Michigan State 23, Illinois 15 Postgame

#176      
Rule change:

Player goes out with an injury once, leaves the field, can come back in after being cleared. That can stay the same.

Same player goes out again where play has to stop, he’s done for the game. The stoppage of play is to address possible serious injuries where a player can’t get off the field themselves. If it’s serious enough a player can’t get off the field TWICE they don’t need to be in the game anymore. (For their safety)

When it comes to severity of the injury, there has to be some sort of flop rule. While the player is down, look at one of the many cameras on the field. If the player was walking under his own power and then decided to get down on one knee “injured” call the flop. If the player falls down while not engaged with another player, call the flop.

It’s doable in basketball, it’s doable in soccer, it can be doable in football.

Have to nip that in the bud. It may not be why we lost, but it definitely took the air out of several of our drives and gave the D an advantage.
I agree with this, but I would say there has to some additional analysis of this pattern post game that could take the victory away from the team that employs it. It was obvious to everyone it was intentional Saturday. Take the W away or levy an automatic 3 game suspension on players that participate. I was at the Rutgers several years ago when they did the same thing.
 
#177      
Rule change:

Player goes out with an injury once, leaves the field, can come back in after being cleared. That can stay the same.

Same player goes out again where play has to stop, he’s done for the game. The stoppage of play is to address possible serious injuries where a player can’t get off the field themselves. If it’s serious enough a player can’t get off the field TWICE they don’t need to be in the game anymore. (For their safety)

When it comes to severity of the injury, there has to be some sort of flop rule. While the player is down, look at one of the many cameras on the field. If the player was walking under his own power and then decided to get down on one knee “injured” call the flop. If the player falls down while not engaged with another player, call the flop.

It’s doable in basketball, it’s doable in soccer, it can be doable in football.

Have to nip that in the bud. It may not be why we lost, but it definitely took the air out of several of our drives and gave the D an advantage.
I would make it a rule that each team is allowed one injury timeout while playing defense per half. After that, if a team has to take an injury timeout, they have a choice: (1) designate the injured player cannot return to the game for the next three defensive series, or (2) the opposing team is allotted another timeout. In the final three minutes of the fourth quarter, the first option is removed and only the second option applies.

Maybe not precisely that, but something in that vein. Even if the injuries are legitimate, it's a competitive advantage to the defense that's getting them. The playing field should be evened. And the rules should be designed to absolutely remove any incentive for a team to fake injuries.
 
#178      
I would make it a rule that each team is allowed one injury timeout while playing defense per half. After that, if a team has to take an injury timeout, they have a choice: (1) designate the injured player cannot return to the game for the next three defensive series, or (2) the opposing team is allotted another timeout. In the final three minutes of the fourth quarter, the first option is removed and only the second option applies.

Maybe not precisely that, but something in that vein. Even if the injuries are legitimate, it's a competitive advantage to the defense that's getting them. The playing field should be evened. And the rules should be designed to absolutely remove any incentive for a team to fake injuries.
I would throw in the possibility of a 5 yard penalty.
 
#179      
They used to call what happened to the Illini an example of being ‘Not Ready For Prime Time Players’.

National attention... Big crowd... At Home... On a Roll... and then, rolling off a cliff...

This Illini squad is not used to playing big Prime Time-type games yet. It has been years since the Program really knew what it felt like.

And playing Prime Time games takes a certain physical and mental discipline and energy beyond the normal. Other teams start to bring their best against you. And you have to match that and exceed that in order to be successful.

The Michigan State game was a learning experience for these players and the Program. No one just easily waltzes into the College Football upper crust. It’s a dogfight and a test of wills. And the Illini have begun to make that hard march Up the ladder.

The big take-away is how this team responds. Do they accept the schooling they just got from another program that is more used to playing in important games?
Use this as a positive experience and not something to begin to doubt or turn negative.

There is much to be accomplished yet this season and much has already been learned. The key is to keep pushing upward both individually and as a Program.

Don’t lose the momentum of a positive and possibly Program-changing season. Dig deep and work harder and show that you belong with the best.
 
#181      
Yep. Thanks.

Shoulda had twice as many catches. And should have been used in the run game as well.
A couple of those targets to Williams should have been called Pass Interference on the defense. That fact may have been a reason for not calling his number more often. Crazy mistakes made by us and the ref crew made for tough sledding. Go Figure!
 
#182      

IlliniKat91

Chicago, IL
I would make it a rule that each team is allowed one injury timeout while playing defense per half. After that, if a team has to take an injury timeout, they have a choice: (1) designate the injured player cannot return to the game for the next three defensive series, or (2) the opposing team is allotted another timeout. In the final three minutes of the fourth quarter, the first option is removed and only the second option applies.

Maybe not precisely that, but something in that vein. Even if the injuries are legitimate, it's a competitive advantage to the defense that's getting them. The playing field should be evened. And the rules should be designed to absolutely remove any incentive for a team to fake injuries.
Make it more simple than that. If you need an injury time out, you miss the rest of the possession, either offensive or defensive. If you need a second one, you miss the rest of the game.

You call it a new rule aimed at player safety so no one can complain on the record, but it sends a clear message that it won't be tolerated as game strategy.

If a team seems to be penalized by the rule more than most, that should trigger an investigation from the league office with consequences to follow.
 
#183      
mad at the way we played, mad at the what ifs ...
re: all the missed PI - it was a blatant PI the play before the muffed punt that in the span of a few minutes let to 2 TDs.
the multiple missed PI were not hard to see
Big Ten needs to decide if faking 10+ injuries is a game strategy it wants to condone, endorse and reward; 1-2 fakes and we wouldn't be complaining. I don't care whether the coaches directed players to do it or the players were making these decisions on their own. On numerous fakes, there ended up being a TV timeout what seemed like 1-2 minutes after the player was off the field. In one case, they started the game clock when we were still on the sideline. maybe in some game when we are up, to make a point we fake an injury every play for 10 straight plays.
in addition to all fake injuries, I noticed while we were in hurry up mode (almost whole 2nd half - 3rd quarter with wind and 4th while down) literally every time we got a first down and many went out of bounds, the game clock would start 2 seconds later and the ref would sit on the ball not allowing it to be snapped for 20+ seconds. Refs did not sit on ball that long when MSU was in hurry up.
 
#184      

InDaAZ

Eugene, Oregon
My Illini: You are good enough to beat any team in the conference, but you can be beat by any team in the conference. I know you are very young men, and I think you took this one for granted. Don't do that again.
problems flaws GIF
 
#185      
If there is any evidence that players were being coached to fake injuries, MSU should have to vacate that win. With all of the attention and focus on player safety (and rightfully so), if MSU was found to be exploiting those rules then there must be consquences. If true -- if -- then Tucker and his garbage staff should never have a job in sports again.
Good luck proving it
 
#188      
I haven't read all the comments on the post-game thread but was there ever any explanation of why on our final drive it looked like two times our player got out of bounds, but the clock continued to run? Or why on the final play of the game, a flag was thrown with no explanation from the referee?
I didn't watch any of the BTN post-game show- I was too angry, shut the TV off and went for a walk.
 
#189      
in addition to all fake injuries, I noticed while we were in hurry up mode (almost whole 2nd half - 3rd quarter with wind and 4th while down) literally every time we got a first down and many went out of bounds, the game clock would start 2 seconds later and the ref would sit on the ball not allowing it to be snapped for 20+ seconds. Refs did not sit on ball that long when MSU was in hurry up.
Can't say as I recall those specific plays, but it may have been a case where Illinois substituted, and the refs recognized this and stood over the ball, allowing MSU to match with subs as well. This is a fairy new rule, and some gamesmanship has come of this, but the intent is to let the defense sub, if the offense subs.
 
#191      

Illini4Chief

TENNESSEE
Actor's guild notified.......MSU player on ground for 4 \ minutes....no movement...then (drum roll)...Up anu jogs off the field. Huh?? Butkus would be proud..hahaha
 
#192      
I haven't read all the comments on the post-game thread but was there ever any explanation of why on our final drive it looked like two times our player got out of bounds, but the clock continued to run? Or why on the final play of the game, a flag was thrown with no explanation from the referee?
I didn't watch any of the BTN post-game show- I was too angry, shut the TV off and went for a walk.
stephen colbert lol GIF by The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

Big Ten Officials
 
#193      
Everyone made jokes about this during the game including me. But the more I think about it afterwards it doesn't sit well. Of course defensive players will sometimes flop on the field to get the injury timeout. But when it happens, it is usually an isolated and spontaneous thing and tends to happen only during two-minute drill type situations. But MSU was doing it over and over, consistently, all four quarters, predictably every time that you could see they were gassed. Just blatant in-your-face cheating throughout the entire game and absolutely nothing was done about it. Did all those fake injury breaks make a difference in the final outcome? It was a one-score game, so yeah, maybe. I mean, can eight extra timeouts translate into a ten-point swing? It's not inconceivable that we might have gotten a TD and field goal out of drives where we had them on their heels until they pulled that garbage and slowed our momentum. And the worst part to me is that it seemed pretty clearly to be a premeditated strategy that they worked out beforehand as part of their game plan.
New rule: https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/s...-fake-injury-issue-we-considered-all-options/
 
#194      

altgeld88

Arlington, Virginia
be safe weary traveler....................having you back home safe is an Illini Nation priority...............
Thanks, Pru. It took 30 hours and three flights from getting up at 5 am Saturday at home to my head hitting the pillow in Hanoi at 1 am this morning. My thoughts: I’m not getting any younger 🤣 Am looking forward to a convincing win over Purdue.
 
#195      
Disappointing outcome Saturday for certain.
Perspective:
I was born in 1963 and have been bleeding O&B for 59 years.
Very real possibility to finish regular season at 9-3 (.750 win percentage)
Since I have been alive, prior to this season:
Number of years Illinois football had 9 wins in a season = 4
Number of years Illinois football had a winning % of .750 = 4
Conversely:
Number of years Illinois football lost 9 games + in a season = 10
Number of years Illinois football had a winning % of .250 or less = 13

Yeah….I am bummed we gave this one away…..what could have been.
Overall, what a spectacular season this can be, and finally Illinois football looks to be relevant again.
Long time coming……
I L L
 
#196      

pruman91

Paducah, Ky
Thanks, Pru. It took 30 hours and three flights from getting up at 5 am Saturday at home to my head hitting the pillow in Hanoi at 1 am this morning. My thoughts: I’m not getting any younger 🤣 Am looking forward to a convincing win over Purdue.
Hope you're not staying at the Hanoi Hilton.........................................................................
a4bda261c73ef7d8c38af4d04accba21.gif
 
#197      
It was just one of those game. Look at Pu at home and an Iowa team crushed them. You have two teams playing for the marbles in the in the West coming off disappointing loses. The refs did miss the PI which was absolutely a miss. What is the rule on a coach making a decision on a penalty than changing their mind. Another letter from the Big Ten office.
 
#198      

IlliniKat91

Chicago, IL
It was just one of those game. Look at Pu at home and an Iowa team crushed them. You have two teams playing for the marbles in the in the West coming off disappointing loses. The refs did miss the PI which was absolutely a miss. What is the rule on a coach making a decision on a penalty than changing their mind. Another letter from the Big Ten office.
They're not supposed to, hence the apology they gave to BB at the end of the game. He mentioned it in his presser
 
#199      

jjv0004

Greenville, SC
I think this was the team most people thought we were getting this year. They have far exceeded expectations up to this point.
 
#200      
I think this was the team most people thought we were getting this year. They have far exceeded expectations up to this point.
going into the season with the relative rankings of MSU and UI, I would have been pretty happy to play this close with a chance to win at the end. I'm glad my expectations have been raised, however