Northwestern 45, Illinois 43 Postgame

SKane · Nov 25, 2023

Fan for almost 50 years so I am used to this sort of game. Bowl game on the line. Winnable game at home. Lose.

If BB cannot maintain a respectable football program, I don't know who will come here who can.

TheChief4Life · Nov 25, 2023

I’m gonna conclude my football season with this:

Last year was obviously exciting for how well the team did.

This year, while from 10000 feet above was a disappointment, was possibly the most entertaining football season I’ve ever watched as an Illini fan. Would I had preferred to win every game by 40? Yea. But good lord… every game this season (well most) was must see TV from kickoff to final whistle. Not Zook, Not Beckman, and Not Lovie ever provided the consistently entertaining product the way bielema has the past two years. I wish there wasn’t so much riding on winning because the entertainment value alone is worth the admission.

The season was a moderate failure (maybe even huge failure), but there were absolutely bright spots. And, I still feel positive about the future of the program. There’s just going to still be pains along the way.

I trust Bret… 97% of the time

. I love listening to him talk about football, Illinois, and honestly anything. He seems way more knowledgeable than the last three coaches put together.

Now, hit the recruiting trail, hit the portal, and bring us some pieces.

Until next year (or as soon as the sting goes away), I’m signing out.

If I don’t check in before next July-ish, my family will get our season tickets again next year… for the 20th year in a row. We’ll see you at memorial stadium!

I-L-L!

Dan · Nov 25, 2023

Mr. Roberts · Nov 25, 2023

IlliniCaboose said:
This has to be the most unique fanbase experience in all of college sports.
No other fanbase experiences the dumbest games of all time the way we do.
In the history of college and professional football there have been hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of kickoffs. How many of them do you suppose resulted in a TD for the kicking team? 100?
You turn the ball over 4 times, all of which are inside your own 30.
I was at the game so I don't know how it looked on TV, so I have to ask, did we recover that fumble on the goal line that they called a TD for NW?

P.S. Go spend some money and make someone the highest paid DC in the country.

No - NW recovered in the end zone.

New Creation · Nov 25, 2023

Coop70 said:
Well, just 12 months till we feel this bad again. Later guys.

10 months and the feeling will return.

illinifan4249 · Nov 25, 2023

Bassinillini said:
Here’s a tiny morsel of consolation - P.J. ain’t bowlin either.

I think they are the first 5-7 team to get in if there aren't enough eligible teams due to their high APR score

ChiTown · Nov 25, 2023

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

I always say it all starts from top…is it possible to get a DC in the portal too ?.

therealmiket86 · Nov 25, 2023

Recruit some coaches that can coach defensive backs

Simeon Rice · Nov 25, 2023

ChiTown said:
is it possible to get a DC in the portal too ?.

Priority 1: Find way to get Leonhard full time
Priority 2: Find some studs in the portal
Priority 3: Hang onto to committed recruits and get a few more studs

None of the above is easy to accomplish on its own, let alone all 3

therealmiket86 · Nov 25, 2023

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

All bark no bite. Our db’s talk trash all games and don’t back it up

Nikethreadguysm · Nov 25, 2023

Nikethreadguysm said:
Don’t cry because it’s over. Cry because it happened.

Oh I thought of a better one..

Don’t cry because it happened. Smile because it’s over.

therealmiket86 · Nov 25, 2023

Special teams was also a disaster

Illini2010-11 · Nov 25, 2023

Pikeillinifan said:
And yet again, going for two points killed us, just take the point and that last TD ties it up.

This is the wrong take. The Illini went for 2 three times, and I believe all were the correct decision. They converted the first time, and then did not convert the second one. As a result, the Illini would have still needed a two point try to tie if they kicked on the first two attempts.

Ander1345 · Nov 25, 2023

When are we joining the Big Twelve?

therealmiket86 · Nov 25, 2023

RoundBalcs said:
Aaron Henry isn't the answer

He’s a good guy but he’s not a p5 dc yet

CA Chief · Nov 25, 2023

illinifan4249 said:
I think they are the first 5-7 team to get in if there aren't enough eligible teams due to their high APR score

Please. No.

Scoregasm · Nov 25, 2023

Dan said:

Brett is mad at the refs, but should be equally upset at himself and the staff.

therealmiket86 · Nov 25, 2023

Refs were bad but still not the reason we lost. 24 points off of turnovers.

stevej64 · Nov 25, 2023

Indy Illini Fan said:

We should not be a training grounds for new coordinators.

number1IlliniFan · Nov 25, 2023

We are the opposite of Iowa.

BoiseBaller · Nov 25, 2023

TheChief4Life said:
such a fluky last game. So disappointing. The last 6 games of the season was just a combination of one side of the ball doing awesome while the other side did terrible.

This is exactly my feeling. Illinois football this year was basically this movie clip.....

Bassinillini · Nov 25, 2023

Ohio State is despondent because they are only going to get to play in a great Jan 6 bowl. We are despondent because we didn’t barely sneak into some crappy bowl game in Detroit. We are worlds apart. Maybe universes. Maybe infinity.

cuillini · Nov 25, 2023

Clemillini21 said:
I don’t post much, but at the end of the season did some stats digging (see recent post). A lot of this was due to turnovers and penalties, but an extra nugget that we were 109th in time of possession. Defense was NOT good at all this year outside of Newton… but they were also on the field way more than necessary, and often with short playing fields for opposing offenses

Our 3rd down conversion percentage was awful.

AT6 · Nov 25, 2023

Pikeillinifan said:
And yet again, going for two points killed us, just take the point and that last TD ties it up.

It feels like we’re about 1:4 in 2 pt conversions. So, yes kicking the extra pts would’ve been a better strategy, but that’s hind sight.

RedRocksIllini · Nov 25, 2023

Illini in Italy said:
Lunney was not the problem, despite the protestations of many. You score 45 at home, you need to win every game. If the Bama/Auburn game is the Iron Bowl, we just played in the Incompetence Bowl.

This was a lot funnier when I read it wrong.

Northwestern 45, Illinois 43 Postgame

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