I guess we experienced different season ticket experiences last year. I never once felt the vibes bad or worse or whatever they're trying to say.
Illinois vs UAB, Thursday, September 3rd, 8:00pm CT, BTN
I think the outcome of the Indiana game plus the general meteoric rise of Indiana really took the wind out of some of the fan momentum. That combined with the mindset of CFP or bust I think left a sour taste for the season results.
Just from small personal experience I’d say it’s been difficult talking with my more casual Illinois football brothers to remind them of the perspective of what Illinois was/had been for the better part of 25 years prior to Bielema taking over
To be clear, I’m happy with the direction of the program. The fact I expect this team to compete for 8-9 wins speaks volumes.
I just thought last year was a missed opportunity. And from a fan viewership perspective I really got sick watching the same issues - the defense was so annoying.
None of the home games really bothered me though - Ohio State was a clear class difference but that’s to be expected and I don’t think we embarrassed ourselves.
Indiana, Washington, and Wisconsin were embarrassing results
Weird. I see it exactly opposite. The Indiana sting hurt. And then we came back home and had one of the most exciting games i remember being at when we beat USC. Losing to Ohio State a couple weeks later was a bummer, but didn't really dampen anything. It was Ohio State.
Losing to Washington was a bummer, too, but it was an away game. By that point it was apparent that Indiana was the real deal, too, so the Indiana loss was more embarrassing for some of the decisions making and how we lost than the fact we lost the game.
Honestly, the only real game that took the wind out of our sails was the loss to Wisconsin. That one was borderline inexcusable.
But another 9-win season with a bowl win? Great season. Games continues to sell out. Stadium atmosphere was still exciting.
For those of us who are older, we remember the slush fund scandal and some of the terrible football in the 60's 70's ( with the exception of the short Bob Blackmon era) until Mike White came along in the 1980's.
band camp
- STL City
My note on fan vibes last year. My major take away was the team's resilience after those awful losses.
Big bounce back wins says a lot about that team's identity and character. Other teams may have packed it in, they didnt, and my vibe was strong as ever going into Nashville. Add those gorgeous unis as the cherry on top of beating UT.
All good vibes here.
Big bounce back wins says a lot about that team's identity and character. Other teams may have packed it in, they didnt, and my vibe was strong as ever going into Nashville. Add those gorgeous unis as the cherry on top of beating UT.
All good vibes here.