There were multiple times this season where we went for 2 early ish in the game and it turned out to be a mistake based on how the game played out.
Disagree wholeheartedly on this. Again, you’ve got to understand the offensive tempo. In a defensive struggle, it might be the right call. But when the offenses are humming, there’s so many future mathematical possibilities. Obviously they weren’t the right call yesterday because we didn’t kick the extra point twice and lost by two extra points.
That last attempt wasn’t the issue. Of course you go for it there… no one’s arguing that. But going for two on the first TD of the fourth quarter (which succceeded) did not take into account there would be 5 more scoring drives the rest of the quarter. If, on that score, you take the one instead of the two, Illinois could’ve ultimately been in a situation where the final drive would’ve only needed 7 points instead of 8, based on how the 4th quarter scores unfolded.
I can't believe we went 1-5 against the Big Ten West.
Not like there were many opportunities for ranked wins. Of the 12 teams on the schedule, only Toledo, Penn State, and Iowa are ranked. During the season, the Illini only played two ranked teams (Penn State and Iowa). This was a very soft schedule, and 5-7 is an extreme disappointment, especially considering the B1G West had three new coaches (Illini lost all of them). It will only get harder moving forward.
I believe Maryland was ranked when we beat them, not that it matters now.
Maryland was actually never ranked this season. They got up to #26 in both polls the week they played Ohio State (week prior to Illini game).
Wilcher is pretty fast. Also calil valentine the RB commit is someone they could think about trying at WR and I think he ran like a 10.8 in track
Isn't Hollins fast?
Should have listened. I said Toledo would go 11-1 and be a top half team on your schedule.
I have already moved on to BB. Just like I moved on to FB after the ARK game in March. But, looking at the year in review one final time, I am laughing at the fact that the winning/losing margin in 8 of the 12 games was; 2, 6, 3, 4, 1, 3, 2, and 2. I don't know what that means? But, how the hell did Purdue score 44 points on us? I made it to 2 games, PSU and IND. The PSU game told me that the defense would be OK is the offense didn't get them killed. I got to see the stadium record of 500+ yards passing in one of the most exciting games I have ever witnessed. I can put this on my memory shelf of being present at that game along with Howard Griffith's 8 TD rushing game and the ILL-NU 0-0 tie. These fit nicely with the BB comeback over AZ inthe Regional final. So I got that goin for me. Which is nice.
It's such a conflict of emotions. The floor has been raised, we are right in these games, we aren't far off from an 8 win team, we really are probably building a program the right way. At the same time, so many frustrating shots in the foot, self inflicted wounds, why can't we just tighten the screws up and things would be that much better.
Was anyone else impressed with how Iowa adapted after DeJean went down before our game? They held McCarthy to 137 yds passing and MI to 213 total yds last nite.
Harbaugh?
