Illini Football 2021

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#101      

Deleted member 747671

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Deleted member 747671
The only reasons to play the Ireland game are contractual and/or financial. Contractual in that maybe there's some language in it that makes it very difficult to break, dealing with 2 schools and a foreign city, foreign sponsor, etc. Financial in that all schools got crushed with no tickets etc last season. That may be the case again this year, hopefully to a lesser extent, but I have to imagine Illinois and Nebraska are getting a nice pay day for this. In terms of safety, well-being, health, convenience, accessibility, familiarity, playing in Champaign is the obvious choice.
 
#102      

GilThorpe

GilThorpe
GilThorpe
the B1G is being run now by a guy who is afraid to make decisions , hence the league will wait until whatever the “drop dead “ date is for go or no go . given all the uncertainty that exists with covid & travel right now ( isn’t the UK on total lockdown ? , which means things aren’t good in Ireland either ) , I have a real hard time seeing this game getting played overseas .

some dude from the Husker board said people in Nebraska are already canceling & getting refunds
 
#103      

Cairo

Cairo
Cairo
WINTer said:
The only reasons to play the Ireland game are contractual and/or financial. Contractual in that maybe there's some language in it that makes it very difficult to break, dealing with 2 schools and a foreign city, foreign sponsor, etc. Financial in that all schools got crushed with no tickets etc last season. That may be the case again this year, hopefully to a lesser extent, but I have to imagine Illinois and Nebraska are getting a nice pay day for this. In terms of safety, well-being, health, convenience, accessibility, familiarity, playing in Champaign is the obvious choice.
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Isn't there a Latin legal term in contracts regarding Acts of God?
 
#107      

trtl

T
trtl
WINTer said:
Everyone does realize this is a regular season game right? This isn't an exhibition or a bowl game, or even a game surrounded by bye weeks. It's coming straight off of training camp, the first camp of an entirely new regime. They're playing a beatable conference opponent, but still a B1G team nonetheless, not a cupcake. They will have to fly home and begin preparing for a game being played the very next Saturday. What do people think this trip is going to be like? Do you think a coach like Bielema is going to want to take away ANY of his allotted practice/prep time to go sightseeing? I'm not arguing that it's not a cool idea or that I wouldn't want to go to Ireland to visit and watch my team play, but it makes no logical sense to play this game as is. Hell, we haven't even gotten to Covid. Every sports schedule has been drastically changed to accommodate and hopefully prevent Covid outbreaks. People aren't even allowed to go watch our home games, but we're supposed to be all good with international travel for a game?
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You’re obsessed with this topic.
 
#108      

Deleted member 747671

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Deleted member 747671
trtl said:
You’re obsessed with this topic.
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I just am a bigger football fan than basketball. I think that first game could be huge. Catch Nebraska without a tune up game. Nobody would have a scouting report on BB's schemes. Winning that would be a huge jumpstart to the season and the BB era. I think it would so much better to have that at home. Even if there are no fans, there's sleeping in your own bed, going through a normal home gameday routine. Everything is just easier, more comfortable. Playing in Ireland changes everything. Unfamiliar venue, long travel, huge time change. And it could mess you up for the next week. Long flight home, time change coming back, etc.
 
#109      

trtl

T
trtl
WINTer said:
I just am a bigger football fan than basketball. I think that first game could be huge. Catch Nebraska without a tune up game. Nobody would have a scouting report on BB's schemes. Winning that would be a huge jumpstart to the season and the BB era. I think it would so much better to have that at home. Even if there are no fans, there's sleeping in your own bed, going through a normal home gameday routine. Everything is just easier, more comfortable. Playing in Ireland changes everything. Unfamiliar venue, long travel, huge time change. And it could mess you up for the next week. Long flight home, time change coming back, etc.
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I agree that it would be awesome to get that first win. I also am a bigger UI football fan than basketball. Love both, but man the feeling of the Orange and Blue winning a football game ...
 
#110      

Illinivek23

Illinivek23
Gurnee
Illinivek23
WINTer said:
I just am a bigger football fan than basketball. I think that first game could be huge. Catch Nebraska without a tune up game. Nobody would have a scouting report on BB's schemes. Winning that would be a huge jumpstart to the season and the BB era. I think it would so much better to have that at home. Even if there are no fans, there's sleeping in your own bed, going through a normal home gameday routine. Everything is just easier, more comfortable. Playing in Ireland changes everything. Unfamiliar venue, long travel, huge time change. And it could mess you up for the next week. Long flight home, time change coming back, etc.
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I think the notion that this game will still happen as planned is rather silly. Agree with all of your points above. Sounds cool to play over there, but the thought of playing a game while jet lagged is not good - but then again I'm old and I like my sleep! Disruption to the next game is also very real. Need to get this era started off on the right foot.
 
#111      

illinibb76

I
illinibb76
My son and daughter in-law live in Ireland now and the Covid restrictions are worse there than they are here so it is a lose lose proposition. More than likely no fans, sightseeing from a bus window and for what? Stay home. Traveling takes a toll on your body when it's a quick turn around and flying with a possible injury could be problematic if any one gets dinged up.
 
#112      

O&B4Ever

O
O&B4Ever
WINTer said:
Everyone does realize this is a regular season game right? This isn't an exhibition or a bowl game, or even a game surrounded by bye weeks. It's coming straight off of training camp, the first camp of an entirely new regime. They're playing a beatable conference opponent, but still a B1G team nonetheless, not a cupcake. They will have to fly home and begin preparing for a game being played the very next Saturday. What do people think this trip is going to be like? Do you think a coach like Bielema is going to want to take away ANY of his allotted practice/prep time to go sightseeing? I'm not arguing that it's not a cool idea or that I wouldn't want to go to Ireland to visit and watch my team play, but it makes no logical sense to play this game as is. Hell, we haven't even gotten to Covid. Every sports schedule has been drastically changed to accommodate and hopefully prevent Covid outbreaks. People aren't even allowed to go watch our home games, but we're supposed to be all good with international travel for a game?
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"We" have no say in it. I'm sure they'll do whatever needs to be done regarding the decision of whether to go or not. I think most realize it's not a sightseeing tour, but I would think they have their itinerary set that would include a little off the court learning experiences.
 
#113      

Deleted member 654622

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Guest
Deleted member 654622
Reasons to not go to Ireland:
1. Jet lag - Everyone remember what it was like to be 19 and in phenomenal shape? Hint: Let's not over play the jet lag card. Nebraska will be going through the exact same situation so there is not advantage/disadvantage. Now take in account that our next opponent is UTSA Roadrunners. So let's just put that aspect to bed.
2. It would be great to get our first win - Yes there is more of an advantage to playing at home and sleeping in your own bed. But it would be even better to get our first win in Ireland with more TV coverage for the game. So risk reward scenario there.
3. COVID - And let us all be honest, this is the reason we are having this conversation.
https://ie.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/ - Here is the US Embassy website for Ireland which leads you to https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/resilience-recovery-2020-2021-plan-for-living-with-covid-19/ Irelands current guidelines. They are at level 5 which is essence is California. So everyone is going to be socially distancing and masking up for however long. Combine the vaccine, which they have, to only two weeks to flatten the curve, and they should be at least level 2 in plenty of time for the Illinois game. Level 2 -"For large purpose built event facilities (such as stadia, auditoriums, conferencing/event centres), specific guidance will be developed with the relevant sectors to take account of size and different conditions for events such as large national and international sporting events."

No I do not have a field to plow in my life so my mind will have to do. I will assume the players would rather play in an empty stadium in Ireland than an empty stadium in Champaign, they get 5 more chances to do that in 2021.
 
#114      

BraveIllini

B
BraveIllini
If it will be safe and the players and coaches want to go, then they should leave the game as scheduled. It would help if the team could go a few days early to get over the jet lag and settle into their surroundings, even with a little local sightseeing. I'm not concerned about an embarrassment on the field as I would have been before the coaching change.
 
#115      

JTOWNillini

J
JTOWNillini
If this game’s played in Champaign with full attendance, I could see it being one of the most electrifying atmospheres in awhile. Beautiful late August Saturday night, first game fans can attend in 2 years, start of a new era against a top traveling fan base, and a primetime slot on tv to ourselves due to it being Week 0.

This has the potential to be an incredible memory, win or lose. Granted I have no idea what COVID/attendance restrictions will look like - but I assume things would be normal with how many will be vaccinated.
 
#116      

IntolerantFuzzyFlameMiser

I
IntolerantFuzzyFlameMiser
At the current pace we are going nearly everyone that can take the vaccine will have it by late July/early August. Assuming nothing crazy happens between now and then there is no reason we shouldn't have full attendance for the first game. The Ireland game sounds fun on paper but considering our history with attendance that Nebraska game might be our only sellout for awhile.
 
#117      

IllinoisssssssVarsity

I
IllinoisssssssVarsity
I think for planning purposes we should be conservative in our assumptions. Assume 50% allowed attendance for home games. Obviously that’s more than last year, but for us, that’s close to our regular full attendance. Win some games at 50% attendance, let the excitement build and when the restrictions are relaxed to 75% or full attendance, let the flood gates open and everybody come through.
 
#119      

Point-Illinois

P
Point-Illinois
IllinoisssssssVarsity said:
I think for planning purposes we should be conservative in our assumptions. Assume 50% allowed attendance for home games. Obviously that’s more than last year, but for us, that’s close to our regular full attendance. Win some games at 50% attendance, let the excitement build and when the restrictions are relaxed to 75% or full attendance, let the flood gates open and everybody come through.
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Anybody see that episode of South Park where Cartman ends up running a previously bankrupt amusement park and doesn’t let anyone in?

Then, to pay for random maintenance/security/operational expenses he has to start letting people in slowly and reluctantly.

By the end of the episode the amusement park is thriving because people were anxious to go again since they couldn’t at the beginning of Cartman’s ownership.

Based on that logic (and South Park logic is rock solid), we should sell out every game at the capacity level dictated until we get back to 100%. 😁
 
#122      

mikeyo

M
mikeyo
Illinivek23 said:
Cool tweet by one of our Coach mILLers!
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i see what you did there bill hader GIF
 
#124      

Deleted member 654622

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Guest
Deleted member 654622
Does anyone know what BB’s policy on media/fans at Spring practice is going to be?
 
#125      

illini80

illini80
Forgottonia
illini80
Dude said:
Does anyone know what BB’s policy on media/fans at Spring practice is going to be?
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There hasn’t been anything said officially. Difficult to imagine fans being allowed. I hope they are able to make some kind of accommodations for media.
 
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