Illini Football 2025

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#126      
champaignchris
Huggies5 said:
LOL! The sports landscape in Illinois is pretty bleak.
1. Cubs
2. Illinois Basketball
3. Illinois Football
4. Bears
5. Bulls
6. Blackhawks
7. White Sox
8. Northwestern Basketball
9. Northwestern Football
10. Any other college sports team in Illinois
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I’d put Illini basketball above the Cubs, but I’d say they both have the proverbial “puncher’s chance” in that they’re both likely to make the post-season and sometimes weird stuff happens in both the MLB and college basketball post-season.

Illinois football isn’t quite to that level yet simply because it’s harder to make the college football playoff and less weird stuff happens in college football.
 
#127      
Huggies5
Curbelo Fanboy said:
Drink less kool-aid. I do think they have a coach that could position them to contend at a higher level than in 30 plus years. However the 12 team playoff makes it harder as you have to win 3 or 4 games (most likely) to get it done. I'd say Bret is building something that could have a few cracks at it in coming years. For this coming year, they could make the playoff or could just as likely go 8-4 but the thought they could win it seems a bit of folly tbh.

They just don't have the depth of high level talent across the board to think they could beat a string like OSU, Bama, Georgia or ND in multiple games in a row. They can get there, but it will take time & some luck. Even if they don't, if Bret can string together a bunch of 8 plus win seasons over a 15 year career he retires from IL as a legend & perhaps with his name on the wall at the end of the stadium.
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I don't disagree with a word you said, but the Illinois sports landscape is pretty bad right now. The White Sox, Blackhawks and Bulls are terrible. I don't see them winning anything for a long time.
 
#129      
Curbelo Fanboy
gary? said:
don't know how one city ends up with so many bad owners.
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Chicago has had the worst collection of ownership of sports teams in any major city for a loooong time. TBH, the 85 Bears happened in spite of the McCaskey family & not because of them. The groundwork of that team was laid prior to Papa Bear's passing. If MJ doesn't fall in the Bulls lap, Reinsdorf would have only the 05 Sox title to show as a championship in his combined ownership of the 2. The Hawks prior to Dollar Bill's passing were a joke. Didn't even show home games on tv until like the mid 2000's. And the Cubs took 108 years to find ownership competent enough to bring a title. It really is a sad state of affairs.
 
#130      
Mr. Tibbs
with exception of the Sox, we have a fanbase that will come to the games in droves regardless of won-loss record . The owners just don’t feel any pressure to win . It’s not totally unique to Chicago , but not sure any other city can say the same about all 4 major sports
 
#133      
purcy51
fuddrules said:
I wonder if this is an anomaly or if the emphasis on staying away from the head is causing this? Defenders lead with the shoulder. Offensive players get hit more in the shoulders. Lineman - probably the same as always.

Either way, it's easier to repair a shoulder than a brain.

Or has surgery come to a point where is better to go in more frequently microscopically and clean things up than old school play through the injury?
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I'd say surgery is the last option, IMHO. Try to strengthen the surrounding muscles while promoting healing through steroid injections, etc.
Had this discussion with my ortho a few years ago- my knee was beginning to show signs of meniscal deterioration. Discussed arthroscopic surgery but he said it was too soon & was best to wait. Risk was generating scar tissue post sx which could create more problems. Put me in PT and did a cortisone injection. It hasn't progressed pain wise, but is starting to lock up more often 3 yrs later.
 
#135      
Rlouizjr01
The way I look at it is ILL-INI has plenty of hills to climb some a little steeper than others, but the mountain is Ohio State and the team came back geared to climb a mountain.We just can't slip on none of the hills.If they stay afoot,they reach new heights.This team is the closest to a championship.
 
#140      
saleen970
Huggies5 said:
My friend asked me what sports team in Illinois, college and pro, has the best chance to win a championship? There was a time I would have ranked Illinois Football dead last, but now, I would put them closer to the top. Am I drinking the orange and blue Kool-Aid?
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With the favorable schedule and returning players Illinois Football has I wont be shocked at all to make the playoffs, Think we could have an Indiana like season. But would be extremely shocked to see them win a Championship, like others said we just wont have the quality depth. Illinois Basketball I think would have the best shot of a championship just based on the consistency of good teams Underwood has put on the floor. I think if we returned the eligible players(I know that isn't happening) on this years team plus a good transfer to replace BH we would have a great chance next year. Maybe they get healthy and peak late and put a run together this year? I think they are talented enough, just a lot of youth, illness and injury this year so far.
 
#141      
Birdus
Rlouizjr01 said:
The way I look at it is ILL-INI has plenty of hills to climb some a little steeper than others, but the mountain is Ohio State and the team came back geared to climb a mountain.We just can't slip on none of the hills.If they stay afoot,they reach new heights.This team is the closest to a championship.
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I wholly agree with you. Even though the BIG will be loaded again, coach B has put together a winning formula here. This team knows how to win close games. If they don't play down to their opponents level, I see them winning a bunch of games. We will find out early at Duke what we have. Duke may not be top 20 but they play tough especially at home.
 
#142      
DHIllini
Anderson moving to TE?
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#146      
Rlouizjr01
Seriously I'm all for Feagin being RB because he wanted to be there.HE does look like a ferocious LB when see the speed and size.. Plus they get bigger contracts..
 
#148      
illiniwil
I think you could see the H back concept where a kid will line up at either
RB, Slot or TE, use motion and have an extra blocker at multiple spots. This
was popular in the NFL not that long ago. It puts linebackers in coverage
way more than college defenses want and turns a formation from leaning
toward spread to a powerful run game. If those 230 lb TE/RB's can pick
up the blitz, have enough speed/quickness to run away from linebackers
and catch the ball we have valuable weapons.
 
#149      
Ander1345
Players that excel in versatile roles like this open up your scheme so much. You can go from a 2x2 spread look to running lead iso block on a poor LB simply by using motion.
 
#150      
WeWillWhen
Moving to Los Angeles was a revelation for me, in terms of quality sports franchise ownership.
 
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