I looked at the remaining Big Ten schedules and made my wild-!!! picks of who would win each game - with the exception that the Illini are able to win out ... and this is what I got for standings.

ILLINOIS: 6-3 (beat Iowa AND Wisconsin)
Iowa: 6-3 (beat Wisconsin and lost to Illinois)
Wisconsin: 6-3 (lost to both Illinois and Iowa)
Nebraska: 4-5 (tiebreaker over Purdue)
Purdue: 4-5
Minnesota: 2-7
Northwestern: 1-8

So yeah, winning out is obviously a tall order ... but it's honestly possible. And that's all you can ask for!! Additionally, if we were to win out and beat both Wisconsin and Iowa, we would really only need two things out of our control to happen to go to Indy:

1. Iowa loses in Lincoln to Nebraska
2. Wisconsin loses at home to #3 Ohio State

Just some fun speculation.

 

[Dkayak]

3. In general, we need Iowa to start losing.

Something the entire B1G can agree upon. Iowa’s extremely unbalanced team doesn’t represent the conference or the sport well.

https://www.si.com/fannation/bringmethesports/gophers/gophers-can-save-the-nation-from-iowa-being-in-college-football-playoff

 

[Dan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1714696660541214895

 

[superfan]

to go to Indy

I really appreciate you, man. Keep serving those orange drinks at the bar until they it's closing time.

 

[ktal]

If I were trying to get greek life into the stadium, I'd think about the following:
- You are conceding upfront that this results in large-scale alcohol abuse, and your design is meant to manage that reality. [The alcohol abuse is taking place anyhow. This might be a smart way to manage it.]
- Dedicate a 'stripe' from bottom to top rows where they can stand the entire game w/o disturbing the olds
- Dedicate a quad near the stadium for 'their' tailgate area, while still incentivizing them to join the main tailgate areas.
- Link the sales of tickets in the stripe, to charitable activities (they're probably already doing) with local-area beneficiaries.
- Visibility in the stripe equates to visibility in the community, and visibility across all the network tie-ins. (Relevant for aspiring influencers)
- Getting frats & sororities to 'compete' for blocks of seats within the stripe by offering visibility to their charitable works. Game by game or full season...but between students and their friends, the blocks need to be full of orange.
- Perhaps dedicate a (non-broadcast?) camera on them...are there still small video boards in the North end-zone? Yikes and all, but maybe?

The idea is to incentivize and integrate new traditions without conflicting with what's already working. The more full the stadium is, the better the experience, and things grow from there. Josh is betting that BB can put the product on the field, and I think he's right.

No incentives work for consistently bad football, viewed sober.

 

[king dad runnerup]

However, yes ... we all know winning does the most to build fan enthusiasm and the gameday environment ... so back to football.

CURRENT BIG TEN WEST STANDINGS
Iowa: 3-1
Wisconsin: 2-1
Minnesota: 1-2
Nebraska: 1-2
Northwestern: 1-2
ILLINOIS: 1-3
Purdue: 1-3

REMAINING SCHEDULES OF BIG TEN WEST TEAMS
ILLINOIS: vs. Wisconsin, at Minnesota, vs. Indiana, at #24 Iowa, vs. Northwestern
Iowa: vs. Minnesota, at Northwestern (Wrigley), vs. Rutgers, vs. Illinois, at Nebraska
Wisconsin: at Illinois, vs. #3 Ohio State, at Indiana, vs. Northwestern, vs. Nebraska, at Minnesota
Minnesota: at #24 Iowa, vs. Michigan State, vs. Illinois, at Purdue, at #3 Ohio State, vs. Wisconsin
Nebraska: vs. Northwestern, vs. Purdue, at Michigan State, vs. Maryland, at Wisconsin, vs. #24 Iowa
Northwestern: at Nebraska, vs. Maryland, vs. #24 Iowa (Wrigley), at Wisconsin, vs. Purdue, at Illinois
Purdue: at Nebraska, at #2 Michigan, vs. Minnesota, at Northwestern, vs. Indiana

CURRENT BIG TEN WEST TIEBREAKERS
ILLINOIS: None
Iowa: Purdue, Wisconsin
Wisconsin: Purdue
Minnesota: Nebraska
Nebraska: Illinois
Northwestern: Minnesota
Purdue: Illinois

I do not feel mentally equipped to run all of these crazy scenarios right now, lol ... but the following appears pretty obvious! The following points obviously depend ENTIRELY on the Illini gaining some momentum and winning football games - especially pulling off an upset in Iowa City!

1. We absolutely need to beat Wisconsin to get at least ONE tiebreaker among our Big Ten West foes. That is the absolutely massive first hurdle here, IMO.
2. Root for Big Ten East teams when they play the other Big Ten West teams!!!! It is literally a gimme game on whatever Big Ten West team loses. For example, Ohio State beating Minnesota at home or Michigan beating Purdue at home immediately moves us up the standings. A team like Rutgers shocking Iowa would just be incredible for us!
3. In general, we need Iowa to start losing. I think they have a decent chance of going down to Nebraska on the Friday after Thanksgiving, and we would obviously need to beat them in Iowa City to have any real hope at the West ... but it sure would be nice if they could drop another one!

FWIW, though, I looked at the remaining Big Ten schedules and made my wild-!!! picks of who would win each game - with the exception that the Illini are able to win out ... and this is what I got for standings.

ILLINOIS: 6-3 (beat Iowa AND Wisconsin)
Iowa: 6-3 (beat Wisconsin and lost to Illinois)
Wisconsin: 6-3 (lost to both Illinois and Iowa)
Nebraska: 4-5 (tiebreaker over Purdue)
Purdue: 4-5
Minnesota: 2-7
Northwestern: 1-8

So yeah, winning out is obviously a tall order ... but it's honestly possible. And that's all you can ask for!! Additionally, if we were to win out and beat both Wisconsin and Iowa, we would really only need two things out of our control to happen to go to Indy:

1. Iowa loses in Lincoln to Nebraska
2. Wisconsin loses at home to #3 Ohio State

Just some fun speculation.

I’m feelin’ the orange, bru.