Illinois 38, Rutgers 31 Postgame
- Status
The best thing to happen to the offensive line is having McCray as the 6th or 7th blocker!
I've mentioned this game before. I was east main just under the balcony. When Rooks scored, it was the loudest sound I have ever heard.
Actually more reminds me of 2007, 4th quarter, 4th down and we are going to punt until anOSU calls timeout. Just in time to allow Juice to convince Zook to go for it.
Orangetool
Give me back my Afta, heh heh
Kinda feel sorry for Rutger's DB #24.
On Bryant's historic final play he took perhaps the worst pursuit angle I've seen in recent years, then fell down.
Just kinda.
On Bryant's historic final play he took perhaps the worst pursuit angle I've seen in recent years, then fell down.
Just kinda.
Ah okay, thanks. I know Ed Bond usually would post something from inside the radio booth.
He was out there at the beginning of the game (he ran a bad route). Didn’t see him take a snap all second half, pretty concerning.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
The Kreutz brothers with a solid game.
That is so cool. I figured there would be a lot of people checking in. As soon as we got back to our car we put the game on my phone while we had sandwiches while the parking lot cleared. (Note: Rutgers has “awnings” over the RAC parking lot that are actually large solar panels).
We live about 90 miles west of Rutgers so hustled home after dinner and caught the volleyball match versus UCLA. Alas that turn out as well as football and basketball. A rally late in the fourth set fell just short. Can’t have it all, I suppose.
Re fans in the seats, looking at the home side from visitors side, there appeared to be more vacant seats than filled. The end zones were worse and the balconies almost empty. Fans leaving early seems to be a Rutgers thing, whether football or basketball. There’s movement if their team is ahead. If their team has little chance of winning there’s a mass exodus. Embarrassing.
Another observation. Crappy scoreboard. I kept looking for the stats we have on ours and it’s just not there.
ILL chants. It is in bad form to do that in soneone else’s house? I guess if it’s not taunting the hometown folks… Maybe because this game and Maryland are the only chance(d) Illinois expats in the east have to see a game together we celebrate more when we get together.
Big plays happen when you opponents make big mistakes. Not making mistakes is part of being the better team.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Some thoughts after returning from NJ last night having seen an absolute Illini miracle in person with my Illini brother @Retro62 .
- There's nothing to add about that final play. Watching it unfold surrounded by a group of around 8-10 Rutgers fans who stayed to the end and were really friendly people the whole afternoon was something I'll remember to my dying day, if I don't lose my mind in the interim. From confusion after our FG attempt about what was going on (how can you give an opposing HC a chance to reconsider a 57-year field goal kicked directly into a gale), to hope that we might have a chance to get closer, to elation that PB caught the ball and had space to run, to relief that he would get out of bounds around the 20 and we'd have a shot at a reasonable FG, to utter disbelief after he turned the corner that he was gonna score, to the instant reaction of the Rutgers group around us: "Let's get out of here." And then my exclamation "What the f*&k just happened?!" Basically up there as one of the most disorienting ~ one-minute periods of my life.
- I've been watching college ball in person since I was in first grade. I've never seen anything like that sitting in the stands and likely never will again.
- As someone else noted, the deliberate imposition of sound system noise at excruciating decibels when the Illini set up to snap EVERY FREAKING PLAY was ridiculous. I understand that Schiano probably mandates it because their crowd isn't sufficient to give them that advantage. But the league needs to shut it down. And BTW their crowd on its own could make some serious noise when the situation required it.
- I liked SHI Stadium. It's built into the side of a hill. We don't win that game without the fact that the field is well below ground level from the prevailing WNW winds, which blew at ~15-20 mph the entire game. (Of course, just our luck, in the 4th quarter the wind turned around and began to blow form the WSW, so we were driving into it at the end.) No way Luke could have thrown accurately into or with that wind all day. At field level it was much calmer and that gave us a chance. Even then it caused problems and the ball often floated or got held up short. It was a game suited for Rutgers' running game, and Kaliakmanis took advantage of it on some spectacular scrambles. Anyway, it's a nice place to see a game. A sunken bowl close to the field with excellent sightlines and a couple balconies that were well under 25% full. Can't imagine how cold it was up there in the east balcony with temps in the high 40s and that wind.
- This was our second trip to Rutgers in a year. Saw the Illini basketball victory in the RAC last December. If you ever have the chance to see hoops there, do it. It's a tiny, steep arena and it rocks. One of my favorite all-time places to see a basketball game. I'll also head back to a future football game. The stadium is across the river from campus in Piscataway but it's an easy 30-minute walk through a beautiful park, across a short vehicle bridge with a pedestrian walkway, and then a wooded park along the river where people tailgate. I parked in a garage in downtown New Brunswick for 10 hours, a mere five-minute walk from the old quad, and paid only $17.
- The core of the old campus on the New Brunswick side of the river is beautiful. Several old stone buildings from the early 1800s and a gorgeous classic quad. The place got started in 1766. By U.S. standards it's ancient. Unfortunately, it has a fair amount of hideous 1960s and '70s architecture, too. Coincidentally, the exterior of the old College Gym, where the BB team played until the RAC was built in the late '70s, resembles Huff Gymnasium.
- Finally, we both remarked yet again on how friendly and chill Rutgers fans are. Same as at the basketball game a year ago. They were hospitable to us all day long and had a sort of "anticipatory nut punch" humor about their football program that was spectacularly vindicated yesterday. Even after that ending, as we were standing there gaping at what had just happened and Rutgers fans were streaming up the steps to exit, lots of them congratulated us on the win.
- After the game we headed back across the river to a tavern in the heart of the campus town for beer, stromboli, and more football on TV at the bar. It was packed and lots of people came up to us and congratulated us on the win. Only one guy was a tool and kvetched about the officiating and how in his view it gifted us the game. Anyway, we commented about how much we like hanging with the Rutgers fans and one guy noted that their hospitality is partially because they're not fanatical about their programs the way, say, Ohio State or Penn State fans are. They just enjoy the tailgating and camaraderie, and the games, and let the chips fall where they may.
- If you have the chance to attend games there, do it. It's refreshing, particularly because the two of us (living in the DC area) are regularly subject to Maryland fans. The basketball ones in particular are the lowest of low-rent, hostile, profane troglodytes. Delusional entitlement psychology paired with bitter insecurity. Rutgers is a welcome, 180-degree, respite from that.
- Lots of fellow Illini fans there. Wonderful to see.
- I really enjoy visiting New Jersey for games. I lived ~ 30 minutes away from the stadium in Northern Jersey for the better part of a year in my first job out of Illinois in '90/'91; in the intervening decades I never thought I would ever type the preceding sentence.
- There's nothing to add about that final play. Watching it unfold surrounded by a group of around 8-10 Rutgers fans who stayed to the end and were really friendly people the whole afternoon was something I'll remember to my dying day, if I don't lose my mind in the interim. From confusion after our FG attempt about what was going on (how can you give an opposing HC a chance to reconsider a 57-year field goal kicked directly into a gale), to hope that we might have a chance to get closer, to elation that PB caught the ball and had space to run, to relief that he would get out of bounds around the 20 and we'd have a shot at a reasonable FG, to utter disbelief after he turned the corner that he was gonna score, to the instant reaction of the Rutgers group around us: "Let's get out of here." And then my exclamation "What the f*&k just happened?!" Basically up there as one of the most disorienting ~ one-minute periods of my life.
- I've been watching college ball in person since I was in first grade. I've never seen anything like that sitting in the stands and likely never will again.
- As someone else noted, the deliberate imposition of sound system noise at excruciating decibels when the Illini set up to snap EVERY FREAKING PLAY was ridiculous. I understand that Schiano probably mandates it because their crowd isn't sufficient to give them that advantage. But the league needs to shut it down. And BTW their crowd on its own could make some serious noise when the situation required it.
- I liked SHI Stadium. It's built into the side of a hill. We don't win that game without the fact that the field is well below ground level from the prevailing WNW winds, which blew at ~15-20 mph the entire game. (Of course, just our luck, in the 4th quarter the wind turned around and began to blow form the WSW, so we were driving into it at the end.) No way Luke could have thrown accurately into or with that wind all day. At field level it was much calmer and that gave us a chance. Even then it caused problems and the ball often floated or got held up short. It was a game suited for Rutgers' running game, and Kaliakmanis took advantage of it on some spectacular scrambles. Anyway, it's a nice place to see a game. A sunken bowl close to the field with excellent sightlines and a couple balconies that were well under 25% full. Can't imagine how cold it was up there in the east balcony with temps in the high 40s and that wind.
- This was our second trip to Rutgers in a year. Saw the Illini basketball victory in the RAC last December. If you ever have the chance to see hoops there, do it. It's a tiny, steep arena and it rocks. One of my favorite all-time places to see a basketball game. I'll also head back to a future football game. The stadium is across the river from campus in Piscataway but it's an easy 30-minute walk through a beautiful park, across a short vehicle bridge with a pedestrian walkway, and then a wooded park along the river where people tailgate. I parked in a garage in downtown New Brunswick for 10 hours, a mere five-minute walk from the old quad, and paid only $17.
- The core of the old campus on the New Brunswick side of the river is beautiful. Several old stone buildings from the early 1800s and a gorgeous classic quad. The place got started in 1766. By U.S. standards it's ancient. Unfortunately, it has a fair amount of hideous 1960s and '70s architecture, too. Coincidentally, the exterior of the old College Gym, where the BB team played until the RAC was built in the late '70s, resembles Huff Gymnasium.
- Finally, we both remarked yet again on how friendly and chill Rutgers fans are. Same as at the basketball game a year ago. They were hospitable to us all day long and had a sort of "anticipatory nut punch" humor about their football program that was spectacularly vindicated yesterday. Even after that ending, as we were standing there gaping at what had just happened and Rutgers fans were streaming up the steps to exit, lots of them congratulated us on the win.
- After the game we headed back across the river to a tavern in the heart of the campus town for beer, stromboli, and more football on TV at the bar. It was packed and lots of people came up to us and congratulated us on the win. Only one guy was a tool and kvetched about the officiating and how in his view it gifted us the game. Anyway, we commented about how much we like hanging with the Rutgers fans and one guy noted that their hospitality is partially because they're not fanatical about their programs the way, say, Ohio State or Penn State fans are. They just enjoy the tailgating and camaraderie, and the games, and let the chips fall where they may.
- If you have the chance to attend games there, do it. It's refreshing, particularly because the two of us (living in the DC area) are regularly subject to Maryland fans. The basketball ones in particular are the lowest of low-rent, hostile, profane troglodytes. Delusional entitlement psychology paired with bitter insecurity. Rutgers is a welcome, 180-degree, respite from that.
- Lots of fellow Illini fans there. Wonderful to see.
- I really enjoy visiting New Jersey for games. I lived ~ 30 minutes away from the stadium in Northern Jersey for the better part of a year in my first job out of Illinois in '90/'91; in the intervening decades I never thought I would ever type the preceding sentence.
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1m4tr
Cliffmas
Bad form? Excellent form if you can have enough fans at an away game to make a coordinated chant to drown out a quiet home crowd. Kudos to the traveling Illini fans to have achieved that.
biglug58
- Chicago, IL
Thanks for sharing your experience, good to hear the Rutgers fans were gracious even in defeat. That was a tough one for them.Some thoughts after returning from NJ last night having seen an absolute Illini miracle in person with my Illini brother @Retro62 .
- There's nothing to add about that final play. Watching it unfold surrounded by a group of around 8-10 Rutgers fans who stayed to the end and were really friendly people the whole afternoon was something I'll remember to my dying day, if I don't lose my mind in the interim. From confusion after our FG attempt about what was going on (how can you give an opposing HC a chance to reconsider a 57-year field goal kicked directly into a gale), to hope that we might have a chance to get closer, to elation that PB caught the ball and had space to run, to relief that he would get out of bounds around the 20 and we'd have a shot at a reasonable FG, to utter disbelief after he turned the corner that he was gonna score, to the instant reaction of the Rutgers group around us: "Let's get out of here." And then my exclamation "What the f*&k just happened?!" Basically up there as one of the most disorienting ~ one-minute periods of my life.
- I've been watching college ball in person since I was in first grade. I've never seen anything like that sitting in the stands and likely never will again.
- As someone else noted, the deliberate imposition of sound system noise at excruciating decibels when the Illini set up to snap EVERY FREAKING PLAY was ridiculous. I understand that Schiano probably mandates it because their crowd isn't sufficient to give them that advantage. But the league needs to shut it down. And BTW their crowd on its own could make some serious noise when the situation required it.
- I liked SHI Stadium. It's built into the side of a hill. We don't win that game without the fact that the field is well below ground level from the prevailing WNW winds, which blew at ~15-20 mph the entire game. (Of course, just our luck, in the 4th quarter the wind turned around and began to blow form the WSW, so we were driving into it at the end.) No way Luke could have thrown accurately into or with that wind all day. At field level it was much calmer and that gave us a chance. Even then it caused problems and the ball often floated or got held up short. It was a game suited for Rutgers' running game, and Kaliakmanis took advantage of it on some spectacular scrambles. Anyway, it's a nice place to see a game. A sunken bowl close to the field with excellent sightlines and a couple balconies that were well under 25% full. Can't imagine how cold it was up there in the east balcony with temps in the high 40s and that wind.
- This was our second trip to Rutgers in a year. Saw the Illini basketball victory in the RAC last December. If you ever have the chance to see hoops there, do it. It's a tiny, steep arena and it rocks. One of my favorite all-time places to see a basketball game. I'll also head back to a future football game. The stadium is across the river from campus in Piscataway but it's an easy 30-minute walk through a beautiful park, across a short vehicle bridge with a pedestrian walkway, and then a wooded park along the river where people tailgate. I parked in a garage in downtown New Brunswick for 10 hours, a mere five-minute walk from the old quad, and paid only $17.
- The core of the old campus on the New Brunswick side of the river is beautiful. Several old stone buildings from the early 1800s and a gorgeous classic quad. The place got started in 1766. By U.S. standards it's ancient. Unfortunately, it has a fair amount of hideous 1960s and '70s architecture, too. Coincidentally, the exterior of the old College Gym, where the BB team played until the RAC was built in the late '70s, resembles Huff Gymnasium.
- Finally, we both remarked yet again on how friendly and chill Rutgers fans are. Same as at the basketball game a year ago. They were hospitable to us all day long and had a sort of "anticipatory nut punch" humor about their football program that was spectacularly vindicated yesterday. Even after that ending, as we were standing there gaping at what had just happened and Rutgers fans were streaming up the steps to exit, lots of them congratulated us on the win.
- After the game we headed back across the river to a tavern in the heart of the campus town for beer, stromboli, and more football on TV at the bar. It was packed and lots of people came up to us and congratulated us on the win. Only one guy was a tool and kvetched about the officiating and how in his view it gifted us the game. Anyway, we commented about how much we like hanging with the Rutgers fans and one guy noted that their hospitality is partially because they're not fanatical about their programs the way, say, Ohio State or Penn State fans are. They just enjoy the tailgating and camaraderie, and the games, and let the chips fall where they may.
- If you have the chance to attend games there, do it. It's refreshing, particularly because the two of us (living in the DC area) are regularly subject to Maryland fans. The basketball ones in particular are the lowest of low-rent, hostile, profane troglodytes. Delusional entitlement psychology paired with bitter insecurity. Rutgers is a welcome, 180-degree, respite from that.
- Lots of fellow Illini fans there. Wonderful to see.
- I really enjoy visiting New Jersey for games. I lived ~ 30 minutes away from the stadium in Northern Jersey for the better part of a year in my first job out of Illinois in '90/'91; in the intervening decades I never thought I would ever type the preceding sentence.
mhuml32
Gesture of Northern Aggression
PFF premium stats is down at the moment so I'll have to do this one blind.
1. Feels so good to take advantage of another team's questionable coaching decisions and injury concerns for once. The timeout is the epitome of coaches repeating what has always been done and confirmation bias coming to a head. The bigger indictment should be Rutgers decision to leave Bryant in one-on-one coverage the whole game. Franklin went down early, Rutgers has a million secondary injuries. That should have been the recipe of forcing Illinois to beat you with a combination of Dixon, ACJ, Beatty, etc. They thought otherwise and paid dearly for this choice.
2. That had to be the best offensive line performance of the year, or at least since Nebraska. 182 rushing yards. 5.1 yards per rush. Rutgers blitzed a ton in this game, and for good reason because the line had struggled against blitzes since UM. They responded. Kreutz finishing the season strong, similar to last year. The blemish was the penalties.
3. The tight ends, specifically Arkin, have cooled off after a strong first 2/3's of the season. Could be Arkin wearing down or playing through an injury. Could be Bryant going super saiyan. Goda has had a moment or two recently to help offset. Going to need to free up this part of the offense in the final two weeks (NW + Bowl) because Bryant is going to get more attention and Franklin is hobbling. Need a relief valve as teams continue to blitz.
4. Bryant is now in the top 10 of career receiving yards at Illinois (9th). He'll need a really good game against NW to climb higher or play in the bowl game. He needs 149 more yards to pass Walter Young and Mike Martin. He needs 197 more yards to pass Rejus. He needs 260 yards to pass John Wright.
5. Barring a decent showing in the final two games, Luke Altmyer is going to finish the season with the most passing efficient season in Illinois football history. A good finish to the season, say 4 more passing TDs in final two games, means Altmyer could threaten for most career passing TDs in 2025.
6a. Since we are getting close to the end of the season, and we are about 2.5 weeks away from the transfer portal to open, I'm going to take a peak at the coming skill position changes. Franklin and Bryant graduate. Staff still seems really high on Elzy, so I'll lean towards him sticking around. Elzy, Dixon, ACJ, Hollins (injured), and Wilcher all likely have expectations of playing time. Orr-Gillespie and Griffin are both redshirting this year. Staff is going to bring in another WR, likely someone that will start. Shouldn't be a hard sell with senior year Altmyer and excellent passing #'s the past two years. Likely means one, maybe two of those names expecting to play will transfer to seek out a better chance to play.
6b. Running back seems like the idea situation pre-portal, but not now. There's a chance no one leaves and you feel great about the four-headed monster of Feagin, McCray, Laughery, and Valentine. There's also a chance one or two of those names leave to get a chance at 150+ carries to finish their career. McCray has had a great revitalization this year. Feagin looked slow this year and then had a nasty injury - I don't see him leaving and could even see a situation where he's brought along slowly to start next season. Valentine has something special there. I might be too high on him but he could be an all-B1G RB if he can take a leap on pass blocking. He hits the hole much faster than the rest of the room. Nothing to blame on Laughery (5.1 ypc the past two seasons), but he seems like the most likely to seek out another opportunity. If one person leaves, it will be interesting if the staff wants to bring in a seasoned player, if they think Wyche could play as a freshman (doubtful) or if they think one of the walk-ons could fill in as a 4th or 5th stringer, if needed.
6c. Quarterback - big question is whether Leary sticks around knowing he won't get the starting job in the fall unless Altmyer is injured with the hopes of waiting out for his senior season. If he doesn't, I wouldn't blame him to seek out a MAC starting job or maybe a good chance at starting for an AAC type of school. If he does, Illinois needs to bring in a veteran they think can keep the offense competitive for a couple games. We haven't heard much about how Petty has looked, but with him already here and Boyd coming, I'm assuming someone like Swanson will move on (Tulsa just fired Kevin Wilson and that might be an intriguing landing spot for him). The following year is going to have some interesting choices (Leary - Petty - Boyd - Clayton could all be on campus with a starting job open).
7. James Kreutz really running with his starting opportunity. Monangai and their running game is a really tough assignment. Rutgers went with the smart approach to lean on Monangai and wait for the struggling and young LB core to make a mistake. There was only one breakout run I could remember and everything else required Rutgers to string together really long drives. Seeing some great signs from Hayden, Meed, and Hood.
8. Are we sure, sure that Miles Scott didn't intercept that pass?
9. This has to be the most Jekyll-or-Hyde defensive line pass rush we've experienced in a long time. Either it's no sacks or five sacks. Also, this group is cashing in a lot on the pressure-to-sack ratio. Maybe Odeluga can re-ignite that pass rush with a healthy offseason but this staff is going to have to spend some NIL $ to bring in a good pass rusher (it will be expensive). Also wouldn't hurt if Barna takes a big leap.
10. Does the staff move on from Robertson this offseason?
11. Jaheim Clarke continues to show improvement. I really like what he could be as an upperclassmen. He's shaping up like a great diamond-in-the-rough from FL. He only had two P4 offers (Iowa State) and looked more like a long-term piece only. He's essentially made Terrance Brooks a bench piece only.
12. I hope the staff can keep as many of these secondary pieces together for next year. Clarke, Cox, M. Scott, X. Scott., Resetich, Bailey, Patterson all could return next year.
1. Feels so good to take advantage of another team's questionable coaching decisions and injury concerns for once. The timeout is the epitome of coaches repeating what has always been done and confirmation bias coming to a head. The bigger indictment should be Rutgers decision to leave Bryant in one-on-one coverage the whole game. Franklin went down early, Rutgers has a million secondary injuries. That should have been the recipe of forcing Illinois to beat you with a combination of Dixon, ACJ, Beatty, etc. They thought otherwise and paid dearly for this choice.
2. That had to be the best offensive line performance of the year, or at least since Nebraska. 182 rushing yards. 5.1 yards per rush. Rutgers blitzed a ton in this game, and for good reason because the line had struggled against blitzes since UM. They responded. Kreutz finishing the season strong, similar to last year. The blemish was the penalties.
3. The tight ends, specifically Arkin, have cooled off after a strong first 2/3's of the season. Could be Arkin wearing down or playing through an injury. Could be Bryant going super saiyan. Goda has had a moment or two recently to help offset. Going to need to free up this part of the offense in the final two weeks (NW + Bowl) because Bryant is going to get more attention and Franklin is hobbling. Need a relief valve as teams continue to blitz.
4. Bryant is now in the top 10 of career receiving yards at Illinois (9th). He'll need a really good game against NW to climb higher or play in the bowl game. He needs 149 more yards to pass Walter Young and Mike Martin. He needs 197 more yards to pass Rejus. He needs 260 yards to pass John Wright.
5. Barring a decent showing in the final two games, Luke Altmyer is going to finish the season with the most passing efficient season in Illinois football history. A good finish to the season, say 4 more passing TDs in final two games, means Altmyer could threaten for most career passing TDs in 2025.
6a. Since we are getting close to the end of the season, and we are about 2.5 weeks away from the transfer portal to open, I'm going to take a peak at the coming skill position changes. Franklin and Bryant graduate. Staff still seems really high on Elzy, so I'll lean towards him sticking around. Elzy, Dixon, ACJ, Hollins (injured), and Wilcher all likely have expectations of playing time. Orr-Gillespie and Griffin are both redshirting this year. Staff is going to bring in another WR, likely someone that will start. Shouldn't be a hard sell with senior year Altmyer and excellent passing #'s the past two years. Likely means one, maybe two of those names expecting to play will transfer to seek out a better chance to play.
6b. Running back seems like the idea situation pre-portal, but not now. There's a chance no one leaves and you feel great about the four-headed monster of Feagin, McCray, Laughery, and Valentine. There's also a chance one or two of those names leave to get a chance at 150+ carries to finish their career. McCray has had a great revitalization this year. Feagin looked slow this year and then had a nasty injury - I don't see him leaving and could even see a situation where he's brought along slowly to start next season. Valentine has something special there. I might be too high on him but he could be an all-B1G RB if he can take a leap on pass blocking. He hits the hole much faster than the rest of the room. Nothing to blame on Laughery (5.1 ypc the past two seasons), but he seems like the most likely to seek out another opportunity. If one person leaves, it will be interesting if the staff wants to bring in a seasoned player, if they think Wyche could play as a freshman (doubtful) or if they think one of the walk-ons could fill in as a 4th or 5th stringer, if needed.
6c. Quarterback - big question is whether Leary sticks around knowing he won't get the starting job in the fall unless Altmyer is injured with the hopes of waiting out for his senior season. If he doesn't, I wouldn't blame him to seek out a MAC starting job or maybe a good chance at starting for an AAC type of school. If he does, Illinois needs to bring in a veteran they think can keep the offense competitive for a couple games. We haven't heard much about how Petty has looked, but with him already here and Boyd coming, I'm assuming someone like Swanson will move on (Tulsa just fired Kevin Wilson and that might be an intriguing landing spot for him). The following year is going to have some interesting choices (Leary - Petty - Boyd - Clayton could all be on campus with a starting job open).
7. James Kreutz really running with his starting opportunity. Monangai and their running game is a really tough assignment. Rutgers went with the smart approach to lean on Monangai and wait for the struggling and young LB core to make a mistake. There was only one breakout run I could remember and everything else required Rutgers to string together really long drives. Seeing some great signs from Hayden, Meed, and Hood.
8. Are we sure, sure that Miles Scott didn't intercept that pass?
9. This has to be the most Jekyll-or-Hyde defensive line pass rush we've experienced in a long time. Either it's no sacks or five sacks. Also, this group is cashing in a lot on the pressure-to-sack ratio. Maybe Odeluga can re-ignite that pass rush with a healthy offseason but this staff is going to have to spend some NIL $ to bring in a good pass rusher (it will be expensive). Also wouldn't hurt if Barna takes a big leap.
10. Does the staff move on from Robertson this offseason?
11. Jaheim Clarke continues to show improvement. I really like what he could be as an upperclassmen. He's shaping up like a great diamond-in-the-rough from FL. He only had two P4 offers (Iowa State) and looked more like a long-term piece only. He's essentially made Terrance Brooks a bench piece only.
12. I hope the staff can keep as many of these secondary pieces together for next year. Clarke, Cox, M. Scott, X. Scott., Resetich, Bailey, Patterson all could return next year.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
That was a great read. Thank you for that.Some thoughts after returning from NJ last night having seen an absolute Illini miracle in person with my Illini brother @Retro62 .
- There's nothing to add about that final play. Watching it unfold surrounded by a group of around 8-10 Rutgers fans who stayed to the end and were really friendly people the whole afternoon was something I'll remember to my dying day, if I don't lose my mind in the interim. From confusion after our FG attempt about what was going on (how can you give an opposing HC a chance to reconsider a 57-year field goal kicked directly into a gale), to hope that we might have a chance to get closer, to elation that PB caught the ball and had space to run, to relief that he would get out of bounds around the 20 and we'd have a shot at a reasonable FG, to utter disbelief after he turned the corner that he was gonna score, to the instant reaction of the Rutgers group around us: "Let's get out of here." And then my exclamation "What the f*&k just happened?!" Basically up there as one of the most disorienting ~ one-minute periods of my life.
- I've been watching college ball in person since I was in first grade. I've never seen anything like that sitting in the stands and likely never will again.
- As someone else noted, the deliberate imposition of sound system noise at excruciating decibels when the Illini set up to snap EVERY FREAKING PLAY was ridiculous. I understand that Schiano probably mandates it because their crowd isn't sufficient to give them that advantage. But the league needs to shut it down. And BTW their crowd on its own could make some serious noise when the situation required it.
- I liked SHI Stadium. It's built into the side of a hill. We don't win that game without the fact that the field is well below ground level from the prevailing WNW winds, which blew at ~15-20 mph the entire game. (Of course, just our luck, in the 4th quarter the wind turned around and began to blow form the WSW, so we were driving into it at the end.) No way Luke could have thrown accurately into or with that wind all day. At field level it was much calmer and that gave us a chance. Even then it caused problems and the ball often floated or got held up short. It was a game suited for Rutgers' running game, and Kaliakmanis took advantage of it on some spectacular scrambles. Anyway, it's a nice place to see a game. A sunken bowl close to the field with excellent sightlines and a couple balconies that were well under 25% full. Can't imagine how cold it was up there in the east balcony with temps in the high 40s and that wind.
- This was our second trip to Rutgers in a year. Saw the Illini basketball victory in the RAC last December. If you ever have the chance to see hoops there, do it. It's a tiny, steep arena and it rocks. One of my favorite all-time places to see a basketball game. I'll also head back to a future football game. The stadium is across the river from campus in Piscataway but it's an easy 30-minute walk through a beautiful park, across a short vehicle bridge with a pedestrian walkway, and then a wooded park along the river where people tailgate. I parked in a garage in downtown New Brunswick for 10 hours, a mere five-minute walk from the old quad, and paid only $17.
- The core of the old campus on the New Brunswick side of the river is beautiful. Several old stone buildings from the early 1800s and a gorgeous classic quad. The place got started in 1766. By U.S. standards it's ancient. Unfortunately, it has a fair amount of hideous 1960s and '70s architecture, too. Coincidentally, the exterior of the old College Gym, where the BB team played until the RAC was built in the late '70s, resembles Huff Gymnasium.
- Finally, we both remarked yet again on how friendly and chill Rutgers fans are. Same as at the basketball game a year ago. They were hospitable to us all day long and had a sort of "anticipatory nut punch" humor about their football program that was spectacularly vindicated yesterday. Even after that ending, as we were standing there gaping at what had just happened and Rutgers fans were streaming up the steps to exit, lots of them congratulated us on the win.
- After the game we headed back across the river to a tavern in the heart of the campus town for beer, stromboli, and more football on TV at the bar. It was packed and lots of people came up to us and congratulated us on the win. Only one guy was a tool and kvetched about the officiating and how in his view it gifted us the game. Anyway, we commented about how much we like hanging with the Rutgers fans and one guy noted that their hospitality is partially because they're not fanatical about their programs the way, say, Ohio State or Penn State fans are. They just enjoy the tailgating and camaraderie, and the games, and let the chips fall where they may.
- If you have the chance to attend games there, do it. It's refreshing, particularly because the two of us (living in the DC area) are regularly subject to Maryland fans. The basketball ones in particular are the lowest of low-rent, hostile, profane troglodytes. Delusional entitlement psychology paired with bitter insecurity. Rutgers is a welcome, 180-degree, respite from that.
- Lots of fellow Illini fans there. Wonderful to see.
- I really enjoy visiting New Jersey for games. I lived ~ 30 minutes away from the stadium in Northern Jersey for the better part of a year in my first job out of Illinois in '90/'91; in the intervening decades I never thought I would ever type the preceding sentence.
nice write up
we need to get from portal :
two guys for OL
two guys for DL
one LB
one WR
Olb will be a big need. Coleman is out of eligibility and Jacas might go to the draft.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
As for #8, I’m pretty sure he did not intercept it. The ball appears to have rested against the ground before he cradled it into his control. I was disappointed but not surprised that the call was overturned.
The thing is was there enough to over turn the call on the field. I don’t think it was a catch I just don’t think it should’ve been over turned
yeah, to me whether or not it was a catch is immaterial based in who the review rules are set up. at that point, it is whether or not there is clear evidence to reverse the call on the field and to my eyes there was not
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
I disagree. I think it was pretty obvious there was ground between him and the ball.
Indisputable video evidence, didn't see it
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