Pregame: Illinois vs Florida Atlantic, Saturday, September 23rd, 2:30pm CT, BTN
- Status
Crazier things have happened, but we definitely shouldn't have much of any concern with this one.
I think our offense rebounds big time in this one as our o-line should be able to hold their own and give Luke time to throw (if our o-line has major struggles again this week, I do think that’s a pretty bad sign of things to come). Our running and passing game should look much crisper, and I expect our defense to continue their forward momentum, though I am interested to see how we perform without Bailey and if we start regressing back to our first 2 games at the linebacker level.
Overall, my prediction is:
Illinois: 38
FAU: 10
We have played good teams and not played our best game yet. Toledo will be favored in each game for the rest of the season and could possibly run the table. Kansas played a great first half against us and was afraid they might have too much offense for us to handle. Penn St=turnovers kill!
FAU game is a perfect bounce back opportunity to get this team ready for the remainder of the season.
Two things I like and link together.......this team can grow/develop and I like the young talent we have seen/not seen much of yet getting time
I hope we don't win too big. This team has a lot of growing to do. I felt like we lost a bit of our edge last year and let up. I don't want to see that happen after this game.
Illinivek23
- Gurnee
The 3 returning OL starters really need to get healthy and gel. Combined with Josh K, who by all accounts is off to a good start and Josh Gesky, who seems like a good fit at LG.
O really needs to help the D out this year with solid TOP and scoring.
O really needs to help the D out this year with solid TOP and scoring.
TheFlyingIllini1317
- Chicago, IL
They are playing Purdue next week I don't think that will be the case. I want a blowout to build confidence.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
Not sure what "too big" is, but I want the Illini to blow this game open and have second stringers in by 4th quarter. That would mean that both the offense and defense were clicking (it has not happened yet), even against lesser competition. Playing a bad team down to the wire does nothing to grow the team; in fact, it could have negative consequences. We should all want a big win, with both sides of the ball playing well.
I actually don't think the Illini let up last year, I think they wore down a bit and played with less crisp execution, which resulted in bad losses to MSU and Purdue. If the Illini win big this week and let up next week, then that is a coaching issue, especially since they should want revenge against Purdue for last year (and taking our DC).
I “liked” this post not because I enjoy your plight, but to show you emotional and moral support.If it helps those of you that endured the chants last Sat…..this is where I have to sleep for the next two nights.
View attachment 28164
And if that isn’t bad enough….
the I diots O ut W andering A round are here to ensure Total Suckfest.
And I brought them here.
Maybe coulda declared an in-flight and diverted to, I don't know, maybe Minot, North Dakota?If it helps those of you that endured the chants last Sat…..this is where I have to sleep for the next two nights.
View attachment 28164
And if that isn’t bad enough….
the I diots O ut W andering A round are here to ensure Total Suckfest.
And I brought them here.
the Idiots Outa Walking Around players wouldn't have noticed the difference . . .
Updated Sellout Watch tracker:
I continue to have my doubts that the horseshoe is as sold out as it is, but oh well. As usual, the endzone sections in the East/West Main stands are not showing tickets available for sale for the majority/entire sections, so the tracker assumes 100% unsold which probably isn't accurate.
I'll do one more update tonight with my official attendance guess, but I'd say just over 46,000 as of now.
I continue to have my doubts that the horseshoe is as sold out as it is, but oh well. As usual, the endzone sections in the East/West Main stands are not showing tickets available for sale for the majority/entire sections, so the tracker assumes 100% unsold which probably isn't accurate.
I'll do one more update tonight with my official attendance guess, but I'd say just over 46,000 as of now.
Interesting and useless factoid...I just finished a Teddy Roosevelt biography. Minot ND was named after his college best friend.Maybe coulda declared an in-flight and diverted to, I don't know, maybe Minot, North Dakota?
the Idiots Outa Walking Around players wouldn't have noticed the difference . . .
I was stationed at Grand Forks AFB in the mid-90's, and gained a special appreciation for their horrible weather. I used to tell folks that I wanted to go back to Alaska because the weather was better . . .
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Thank you for posting these, seriously! Please keep it up. As I said earlier, 46k or so for FAU after a 1-2 start is some VERY serious improvement over previous years. It's frustrating for me and other fans at times, sure, but we just need to keep building to get these numbers up. For comparison to non-Power Five home games in recent years, not counting the opening game...
2022: 37,579 vs. Chattanooga (granted, it was a Thursday night)
2021: 33,906 vs. UTSA
2021: 30,559 vs. Charlotte
2019: 34,759 vs. Eastern Michigan
There will be 1500 high school band performers from 27 different schools and 5500 teachers from around the state who have been provided with free (to them) tickets.
On another note, for you old timers, the DIA will be honoring the Big Ten Championship team from 1953.
For those interested in meeting members of the men's and women's basketball teams there will be a tailgate in lot 31 (SE corner) starting at 11 sponsored by ICON Collective.
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We’ve already been to The Original Pancake House, Rally House up on Prospect to check for new Illini gear (I got my wife another Illini teddybear), checked into our hotel, where my sister (also Illini) and her “I married into this” husband will meet us shortly, and we will meet another Illinois alum for dinner.If it helps those of you that endured the chants last Sat…..this is where I have to sleep for the next two nights.
View attachment 28164
And if that isn’t bad enough….
the I diots O ut W andering A round are here to ensure Total Suckfest.
And I brought them here.
I just saw that 52,000 tickets have been sold for the FAU game. I don’t know whether that includes giveaways, or how many were sold before the PSU game and therefore not affected by the results of that game—for better or worse.
I don’t know about the team but I think the fans are out for blood. I just hope we can keep this momentum rolling.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
If that is true, that would be astounding. I don't care if there were a ton of giveaways, that would be unprecedent in recent history for Illini football and an absolutely wonderful sign ... though I admit I would find it hard to believe if we could only get 49k for #7 Penn State! However, just to put it in perspective what a radical attendance change that would be, these are our ten largest crowds in the previous ten seasons (counting this year):
2016: 60,670 vs. North Carolina
2022: 56,092 vs. Michigan State (Illini 7-1 and ranked #16 at the time)
--- 2023: 52,000+ vs. Florida Atlantic ---
2015: 51,515 vs. #3 Ohio State
2014: 50,373 vs. Iowa
2023: 49,099 vs. #7 Penn State
2023: 48,898 vs. Toledo
2016: 48,644 vs. Murray State (Lovie's first game)
2022: 45,683 vs. Minnesota (Illini 5-1 and ranked #24 at the time)
2022: 45,574 vs. Purdue (whole lotta no-shows, it was COLD and I was there!)
2015: 45,438 vs. Wisconsin
Again, I am quite skeptical ... but even drawing 45k would give Bielema's last two seasons over half of the top 10. That's some very nice movement in fan enthusiasm.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
Great info. Thanks Bill!
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
We’ve already been to The Original Pancake House, Rally House up on Prospect to check for new Illini gear (I got my wife another Illini teddybear), checked into our hotel, where my sister (also Illini) and her “I married into this” husband will meet us shortly, and we will meet another Illinois alum for dinner.
- Status