Northwestern 45, Illinois 43 Postgame

SuperMetroid · Nov 25, 2023

I’m not even that upset that we won’t be going to the Cheez-It Bowl presented by Flex Protect XVIII or whatever. More in awe at how we manage to find even dumber and more painful ways to lose, year after year, decade after decade.

And as always, Big Ten refs should be launched into the sun

Vinegarben · Nov 25, 2023

This entire season can be summed up with "SELF INFLICTED WOUNDS" that turned a good winning season into a total shambles! There were times when the coaching staff played NOT TO LOSE instead of going after the win. That last 2 point conversion was broadcast to the entire nation we are going to Washington! Why not go to our top receive in Williams! Some coaches need to go! Oh by the way Washington was held prior to pass being tipped that is a PENALTY REF!

aaeismacgychel · Nov 25, 2023

TheChief4Life said:
So, after watching the last half of the season, are we still saying lunney is part of the problem, or is it possible that Altmyer isn’t actually the right quarterback for his offense? Or, was it just a “they needed more time to gel“ kind of thing? It was way more exciting watching Illinois football the last six games then it was the first six.

It was our oline can't block anyone for even half a second problem. Luke was one of the better B10 QBs despite it. He should be good next year if we figure out our line

Lysol623 · Nov 25, 2023

Just tough. Terrible coaching this year and costly mistakes. I'm not sure if Bert can put a better product on the field than this moving forward either.

HailtotheChief · Nov 25, 2023

LFOD said:
Gotta make a change at DC.

Gotta get healthy and older. Or D lost 3 dbs to the NFL and 2 more in the game today. That had a major impact on the game today. I do trust Coach B and Whitman if they choose to make a change but the coaches can't catch the damn punts and kicks for them or jump on lose fumbles either. I don't blame the coaches for that. They cleaned up the dead ball taughting and unsportsmanlike fouls. They can control every play other than putting our best player out there and Isiah is likely that he just messed up.

Illiniaaron · Nov 25, 2023

Going into the future schedules, it looks like one third of conference games will be against the big 7. If recruiting doesn’t pick up it will be ugly.

Indy Illini Fan · Nov 25, 2023

SescIllini said:
If you didn't like this season, next year looks tougher. We lose our best talent. Unless we get top players in the transfer portal and many of them, I think 4 wins is tops.

Give me the under …

The Galloping Ghost · Nov 25, 2023

Indy Illini Fan said:
Give me the under …

illinois_hustle · Nov 25, 2023

I feel bad for all the talent leaving and there’s a lot of it

Gbop · Nov 25, 2023

Video of Northwestern players celebrating on our field should be daily, mandatory viewing for every defensive player between now and opening day next year.

pruman91 · Nov 25, 2023

LADY........

Kendall Gill’s Uncle · Nov 25, 2023

I know the offense had its problems early, but how many games did the decision to go with a first year DC cost us?

Ramrod2010 · Nov 25, 2023

Indy Illini Fan said:
Give me the under …

This year was too damn important for 5-7.

Illini in Italy · Nov 25, 2023

jimbo72 · Nov 25, 2023

I have a thought. He beat us in the bowl game last year in his 1st game as head coach of Mississippi st..
Young, can recruit, and a heck of a DC coach.
Hire Zach Arnett, since they fired him. Great DC, never had a chance at Mississippi st..

TheChief4Life · Nov 25, 2023

Indy Illini Fan said:
Give me the under …

I don’t like that coming from you.

I mean if we couldn’t get six wins this year, when will we?

HailtotheChief · Nov 25, 2023

GrayGhost77 said:
Lunney wasn't the problem. Our offense was the best it's been in a decade. If our defense was halfway competent we would have won 8 games again.this year.

I don't think the D played poorly given our losses and injuries once the staff eliminated dumb unsportsmanlike calls after a stop.
Special teams were awful with turnovers on those short kicks which they almost muffed today and did once earlier this year. The dropping of two punts is on Isiah. I think he is the best the coach could put back there

Thaillini22 · Nov 25, 2023

Indy Illini Fan said:
I haven’t talked to any of the staff obviously … But I know Bret pretty well I’d say … He knows you can’t “run it back” next year with every member of this staff … Something’s gotta change …

Leonhard's mind about the easy life?

CogDog · Nov 25, 2023

I have to give the staff a D- for this season. The offensive line issues at the beginning of the season were absolutely head-scratching, especially after all the staff hyped them up in the off-season. It seems like we found our groove there the last 6 games, but what happened to Football 101? What did this year’s team get grade wise in that course vs. last year’s? We made bad plays in situations where we couldn’t afford them and penalties were an issue all year long, especially in the secondary. I truly feel bad for our seniors. Watching this team in action and seeing the lack of depth makes the lack of meaningful portal acquisitions to help this team this season is questionable. A C grade would have been reaching bowl eligibility, but we didn’t get there. Such a tough year to have given that next year on paper looks to be a lot worse. Boo!

Birdus · Nov 25, 2023

I really don't see to much difference between 5-7 and 6-6. I would rather stay home. Liable to lose to a Mac team 57-55.

PassingBy · Nov 25, 2023

This team did not make a post-season. Yes, we all agree, we all KNOW

However, that does not mean that this team was incapable of making the post-season. It was more than capable.

The problem is somewhere else - NOT this team (talent, etc).

___________________________________________________________

Enjoy the post season. Wish the kids on this team the very best wherever they may go. We will remember them. They are US - ILLINI.

DeonThomas · Nov 25, 2023

Our problem this year you ask?

DEFENSE: Allowed 30 pts per game. (Isn't that 20 ppg more than 2022? Awful. That's just impossible to overcome.)

Illiniam1984 · Nov 25, 2023

You can’t run back the same staff next year. There’s going to be some changes and would expect Henry to be one of them that’s either being demoted or sent packing. BB isn’t going to settle for this.

phats22 · Nov 25, 2023

LvilleILL said:
Go recruit some dawgs in the portal. The defense especially, that was a pathetic unit this season

And we had a potential top ten talent on the team too....

illiram · Nov 25, 2023

Birdus said:
I really don't see to much difference between 5-7 and 6-6. I would rather stay home. Liable to lose to a Mac team 57-55.

Your glass is half full. I actually like this logic.