Illinois 20, Northwestern 13 Postgame

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#176      
TheDrinkinLincoln
OrangeBlue98 said:
I said at the start of the season that 8-4 would show me the program is building something sustainable. It hasn’t always been pretty, and I’m still not 100% convinced. But it was 8-4, so they hit the minimum goal I had for the season.

Now to find a new defensive coordinator, secondary coach, and offensive line coach.
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This program has come a long way that 8 wins is the acceptable floor. It's not flashy but that is growth to a respectable program.

Next year is going to be tough with all the veteran leadership leaving, but I think BB has the engine running and some tweaks we can keep growing.
 
#177      
GoodePodzMelendez
This is the first game in a while that they moved Jacas around to avoid any doubles on him. Rosiak saved the game with his blitz to stop the runner 3 yards behind the LOS. Miles Scott had his best game as an Illini and Heckel also played his best game even with a few misplays. I still scratch by head on some of Lunney’s calls as he calls too many trick plays. Last night we had a solid run duo of Laughery and Valentine. Clement came up big as well as Dixon. We really need to focus on tackling as we still take bad angles and refuse to wrap up. Hood is a perfect example. Bailey sometimes hits instead of wrapping up. Priestly on the line is a head scratcher. Sometimes I do not know where his head is. I cannot believe we do not have a better option which leads me to believe that Miller not only has failed developing the current starters as they have regressed to not having our backups developed to challenge for a spot. But it’s obvious that Miller will be gone. Staff changes are inevitable as overall, this has been a slightly disappointing season even though we will get to a decent bowl.
 
#178      
HensonHall71
RabidDawgClassic said:
This may have been discussed in the game thread, but how was this not an unnecessary roughness penalty with the ref standing right there watching???

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I thought the same thing watching it live- the issue is it’s hard to tell when the whistle was blown and the refs just don’t blow the whistle after forward momentum is stopped anymore. I guess it’s because they don’t want to blow the play dead if there is a fumble (we saw that is the OSU game on Valentines fumble- being driven back three yards and then fumbling). But it’s the opposite of player safety- and I don’t understand it
 
#179      
TheChief4Life
HensonHall71 said:
I thought the same thing watching it live- the issue is it’s hard to tell when the whistle was blown and the refs just don’t blow the whistle after forward momentum is stopped anymore.
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This. And it was BAAAAAAD last night. They wouldn't blow a whistle for forward momentum until a good 5 to 6 seconds after momentum had stopped.
 
#182      
Bbuck21
Why I can't picture me moving/retiring where I wouldn't experience all 4 seasons. There is something special about each and it keeps life interesting. I would have loved to have been there. But, all things considered (family commitments on Sunday, my trip from Lake Co. is 3 hours each way normally, driving by myself, etc.) it would not have been a very smart decision to go. Just reading how much fun people had, is fun to read. I hope everyone enjoyed the experience and remained safe.
 
#187      
JKR
Dan said:
Saturday night's contest marked the most snow at a home game in Gies Memorial Stadium history.

Illinois has 8+ wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1989-90. The Illini have never won 9+ games in back-to-back seasons.

Bret Bielema is the first head coach in Illinois history to win 8+ games three times in a four-year span. The last time Illinois achieved the feat from 1901-04, the program's 1904 season was coached by a group of four alumni.

fightingillini.com

Illinois Wins Whiteout for the Hat, 20-13 - University of Illinois Athletics

Keeping the Hat for the second straight season, the Illini improved to 8-4 in 2025.
fightingillini.com fightingillini.com
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They keep stats on the amount of snowfall?
 
#190      
OrangeBlue98
They probably used some info from the National Weather Service or one of the TV stations. It’s not a lot different from getting info on record high or low temps for a given day.
 
#192      
hhoene
I'd be ok with Lunney leaving too but an o-line coach is the big priority
 
#194      
lstewart53x3
OrangeBlue98 said:
I said at the start of the season that 8-4 would show me the program is building something sustainable. It hasn’t always been pretty, and I’m still not 100% convinced. But it was 8-4, so they hit the minimum goal I had for the season.

Now to find a new defensive coordinator, secondary coach, and offensive line coach.
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From Robert’s post game article:

Home record in 2012 and 2013: 5-9
Home record in 2016 and 2017: 4-10
Home record in 2024 and 2025: 12-2

And you aren’t convinced!?
www.illiniboard.com

King Of The Mountain

I don't know why, but back in Highland, we called it King Of The Mountain, not King of The Hill. We'd go up to the Super Value parking lot, we'd climb on the big mound of snow from when they cleared off the parking lot at the grocery store, and
www.illiniboard.com www.illiniboard.com
 
#197      
My2Cents
Sounds like a nice visit by the neighbor lady, with some fresh "brownies", is needed :) Hope you get to feeling better soon Pru!
 
#198      
OrangeBlue98
Stop having that annual WTF loss, and I’ll be convinced.

Had either one of these two things not happened this season, I’d feel a lot better.

1) Lose to a Wisconsin team that Iowa beat by five touchdown.

2) Not get totally blown out of the stadium by Indiana.
 
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#199      
BretMyBeachHouse
Fighter of the Nightman said:
Pretty much where I’m at … my thoughts on the season are quite simplistic and somewhat conflicting, lol.

1) This new vibe was unimaginable before BB got here, and my 30,000 foot view is nothing short of simply thankful. The transformation has been amazing, and I’m happy with 8 wins. I just want to be proud, and I can be.

2) The fact is, this was an amazing opportunity to take even ANOTHER extra step up in the pecking order this year with two 10-win seasons in a row, and it’s patently obvious that the (mostly) inept defense held us back. We didn’t realize our potential this year, even if we should still be thankful.

Why can’t both be true? We are in a place where we should be thankful, but we left a lot on the table.
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I'm of this mind as well. A couple of additional points.

I think the O-line for me was more frustrating than the defense. Between time of possession and field position, I think some of the line failures didn't help our defense, especially as it's set up.

Also, it's amazing how just a position or two can have such a dramatic impact on performance. The blue bloods don't have that issue because they can yank a player and go to the 2 deep. For programs like us, that doesn't happen.

This season re minds me of '84. High expectations with the key offensive players returning. But the players who left were more important than many of us realized and the new players less capable than we hoped.
 
#200      
GoodePodzMelendez
It’s an ok season. We regressed and was exposed. Our OL definitely regressed. Jacas in several instanceees could not shake the double team. Henry really misused him. Instead of moving away from the double team, he either was taken out of the play or he dropped into coverage as we only rushed 3. I hate the 3-4. Unless you have stud linebackers who can plug holes or rush from the edge, this defense can be exposed. I hope the next DC goes to a 4-3 where we can get more pressure on the QB and stop the run.
 
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