The problem is we kept Henry on the staff until BB could find him a landing spot. He moved on in February and we are looking for a coach late in the game. If Henry doesn’t get hired at ND he would’ve been calling the defense today
Duke 31, Illinois 27 Postgame
- Status
The problem is we kept Henry on the staff until BB could find him a landing spot. He moved on in February and we are looking for a coach late in the game. If Henry doesn’t get hired at ND he would’ve been calling the defense today
I was no fan of Henry. His defense gave up tons of yards, including some third and a mile type plays. But, they did get some takeaways. That always seemed to save us. This team gives up the yards and doesn’t force turnovers. Double whammy.
In an 11 game regular season.
Iowa has Phil Parker. We don't.
I have been watching this movie since I was a freshman in the fall of 1964 when we went into the Homecoming game against Ohio State as clear favorites and we laid an egg 26-0 as I recall. And we had just come off winning the Rose Bowl on January 1 of that year when we trounced Washington and expectations were justifiably high. At least that season I got to watch Dick Butkus play in his last season with the Illini.
So I will always be loyal to my school, but often the football team asks too much.
Back to the many past years when I have watched the Illini but have had to record the games, delete the losses and watch the wins. My emotional well-being depends on it. Good luck, Illinois.
So I will always be loyal to my school, but often the football team asks too much.
Back to the many past years when I have watched the Illini but have had to record the games, delete the losses and watch the wins. My emotional well-being depends on it. Good luck, Illinois.
Last edited:
Most of the sections that left were in the direct scorching sun. I would have preferred they stayed, but also don’t blame them for leaving.
Today’s fan base was WAY more rambunctious and rowdy than last week’s.
Henry’s defense never saved us. Whenever they were on the field I had 0 faith of them getting a stop
But two yards per carry ensured Duke would get the ball back very quickly. Better to pray for a nice long drive ending in a touchdown and then trust the defense with whatever time remained than to rely on what had already proved to be a failed running game. It’s not like we were protecting a lead. We needed to move down the field and score.
Watching nearly every first down in the second half begin with a 2 yard run was a huge clue that four such plays in succession would turn the ball over promptly. We walked out immediately after that frustratingly predictable outcome.
Folks around us were increasingly angry with each of those wasted downs, culminating with an exodus of VERY disgusted fans. We quit playing to win, so we deserved the loss. This will cost us some fan support. We deserve that too. Always play to win.
Last edited:
mhuml32
Gesture of Northern Aggression
The two plays that are the most frustrating were the (1) fake punt for Duke and (2) 4th down run by Duke that was stuff but negated because Illinois mistakenly had a player running off the field. Both are huuuuge swings, smell of being out-coached, and are startling because those are the plays where Bielema traditionally has shined.
Last edited:
Obviously could always use more money. The problem is they weren’t prepared for the prices players were going to get. I know it’s only been 2 games but I think it’s safe to say this defensive scheme was a mistake
Not a good football team, it is what it is, we'll see how the season goes from here
Shane Beamer was pitching a tent when he saw that offside call bite us in the arse.
will be interesting to see how many of the high school recruits invited to the game sign the dotted line....
Agree. The NIL budget did not lose this game.
Aaron Henry gave out a Ball Hawk chain/award every practice to the defender who produced the most takeaways — interceptions, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries, PBUs that led to turnovers, etc.
I sure hate that takeaways are not being prioritized now.
I sure hate that takeaways are not being prioritized now.
We brought in Hauck who seemed burn out on coaching in press conferences with Montana and even hints of it in his introductory with Illinois.
He doesn’t have the athletes to run this defense…sure. But he’s not the guy to bring in this revolutionary defense and reinvigorate that side of the ball.
His whole attitude towards the move is so reminiscent of a “fried” coworker who just doesn’t have it in them anymore but tries to convince them self that a move back to a different department is going to change things….
I think there is a split after this offseason. Whether it’s Bret telling him it’s not working OR Hauck just deciding to hang it up on his own.
He doesn’t have the athletes to run this defense…sure. But he’s not the guy to bring in this revolutionary defense and reinvigorate that side of the ball.
His whole attitude towards the move is so reminiscent of a “fried” coworker who just doesn’t have it in them anymore but tries to convince them self that a move back to a different department is going to change things….
I think there is a split after this offseason. Whether it’s Bret telling him it’s not working OR Hauck just deciding to hang it up on his own.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
It is only Game 2, but if last week wasn't a huge warning signal, today certainly is.
Tackling is very sub-par, and the team will need to win shootout style unless something changes. Hard to see this team being able to pull away from any team. To only score 3 points in the second half was mind boggling. The defense played better in second half, but Duke made many errors that we failed to take advantage of.
Simply a lost oppurtunity today, and the loss was well deserved. A lot of work to do to prep for B1G season. On the bright side, the B1G looks much weaker than expected. Still, the floor has certainly been lowered after this game.
Tackling is very sub-par, and the team will need to win shootout style unless something changes. Hard to see this team being able to pull away from any team. To only score 3 points in the second half was mind boggling. The defense played better in second half, but Duke made many errors that we failed to take advantage of.
Simply a lost oppurtunity today, and the loss was well deserved. A lot of work to do to prep for B1G season. On the bright side, the B1G looks much weaker than expected. Still, the floor has certainly been lowered after this game.
We had the guys to beat Duke. We never punted. We were getting 6 or 8 yards thru the air on first down all night but late in the game switched to the run game and got stuffed. Our play calling changes to runs in the 4th quarter. Got burned on a fake punt in 4th n 4.. Gotta be ready. Thats coaching not players. We stop em on 4th down and get an offsides with a guy running off the field and stopped with only 10 guys. That's not NIL. It was Duke who lost studs from lack of NIL. It wasn't OSU , Texas or Oregon. NIL.isnt why they lost to Duke. That an excuse..players n coaches need to own why they lost and it wasn't money tonight. Do we need more NIL sure but the play calling in the second half and mental errors is why we lost.
Last edited:
Hereforit
- Littleton, CO
Is that a GM (Embleton) issue as it relates to prep?
Ultimately BB sits atop the program, which I get. Yet ppl need to do their job and do it well. So what happened? I’ve yet to fully understand this aside from “we don’t have enough money”.
Not looking to point fingers. Just don’t see the full picture aside from insightful speculation as of now.
Pathetic. We are what we are. 5-9 wins per year. Bowl eligibility hopefully. Not an elite program, be very lucky to get to a playoff. Better than what we’ve been, but this is Illinois football.
We will struggle to get 4 wins this season. Ohio State, Oregon, Iowa, UCLA are definitely losses. There's not much chance against Maryland and Nebraska. Maybe we can win one of either Michigan State or Northwestern. Hopefully we beat SIU and Purdue.
4 and 8 is a stretch but I think we end up 3 and 9.
I am not blaming the NIL budget on the loss. Very winnable game today.
It's a conversation topic in general right now with football, we need better athletes especially on the defensive side of the ball. they can salvage a decent season out of this still.
It's a conversation topic in general right now with football, we need better athletes especially on the defensive side of the ball. they can salvage a decent season out of this still.
When you have a really good wide receiver (we do) and a really good quarterback (we do) — it’s just hard to not win at least 6 games.
The takes about “4-8 at best” are just moronic and emotional meltdowns.
- Status