Illini Football 2023

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#226      

Fighter of the Nightman

Fighter of the Nightman
Chicago, IL
Fighter of the Nightman
Ander1345 said:
There are teams on our schedule I would be much more upset about losing to than Toledo. MAC teams are always good for a upset now and then over P5. Look at Minnesota 2021, a shockingly competitive game vs Ohio State week 1and then they lost to Bowling Green 2 weeks later and still won 9 games that year. Losing to a MAC frontrunner in week 1 would be disappointing as heck but I wouldn't say the season is over so early.
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I would be more upset just because it would likely gut the current uptick in enthusiasm for the program among your more "casual" fan. :( Losing either of our first two games doesn't prevent us from having another great season, as neither Toledo nor Kansas are "bad" losses (especially the latter, being on the road). However, it might be the difference between a sellout vs. Penn State to broadcast Memorial Stadium and our program impressively to a national Big Noon Kickoff audience and an embarrassing 45k of the diehards in the stands.
 
#227      

Fighter of the Nightman

Fighter of the Nightman
Chicago, IL
Fighter of the Nightman
Also, I was looking for PSU tickets just now and while there are a ton available at very reasonable prices, I think a decent number have been sold for late July.

- West Main and West Balcony are practically guaranteed to be full (they usually are, even for mediocre attendance games), as every section is listed as either low availability or only singles remaining.
- There is a ton of availability in the top half of the Horseshoe, but the bottom half is sold out. The Horseshoe also seems to get decently full most games.
- The middle sections of East Main seem to be almost all sold out, but the sides (102 and 108) seem to have a lot of availability. However, East Main also seems to usually fill up if we can get over 40k, which I am absolutely sure we will. I know they play some games with the seats underneath the underhang becoming available for purchase, but I don't really care, as they are not visible and don't affect the atmosphere.
- The East Balcony has quite a bit of availability, but that is to be expected for late July, right? That is always the last area of the stadium to fill up.
- I'm sure the DIA will do everything possible to make sure the student section is full.

Considering so many people planning to attend have not purchased their tickets yet (including us!), I think this looks like a good start! I really hope we can get the stadium full for this one, given the "spotlight" that will be on the program. As we saw with MSU last year, over 55k makes the stadium look completely full, and I am cautiously optimistic we can get to that with the proper hype, as long as we don't start 0-2.

Pumped to get back to Memorial Stadium in decent weather for the first time in years!!
 
#228      

BRucks

BRucks
BRucks
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Also, I was looking for PSU tickets just now and while there are a ton available at very reasonable prices, I think a decent number have been sold for late July.

- West Main and West Balcony are practically guaranteed to be full (they usually are, even for mediocre attendance games), as every section is listed as either low availability or only singles remaining.
- There is a ton of availability in the top half of the Horseshoe, but the bottom half is sold out. The Horseshoe also seems to get decently full most games.
- The middle sections of East Main seem to be almost all sold out, but the sides (102 and 108) seem to have a lot of availability. However, East Main also seems to usually fill up if we can get over 40k, which I am absolutely sure we will. I know they play some games with the seats underneath the underhang becoming available for purchase, but I don't really care, as they are not visible and don't affect the atmosphere.
- The East Balcony has quite a bit of availability, but that is to be expected for late July, right? That is always the last area of the stadium to fill up.
- I'm sure the DIA will do everything possible to make sure the student section is full.

Considering so many people planning to attend have not purchased their tickets yet (including us!), I think this looks like a good start! I really hope we can get the stadium full for this one, given the "spotlight" that will be on the program. As we saw with MSU last year, over 55k makes the stadium look completely full, and I am cautiously optimistic we can get to that with the proper hype, as long as we don't start 0-2.

Pumped to get back to Memorial Stadium in decent weather for the first time in years!!
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"This date a year ago, we didn’t have 20,000 tickets distributed to one game. This year, we have at least 30,000 tickets distributed to all seven home games. That shows a pretty meaningful growth and really captures, again, the excitement people have around Illinois football. We’re anticipating that number to grow."

www.news-gazette.com

Quick hits with the AD: 'We're just getting started'

Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman stopped by the WDWS studios on Saturday morning to chat with Steve Kelly and Loren Tate on 'Illini Pella Saturday SportsTalk.' Here's five notable items
www.news-gazette.com www.news-gazette.com
 
#229      

Fighter of the Nightman

Fighter of the Nightman
Chicago, IL
Fighter of the Nightman
BRucks said:
"This date a year ago, we didn’t have 20,000 tickets distributed to one game. This year, we have at least 30,000 tickets distributed to all seven home games. That shows a pretty meaningful growth and really captures, again, the excitement people have around Illinois football. We’re anticipating that number to grow."

www.news-gazette.com

Quick hits with the AD: 'We're just getting started'

Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman stopped by the WDWS studios on Saturday morning to chat with Steve Kelly and Loren Tate on 'Illini Pella Saturday SportsTalk.' Here's five notable items
www.news-gazette.com www.news-gazette.com
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That's awesome! That 10k margin is absolutely huge.
 
#230      

Ransom Stoddard

Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
Bloomington, IL
Ransom Stoddard
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Huh, I wonder when that started? We came down for a game in 2018 and purchased some Coors Lights in Grange Grove.

We’ll have to remember to bring our own then, thank you!
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Somewhat related, Grange Grove has gotten so popular that reservations have to be made for spots this season rather than just showing up and claiming one.
 
#231      

Ryllini

Ryllini
Lombard
Ryllini
In all of your estimations, where do all of the "sleezeballs" sit where you can get nuts, weird , and vocal. I typically sit in the colonnades club and while I love the luxury it offers, but I do not care for taps on the back when Coach is telling me stand and be loud on 3rd down. I'm also a 41 year old man/child with no kids so I think sitting on the moon with the students might be out of the question. I'm a chameleon though, I think I could pull it off.
 
#232      

UofToledoFans

UofToledoFans
UofToledoFans
mhuml32 said:
We've been discussing the Toledo game off-and-on in this thread and the fear about kicking things off with the best MAC team. I'm still skittish about the game and any win will be satisfying, but I will add the following: Illinois has a bunch of schedule advantages after that game.

(1) One extra day of rest/prep compared to Penn State
(2) FAU has to play Clemson the week before Illinois
(3) Purdue will be playing Illinois in the middle of the toughest part of their schedule. They have @VT, Syracuse, and Wisconsin before Illinois, then @Iowa and Ohio State after. That's a gross schedule.
(4) One extra day of rest/prep compared to Maryland
(5) Wisconsin will be playing Illinois in between Iowa and Ohio State
(6) Get a bye before playing Minnesota
(7) Play Indiana late in the year and after they play @Michigan, Rutgers, @Penn State, & Wisconsin in the previous four weeks. Will Allen still be the head coach?
(8) Northwestern in the last week, as always. Getting Northwestern at the end of the year is going to be finally feel like an advantage after years of fired coaches or no bowl possibility sapping our team's motivation. The roles will (hopefully) be reversed.


Three games with extra rest compared to the opponent, a bye before an important West rival, and playing Indiana and Northwestern late in the year are some valuable schedule boosts.
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You also go from a night game in week 1 on Saturday to a Friday traveler... The letdown lookahead is possible. Even if you win week 1, the cards are a bit stacked against you for Kansas.
 
#233      

Illiniam1984

I
Illiniam1984
UofToledoFans said:
You also go from a night game in week 1 on Saturday to a Friday traveler... The letdown lookahead is possible. Even if you win week 1, the cards are a bit stacked against you for Kansas.
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Justin Timberlake Reaction GIF
 
#235      

mhuml32

mhuml32
Cincinnati, OH
mhuml32
UofToledoFans said:
You also go from a night game in week 1 on Saturday to a Friday traveler... The letdown lookahead is possible. Even if you win week 1, the cards are a bit stacked against you for Kansas.
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I talked about that earlier this summer that Bielema seemed content with taking one less day of rest against Kansas for one extra day for Penn State. Some game theory considerations at play there.

Normally I agree with the “looking ahead” concern but (a) it’s the first game of the year. You’ve spent so many months in preparation for this moment. You can’t convince me that you finally reach the point of the first game and you’ve decided to bypass that and look further down the schedule, and (b) the only way you could convince me of looking ahead during week 1 is if you have serious revenge on your mind for the next week. Kansas and Illinois effectively have no history so that wouldn’t apply.
 
#238      

UofToledoFans

UofToledoFans
UofToledoFans
mhuml32 said:
I talked about that earlier this summer that Bielema seemed content with taking one less day of rest against Kansas for one extra day for Penn State. Some game theory considerations at play there.

Normally I agree with the “looking ahead” concern but (a) it’s the first game of the year. You’ve spent so many months in preparation for this moment. You can’t convince me that you finally reach the point of the first game and you’ve decided to bypass that and look further down the schedule, and (b) the only way you could convince me of looking ahead during week 1 is if you have serious revenge on your mind for the next week. Kansas and Illinois effectively have no history so that wouldn’t apply.
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You're probably right. A night game will also get the juices flowing. Bielema being familiar with Toledo is also worrisome for the Rockets... But this is the only time Toledo will not be favored in 2023... so with no tape to go off of, the Illini will be getting the full playbook. Illinois has bigger fish to fry.
 
#239      

Point-Illinois

P
Point-Illinois
Lot of variables in the first 2 weeks.

Toledo returns a ton of production but it’s the first game of the year and on the road. Their experience may help overcome that but the first road game is always tough.

Which is exactly why I think we lose to Kansas. Our first true road game while still working out the kinks of the offense. I’m guessing Kansas firmly believes they would not have lost…what…6 of their last 7 if their QB1 hadn’t been hurt halfway through last season. (The same one that will be playing against us) If we contain him, we win. But I don’t think we will be able to. And they will have new confidence since he’s back.

2-1 is my prediction in the non-con.

But I’m hoping for 3-0!
 
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#241      

mhuml32

mhuml32
Cincinnati, OH
mhuml32
UofToledoFans said:
You're probably right. A night game will also get the juices flowing. Bielema being familiar with Toledo is also worrisome for the Rockets... But this is the only time Toledo will not be favored in 2023... so with no tape to go off of, the Illini will be getting the full playbook. Illinois has bigger fish to fry.
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Don’t get me wrong, Toledo is good enough to beat Illinois. This isn’t ‘22 Wyoming, where it became obvious early that all of the Craig Bohl magic couldn’t overcome the deluge of underclassmen they were playing in week 1 on the road. The recipe for Toledo beating Illinois is some combination of inexperienced secondary gets torched against good QB (Bielema Illinois teams have had a history of struggling in pass defense to start the year), Altmyer struggles, or Lunney struggles.

Toledo will have this as a kitchen sink game because they can dream of an undefeated season if they survive (wouldn’t call it likely but it’s possible). Can Finn carry his team? He’s a very talented QB but he’ll be tasked with an awful lot against a team with one of the best defensive lines in the country and he’s protected by a below average (at best) offensive line.
 
#242      

jimbo72

J
jimbo72
cookie86 said:
I feel like Illinois can beat anyone on there schedule but they can also lose to anyone on there schedule..... so probably end up at 6-6
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Agreed 💯
Toledo has everyone back from a championship team last year, Kansas has either 15 or 16 starters from last year's team and Road game. I quite frankly am more worried about these 2 teams than Wisconsin at home. 1 year to get used to an outstanding coach in Fickell. Iowa ton of starters back and a better Qb. Let's hope a son calling plays backfires on them? Maryland is loaded, but Coach Lock will always be an assistant vs. Head coach IMO.. but they may be so talented this year it won't matter.
I'm hoping for 8-4 or 9-3.
If our Db's shine after NFL exodus we may be in for a Special Season.
Any update on Matthew Bailey our super freshman from Moline?
 
#246      

UofToledoFans

UofToledoFans
UofToledoFans
mhuml32 said:
Don’t get me wrong, Toledo is good enough to beat Illinois. This isn’t ‘22 Wyoming, where it became obvious early that all of the Craig Bohl magic couldn’t overcome the deluge of underclassmen they were playing in week 1 on the road. The recipe for Toledo beating Illinois is some combination of inexperienced secondary gets torched against good QB (Bielema Illinois teams have had a history of struggling in pass defense to start the year), Altmyer struggles, or Lunney struggles.

Toledo will have this as a kitchen sink game because they can dream of an undefeated season if they survive (wouldn’t call it likely but it’s possible). Can Finn carry his team? He’s a very talented QB but he’ll be tasked with an awful lot against a team with one of the best defensive lines in the country and he’s protected by a below average (at best) offensive line.
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Toledo's OL returns 3 starters, plus one wouldbe starter who went out in Fall camp and missed all of 2022, and a Florida State transfer. Outside of special teams this is the most important yet unproven spot for the Rockets. Having the mobile QB will help neutralize the DL for Illinois if they do a lot of quick stuff to the boundary.
 
#247      

Ga65

G
Ga65
Remember Belicheck (when he was with Cleveland) being criticized for not taking a defensive back in the draft vs the defensive lineman he did take. His response was the best defensive back could only cover a receiver for x seconds so it was a waste if he didn’t have a line that could get to the QB in that time. The defensive line is going to do a lot to cover our inexperienced backs imo. Will probably give up some big plays but won’t get run over.
 
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