Watched this video at least twice when it first popped up on my feed earlier this year. Tried my best not to buy into it too much but he has a way of being really entertaining if a bit hyperbolic.
Illini Football 2023
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Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
I get what you’re saying . I don’t want to run Luke more than 2-3 times a game .
but I do think Paddock will be a capable backup if Luke gets rattled a little and needs a breather
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
I suspect that Northwestern at Rutgers will be neither a quality nor competitive game.
blackdog
- Champaign
I suspect the only reason it's on the list is because it's week 1 and most of the other power 5 schools are busy beating the pants off some school looking for a payday.
Here is the first edition of my Memorial Stadium Sellout Watch. I've counted all available tickets showing for Week 1 against Toledo and have estimated how many tickets have been sold thus far. I'll update these counts several times between now and the game and for each home game this season.
Several disclaimers:
1. The student section shows no tickets available for sale to the public. It is assumed that the student section will be sold out for this game.
2. Premium seating sections are also not captured in my tracker. It is assumed these sections will be sold out for the game as well.
3. Sections 101, 109, 123, and 131 currently show no available tickets for sale. Since these tickets are held back as overflow and/or visiting fan sections, they are currently showing as 100% unsold in my tracker. Obviously they won't be completely empty for the game, but they often are the emptiest sections in the lower stands. Typically these sections have blocks of seats that hit the public market the week of the game, so counts will be updated more accurately at that time.
4. The East Balcony sections all have several rows toward the top of the section that show no tickets available. These sections are held back presumably until the lower rows are sold. They have been accounted for in the tracker as unsold tickets despite their lack of visible available tickets.
Here's to a lively crowd experience in Memorial Stadium this season, and if we come out of the gates hot, maybe just maybe we break our pesky sellout-less streak.
Several disclaimers:
1. The student section shows no tickets available for sale to the public. It is assumed that the student section will be sold out for this game.
2. Premium seating sections are also not captured in my tracker. It is assumed these sections will be sold out for the game as well.
3. Sections 101, 109, 123, and 131 currently show no available tickets for sale. Since these tickets are held back as overflow and/or visiting fan sections, they are currently showing as 100% unsold in my tracker. Obviously they won't be completely empty for the game, but they often are the emptiest sections in the lower stands. Typically these sections have blocks of seats that hit the public market the week of the game, so counts will be updated more accurately at that time.
4. The East Balcony sections all have several rows toward the top of the section that show no tickets available. These sections are held back presumably until the lower rows are sold. They have been accounted for in the tracker as unsold tickets despite their lack of visible available tickets.
Here's to a lively crowd experience in Memorial Stadium this season, and if we come out of the gates hot, maybe just maybe we break our pesky sellout-less streak.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
^ Nice, great work! My lofty goals for us this year for attendance are:
1. Never get below 43k sold.
2. Get above 50k for all Big Ten games besides the doomed NU home game over Thanksgiving.
3. Get at least one sellout.
Not sure what your tracker shows for the PSU game, but if we can start off 2-0, that’s our best shot at a sellout in years. Name/ranked opponent, likely two undefeated teams, hyped Big Noon Kickoff fanfare (including the pregame show in Grange Grove) and beautiful weather.
1. Never get below 43k sold.
2. Get above 50k for all Big Ten games besides the doomed NU home game over Thanksgiving.
3. Get at least one sellout.
Not sure what your tracker shows for the PSU game, but if we can start off 2-0, that’s our best shot at a sellout in years. Name/ranked opponent, likely two undefeated teams, hyped Big Noon Kickoff fanfare (including the pregame show in Grange Grove) and beautiful weather.
Dan
Admin
Iowa cornerback edges Illinois lineman for preseason Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year
Voters ere almost evenly split on whether the Big Ten's best defensive player will be a playmaking cornerback or a menacing interior lineman.
www.cleveland.com
Assuming the numbers in parenthesis are first place votes… who in their right mind voted Minnesota #1?
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
I think 4th in the west is a fair-ish prediction for us. Personally, I think we can do better than Minnesota this year, but there sure are going to be a lot of 50/50 games on our schedule.
Iowa cornerback edges Illinois lineman for preseason Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year
Voters ere almost evenly split on whether the Big Ten's best defensive player will be a playmaking cornerback or a menacing interior lineman.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
Big Ten projected win totals for all 14 teams, best bets from Austin Mock's model
Austin Mock's model projects the win totals for all 14 teams in the Big Ten and makes some best bet picks based on those win totals.
theathletic.com
The model has us winning 6.6 games with a 75.8% chance to win at least 6 games. That is good enough for 7th overall and 3rd in the West (just ahead of Minnesota (see my last post)). It also gives us a 2.01% chance to win the B1G, which is the 6th best chance and better than double the chance for teams 8-14.
Illinifan533
- Normal, Illinois
As much as I like Fickell, I can't help but think the media is overhyping his impact in year 1 just like they were for Scott Frost and his "Year 2 Magic" at Nebraska. I just don't believe the Air Raid is going to translate all that well into the B1G.
The PSU game is next on my list! I'll share an update once I've done the initial count.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
On this note, has anyone heard details on Big Noon Kickoff festivities for the PSU game? I don't think anything official is out, but I thought I would check if any insiders or season ticket holders had some information. I can only assume they will have the pregame show set up in Grange Grove with the backdrop of a packed tailgating scene and the beautiful Memorial Stadium exterior behind it. I know it might seem like I have been melodramatic about this, but that PSU game is honestly monumental in changing the narrative of Memorial Stadium ... there very well might be recruits, media personalities, fans and casual observers who don't think twice about Memorial Stadium or Champaign right now and come away thinking we have one of the most underrated tailgating and gameday environments in the country if we do this right.
Epsilon
M tipping over
- Pdx
Dan
Admin
Jim Leonhard Named Illinois’ Senior Football Analyst - University of Illinois Athletics
Leonhard joins the Illini from Wisconsin, where he spent the last seven seasons on staff, including serving as interim head coach for seven games in 2022.
fightingillini.com
The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
Uhhh, holy sh*t. Good get! I did not expect to see that when I opened this thread. BB never ceases to impress.
illinidarrin
- from parts unknown
I never thought that would happen. Pretty good credentials. I Thought he would want to be a head coach somewhere. This may end up being a huge hire at the end of the year if another coach leaves.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
NW was heavily exploring the idea of him as HC …
That last sentence … Yes …
There’s quite a few players Wisconsin got because of him that we want …
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