Illinois 41, Northwestern 3 Postgame
Its probably Tony P.
Good to see coach putting the league on notice that we're not that team anymore - publicly.
sacraig
- The desert
Or meet them in the Pizza Hut parking lot.
State of Indiana screwed us thrice
sacraig
- The desert
Refs screw us.
Honestly, if Sydney Brown isn't NCAA defensive player of the week, I wouldn't believe the statline of the winner. You get 2 defensive touchdowns in a game and are credited with 2INTs and a Fumble recovery, that's just insane.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Illinois rips Northwestern, falls short in Big Ten West bid
EVANSTON, Ill. — Safety Sydney Brown returned a touchdown and an interception for scores and Illinois snapped a three-game losing streak with a 41-3 rout of Northwestern on Saturday.
By MATT CARLSON Associated Press
EVANSTON, Ill. — Safety Sydney Brown returned a touchdown and an interception for scores and Illinois snapped a three-game losing streak with a 41-3 rout of Northwestern on Saturday.
Brown raced 53 yards for a touchdown after Northwestern quarterback Cole Freeman fumbled, then sprinted in for a 39-yard score off an interception, both in the third quarter.
Illinois (8-4 overall, 5-4 Big Ten) entered with a chance to win the Big Ten West and advance to the conference championship for the first time. However, Purdue defeated Indiana 30-16 to win the division title and will play Michigan at Indianapolis next Saturday.
Still, the Illini took a huge step forward under second-year coach Bret Bielema and now look forward to playing in a postseason bowl game ... somewhere.
It just won’t be for the Big Ten crown.
“This year we were a game shy of making it to Indy, and a lot of positive steps for our program,” Bielema said, “I couldn’t be more excited about this team and where we’re at, but more importantly where we’re going.
“We lost four (conference) games that were one-score games,” Bielema added. “That will motivate and galvanize, whatever, you want to say to myself and the coaching staff during the offseason as much as anything — those four that got away from us.”
Brown’s twin brother, running back Chase Brown, punched in a 1-yard touchdown and finished with 61 yards on 19 carries. He entered leading the nation in yards rushing with 1,582 yards but fell short of Mikel Leshoure’s single-season school record of 1,697 in 2010.
My take. Losses (other than Fichigan) were due in large part to our not knowing how how to win just yet. I expect we will come back mentally stronger and better prepared next year.
As the staff recruits the players it wants, and as players who've been in the system gain more experience, this should indeed be the case.
illini80
- Forgottonia
I think it’s safe to say Coach Bielema still has the fire in his belly!!
I just want to echo what most have already pointed out…That this team massively exceeded the expectations of everyone. I’ve been optimistic since Day 1, but never saw this coming. It was a special season I’ll always remember, because it was the beginning of a new era. We will have higher expectations from now on, but lets never forget to be grateful for what we have.
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
he played at Sandburg and he was not offered a schollie and was/is forever butthurt about it
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
yea , you mean the Civil War ?
BZuppke
- Plainfield
Statistics are for losers - so said Ditka lol
Shows why BB needs to out recruit other Big Ten schools for the state of Illinois
There is enough talent in the state to have a good team add some key players from elsewhere you can have a special team
About as good a chance as me winning the lottery.
congratulations in advance
