Lol, well for every page on a football topic on here there are 10 basketball topics. Us talking about our football “prowess” is sort of like Indiana talking about their basketball storied history. Yep, it did occur unfortunately only 5% of the population is still alive that saw it? We were a football power in the 60’s - who on this board remembers it?
Michigan 19, Illinois 17 Postgame
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
I added the qualifiers because your 2 comments last night (close together ~11-11:30 p.m. ET) are important and can't be emphasized enough. What our guys accomplished yesterday was astounding. What they accomplished this season has been astounding. I struggle to understand how any Illini fan can't be well beyond "pleased" with this season and the upward trajectory of the program. During August I was hoping that a fall like the one we've enjoyed might arrive in perhaps 2024.
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I actually came here this morning to say something like this. The strides we have made as a program in such a short amount of time is nothing short of amazing.
If that same pick play that wasn’t called and we ran that same play and not called the Mi board would have exploded. If DeVito would ha touched his knee to the ground and touched the ball and not called the Mi board would be on defcom 20. We were robbed by the refs. I am glad BB said what he did. Beat NW Saturday.
Pretty much every post he has made is negative. I love BB as our head coach for as long as he cares to stay. I hope he retires here. I do think our play calling is suspect at times on offense, but if BB builds up our o line (as I think he will) those plays will work more often than not. We have been jobbed by the officials more time than I can count in football. The BIG protects their $$$$ at the expense of everyone not Mich or OSU. This happens too often to be an accident, and not just to us.
You know what would have helped?? Illinois running “a lot of pick plays” on that drive w 3 minutes left, to play to win the game.
Bret and Co got the outcome they invited.
Goillinikobd
- Southeastern US
BB’s comments are getting national press. Even though I have not seen any direct criticism from him of the officials ( may have missed it), do you think there is a fine coming from BIG ?
The big ten is hoping this all goes away with Tuesdays CFP poll. A fine will only call more attention to the $6 million non-call (the big ten gets $6 million for Michigan getting into the CFP).
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
No, because he's very intelligent and made his comments in a vague enough manner that the league can't latch on to anything as insubordinate.
However, I hope they do fine him, so the team takes the field in Evanston on Saturday in anger and with huge chips on their shoulders. I want them to administer a beating that will be remembered.
Everything's already been said in this thread, but that's never stopped me before, so here goes:
1. I love Bielema. I sure hope he retires in orange and blue, and not for at least 20 years. I loved the discussion around looking at Michigan film and telling the guys how well we matched up. Bret knows football extremely well. That's not something we've been able to say about far too many of our past coaches. And my condolences to Bret. He's a good human being. I'm glad he was able to make his mother proud. I did not cry during that part of his interview, I promise you.
2. Our team played better than I thought possible yesterday. I'm super proud of the effort and talent I saw out there.
3. I really, really want to end this season with an 8th win. Anything is possible in college football, and NW has improved some in recent weeks. I expect that game to be a battle, but I'm totally okay if it ends up being a lopsided Illini victory.
1. I love Bielema. I sure hope he retires in orange and blue, and not for at least 20 years. I loved the discussion around looking at Michigan film and telling the guys how well we matched up. Bret knows football extremely well. That's not something we've been able to say about far too many of our past coaches. And my condolences to Bret. He's a good human being. I'm glad he was able to make his mother proud. I did not cry during that part of his interview, I promise you.
2. Our team played better than I thought possible yesterday. I'm super proud of the effort and talent I saw out there.
3. I really, really want to end this season with an 8th win. Anything is possible in college football, and NW has improved some in recent weeks. I expect that game to be a battle, but I'm totally okay if it ends up being a lopsided Illini victory.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
I don't believe BB can do anything to lose the locker room at this point. Seems to me that his guys love him and will go to the wall for him. They also likely understand the futility of spitting into the wind.
We're playing a long game, friends. This bitter fruit will turn pretty sweet over the coming seasons.
100% agree with both statements. These players love and respect Bret, no question about that.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
At BB's presser he displayed a variety of emotions that , I for one , feel were very genuine and honest and in the heat of the moment he stated , "" we got robbed from our soul and I'm very pissed off "" ......I firmly believe he said those comments as honestly as he could without the immediate aspect of saving the locker room , but as a realization of how he honestly felt at that moment and the end result was saving the locker room...........
He made the statement I'm very pissed off right now BECAUSE he was very pissed off.......with all that has happened to him the last few days I think he was speaking from the heart with no ulterior motives other than to express his true feelings at that time........................The fact that BB almost lost it later on in the presser when asked questions about his mother showed to me the true basic human feelings of dealing with remorse for his loss of his mother with the out right theft of the FB game by corrupt and inept officials starting with those on the field and higher up the food chain of college FB..........
make no mistake Illini nation .........We were robbed , jobbed and molested in many decisions made on that field yesterday........
Yes , we could have had a more robust pattern of play calling to win the game , instead of playing not to lose.......But the facts are that the qb1 for scUM did have his knee down on the turf and in possession of the FB ......it also is a fact that the scUM receiver did NOT have control of that pass as the nose of the FB touched the turf first and for many years that has been ruled an incomplete pass ........it is also a fact that the scUM play was a pick play and should have been flagged .....i remember a game last year when Barker caught a TD pass on a play just like the scUM play and the flag was thrown and we lost a TD.........
Bottom line is this ........We lost because we didn't make the plays to take the outcome out of the corrupt hands that eventually changed the rulebook for the favor of scUM and the higher ups who wanted the BIG GAME next week and all the income and notoriety will bestow on them......
I have witnessed at least 30-40 ads promoting next weeks game of scUM and the bucknuts as the game of the year....based on their records , it will capture the attention of the college FB world and now with the lopsided loss by the Vol's we may see both scUM and bucky in the playoffs regardless of who wins or loses....
I commend BB for his posture in the eye opening steal of our game yesterday and I also hope he stays with the Illini for many many years.....it's refreshing to see an Illini coach fighting for his team , University and Illini Nation.........It's the status quo to see the neverending amount of terrible officiating in FB and BB ruin what should be a fairly called game for both teams with no reason for discourse......I hope we reach that point sometime in the future , but as I witnessed yesterday , we have a long ways to go to get there............
JMHO.............................
He made the statement I'm very pissed off right now BECAUSE he was very pissed off.......with all that has happened to him the last few days I think he was speaking from the heart with no ulterior motives other than to express his true feelings at that time........................The fact that BB almost lost it later on in the presser when asked questions about his mother showed to me the true basic human feelings of dealing with remorse for his loss of his mother with the out right theft of the FB game by corrupt and inept officials starting with those on the field and higher up the food chain of college FB..........
make no mistake Illini nation .........We were robbed , jobbed and molested in many decisions made on that field yesterday........
Yes , we could have had a more robust pattern of play calling to win the game , instead of playing not to lose.......But the facts are that the qb1 for scUM did have his knee down on the turf and in possession of the FB ......it also is a fact that the scUM receiver did NOT have control of that pass as the nose of the FB touched the turf first and for many years that has been ruled an incomplete pass ........it is also a fact that the scUM play was a pick play and should have been flagged .....i remember a game last year when Barker caught a TD pass on a play just like the scUM play and the flag was thrown and we lost a TD.........
Bottom line is this ........We lost because we didn't make the plays to take the outcome out of the corrupt hands that eventually changed the rulebook for the favor of scUM and the higher ups who wanted the BIG GAME next week and all the income and notoriety will bestow on them......
I have witnessed at least 30-40 ads promoting next weeks game of scUM and the bucknuts as the game of the year....based on their records , it will capture the attention of the college FB world and now with the lopsided loss by the Vol's we may see both scUM and bucky in the playoffs regardless of who wins or loses....
I commend BB for his posture in the eye opening steal of our game yesterday and I also hope he stays with the Illini for many many years.....it's refreshing to see an Illini coach fighting for his team , University and Illini Nation.........It's the status quo to see the neverending amount of terrible officiating in FB and BB ruin what should be a fairly called game for both teams with no reason for discourse......I hope we reach that point sometime in the future , but as I witnessed yesterday , we have a long ways to go to get there............
JMHO.............................
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altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Word, my Illini brother. Drop that mic/mike!
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
I really wish people would stop overly criticizing that Illini drive. Every person would be up in arms if we threw 3 incomplete passes into the wind (or threw an interception). It wasn't like they initially drew up three runs up the middle. They were going to throw the ball on 3rd down and DeVito nearly scrambled for a first down. Instead a holding was called. Nobody is throwing the ball at 3rd and 20 into the wind.
If the Illini ran these "pick" plays, there is no doubt it would have been called. We have the best RB in the conference, you try to get him to bust a first down (he had a lot of success in 2nd half). Could we have run a play action on first or second down, sure; however, I am not going to lose sleep over the play calling. Ultimately, untimely penalties hurt the team, and of course a missed call on 4th down on the Michigan drive.
I am not one to blame officiating for losses typically. The two PI calls that were similar (both going against UI in the 4’th) are frustrating. The calls though, are somewhat subjective and I would guess that’s how the B1G will respond too BB and JW this week.
What isn’t being discussed much is the UM fumble off the snap that their QB recovered and threw for a first down. Clearly the QB was down when he came in contact with the ball, but that should have been reviewed and ruled a recovered fumble and down at the spot of recovery. That would have resulted in 4’th and 11, I believe. Instead, they gain roughly 10 yards, first down, and kick a field goal a few plays later. There is no subjectivity here.
The rule book:
Ball Declared Dead
ARTICLE 3. A live ball becomes dead and an official shall sound their whistle or declare it dead:
b. When any part of the ball carrier’s body, except the hand or foot, touches the ground or when the ball carrier is tackled or otherwise falls and loses possession of the ball as they contact the ground with any part of their body, except the hand or foot [Exception: The ball remains alive when an offensive player has simulated a kick or at the snap is in position to kick the ball held for a place kick by a teammate. The ball may be kicked, passed or advanced by rule] (A.R. 4-1-3-I).
The replay:
Though human error will always occur in all sports where there are subjective calls (PI, balls and strikes, fouls in bball, etc), it baffles me how we can roll out instant replay for all these sports, and while officials spend 3-5 minutes reviewing very objective things, they still F it up.
That’s what frustrates me to no end.
If I can watch the game while putting back a 6 pack from my recliner, and see a replay once or twice and know what the call should be after 30 seconds - how do misses like this occur?
Rant complete.
Now go crush NW and roll in a bowl
I L L …
What isn’t being discussed much is the UM fumble off the snap that their QB recovered and threw for a first down. Clearly the QB was down when he came in contact with the ball, but that should have been reviewed and ruled a recovered fumble and down at the spot of recovery. That would have resulted in 4’th and 11, I believe. Instead, they gain roughly 10 yards, first down, and kick a field goal a few plays later. There is no subjectivity here.
The rule book:
Ball Declared Dead
ARTICLE 3. A live ball becomes dead and an official shall sound their whistle or declare it dead:
b. When any part of the ball carrier’s body, except the hand or foot, touches the ground or when the ball carrier is tackled or otherwise falls and loses possession of the ball as they contact the ground with any part of their body, except the hand or foot [Exception: The ball remains alive when an offensive player has simulated a kick or at the snap is in position to kick the ball held for a place kick by a teammate. The ball may be kicked, passed or advanced by rule] (A.R. 4-1-3-I).
The replay:
Though human error will always occur in all sports where there are subjective calls (PI, balls and strikes, fouls in bball, etc), it baffles me how we can roll out instant replay for all these sports, and while officials spend 3-5 minutes reviewing very objective things, they still F it up.
That’s what frustrates me to no end.
If I can watch the game while putting back a 6 pack from my recliner, and see a replay once or twice and know what the call should be after 30 seconds - how do misses like this occur?
Rant complete.
Now go crush NW and roll in a bowl
I L L …
I believe the rule is not just “in contact with the ground”, but rather “in possession and in contact with the ground”. If you watch the play, even in slow-Mo, he clearly doesn’t have possession when he is in contact with the ground and ball at the same time. The image is misleading.
I’ll probably get flack for this, but I thought the reffing was perfect for what the Illini needed. The biggest issue was the sudden call of PI that hadn’t been getting called all game. That 4th down play was also inexcusable. Unfortunately, those two calls were right at the end, and were at a critical part of the game. But overall, and taken as a whole, it was one of the least frustrated I’ve been at refs all season.
Wasn’t the unflagged pick play a big error?
That’s the play I’m talking about. Here’s the thing, though: It was one of only two “bad” calls all day. At least, in my opinion. And honestly, if both those plays happen in the first quarter, for example, we probably aren’t talking as much about them. It’s the timing of the calls (and sudden inconsistency on the pass interference call) that made them frustrating.
Again, taken as a whole, this was one of the least frustrating reffed games I’ve watched or been to this year.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
Not only big error, but game changing. I would only put about 5-10% chance of Michigan converting 4th and 20, so I believe we would have had about 95-99% chance of winning game if proper call made. The missed call immediately changed the game to 60% chance Michigan wins, and then the subsequent PI call to about 90%. So, while the officiating was good for 57 minutes, they completely played a major factor in Michigan winning.
Agreed. We didn’t play quite well enough the entire game to offset the surge of bad/missed calls in the final three minutes. It’s a 60 minute game, so 3 in 3 minutes is quite the coincidence. You can’t prove bias of course. Maybe it’s just incompetence by the officials? Again.
B1G and the NCAA could improve their product by improving the officiating, specifically a replay booth with great equipment and expert officials. Take the replay function away from the guys on the field. They’ve repeatedly demonstrated their inability to do that job.
Maybe I’ve already blocked the game out, But what are the three calls were talking about? I know the PI call and the pick play call, but what’s the third?
The MI completed pass in which the receiver trapped the ball between his wrists as he went down with the tip of the ball clearly contacting the ground before coming out as he rolled over. It was replayed very clearly. Not even close to a catch.