Illinois 30, Toledo 28 Postgame

#377      
BB stated in a presser today that Barnes 1st half penalty was an unsportsmanlike conduct " taunting " penalty...................
Would like to see a replay of that "taunting." Such a frustrating rule because it is applied so inconsistently. In the same game, in every one that I watch, there are multiple instances of guys gesturing/celebrating. Would be nice if the officials would explain what constitutes taunting and apply it consistently. But that is a large ask, I understand.
 
#380      
I’m old, really old, but Block I now isn’t what it once was. Now it’s just anyone who shows up. Bs k in the day we had our own section, we had our own tickets and came in through the Northeast Gate, right onto the track and then up to the stands. East Block was was about the 40 yard line, filling a section. West Block was in West Balcony (when it was as big as the East Balcony is now).

To be a member of Block I you had to come to a practice before the first game. You learned how to quickly pass the dickies and clip your stunt card to the dickie of person in front of you.

You learned how to handle your cards so you wouldn’t be seen shuffling through them. You’d know how to lean down over your cards together, then come up together, then back down. Hold the card to your nose.

Is this rocket surgery? No. But you knew what you were doing and you looked like America’s first card section. It was something to be proud being part of. And even for students who were watching, it was not just something thrown together. I don’t fault the student leaders of Block I today. They have an impossible task. Go back to two Blocks, West Msin and East Balcony. Yep, won’t happen.

I just feel, returning after having been away for decades, students are getting the short end of the stick.
Its up to the students to make it special. The University of Illinois no longer has THOSE students.
 
#382      
Would like to see a replay of that "taunting." Such a frustrating rule because it is applied so inconsistently. In the same game, in every one that I watch, there are multiple instances of guys gesturing/celebrating. Would be nice if the officials would explain what constitutes taunting and apply it consistently. But that is a large ask, I understand.
Yes, you're exactly right. It changed the entire nature of the game and we as fans have no idea if it was justified or not.
 
#384      
We went to game Saturday, was elated to walk out with W. I just re watched the game this evening and our defense from the line,lb's and db's. Was called nearly exactly 💯 like our Bowl game against Mississippi St..
Please go back to blitz packages nearly every series that give us a chance at leading every game in take aways. Without this and our offense running game is not going to equal a special season IMO. Finally, Tip can do amazing things in passing game when not being used to Block, throw him the ball per our 1st series of Toledo game. Opens every one up and how about some wheel routes for our man Love.
I hope we were holding back for week 2 and 3! Go Illini!
 
#385      
1. 3 defensive linemen with almost no blitzers helping aren't going to wear down anybody'
2. Ryan Walters said that his defensive schemes were getting torched, until he brought pressure constantly.
3. Buddy Ryan said that Weeb Eubank said the most important part of a successful offense was keeping pressure off the quarterback. Buddy decided that if that's the case, the most important thing for his defense to do was put pressure on the QB.
4. Ryan Walters left before the bowl game and we brought very little pressure because we didn't trust the DBs who got to play since the NFL prospects were sitting out. Against Toledo we didn't bring pressure because we were trying (but failing) to contain the QB.
5. IMHO, please pressure the QB instead of giving him all day to decide what to do, and for someone to get open.
 
#386      
late 90's early 2000s.

Block I got in trouble for the Michigan game in 2000. 6:30 kickoff, the usually sparsely to moderately full block was overfilled, TON of completely wasted students. The card stunts didn't have a chance, it was just 10 minutes of confetti, cards flying everywhere. After we got screwed over on the Anthony Thomas short TD where his knee was down, and the Rocky Harvey fumble where his arm was down first, some students got a little rowdy and started throwing stuff at the Michigan bench. We didn't have a night game for quite a while after that.
I was there for that one. Gave our season tickets to my in-laws and bought a couple of scalped tickets that turned out to be in the student section. Mind you, we are in our upper 40s at this point. Students had definitely been seriously partying before the game and continued to do so in the stadium. Offered us all manner of drink. Treated me like being one of the boys while being very courteous to my wife. After the game my wife agreed that it was wild, that it took us back to our college days and that we would never do it again.
 
#388      
1. 3 defensive linemen with almost no blitzers helping aren't going to wear down anybody'
2. Ryan Walters said that his defensive schemes were getting torched, until he brought pressure constantly.
3. Buddy Ryan said that Weeb Eubank said the most important part of a successful offense was keeping pressure off the quarterback. Buddy decided that if that's the case, the most important thing for his defense to do was put pressure on the QB.
4. Ryan Walters left before the bowl game and we brought very little pressure because we didn't trust the DBs who got to play since the NFL prospects were sitting out. Against Toledo we didn't bring pressure because we were trying (but failing) to contain the QB.
5. IMHO, please pressure the QB instead of giving him all day to decide what to do, and for someone to get open.
We were in a specialty defense to contain their QB. It worked except for the penalties.
It was also not really the way our defense is designed per our talent. It's a double edged sword.
Had we played clean football we would have won by 2-3 touchdowns. the scheme was fine,
the execution was not. we might not play that scheme again, except for next week, that QB is
also extremely mobile. Lets just not beat ourselves with penalties. I will not speak of a coach who
doesn't work for us anymore.

We've beaten this to death, a win is a win.
Could Self suit up for KU for a cheap shot?
Wipe that smirk off his face. (i'd take that personal foul)
 
#389      
Offensive grades with regards to EPA for Illinois came out (think of it as pts added per play):

Bryant: +1.56
Reiman: +1.29
Washington: +1.25
Williams: +0.76
Altmyer: +0.75
Love: +0.23
McCray: -0.32

Overall, really good numbers out of the receivers, TE, and QB. Would like to see a bit more out of Love, but still net positive play, which is what you want. Really, McCray was the lone standout in not making expected yardage and pts based on down and distance. Confirms the eye test. Blocking obviously has to be better, but definitely going to need more production out of Josh in the games to come.
 
#390      

altgeld88

Arlington, Virginia
I was in the west stands for that robbery.
Ditto. Most recent time I've attended a home game. What I remember vividly is walking down the ramp after the game with the visiting fans singing "Isn't it great to be a Michigan Wolverine!"

Tools. Absolutely no self-awareness concerning the outright theft we'd just witnessed.
 
#391      

ChiefGritty

Chicago, IL
1. 3 defensive linemen with almost no blitzers helping aren't going to wear down anybody'
2. Ryan Walters said that his defensive schemes were getting torched, until he brought pressure constantly.
3. Buddy Ryan said that Weeb Eubank said the most important part of a successful offense was keeping pressure off the quarterback. Buddy decided that if that's the case, the most important thing for his defense to do was put pressure on the QB.
4. Ryan Walters left before the bowl game and we brought very little pressure because we didn't trust the DBs who got to play since the NFL prospects were sitting out. Against Toledo we didn't bring pressure because we were trying (but failing) to contain the QB.
5. IMHO, please pressure the QB instead of giving him all day to decide what to do, and for someone to get open.
Walters was obsessed with dropping 8 in the 3rd down scenarios when other DC's often like to bring pressure. Very noticeable from the very beginning under Bielema, it was his calling card.

Why? His personal defensive philosophy maybe, but when you have 3 of the top 66 picks in the draft back there in coverage, it makes a lot of sense to lean on them, and we did that to tremendous effect.

Miles Scott's performance shows we haven't lost the ability to coach that stuff, but the balance of where NFL scouts are interested in our defense has shifted, so perhaps our strategy should too.
 
#392      
Quick attendance comment(s)...

1. That is awesome that we got our highest opening attendance since 2010! Well done, Illini fans. When you actually go look at the attendance numbers in 2009 and 2010, it becomes really clear that we were definitely still benefiting from the 2008 post-Rose Bowl spike ... so that is even more impressive.

2. It looks like @IlliniInBuckeyeState has his final estimate at 46,546, with the caveat that he expected day-of sales to push us over 47,000. He has also been very clear the whole time that his tracker is meant to be somewhat conservative. So, given that we were seeing estimates of SIGNIFICANTLY lower ticket sales, a big hats off to his amazing work, as our final attendance ended up being 48,898!

3. Regardless of the result vs. KU, if we can draw almost 49k for Toledo (night game or not), I am now very confident we can push to ~52k at worst and possibly above 55k vs. PSU ... dare I say even push for a sellout if we can beat KU!

4. This is what 48,898 looked like on Saturday night, by the way:

F5N_8IsWAAAYLDQ

As you can see, we are not that far from filling in the corners and last rows of the upper deck here. In other words, if we can get to 53k or above, the PSU crowd will look good on TV, and anything above 55k is going to look absolutely packed! As has been discussed quite often, this is due to a couple thousand seats being underneath the East Balcony overhang. Either way, I am super encouraged by the support our fan base provided last weekend, and I am now quite confident that Memorial Stadium will be rockin' for Big Noon Kickoff!!
 
#393      

Illini2010-11

Sugar Grove
Asking for a friend--
Does Illinois now "have Toledo's number"?
To be fair, that Toledo fan helped us get to 25 pages of pregame posts. Without 2-3 pages of him/her bashing Bielema and many other pages of 80% nonsense, we would probably only have seen about 15 pages of posts.

"Toledo Fans" should not be walking up to Bielema's face laughing now that Toledo no longer has Bielema's "number"...though somehow I do not think Saturday's results will change that person's mind, since Toledo has outscored Bielema's teams 44-42. Have to move the goal posts ;)
 
#394      
Quick attendance comment(s)...
...

F5N_8IsWAAAYLDQ

...
Also ... my weekly attempt at MS Paint to reimagine an even more glorious Memorial Stadium using an existing photo, making the East Balcony match the West Balcony a bit better and redistributing the capacity that was underneath the East Balcony overhang to fill in the Horseshoe a bit more, with the goal of having about the same capacity!

MS New.png

GOD, she's a thing of beauty!
 
#395      

Kramerica Industries

Greenville, SC
Ditto. Most recent time I've attended a home game. What I remember vividly is walking down the ramp after the game with the visiting fans singing "Isn't it great to be a Michigan Wolverine!"

Tools. Absolutely no self-awareness concerning the outright theft we'd just witnessed.
We went to the Clybourne after the game where we then watched ESPN show the replays over and over of the Refs blowing the calls on Sportscenter. Good times.
 
#396      

altgeld88

Arlington, Virginia
We went to the Clybourne after the game where we then watched ESPN show the replays over and over of the Refs blowing the calls on Sportscenter. Good times.
My brother and I made the long walk back to the B&B in Urbana where we were staying via Mt. Hope Cemetery. It seemed appropriate. He's a Michigan alum and was somewhat embarrassed of his team's victory, and of the poor behavior of the visiting fans. Not that it was any consolation.
 
#397      
Crucial plays that really hurt us:

1) Late first half - Toledo QB scrambles on 3rd and 27, gets in FG range. Edge Zone with a ILB blitz gets rushers too far up the field and creates space for them to get in FG range. Toledo center gets away with a bit of a hold on Rosiek, but still a missed opportunity to keep it 7-3.
I thought that was 💯 a hold and one of the most blatantly missed calls all day. The center was beat badly and had to hold on for dear life to save his QB.
 
#398      
Also ... my weekly attempt at MS Paint to reimagine an even more glorious Memorial Stadium using an existing photo, making the East Balcony match the West Balcony a bit better and redistributing the capacity that was underneath the East Balcony overhang to fill in the Horseshoe a bit more, with the goal of having about the same capacity!

View attachment 27970
GOD, she's a thing of beauty!
Honestly, the horseshoe doesn't bother me nearly as much from this angle. And honestly I think it's cool you can see the trees behind the stadium.

This leads me to believe my issue (which I think is a common issue amongst everyone on the board) stems from the distance between the end zone and the horseshoe. Tighten that up and I think you can get away without doing too much work on it.
 
#399      

Kramerica Industries

Greenville, SC
Also ... my weekly attempt at MS Paint to reimagine an even more glorious Memorial Stadium using an existing photo, making the East Balcony match the West Balcony a bit better and redistributing the capacity that was underneath the East Balcony overhang to fill in the Horseshoe a bit more, with the goal of having about the same capacity!

View attachment 27970
GOD, she's a thing of beauty!
Time to lower the field and finally dig that bulldozer up. Oh and then rebuild the horseshoe on top of the south end zone of course.
 
#400      
Ditto. Most recent time I've attended a home game. What I remember vividly is walking down the ramp after the game with the visiting fans singing "Isn't it great to be a Michigan Wolverine!"

Tools. Absolutely no self-awareness concerning the outright theft we'd just witnessed.
I dunno, I think they knew exactly what they were doing. It's like why certain rich and powerful people cheat at golf, doesn't have much of anything to do with winning the game but it's a power play to be able to cheat right in front of you knowing that you can't say a thing about it.

Those guys get away with stuff, and they know it, and knowing it is part of the buzz.