I definitely can't disagree with that, nor would that surprise. I haven't spent much (read: any
) time on Nebraska message boards or paid all that much attention to comment sections on The Athletic, for example.
Pregame: Illinois at Nebraska, Saturday, October 29th, 2:30pm CT, ABC
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I definitely can't disagree with that, nor would that surprise. I haven't spent much (read: any
) time on Nebraska message boards or paid all that much attention to comment sections on The Athletic, for example.
What's with the Iowa love going on here? Did everyone forget about Bruce Pearl?
I lived in Omaha for a few years. Omaha was a pretty decent place to call home for a while. Prime rib specials in every small town on Thursday or Friday night. Rodeos here and there. The average Nebraskan doesn't have a lot to hang their hat on. Maybe the Omaha zoo. You kind of have to feel bad for them. It's why their fans travel so well; if you could think of a reason to get the hell out of Nebraska for the weekend then you'd leave too. Don't get me wrong. It's still important to orange krush them and stomp all over their little red Husker hearts next Saturday, but they're good fans. Let them have their proud football history. I for one, have noticed a FLOOD of interviews and media hype surrounding our Illini. I hope they take a few days, enjoy the fruits of their labors, make some noise for some new recruits, and then lock out all that noise and get back to work. The next couple games feel like trap games to me. Every weekend is a max effort must win situation for the Huskers; it's important to crush their dreams and destroy any misplaced confidence they might have in themselves. Go Illini.
I went to a small college about 30 minutes west of Lincoln. Went to a number one of games at Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium in the late 90’s/early 00’s just for the heck of it. Hell of an experience. Loved the atmosphere, loved their fans, and every game was spectacular. Nebraska football is what the entire state of Nebraska lives for on the weekends. It surreal. Even in their down years, Nebraska fans make that place tough to play in. I’m nervous about this game for that reason only.
I think we won this game, and probably easily. But I do wish it were a home game.
I think we won this game, and probably easily. But I do wish it were a home game.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
While we trail Nebraska by quite a lot in the all-time series, it's kind of cool the trend you can see ... yes, they were dominant back in the day and we were never consistently good, but their entrance into the conference also came during one of our most hopeless stretches. I'd be okay with the tide turning (starting in 1953, skipping the 1920s games).
1953: Illinois 21, Nebraska 21 (Champaign, IL)
1985: #18 Nebraska 52, #20 Illinois 25 (Lincoln, NE)
1986: #6 Nebraska 59, Illinois 14 (Champaign, IL)
--- Enter Tim Beckman ---
2013: Nebraska 39, Illinois 19 (Lincoln, NE)
2014: #21 Nebraska 45, Illinois 14 (Lincoln, NE)
2015: Illinois 14, Nebraska 13 (Champaign, IL)
--- Enter Lovie ---
2016: #15 Nebraska 31, Illinois 16 (Lincoln, NE) - Watched this one in Door County, we really collapsed in the fourth quarter, IIRC.
2017: Nebraska 28, Illinois 6 (Champaign, IL)
2018: Nebraska 54, Illinois 35 (Lincoln, NE)
2019: Nebraska 42, Illinois 38 (Champaign, IL)
2020: Illinois 41, Nebraska 23 (Lincoln, NE) - What a random and welcomed beatdown this was!
--- Enter Bret!! ---
2021: Illinois 30, Nebraska 22 (Champaign, IL)
2022: ??? (Lincoln, NE) - Illini will enter ranked and likely favored!
Three straight vs. Nebraska, even when they're down, is no small feat!
1953: Illinois 21, Nebraska 21 (Champaign, IL)
1985: #18 Nebraska 52, #20 Illinois 25 (Lincoln, NE)
1986: #6 Nebraska 59, Illinois 14 (Champaign, IL)
--- Enter Tim Beckman ---
2013: Nebraska 39, Illinois 19 (Lincoln, NE)
2014: #21 Nebraska 45, Illinois 14 (Lincoln, NE)
2015: Illinois 14, Nebraska 13 (Champaign, IL)
--- Enter Lovie ---
2016: #15 Nebraska 31, Illinois 16 (Lincoln, NE) - Watched this one in Door County, we really collapsed in the fourth quarter, IIRC.
2017: Nebraska 28, Illinois 6 (Champaign, IL)
2018: Nebraska 54, Illinois 35 (Lincoln, NE)
2019: Nebraska 42, Illinois 38 (Champaign, IL)
2020: Illinois 41, Nebraska 23 (Lincoln, NE) - What a random and welcomed beatdown this was!
--- Enter Bret!! ---
2021: Illinois 30, Nebraska 22 (Champaign, IL)
2022: ??? (Lincoln, NE) - Illini will enter ranked and likely favored!
Three straight vs. Nebraska, even when they're down, is no small feat!
Nebraska rush defense is the worst in the Big Ten. Even worse than Northwestern. They have yet to play any of the top 6 rushing offenses in the Big. Nebraska may pick up a few big plays on the Illinois D but this game should not be close, IMO.
On a different note, if MN plays with any confidence and rides Mo, they'll give PSU everything they can handle.
On a different note, if MN plays with any confidence and rides Mo, they'll give PSU everything they can handle.
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
I've been cautious because of Palmer's abilities. That said, Brown has gotta be licking his chops. Could be his Doak Walker moment if he can roll up 200+ with multiple scores (while yet still not having more than 25 carries).
Purdue's Devin Mockabee, who is still a non-scholarship player, ran for 178 yards in 30 carries against Nebraska last week. Behind a line that does not run block well at all.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
It's worth noting, too, that Purdue's passing offense absolutely lit up Nebraska's secondary ... and that's with Purdue having a pretty subpar running attack (IMO). One could reasonably opine that Purdue's passing attack is superior to ours, but our running game is definitely better; if Nebraska has to go all-in on stopping our rushing attack, I think Tommy and the receivers could easily light up the secondary from time to time and turn this into a slow, methodical beatdown similar to Wisconsin (but possibly worse). That's what I'm hoping for anyway.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
With their blunder-prone offense and a defense that struggles to stop the run and get opponents off the field we are a nightmare matchup for them.It's worth noting, too, that Purdue's passing offense absolutely lit up Nebraska's secondary ... and that's with Purdue having a pretty subpar running attack (IMO). One could reasonably opine that Purdue's passing attack is superior to ours, but our running game is definitely better; if Nebraska has to go all-in on stopping our rushing attack, I think Tommy and the receivers could easily light up the secondary from time to time and turn this into a slow, methodical beatdown similar to Wisconsin (but possibly worse). That's what I'm hoping for anyway.
If we play our game in a clean, competent way, we're gonna win this game. If Nebby can speed us up and induce some mistakes however, it could be a disappointing afternoon.
This would seem like a good game to have chase run 20x max. Josh get 10-15. Hopefully 3-4 touchdowns between them. Protect Tommy’s ankle. But get him enough passes to stay in rhythm and get a touchdown or 2. And then let our defense do the rest.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Yeah, I think this is the "worst" opportunity left for a true blunder on the schedule. Looking at the remaining games after Nebraska...
vs. Michigan State: We have played so well at home, and I actually expect this to be our best home atmosphere in a decade, especially if we can win in Lincoln. I'll predict 55k turn out to watch a team that they aren't just optimistic about but actually believe in. I don't think we drop this one.
vs. Purdue: This very well could be for the West ... we might lose, but it will be an electric atmosphere, and it will NOT be because we had a stinker of a game - it will be because Purdue just beat us.
at Michigan: Everyone, including most of our fans, expects us to lose this one ... so we have nothing TO lose! Go in there, give them our all and try to shock the world.
at Northwestern: I'm sorry, but we are not losing this game. If we do, this team was either a paper tiger or we quit on ourselves.
The game in Lincoln is arguably our first true test of "playing with a target on our backs," and we will really see how we handle success. People can call Nebraska bad all they want, but if we march into that atmosphere and make quick work of a team that has proven it can at least play with decent teams ... we'll be 7-1 heading into two massive home games, and we will simply be sitting pretty. This reminds me of once our basketball team finally got good again, and I would H-A-T-E the feeling I had before a Tuesday evening game at Penn State or at Minnesota. Nothing to gain, and we finally have too much on the line for it to be "just another game."
I believe these guys are going to show up to Lincoln and punch the Cornhuskers in the mouth early, though.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
Could we lose this game? Sure.
But it's weird to me how some people admit that our defense is good and then switch over to talking about all the ways they're going to exploit our weaknesses. This is just one example:
I don't think this game will end up being close. I'm expecting another Wisconsin-like beatdown.
But it's weird to me how some people admit that our defense is good and then switch over to talking about all the ways they're going to exploit our weaknesses. This is just one example:
I don't think this game will end up being close. I'm expecting another Wisconsin-like beatdown.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
I love it. Can’t wait to watch football all day tomorrow emotionally risk free.
We are not losing the PU game. Their D is bad. We will control the game and their D will wear down. Plus, the thought of losing to PU with the Michigan game looming will put more emphasis on winning and going into AA 9-1Yeah, I think this is the "worst" opportunity left for a true blunder on the schedule. Looking at the remaining games after Nebraska...
vs. Michigan State: We have played so well at home, and I actually expect this to be our best home atmosphere in a decade, especially if we can win in Lincoln. I'll predict 55k turn out to watch a team that they aren't just optimistic about but actually believe in. I don't think we drop this one.
vs. Purdue: This very well could be for the West ... we might lose, but it will be an electric atmosphere, and it will NOT be because we had a stinker of a game - it will be because Purdue just beat us.
at Michigan: Everyone, including most of our fans, expects us to lose this one ... so we have nothing TO lose! Go in there, give them our all and try to shock the world.
at Northwestern: I'm sorry, but we are not losing this game. If we do, this team was either a paper tiger or we quit on ourselves.
The game in Lincoln is arguably our first true test of "playing with a target on our backs," and we will really see how we handle success. People can call Nebraska bad all they want, but if we march into that atmosphere and make quick work of a team that has proven it can at least play with decent teams ... we'll be 7-1 heading into two massive home games, and we will simply be sitting pretty. This reminds me of once our basketball team finally got good again, and I would H-A-T-E the feeling I had before a Tuesday evening game at Penn State or at Minnesota. Nothing to gain, and we finally have too much on the line for it to be "just another game."
I believe these guys are going to show up to Lincoln and punch the Cornhuskers in the mouth early, though.
I thought that was a pretty good listen. His suggestion that one way to attack our D is by passing to the TEs makes me nervous.
It’s almost impossible for someone outside of Nebraska to understand how much of their State identity is tied up with Cornhusker football. This is their great people unifier and the face of the State to the World.
Omaha is considered a ‘large’ city but it is fairly isolated from really big places and overlooked in favor of the larger city to the South, Kansas City.
Nebraska has no notable major professional teams. It remains an agriculturally-based economy (outside of Omaha) and the people work the land and go to church and wear lots of red clothing with a big ‘N’ on it.
The small towns have suffered with the National economy and the changing fortunes of small towns in America in general. Young people leave these places in search of riches and social experiences. And World competition has made agriculture tougher to thrive on.
The bad turn that the Husker football program took after the 1990s has taken a lot out of Husker fans. Husker football was the one thing that everybody knew the State excelled at. And when that was gone... much of that identity and all the swagger went with it.
As Illini fans know... without the right people at the top of the organization then things are going to sour fairly quickly. After a series of coaches and many cooks-in-the-kitchen trying to right the Husker ship... they are still scuffling.
The Huskers and their fans used to fear maybe Oklahoma and their next bowl opponent. For many, many years. That’s it. They knew they would dominate everyone else. And they did.
These days, the Huskers fear EVERYBODY. They know that they have trouble competing in general... and little chance to compete at the higher levels of ball talent.
They will eventually get themselves a bit back on track. But the Illini are just as eager and hungry for success as Orange footballers have known what it is to look up to just about everybody else for too many years.
In many ways.. this game with the Huskers is going to feel like a Bowl Game. A good test for the Illini as the Orange National profile gets bigger and wider.
cuillini
- San Bernardino, Ca.
not me. We rest up, get McCray back and then run the ball down Nebraska's throat.
Agree. Plus I’m still sore from the Minny game. All my muscles clenched for 4 hours, the stress, Dear God, the stress!
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
420 relieves said stress
It really really does
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