Iowa 35, Illinois 21 Postgame

Go Nats 88 Illini · Dec 6, 2020

Bucktown said:
I so remember that Michigan game. I was in the horseshoe directly behind the goalpost. Maybe my memory has embellished it (like Rennie dunking on Shaq), but I swear it bounced twice on the crossbar.

No, it only hit it once, but I can understand the embellishment, the ball seemed to be in the air for ever. The other block I remember is Scott Davis blocking a kick against MSU to end the game in a 14-14 tie a couple years later. I was in East Lansing for that one. Two pretty exciting ties, if that makes sense.

KevinC · Dec 7, 2020

CurbeloYourEnthusiasm said:
How so? I think we need a guy that can recruit the area of the Midwest, knows how to win in the Big 10, and also has the connections to bring together a strong staff. You’d be hard pressed to find a better resume for Big 10 football than Bret Bielema. No doubt it in my mind. And if you can, then I’d love to hear the names.

If we want to build a program that can consistently compete with Iowa, NW, WI, Minn then what better candidate is there? We all talk about “why can’t we be as good as those teams”. Well it’s coaching, and you need a guy in here that knows how to build a Big 10 college program. It’s being able to hire strong coordinators, recognizing who is attainable in recruiting and developing those players from your area, and creating a system that you can sustain. There not many coaches out there that you’d feel more comfortable saying “this guy can consistently build an 8 win team at Illinois bc he has the system in place” than a Bielema,

Bielema took over someone else's system and, when he tried to build that system somewhere else, was not successful. You can't consistently win in the B1G anymore by just trying to pound the ball on the ground. The SEC is good but given far too much credit by their marketing machine. There are too many schools in the B1G whose athletes are strong and fast to bring back the old Bo And Woody days.

RockfordIllini · Dec 7, 2020

RDUIllini said:
Peters has an arm, but no touch, and tries to force throws.. doesn’t check down ever to the back in the flat..I thought zook special teams were something but we have a kicker catching punts now?

I wouldn't say "no touch." Those 2 throws to BheBhe on the 2nd TD drive certainly showed that. I think Peters has all the tools but biggest issue is he's just not consistent. Actually very Nick Foles like. If we had a stout defense we could probably win alot of games with Peters at QB, but I certainly don't think he's a guy that can put a team on his back. Glad we've had him for the past 2 years though. He's probably just a replacement level BIG QB, but that's better than we've had since the Scheelhouse days, probably.

ILFaninFL · Dec 7, 2020

I was at the first game White coached. On the first offensive play, they threw a long pass down the sideline. Even though it was incomplete, the team received a standing ovation.

Deleted member 29907 · Dec 7, 2020

ILFaninFL said:
I was at the first game White coached. On the first offensive play, they threw a long pass down the sideline. Even though it was incomplete, the team received a standing ovation.

So we'll put you down on the "NO Triple Option" side of the ledger.

Illinir1 · Dec 7, 2020

altgeld88 said:
I was thinking earlier today about games I saw in the '80s and how, except for '86 and '87, the Illini were entertaining, dynamic and relevant for the entire White/Mackovic 1981-91 period. And now, except for a couple outlier Zook years, it has been nearly unabated misery since the 2001 season ended.

That's 19 freaking seasons.

I have faith (and hope) that JW will bring in someone young and dynamic who realizes the similar potential in the program that existed when White finally lifted us out of the Valek/Blackman/Moeller morass. An order of magnitude more faith than I ever had in Guenther and (*gack*) Thomas. There's no reason that what began to happen at Wisconsin beginning in 1990 under Alvarez can't happen here. Absolutely no reason. At Wisconsin it all came about because of a savvy AD hire. JW can be the man. But we've still got at least another 2-3 horrible seasons ahead of us before the ship turns around, if it does.

Most of all, I feel badly for the young men currently playing, particularly those seniors who played their final game in the empty stadium today. They all deserve better. This year already sucks enough as it is. My heart breaks for those guys.

On to NW.

From the 2020 Illinois Football Record Book:

For the 10 year period of 1980-1989 the Illini had a B1G winning record 7/10 years.

From 1990 thru 2020 Illinois Football has had a B1G winning record in 4/31 years (1990, 1993, 2001, 2007).
The current 13 year run of a .500 or below B1G record is the longest stretch in Illinois Football history (since becoming the Big Ten in 1896).
Welcome to the historical depth of Illinois Football.

Chukwuwumba · Dec 7, 2020

Illinir1 said:
From the 2020 Illinois Football Record Book:

For the 10 year period of 1980-1989 the Illini had a B1G winning record 7/10 years.

From 1990 thru 2020 Illinois Football has had a B1G winning record in 4/31 years (1990, 1993, 2001, 2007).
The current 13 year run of a .500 or below B1G record is the longest stretch in Illinois Football history (since becoming the Big Ten in 1896).
Welcome to the historical depth of Illinois Football.

Never should have let Penn St join the conference.

ChocolateThunder · Dec 7, 2020

MaineIllini said:
I am interested in how players and recruits regard Lovie. They were little kids when he was the Bears’ coach. Does his experience really attract them? I can see the appeal of it to parents.
I’m simply wondering if there’s a similarity here with Lovie; great resume but the experience doesn’t translate to the current position.

I think experience and reputation is good for about 3 years. I think a coach has 3 years to look like they are going to build a winning program, not 5 years. And slipping into a bowl game with 3 cupcake wins and 3 conference wins does not count. Good players want to be part of a winning program which beats goods teams. Not sure I would paid Smith 5 million a year, but it seemed like a good wager at the time.

ChocolateThunder · Dec 7, 2020

Illinir1 said:
From the 2020 Illinois Football Record Book:

The current 13 year run of a .500 or below B1G record is the longest stretch in Illinois Football history (since becoming the Big Ten in 1896).

I went to more Illini football games the years Mike White was coach than I have in the intervening years since. It is going to take a coach with some pretty special talents to resurrect the program.

BRucks · Dec 7, 2020

ILFaninFL said:
I was at the first game White coached. On the first offensive play, they threw a long pass down the sideline. Even though it was incomplete, the team received a standing ovation.

Home game vs. Northwestern for the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk which we won. Dave Wilson at QB and, I believe, Mike Martin the intended receiver.

Illinir1 · Dec 8, 2020

Didn't get to watch the Iowa game until the 4thQ. I got to see a pourous Illini D being disected with Iowa getting big chunks on most every play (including a 2 play TD drive after an 18 yd punt return).

I visited the box score and was surprised to see what looked like a closer game than the final score. 424 yds offense for Iowa to 348 yds for Illinois. No turnovers for either team. Should have been less than a TD difference in score.

But this is "Lovie ball" defense. Yield, yield, yield, TD (if we don't get a turnover). In year 5 of a coach with his own players why can't we have a more stout defense? Can't a defense be stout AND be taught to try to strip the ball? Watching opposing teams march down the field while we wait and hope for a turnover, or otherwise expect a TD has become very deflating (probably for the players too).

The only way I could support Lovie staying on is if JW did what was done with Zook. Get the Coach a Defensive Coordinator with a different scheme and tell Lovie his job is to manage time outs. If Lovie can't do that give him his $1,000,000 and say thank you (he'll cost more than that in lost ticket sales if he stays).

EthanM · Dec 8, 2020

ChocolateThunder said:
I think experience and reputation is good for about 3 years. I think a coach has 3 years to look like they are going to build a winning program, not 5 years. And slipping into a bowl game with 3 cupcake wins and 3 conference wins does not count. Good players want to be part of a winning program which beats goods teams. Not sure I would paid Smith 5 million a year, but it seemed like a good wager at the time.

I mostly agree with this. After 3 years you should have a very clear idea of where the coach is taking the program. I will just point out though that 6 wins and a bowl game yearly is a huge improvement from where we’re at now. If the coach has only made one bowl game in five years, it’s time to go.

Illiniaaron · Dec 8, 2020

Apparently like several of you here, I've been feeling nostalgic about Illini football past recently and have been watching some video of highlights of the '83 season and some other highlights in that '83-'91 time frame. Watched the video from the comeback win against USC on the road on Labor Day in '89, as well as highlights from the Bluebonnet Bowl (from '88 if I remember correctly) when they lost to Emmit Smith and Florida 14-10. You forget that at one time the Illini had a swarming, hard-hitting defensive identity. Watching Memorial Stadium going bonkers in '83 and that team going 9-0 through the conference kind of brings a tear to the eye of an old sap that watched it happen back then.

Iowa 35, Illinois 21 Postgame

Go Nats 88 Illini

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