our OL just went from shaky to solid, overnight. love it!
Jake Furtney, St Charles North , Defensive Line
Jake Furtney is a 6-5, 235-pound Tight End from Saint Charles, IL.247sports.com
Yes I sure do. Been following since ‘75. Where will this program go with these results in your opinion? He’s improved the program. I just don’t see us getting shots at bowl games most years at this pace. I think a lot of fans will not be happy with those results. Hope I’m wrong and only time will tell.You do understand where the program was before BB took over?
I’m not expecting CFP’s or many NYE6’s or at all. Maybe a few NYE6’s mixed in, but we’ll see. I think they will get back to a bowl next year but to a lesser one though and than after that, not quite sure but I think they will have enough talent to have consistent winning seasons. Maybe I’m being too optimistic. As Illinois fans we are so accustomed to them losing so I understand where you are coming from.Yes I sure do. Been following since ‘75. Where will this program go with these results in your opinion? He’s improved the program. I just don’t see us getting shots at bowl games most years at this pace. I think a lot of fans will not be happy with those results. Hope I’m wrong and only time will tell.
I look at it like this. I believe that we have a top 5 coach in the 18 B1G teams as far as identifying and developing talent. A huge key to our turn around will be at the QB position and Luke Altmyer. I saw a lot of things I liked last year in what was really his freshman year. If he can develop like the 4 star he is and be top line, that will attract even more raw talent on that side of ball. We have Petty behind him and time will tell how he progresses. If Luke doesn't take a big step forward, then the marriage between Illinois and Bielema might be shorter than I'd say 90% of would hope.Yes I sure do. Been following since ‘75. Where will this program go with these results in your opinion? He’s improved the program. I just don’t see us getting shots at bowl games most years at this pace. I think a lot of fans will not be happy with those results. Hope I’m wrong and only time will tell.
Yeah not trying to be all doom and gloom, but just keeping it real. Consumed mass quantities of the orange kool-aid over the years, but need a little more kick in any kool-aid I consume moving forward. I-L-LI’m not expecting CFP’s or many NYE6’s or at all. Maybe a few NYE6’s mixed in, but we’ll see. I think they will get back to a bowl next year but to a lesser one though and than after that, not quite sure but I think they will have enough talent to have consistent winning seasons. Maybe I’m being too optimistic. As Illinois fans we are so accustomed to them losing so I understand where you are coming from.
I don’t feel that BB is anywhere near being on the hot seat as he enters 2024 —- year 4 of his regime. An outcome of anywhere from 9-3 to 5-7 next year and I’m confident we’ll plow forward with Bret and his Top 35-50 recruiting classes.I look at it like this. I believe that we have a top 5 coach in the 18 B1G teams as far as identifying and developing talent. A huge key to our turn around will be at the QB position and Luke Altmyer. I saw a lot of things I liked last year in what was really his freshman year. If he can develop like the 4 star he is and be top line, that will attract even more raw talent on that side of ball. We have Petty behind him and time will tell how he progresses. If Luke doesn't take a big step forward, then the marriage between Illinois and Bielema might be shorter than I'd say 90% of would hope.
I 100% agree, but say we go another 2 maybe a 3 seasons without a bowl and just hanging at 5-7, the light will be turned out. I have faith in Luke and we will not have that problem.I don’t feel that BB is anywhere near being on the hot seat as he enters 2024 —- year 4 of his regime. An outcome of anywhere from 9-3 to 5-7 next year and I’m confident we’ll plow forward with Bret and his Top 35-50 recruiting classes.
I believe it would take a 4-8 season (a clear sign of regression) before he’d be on somewhat shaky ground heading into 2025. He does too many things right to be in danger of losing his job.
We have a top 50 recruiting class. Do you have any clue how many ominous and embarrassing streaks that he's broken in his three years here? We all have pride in the program, but really think this through. If you were in a living room with a kid who's being recruited by Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon, USC, UCLA, Washington....what can you possibly sell about the program that would move the needle like you're advocating? Iowa, who's been SIGNIFICANTLY better than us over the last quarter CENTURY is sitting at 12th out of 18.Yes I sure do. Been following since ‘75. Where will this program go with these results in your opinion? He’s improved the program. I just don’t see us getting shots at bowl games most years at this pace. I think a lot of fans will not be happy with those results. Hope I’m wrong and only time will tell.
I mean sure he needs to make bowl games consistently and yes the past two years the team has underperformed in terms of wins, but this program is miles ahead of where it’s been since prime zooker (and a heck of a lot more stable than even back then.)Huge fan of BB, however miss a bowl this year and that seat is hot. choked last year on chance to win West last year and then blow a chance at a Bowl game. The West was weak and we failed. So if we fail to make a bowl next year, then BB needs to feel the heat. Jmo
I agree with everything that you said with only the slight deviation being that his seat won't have even a lukewarm button on it unless the next 4 to 5 years go unfathomably abysmal.I mean sure he needs to make bowl games consistently and yes the past two years the team has underperformed in terms of wins, but this program is miles ahead of where it’s been since prime zooker (and a heck of a lot more stable than even back then.)
I think regardless of next year, BB is getting 2 seasons at minimum. And that’s probably only if he absolutely bombs.
I think this offseason recruiting cycle has been highly enjoyable. Do I think where close to being a top half big ten team? Probably not. But we have the talent and experience to punch up a weight class and not lose by 60.
Yeah fire the coach who has the best winning % of any coach we've had in 30 years. That will turn Illinois into a destination job.Huge fan of BB, however miss a bowl this year and that seat is hot. choked last year on chance to win West last year and then blow a chance at a Bowl game. The West was weak and we failed. So if we fail to make a bowl next year, then BB needs to feel the heat. Jmo
From some yea. St Charles schools and Batavia plus Wheaton and aurora schools all produce. Geneva has a stud right now but they don't produce as much for football. Their talents lie in bball/vball.Do a lot of kids from the west suburbs usually go P5? I went to Hersey and knew they had offered some kids from there every now and then, but I didn't care for football that much until I graduated. We were pretty awful when I was there.
I thought this year would be tough on defense. Loss to Nebraska was bad, losing leads late was bad. It’s the total body of work. Several teams lost the same amount and made a bowl. Hell, Iowa did well with 0 offense. But this is what makes fandom interesting, the acceptance of mediocrity to justify outcome. do I think BB can get it done, yes. That’s why I was all for the hire although received backlash. dwelling on history puts you behind growth process. Hot seat is missing another bowl annd losing games you had won. Can’t be complacent and heat can be a good motivator. Enjoy the off season.It's hard to understand because you're operating on a premise of expectations, but in doing that, you don't want to address past performance.
I'm open to playing the game.
We've been to 7 bowl games since 2000, one of them being last year under Bielema. He's got the highest winning percentage of any Illinois coach in decades. Ticket sales are up, recruiting is vastly improved, we're relevant in nationally covered games, we're winning road games, we're beating top 10 and top 25 teams....
It appears that you're basing your expectations on a floor that Bielema is directly responsible for raising.
He lost an entire defensive backfield, his starting running back and his starting quarterback to the NFL. Those guys are all playing on Sundays. He lost, what, 3 or 4 running backs this year to injury?They still almost put the 6 wins together.
HIstory, timeline and circumstances all matter.
IF you're the AD...what is the result that would put him on your proverbial hot seat?
That’s literally what me and my roommate tried to do our freshman year…We lost 63-0 5 years ago and people acting like you can just stop that by yelling at it loudly. It takes time to build it up.