Pregame: Illinois at Michigan, Saturday, November 19th, 11:00am CT, ABC

Status
Not open for further replies.
#126      
I think whatever we’ve been saving - blitzes/offensive trick plays etc - use them. Go unconventional on them and leave it all on the field. If we’re going to lose as predicted let’s hold nothing back.

I remember one year Morris playing Joliet Catholic for the State title. Morris was the inferior team, but they came out with a very unconventional offense (polecat) and kept the game very close.

In my own fantasy world, I've envisioned us pulling off a big upset like this by putting Isaiah at QB and running options down their throats 4 yards at a time. Michigan wouldn't have any preparation for it.
 
#130      

WWWWRocU

Herndon, VA
The Bielema weapon. Nobody else has this. The weapon that has legitimate win guarenteed at the Big House. Now, the Bielema weapon has become supercharged as he is going to coach his arse off in honor of his mother. No more powerful weapon exists in the universe. The tables have now turned.
Enjoy the slaughter!
 
#131      
Boy, I hope the Michigan team is looking ahead to OSU as much as their fans are! I browsed their message boards, and they do NOT seem worried, lol ... which I guess is somewhat understandable given our apparent loss of momentum the past two weeks. It just might be the perfect time to catch 'em sleeping and shock the world, getting our groove back along the way!

Side note ... it's pretty depressing that because of that loss to Purdue, even us WINNING OUT and beating Michigan at the Big House still requires a Purdue loss to Northwestern or Indiana for us to win the division. Yeah ... we really $hlt the bed the last two weeks at home.
 
#133      
Boy, I hope the Michigan team is looking ahead to OSU as much as their fans are! I browsed their message boards, and they do NOT seem worried, lol ... which I guess is somewhat understandable given our apparent loss of momentum the past two weeks. It just might be the perfect time to catch 'em sleeping and shock the world, getting our groove back along the way!

Side note ... it's pretty depressing that because of that loss to Purdue, even us WINNING OUT and beating Michigan at the Big House still requires a Purdue loss to Northwestern or Indiana for us to win the division. Yeah ... we really $hlt the bed the last two weeks at home.
Hey, stranger things have happened. We had to win out and Wisconsin had to lose to Nebraska last season in basketball for us to win the B1G.
 
#134      
Hey, stranger things have happened. We had to win out and Wisconsin had to lose to Nebraska last season in basketball for us to win the B1G.
True that ... hopefully IU remembers how to play football the final weekend of the year and knocks them off if we are still in it, haha.

I'm conflicted, because obviously I want the Illini in Indy above all else. However, if we lose to Michigan and it appears incredibly (<5%) unlikely that we make it, I would REALLY rather Purdue or Minnesota make it vs. Iowa or Wisconsin AGAIN.
 
#137      

InDaAZ

Eugene, Oregon
Both bad but I'm of the opinion that Beckman was worse.
Becks is an observable idiot. (Oskee speech, anyone?) How that man exited an interview room leaving the decision makers saying, “He’s our guy,” I’ll never understand. 🤷‍♂️
4DD9B636-2E5D-4596-8C96-455D8C394917.jpeg
 
Last edited:
#138      
Beckman might be right up there. Illinois’ problems have been never hiring the right head coach since Mike White until now
This reminded me of a stat I saw after the Nebraska game of recent Illinois head coaches' Big Ten record through their first 15 games ... it was pretty crazy, given they all obviously took over terrible situations:

Bielema: 9-6 (.600)
Turner: 2-13 (.133)
Lovie: 2-13 (.133)
Zook: 1-14 (.067) - WOW, 2007 was a clean turnaround!
Beckman: 1-14 (.067)

Blame whomever you would like for these losses, too, but a few breaks here and there (Maryland last year, Purdue last year, Rutgers last year, Indiana this year, etc.), and BB's record could be even more astounding for our program. Glad we have him, and I hope we pay up to keep him!
 
#141      

Illini2010-11

Sugar Grove
Boy, I hope the Michigan team is looking ahead to OSU as much as their fans are! I browsed their message boards, and they do NOT seem worried, lol ... which I guess is somewhat understandable given our apparent loss of momentum the past two weeks. It just might be the perfect time to catch 'em sleeping and shock the world, getting our groove back along the way!

Side note ... it's pretty depressing that because of that loss to Purdue, even us WINNING OUT and beating Michigan at the Big House still requires a Purdue loss to Northwestern or Indiana for us to win the division. Yeah ... we really $hlt the bed the last two weeks at home.
Actually if Illini win out and Iowa wins out, Illini win the division (even if Purdue wins out). If Illinois pulls off a crazy upset, it might be time to become a Hawkeye fan for two weeks (unless NW beats Purdue on Saturday).

As I noted on another board, nobody in the West controls there own destiny. Talk about crazy tiebreaker math.

Side note: it will be an interesting Thanksgiving dinner if both Illini and Iowa win on Saturday, as this will be the first time I will openly talk about rooting for Iowa to win a football game to my brother-in-law and sister-in-law who are Iowa alums. They will be unable to reciprocate, since they will need to root for NW over Illinois to win division.
 
#142      

altgeld88

Arlington, Virginia
Solid analysis of the Illini offense on MGoBlog:


and complimentary summary of the future prospect for what BB & Lunney are building here:

Watching Illinois this week I found myself believing even more in Bert's project in Champaign, despite already being this site's resident Bert believer to begin with. They don't quite have the ideal horses up front yet- the run blocking was just alright and Brown does quite a bit of work to help make the run offense effective- but the concepts are there. Bielema and OC Barry Lunney's combo is a match made in heaven and if they can begin to build a more vintage Bielema OL, and perhaps pair it with a slightly more athletic QB who can throw a bit deeper down the field, this could be a really exciting offense. For now, it's limited in what it can do, but there is a future here.
 
#144      

Captain 14

The Last Best Place
It tells you all you need to know about the guy on the other side of the table in that interview room...an even bigger idiot.
The sum of the parts were substantially less than the whole.
 
#145      
Actually if Illini win out and Iowa wins out, Illini win the division (even if Purdue wins out). If Illinois pulls off a crazy upset, it might be time to become a Hawkeye fan for two weeks (unless NW beats Purdue on Saturday).

As I noted on another board, nobody in the West controls there own destiny. Talk about crazy tiebreaker math.

Side note: it will be an interesting Thanksgiving dinner if both Illini and Iowa win on Saturday, as this will be the first time I will openly talk about rooting for Iowa to win a football game to my brother-in-law and sister-in-law who are Iowa alums. They will be unable to reciprocate, since they will need to root for NW over Illinois to win division.
How "Illinois" would it be to win against Michigan, have Iowa and Purdue win out, but then we lose to Northwestern... o_O
 
#148      
I think whatever we’ve been saving - blitzes/offensive trick plays etc - use them. Go unconventional on them and leave it all on the field. If we’re going to lose as predicted let’s hold nothing back.

I remember one year Morris playing Joliet Catholic for the State title. Morris was the inferior team, but they came out with a very unconventional offense (polecat) and kept the game very close.
Being from Morris and a Redskin fan I saw all those games whether it was at the dreaded Joliet Memorial, down at state or on the Redskin home field. I think the game you are referring was in Champaign around 2001. I cringe at the term “inferior “ but know what you mean. That team was coached by former Illini rover back Dan Darlington. He termed the formation you are referring as “Hawaii “ as he had players lined up in somewhat isolated positions all across the line of scrimmage and back field. Unfortunately, Dan never beat JCA. But his successor George Dergo led by his son John did. But yeah, most of those matchups went down to the wire. The game you mentioned I believe one of the assistant coaches sons, one of the Laughery twins caught a pass as he slid in the end zone. He was ruled out of bounds. SO CLOSE!!
As for our Illini, maybe we will have to use some chicanery to beat Meechigan. Go for it on 4th down in our own territory, surprise on side kicks, fake punts etc. But I don’t agree with some of the sentiments of fellow posters. Forfeit?! Don’t play Chase because we can’t win anyway?! HOGWASH!!! These are the games any true competitor yearns for. What memories are made of. What fans will remember as some fans have mentioned the Rocky Harvey game. So, OSKEEWOWWOW AND GO ILLINI!!!
 
#149      

altgeld88

Arlington, Virginia
Just checked the Ann Arbor forecast for Saturday game time. Mid-20s with 15 deg wind-chill and 15 mph winds. Not likely a good day for throwing or kicking. Goodness, I hope Chase is healthy.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.