Comment to no one in particular and maybe its a tad too obvious - but I think it's clear our optimism at the beginning of the season during practices was based on ability and talent. When you don't get to see that talent perform against anyone but yourself, it is hard to determine if, as a team, the product on the field will be any good or not.
Then, how well the team is prepared (coached to play their positions), how well the coaches can game plan/scheme and coach in a game takes over and for us, reality sets in hard. We crash and burn in a towering inferno because this team is simply not being taught, coached and enforced. Its a shame - I feel for the kids who put their trust in the adults in the room.
Let us hope we can land someone who understands the game played at the college level and who can attract a very high level of quality to teach, coach and enforce discipline on this team. Geez, winning 6 games 75% of the time (given the three up front games) should not be a miracle at Illinois.