Illini Football 2023

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#128      

Pennsy

P
Pennsy
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Yeah, especially with Big Noon Kickoff becoming a way bigger deal in the last several years, there is nothing "wrong" with an 11:00 am start. In fact, I know a lot of my Iowa friends who have so adapted college football/tailgating as a part of their lives and culture that they actually prefer the 11:00 am starts. Personally, I have always associated it with the most "classic" college football ... something about the crisp fall air in the Midwest at that time of day is nostalgic to me. I get the argument about people coming from out of town, but if you aren't willing (or able) to spend the Friday night in Champaign ... well, that's always just going to be an issue. I also kind of understand the argument that it's worse for getting students to the game, but that's more of an issue with the party culture in Champaign than it is the start time. Students at Iowa and Illinois are both up at 7:00 am getting mimosas and Bloody Mary's ready on the Saturday of an 11:00 am game ... the difference is at Iowa, they are getting ready to Uber to the tailgate by the stadium, and at Illinois they are heading to the Campustown bars! If we get more student tailgating to catch on, the 11:00 am start won't have too big of an effect on the student section, IMO.
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I disagree with just about every sentence in this post. 11:00 am starts are the worst. And guess what buddy, there is not a room to be had in CU Friday for a Saturday game unless you hit the Holiday Inn Express in Tuscola. And what do you tailgate, breakfast/ Lunch? Rousting the students out of bed and their PJs at the crack of dawn isn't usually happening either. Even watching TV at 11:00 am is the pits. Half the neighborhood are mowing their lawns.
 
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#129      

Fighter of the Nightman

Fighter of the Nightman
Chicago, IL
Fighter of the Nightman
Pennsy said:
I disagree with just about every sentence in this post. 11:00 am starts are the worst. And guess what buddy, there is not a room to be had in CU Friday for a Saturday game unless you hit the Holiday Inn Express in Tuscola. And what do you tailgate, breakfast/ Lunch? Rousting the students out of bed and their PJs at the crack of dawn isn't usually happening either. Even watching TV at 11:00 am is the pits. Half the neighborhood are mowing their lawns.
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Okay, agree to disagree? I definitely agree that Champaign has a hotel problem, as do most similarly sized university towns on football Saturdays; I don't know how to fix this one (more airbnbs?), but it is definitely a problem. However, your other arguments seem to be "it's too early." And I do not agree with that at all. Tailgating early in the morning is a college football tradition at Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska and many other places ... it's just simply not the burden we act like it is. Would I prefer a 2:30 pm game for more tailgating? Sure. But people here talk about it like it's at 9:00 am, lol.

And come on, you've never heard of kegs 'n' eggs?! :p
 
#130      

BRucks

BRucks
BRucks
fuddrules said:
Reiman is going to have to learn to catch the balls that are above his head better to get anywhere close to post-season awards.
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I'm not sure what criteria that they use in making this award but I'd be leery of awarding it to a guy who has 22 career receptions over three seasons.
 
#134      

Illiniguy74

I
Illiniguy74
Point-Illinois said:
I'm nervous about Kansas as well. It's our first road game of the season and bad things tend to happen in a team's first road game. (they may not lose...but bad things happen)

I think we will be able to handle Toledo, but it does suck that we, once again, get a team at its best and/or most experienced. I'm sure it happens plenty elsewhere but dang does it feel like it happens exclusively to us.
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Yeah. Like vs. Missouri in '83. Went to Columbia for the game with some buddies. Good time at the bars Friday night. Male/Female ratio was outstanding what with Stephens college adding about 3,000 ladies to the mix. Game day very hot. We were hungover and the team was flat. Fortunately, we managed to beat Stanford at home the next week and were off to the races. Don't think I've ever felt worse as a Illini fan then after we got shellacked in the Rose Bowl.
 
#137      

fuddrules

F
fuddrules
DocMorgan said:
Ticket office is now selling mini plans. Orange and Blue. 3 games each. Orange is $125 per seat (PSU, FAU, and Wisky) and Blue is $99 per seat (Toledo, PSU, and Indy). Just bought 6 Orange mini plans! Section 130. ILL
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Nice that Penn State is in both packages. That game is shaping up (as expected) to be a very well attended and important game.
 
#139      

Fighter of the Nightman

Fighter of the Nightman
Chicago, IL
Fighter of the Nightman
Neale Stoner Fan Club said:
Beat Toledo.
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Really hoping for an opening game like last year's dominating win over Wyoming. I remember going into that game with very reserved optimism ... we had BARELY missed out on a bowl in Bret's first year (with some TRULY frustrating close losses), and we returned a lot. However, I was also pretty nervous, as I was afraid that "a good Wyoming team" could immediately spoil our season by pulling off the upset in Champaign. Then we just came out and took care of business.

It would be really nice to not only iron out any kinks before traveling to Kansas but also to build up some confidence.
 
#148      

Dan

Dan
Admin
Dan
"Nearly 8,000 new season tickets sold for this fall, expect it surpass 9k, 92% renewal rate..

50 new points of sale on concessions at Memorial Stadium, will have multiple walk-thru concessions like at several professional stadiums. Will have in-seat service in west balcony in select areas..

Invested in $8 million in Memorial Stadium in last three years, bulk on east side, troughs are gone in bathrooms. After this season, plans to fully gut and remodel south bathrooms

Future timeline TBD: stadium four-pack (wi-fi, video board, LED lights, new sound system), price tag $25-$30 million"

www.wcia.com

Illinois AD Josh Whitman Media Roundtable 2023

CHAMPAIGN (WCIA) — Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman met with the media during his annual roundtable on Wednesday, recapping the 2022-23 school year, and looking ahead to the 2023-24 se…
www.wcia.com www.wcia.com
 
#149      

NoRival

NoRival
NoRival
Dan said:
"Nearly 8,000 new season tickets sold for this fall, expect it surpass 9k, 92% renewal rate..

50 new points of sale on concessions at Memorial Stadium, will have multiple walk-thru concessions like at several professional stadiums. Will have in-seat service in west balcony in select areas..

Invested in $8 million in Memorial Stadium in last three years, bulk on east side, troughs are gone in bathrooms. After this season, plans to fully gut and remodel south bathrooms

Future timeline TBD: stadium four-pack (wi-fi, video board, LED lights, new sound system), price tag $25-$30 million"

www.wcia.com

Illinois AD Josh Whitman Media Roundtable 2023

CHAMPAIGN (WCIA) — Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman met with the media during his annual roundtable on Wednesday, recapping the 2022-23 school year, and looking ahead to the 2023-24 se…
www.wcia.com www.wcia.com
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Nooooo!

Seriously, the troughs are a good thing. You want to get out of the bathroom asap and troughs keep guys moving. Also, peeing on the wall in the Horseshoe is an experience. My buddy told his son you can pee on the wall here, just don't do it at home!
 
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