Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I love the hubris of some schools that they can just have literally whomever they want for everything, haha. USC taking the UCLA AD would be hilarious.
I hear ya.First, I guess it depends what you mean by media. National? Big Ten? Local/Illini beat writers? Certainly on a national and even B1G level, it makes complete sense what they are concentrating upon. Illini hadn’t finished over .500 in regular season since 2007 and DeVito, Chase, and DW and company were huge reasons why they did last year and they are gone. For those writers, Illini need to prove last year wasn’t an aberration and we won’t sink back into mediocrity. And replenishing those positions successfully will go a long way to doing that.
I did see and mention the IW watch list snub. Randolph is getting good pub albeit most in tandem with Newton. But that’s to be expected. I have been a little surprised Jacas hasn’t gotten more press, though noticed The Athletic had him on some list. On a national and even B1G level media, I’m not surprised at all Bailey isn’t being mentioned. In fact I’d be shocked if he was especially now with the injury. Same for O-Line (should be a good unit but probably not standout enough to get national/B1G pub), though on local level they get mentioned fairly often. As for lack of mention of newcomers, the ‘23 class (both HS and transfers) is good for the Illini but wouldn’t warrant much publicity on the national/B1G level.
I get it — as fans we want to see our team and players garner plenty of positive media attention. But outside of local media, it’s not surprising that media is taking a more wait and see approach. Have to remember that including bowl game the Illini went 1-4 in their last 5 games. With DeVito, Chase and that secondary (I know there were injuries) that team couldn’t even avoid — record wise — sliding back to mediocrity before the season even ended. So when 3 strengths are gone, not surprising that is what media concentrates on for the upcoming season.
He chose the better opportunity at the time. Don't blame him a bit. Love that he's joined the staff to commence his career.Exactly my thoughts. Just hope he’s been rehearsing his reply when asked why he went to ND rather than Illinois. Of course Lovie was coach then, so maybe that’s enough of an answer right there.
I could see MSU falling on their face this year.
I could see MSU falling on their face this year.
Paying Mel Tucker nearly $100mm guaranteed over 10 years based on a single season in which an outlier portal transfer RB almost singlehandedly carried the team to success seems outrageously poor judgment, even by MSU standards. I hope for continued annual faceplants, though it will mean I can't enjoy the schadenfreude of them beating Michigan occasionally.wouldn't kill me
That loss last year was so tough to take ... there was not a moment of that game where I felt like we "should" lose to MSU, even on their best day. The Indiana game was frustrating, but it was early. The Michigan game was a heartbreaker, but we knew Michigan was better. Purdue was infuriating, but they were an evenly matched team that managed to beat us on our field when a trip to Indy was on the line.Paying Mel Tucker nearly $100mm guaranteed over 10 years based on a single season in which an outlier portal transfer RB almost singlehandedly carried the team to success seems outrageously poor judgment, even by MSU standards. I hope for continued annual faceplants, though it will mean I can't enjoy the schadenfreude of them beating Michigan occasionally.
He entered the portal and had the chance to transfer during BB's tenure but didn't. I may be in the minority here, but not excited at all about this hire. Would imagine that there are former players who would be eager to get into a role like this.Exactly my thoughts. Just hope he’s been rehearsing his reply when asked why he went to ND rather than Illinois. Of course Lovie was coach then, so maybe that’s enough of an answer right there.
Aiden has been 4th in the rotation reps wise.(McCray, Love, Anderson, Laughery)Possible sleeper picks for Fr/redshirt contributors?
-Aidan Laughery (we really could use a speed back to emerge, injury questions aside)
-Shawn Miller (boundary receiver #3 spot is wide open, same issue reg. injuries)
-Brandon Henderson (I think staff would burn the redshirt if he can crack the top 7 on the line, we could really use an extra option at tackle)
-Jojo Hayden (Loved his film + physically ready to be a depth option)
-Saboor Kerriem (Depends on how secondary rotation plays out)
-Zach Tobe (Same questions on secondary rotation + how long Bailey is out)
Plus the literal adding insults via fake injuries on every play made the game sporadic and unwatchable.That loss last year was so tough to take ... there was not a moment of that game where I felt like we "should" lose to MSU, even on their best day. The Indiana game was frustrating, but it was early. The Michigan game was a heartbreaker, but we knew Michigan was better. Purdue was infuriating, but they were an evenly matched team that managed to beat us on our field when a trip to Indy was on the line.
That MSU loss was just ...
Aiden has been 4th in the rotation reps wise.(McCray, Love, Anderson, Laughery)
Hank Beatty and Malik are ahead of Shawn right now based on reps in camp.
Brandon has a chance to see good minutes and crack the top 7.
JoJo is probably 5th on the depth chart at ILB.
Saboor and Tobe are corners and they could crack the top 6. The safety rotation right now without Bailey has been Miles Scott, Demetrius Hill and Nicario Harper.
Aiden has been 4th in the rotation reps wise.(McCray, Love, Anderson, Laughery)
Hank Beatty and Malik are ahead of Shawn right now based on reps in camp.
Brandon has a chance to see good minutes and crack the top 7.
JoJo is probably 5th on the depth chart at ILB.
Saboor and Tobe are corners and they could crack the top 6. The safety rotation right now without Bailey has been Miles Scott, Demetrius Hill and Nicario Harper.
I personally would be happy with only eight overtimes. Actually, because I live in Pennsylvania, I really want a win, or at least a competitive showing. But I shouldn’t mention that, because a win is what we need. Believe!10-2. We will be ranked for the first time after we annihilate Ped State.
might want to put Malik Elzy on that listPossible sleeper picks for Fr/redshirt contributors?
-Aidan Laughery (we really could use a speed back to emerge, injury questions aside)
-Shawn Miller (boundary receiver #3 spot is wide open, same issue reg. injuries)
-Brandon Henderson (I think staff would burn the redshirt if he can crack the top 7 on the line, we could really use an extra option at tackle)
-Jojo Hayden (Loved his film + physically ready to be a depth option)
-Saboor Kerriem (Depends on how secondary rotation plays out)
-Zach Tobe (Same questions on secondary rotation + how long Bailey is out)
And neither of us have even mentioned the crazy wind affecting the game play, our biggest crowd in literal YEARS being on hand for this one and the momentary validation of the "this is why we can't have nice things" attitude our fans have adopted over the years ... it was nothing short of sickening.Plus the literal adding insults via fake injuries on every play made the game sporadic and unwatchable.
As long as it doesn’t slow down our snaps this year…..I could see MSU falling on their face this year.
I think that was the week after the big locker room fight with Michigan so they had guys suspended too. I remember wondering if all the negative attention that week would rally them. Backbreaking lossThat loss last year was so tough to take ... there was not a moment of that game where I felt like we "should" lose to MSU, even on their best day. The Indiana game was frustrating, but it was early. The Michigan game was a heartbreaker, but we knew Michigan was better. Purdue was infuriating, but they were an evenly matched team that managed to beat us on our field when a trip to Indy was on the line.
That MSU loss was just ...