It was a tough drop by Casey but he’s been so sure handed this year and literally saved the Maryland and Toledo games for us with incredible catches. Nobody’s perfect.
Iowa 15, Illinois 13, Postgame
It was a tough drop by Casey but he’s been so sure handed this year and literally saved the Maryland and Toledo games for us with incredible catches. Nobody’s perfect.
We played a great game. Close to as perfect as you're going to get from this team. Just couldn't get that last defensive stop, which has unfortunately been a recurring theme this season, and this time that magical final drive for the win wasn't there. Small mistakes kill against Iowa and that 4th quarter had a lot of them- whether it be the drops, the bad punt, the poor coverage on the punt, and the inability to get that last stop.
Overall though, there's only one thing I'm furious about with the game, and it isn't the refs (though I'm not happy with them). IT WAS THAT STUPID BURNED TIMEOUT ON 4TH AND 2. Yet again, that was a timeout that wound up giving us no chance to win the game. Do we stop them and go all the way down the field with 40 seconds left? Probably not, but it gives us a chance at least. This is the 3rd game this season we've done this and Bielema is too experienced a coach to have this happen. On 3rd and 2 you better have a plan for 4th down if there's an incomplete pass. There is no excuse for not either having the punt team out there or a 4th down play ready to go with the game on the line.
We played a great game, but hard to overcome unforced errors.
Overall though, there's only one thing I'm furious about with the game, and it isn't the refs (though I'm not happy with them). IT WAS THAT STUPID BURNED TIMEOUT ON 4TH AND 2. Yet again, that was a timeout that wound up giving us no chance to win the game. Do we stop them and go all the way down the field with 40 seconds left? Probably not, but it gives us a chance at least. This is the 3rd game this season we've done this and Bielema is too experienced a coach to have this happen. On 3rd and 2 you better have a plan for 4th down if there's an incomplete pass. There is no excuse for not either having the punt team out there or a 4th down play ready to go with the game on the line.
We played a great game, but hard to overcome unforced errors.
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
agree, we will continue to struggle to win if we cant start to average 24-28 points per game
I slowed it down on replay- but of course the FS1 TV coverage is awful and never has good replay angles, but his foot was very close to the sideline short of the first down when he was breaking the tackle- it looked like his toe was in but if his heel came down, he was out - so a close one for sure-
Of course the ball should be spotted where the ball is when he stepped out but officials often spot it where the foot stepped out for some reason
Jimmy and Katie really like the current setup ... The time commitment of being a DC is just a lot and they are not willing to move their kids around in terms of friends and school and personally, I can respect that ... He is home all the time, Katie is happy, the kids are happy and he really likes working for Bret ... Not much reason to change happy and what is working unless the right opportunity comes along ...
Jimmy was already approached by USC and has already turned down their offer ...
Always hard to lose to Iowa, I live in Illinois but 30 minutes away from Iowa. Obviously we always hear so much about them and so little about us. Two of the hardest losses in my 50 years of being a Illini fan were,
Kicking an inside kick against them at Iowa in the Mike White years,it was either the opening kickoff or the beginning of the second half. We were totally going to lose but that just let them pile it on the rest of the game.
Probably the worst was losing to them at home in the Mendenhall year's. That was one of the times we Were clearly better than them and should have Never lost to them. Disclaimer: like I said earlier long time fan but my memory might night be correct but that's how I remember it
. I really hope we can put it together next week, Northwestern seems to be getting better every game. ILL !!
Kicking an inside kick against them at Iowa in the Mike White years,it was either the opening kickoff or the beginning of the second half. We were totally going to lose but that just let them pile it on the rest of the game.
Probably the worst was losing to them at home in the Mendenhall year's. That was one of the times we Were clearly better than them and should have Never lost to them. Disclaimer: like I said earlier long time fan but my memory might night be correct but that's how I remember it
. I really hope we can put it together next week, Northwestern seems to be getting better every game. ILL !!I agree on the PI in the first half. Absolutely egregious!
And I concur on refs all season.
Defender with back to the ball the gripping receiver’s left shoulder and right arm firmly with both hands? Can somebody please explain how that is not PI?
That’s great to hear. It’s pretty cool that we can have a talent like Leonard on staff, especially in a relatively small capacity in a position for which he’s certainly overqualified. But hey, happy spouse = happy house. And the kiddos deserve to have dad around and have some stability in their world. #famILLy
If I remember correctly, Wisconsin is paying his salary, as long as he isn't an on-field coach. Will it be the same this next year, or is the contract up? I would think he would be highly motivated to "do more" if it means making millions more.
Also, if it is the case that he will still be making D coordinator money being an analyst, and he turned USC down, do you think he'd only leave for a head coaching position? @Indy Illini Fan
I often bash the refs too, but mistakes will happen every game. What is mind-boggling to me is that we did not challenge. That is exactly what they are for, especially in the red zone.
It’s either coaching error or an assumption we could get the yard, but why you would make that assumption after watching this team all year is beyond me.
My seats were on the 23 yard line, across from the play. Unless he stepped out I don’t know why the spot was placed where it was.
Aiden Laughery may have spelled his name wrong
I'm upset with all the crap that went on with the officiating, but the thing that really pissed me of was when the Iowa crowd booed our player who got hurt. What a bunch of classless a**holes.
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
I thought I saw his foot kick up "pellets" in the white paint out of bounds
blackdog
- Champaign
The teams you listed came into this past week ranked 8, 6, 4, and 2 in overall defense. Not exactly surprising that it was hard to put up points against them.
Actually, from a distance it looks like you had a really great day. At least a very good one.
The win or loss is fleeting. The great family memories are forever.
Don't know if anyone noticed... but the Illini and the Huskers are neck-and-neck in fighting for the Big Ten Championship in losing close games at the very end. That seems to be the identity of both teams right now.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
The Illini are 5-2 (3-2 in B1G) in one score games this year. Maybe you have recency bias. All 5 previous games went down to wire as one score games, and Illini won three of them.
I've been watching a lot of college football this year - don't have anything else to do - and one thing I've noticed (and I've been watching closely more recently) is that correct ball placement (spotting - whatever) is really bad across all conferences.... Either the ref's have some special rules they operate by, or they collectively need glasses....
This is why a school for refs needs greater attention... and an increase in their salaries in order to attract better quality personnel....
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
they arent full time - most used to be teachers , bureaucrats . bankers or insurance salesmen
Agree. Full time officials required to take ongoing training/evaluation during the off season. But the B10 is too cheap to pay for this. Would rather over pay conference administrators.