Same...This is why I have this weird feeling we lose to Maryland but turn around and upset Texas in one of our best games of the year.
Sheer joy...my first and only avatar here. Picture tells the tale, as well as demonstrating the culture (Robert's article today).Then, in 2020-21, it was reinforced during a stretch where we fell from #12 to #22 in the AP poll after back-to-back home losses to a bad Maryland team and #21 Ohio State, before winning 11 of our last 12 - including winning three straight top 25 road games, one of which is arguably our most iconic regular season win of the last three seasons, the beatdown of #2 Michigan in Ann Arbor without Ayo.
I will quite literally never forget watching that game. I was reading a Michigan message board beforehand, and the utter arrogance assuming they would beat us no matter what but especially without Ayo made our absolute demolition of them feel so much sweeter. A lot like the Wake Forest shellacking in 2005, the final score didn't even do it justice.Sheer joy...my first and only avatar here. Picture tells the tale, as well as demonstrating the culture (Robert's article today).
Didn't Wood say that both Shannon and Dain were sick prior to the Syracuse game? Hope that's behind us now.This^ The sole reason why we lost at MD last January (four days after that epic Purdue game at home on MLK Day) is because Kofi was concussed and Belo had the flu. BU had to put BBV, who hadn't started in the post (or maybe ever) on Donta Scott for 40 mins. He hung in there for around 25 mins but then faded. Scott ran amok and killed us in the 2H.
But...did he put him on scholarship, or go the McCaffrey route? Tells you a lot about the person with his decision!Don't forget that he recruited The Jett Howard.
I sure wouldn't complain if this was an Illinois-sided blowout to the point Lieb scores 15!Question: who will step up this game?
So far Hawkins, Danja, Shannon, Epps, and Harris have all had "breakout" games... Who's next? So fun to have depth.
You do have an awesome avatar, bruh…Sheer joy...my first and only avatar here. Picture tells the tale, as well as demonstrating the culture (Robert's article today).
What's the McCaffrey route? I'm assuming Fran made his kids be walk-ons to save the scholarship?But...did he put him on scholarship, or go the McCaffrey route? Tells you a lot about the person with his decision!
Without Ayo nobody expected a win. But team came together and we blew them out in Ann Arbor. Might have been best win of the year.I will quite literally never forget watching that game. I was reading a Michigan message board beforehand, and the utter arrogance assuming they would beat us no matter what but especially without Ayo made our absolute demolition of them feel so much sweeter. A lot like the Wake Forest shellacking in 2005, the final score didn't even do it justice.
No, no, no. These crowns don’t look like they get to excited or loud ever. Hopefully the Maryland CROWD will look like these crowns when the Illini are up by 20! Then the crowd can crown illinois the winners. Good catch by the way. I’m sure I misspelled something in this post. Spelling is not a strength of mine.
Maybe Coach Underwood should ask Coach Bielema to give the team (and coaching staff) a pregame pep talk as to how to snap streaks with other conference teamsThis Maryland game concerns me. We never seem to play well in Maryland and this will be our 1st true road game, and that against a team that seems to play us well every year.
I believe he said the flu was going through the team. I hope Syracuse took all of it home with them.Didn't Wood say that both Shannon and Dain were sick prior to the Syracuse game? Hope that's behind us now.
That moment of Belo hunting down Brad and jumping into his arms was iconic of the program in that moment and the two guys. I love it.Without Ayo nobody expected a win. But team came together and we blew them out in Ann Arbor. Might have been best win of the year.
Great defense in 76-53 win Trent had 22 Ayo had 17
View attachment 21872 View attachment 21873
Agreed, but not so ,much at Maryland.Since Underwood got here we have always played much better on the road than at home.
Correct, supposedlyWhat's the McCaffrey route? I'm assuming Fran made his kids be walk-ons to save the scholarship?
Don't forget the moment right before that when Belo was looking for a high five from BU and was left hanging, so he gave himself a self-five.That moment of Belo hunting down Brad and jumping into his arms was iconic of the program in that moment and the two guys. I love it.
Don’t blame Valek. If Illinois football had been Scrabble, the Slush Fund scandal would have given him all vowels.Sounds like my last semester at Ill! I needed 3 hours to graduate, and could have, but Viet Nam was beckoning so I went back for the fall semester, signed up for thirteen hours of fun stuff and dropped classes when they had papers come due. The big plus-- I went into the draft lottery (number 352, baby!) The big minus-- Illini went 0-9 in football (Thanks Jim Valek!)
It was the only time in college when I didn't feel the big pressure to succeed. Great times...
Let's get our team healthy and able to play. This flu going around is nasty and taking a toll.