Illini Football 2022

DeonThomas · Sep 13, 2022

Joel Goodson said:
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1569693758945464322

An interesting read.............

This may be DeVito's final college season.

I went back and looked at his games played/year at Syracuse. Unbeknownst to me, it appears he does have another year of college eligibility if I'm reading the stats correctly. I think it stems from the fact that he played only 3 games in 2021. Plus, 2020 was the "free" Covid year.

Hence only 2018, 2019 and 2022 will count. He'll have one year remaining and Art may still have two left after this season.

wma500 · Sep 13, 2022

Some TV numbers to share. I read where there were a total of 2 games last year which drew over 10 million viewers....OSU/Mich and Ala/Auburn (same day, coincidentally). This year, thru just two weeks, we have two such games.

We literally *consume* college football...it's an all you can eat buffet and we don't leave one crumb left.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1569736116844232706

BRucks · Sep 13, 2022

DeonThomas said:
An interesting read.............

This may be DeVito's final college season.

I went back and looked at his games played/year at Syracuse. Unbeknownst to me, it appears he does have another year of college eligibility if I'm reading the stats correctly. I think it stems from the fact that he played only 3 games in 2021. Plus, 2020 was the "free" Covid year.

Hence only 2018, 2019 and 2022 will count. He'll have one year remaining and Art may still have two left after this season.

I had the same question:

Illinois 38, Wyoming 6 Postgame

How did DeVito’s performance compare to our quarterback play over the past few years? Peters's last start vs a G5 Opp was 10/19 for 78 yards and a TD.

www.illinoisloyalty.com

ChiefGritty · Sep 13, 2022

wma500 said:
Some TV numbers to share. I read where there were a total of 2 games last year which drew over 10 million viewers....OSU/Mich and Ala/Auburn (same day, coincidentally). This year, thru just two weeks, we have two such games.

We literally *consume* college football...it's an all you can eat buffet and we don't leave one crumb left.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1569736116844232706

Joel Goodson · Sep 13, 2022

DeonThomas said:
An interesting read.............

This may be DeVito's final college season.

I went back and looked at his games played/year at Syracuse. Unbeknownst to me, it appears he does have another year of college eligibility if I'm reading the stats correctly. I think it stems from the fact that he played only 3 games in 2021. Plus, 2020 was the "free" Covid year.

Hence only 2018, 2019 and 2022 will count. He'll have one year remaining and Art may still have two left after this season.

wow!

purcy51 · Sep 13, 2022

GILL-INOIS said:
This program has taken big strides already in the short time BB has been here. We have given some games away but we are ahead of schedule on this program turning around.

Looked back 10 seasons and some of the losing streaks have been horrific......

2012-2014 (not typing his name)

2012 9 Game Losing Streak
2013 6 Game Losing Streak
2014 2 Game Losing Streak and 3 Game Losing Streak

2015 (Cubit)

2015 3 Game Losing Streak and 3 Game Losing Streak

2016-2020 (Lovie)

2016 2 Game Losing Streak and 3 Game Losing Streak and 4 Game Losing Streak
2017 10 Game Losing Streak
2018 2 Game Losing Streak and 3 Game Losing Streak and 3 Game Losing Streak
2019 4 Game Losing Streak and 3 Game Losing Streak
2020 3 Game Losing Streak and 3 Game Losing Streak (Lovie fired before that last game where Penn St blew us out was last game on streak)

2021-current (BB)

2021 3 Game Losing Streak
2022 TBD

Started 1-4, 6-4 since that time and we have not lost back to back games in almost a year of this post. Illinois is building an identity and culture change has taken place. JMO but I feel we have overachieved since BB has arrived. He has stated before we are paper thin at certain positions. He is adding recruits, transfers and depth. I am excited to see what he can do with this program given more time.

When I first heard Whitman had hired Bielema I was unimpressed. Then I heard the interviews and he said all the right things. And I started to warm up to the idea. Then...last year was much better than I expected and you could see growth. And I started getting hopeful. This year has started out great (as far as I'm concerned we're 3-0 b/c of the blown td call at Indiana). And I guess you could say I'm a full on believer now.

Sure, there's much to be cleaned up but the improvements are astounding. And the guys are obviously learning. Bret has taken Lovie's team and shown that all these kids needed was a real leader. Someone truly invested in them and their success.

Looking forward to the next few years as Bielema's recruits start to fill up the roster. Seems I'm moving back home at jist the right time

DaCHIEFnasty · Sep 13, 2022

Illinois_2_AZ said:
Unfortunately Ezekiel Holmes is out for the season.

What’s going on with Bryant? I noticed he wasn’t dressed last game. Would be nice to be able to rotate there, and not rely heavily on promising fresh Jacas

OskieWowWow · Sep 13, 2022

DaCHIEFnasty said:
What’s going on with Bryant? I noticed he wasn’t dressed last game. Would be nice to be able to rotate there, and not rely heavily on promising fresh Jacas

Injury. Jacas will be the starter however. Probably the thinnest position group on the team outside of OL.

ChiefGritty · Sep 13, 2022

OskieWowWow said:
Injury. Jacas will be the starter however. Probably the thinnest position group on the team outside of OL.

WR and LB (and let's be honest QB) are all thinner than OL or OLB, which is actually in relatively decent shape.

Jacas isn't playing because we're turning to teenagers, he's playing because he's beaten out guys that have been here.

Holmes was the starter for a reason though, that's a loss we will feel in a group that had been a pleasant surprise.

wma500 · Sep 13, 2022

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1569701307036090371

Joel Goodson · Sep 13, 2022

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1569743822787149824

ChiefGritty · Sep 13, 2022

wma500 said:
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1569701307036090371

Well, these numbers include "streaming cable" services like Youtube TV and Sling and whatnot, but fair enough.

Credit scheduling with some of this, it has been a particularly good slate of games thus far compared with cupcake city of many prior years.

PassingBy · Sep 13, 2022

IlliniShelt · Sep 13, 2022

PassingBy said:
View attachment 19893

Main takeaway is that Iowa sucks on offense

illini80 · Sep 13, 2022

ChiefGritty said:

Out drawn by Northwestern vs Duke is embarrassing. 159k is just incredibly bad and you can’t blame the game day experience for this one. I’m starting to question if we can fill the stadium even with a winning team. As much as I have disliked the money grab of college sports, we couldn’t afford a football team any other way. Empty stadium and a pathetic number of fans watching on TV ain’t paying the bills.

the national · Sep 13, 2022

This is grade A trolling of Brian Ferentz. Word from my Iowa buddy is that it’s coming from an Iowa Alum. They are ready for a change.

https://fansided.com/2022/09/13/iowa-football-brian-ferentz-cameo/

DaCHIEFnasty · Sep 14, 2022

the national said:
This is grade A trolling of Brian Ferentz. Word from my Iowa buddy is that it’s coming from an Iowa Alum. They are ready for a change.

https://fansided.com/2022/09/13/iowa-football-brian-ferentz-cameo/

Nebraska would like a word to say... If our program was to ever make a comeback, now’s the time!!! For the first time since rose bowl season we have a legit chance

DeonThomas · Sep 14, 2022

ChiefGritty said:

I'm stunned at how low our audience figure is. How are we drawing fewer viewers than Colorado/Air Force? Here's the rough math......

* An estimated 1.5M living alumni between The University of Illinois and UVA -- presumably "avid" fans
* 21 million people living in the states of Illinois and Virginia, combined -- let's call these "interested" fans
* ~10M living Big10 and ACC alumni throughout the world -- let's also call these "interested" fans
* Another 300M people living throughout the United States -- let's call these "semi-casual" fans

Maybe ESPNU has something to do with it? But then again, even BTN at the same time slot got 10x the viewership!

MoCoMdIllini · Sep 14, 2022

ChiefGritty said:

I guess a lot of people "don't get that channel". [ESPNU]

ChiefGritty · Sep 14, 2022

The channel does have a ton to do with it as you can see. Which is why the B1G moved heaven and earth to get three weekly network telecasts.

But also note how much lower the FS1 games are than anything on even ESPN2, let alone ESPN. And then Peacock games will be watched by essentially no one. That's our basketball problem.

EyeoftheIllini · Sep 14, 2022

DeonThomas said:
I'm stunned at how low our audience figure is. How are we drawing fewer viewers than Colorado/Air Force? Here's the rough math......

* An estimated 1.5M living alumni between The University of Illinois and UVA -- presumably "avid" fans
* 21 million people living in the states of Illinois and Virginia, combined -- let's call these "interested" fans
* ~10M living Big10 and ACC alumni throughout the world -- let's also call these "interested" fans
* Another 300M people living throughout the United States -- let's call these "semi-casual" fans

Maybe ESPNU has something to do with it? But then again, even BTN at the same time slot got 10x the viewership!

While I agree that the audience number is bit surprising, I can’t tell if you’re joking about your rough math. Reminds me of when I was in publishing and I’d get some silly manuscript about cats over the transom with the author saying something like there would be great interest because there are 40M cat owners in the country. Yes, and how many buy books and of those how many buy books about cats.

Most of the Illinois alums I know should likely be classified as semi-casual fans. If the morning of the game I had called each of the about 25 Illinois alums I’m in contact with on at least a semi-regular basis, likely less than 10 could have told me even who the Illini play that day. Maybe 3 could have told me at what time and on what channel. I do know that one alum friend watched the game cuz he texted me about how small the crowd looked. I’d guess that if I made that same call this week, none of them would know Illini have a bye this week. I will say that interest would be slightly higher for basketball — with anywhere from 3-10 watching a given televised Illini game.

EyeoftheIllini · Sep 14, 2022

ChiefGritty said:
The channel does have a ton to do with it as you can see. Which is why the B1G moved heaven and earth to get three weekly network telecasts.

But also note how much lower the FS1 games are than anything on even ESPN2, let alone ESPN. And then Peacock games will be watched by essentially no one. That's our basketball problem.

Channel certainly makes a difference. Heck Kam’s doesn’t even get ESPNU.

GILL-INOIS · Sep 14, 2022

DaCHIEFnasty said:
What’s going on with Bryant? I noticed he wasn’t dressed last game. Would be nice to be able to rotate there, and not rely heavily on promising fresh Jacas

Concussion protocol

EyeoftheIllini · Sep 14, 2022

DeonThomas said:
I'm stunned at how low our audience figure is. How are we drawing fewer viewers than Colorado/Air Force? Here's the rough math......

* An estimated 1.5M living alumni between The University of Illinois and UVA -- presumably "avid" fans
* 21 million people living in the states of Illinois and Virginia, combined -- let's call these "interested" fans
* ~10M living Big10 and ACC alumni throughout the world -- let's also call these "interested" fans
* Another 300M people living throughout the United States -- let's call these "semi-casual" fans

Maybe ESPNU has something to do with it? But then again, even BTN at the same time slot got 10x the viewership!

ESPNU most likely has a lot to do with things. For me, it is a complete afterthought station. I have it (though not sure it is included in basic package, so some may not), but it is located in the 300s station wise. If I’m just looking for a game to watch in general, I check networks and ESPN and ESPN2 (stations 31 and 32 on my cable package) and BTN to find a game I have some interest in. Next would be FS. I rarely look to ESPNU. I’d guess 90% of the football or basketball games I’ve ever watched on ESPNU were with either Illinois or Oregon State (other team I follow) playing.

rrillini · Sep 14, 2022

EyeoftheIllini said:
ESPNU most likely has a lot to do with things. For me, it is a complete afterthought station. I have it (though not sure it is included in basic package, so some may not), but it is located in the 300s station wise. If I’m just looking for a game to watch in general, I check networks and ESPN and ESPN2 (stations 31 and 32 on my cable package) and BTN to find a game I have some interest in. Next would be FS. I rarely look to ESPNU. I’d guess 90% of the football or basketball games I’ve ever watched on ESPNU were with either Illinois or Oregon State (other team I follow) playing.

Let us keep our expectations reasonable. I'm still satisfied to be considered competitive, certainly not favored, in our league games. In my opinion, it will take a few years of sustainded success to improve attendance. Too many years of dis-appointment have lowered my expectations. As far as ESPN watching goes, I reduced my watching time when they decided to bring politics in their programming,