Was at the Penn St game. The missed field goal, then the fumble by McCray set the tone for the entire game. You have to make a 47 yarder at home to beat a good team. And the fumble and subsequent interception or two, along with poor offensive line play, put us in a position where I guess Lunney felt we needed to throw the ball to have a chance....leading to more interceptions. It is unfair to put the team's fortunes on Luke; he clearly has a high ceiling and could be a fantastic player for us for many years, but he's only played 3 games at this level.
For us to get to where we want to be by the end of this season, both lines and linebackers have to start playing a lot better. The D line showed some life last week, but there is still room for improvement. The linebackers have been non-existent; think it's going to be a problem position for the foreseeable future. The offensive line, I thought, was going to be a group we could lean on this year as our QB and receivers matured. Would be nice if they could get it together as a group and give Lunney and the RB's confidence to get the ground game going. I, for one, would like to see more of Feagin and less McCray, as I'm afraid the injuries have made Josh too tentative. Hopefully, this game is a chance for both the line and RB's to take a step in a positive direction.
I was at the PSU game. Good enough balconey seat to see the plays unfold.
ILL open with a terrific drive. 2nd and 2 from around the PSU 30. Bryant runs an out and up the sideline. Williams runs an out underneath on the same side. Altmeyer misses way short of a wide open Bryant inside the 5. I actually wondered who he was throwing to. He either overthrew Williams by a lot or underthrew Bryant by a lot. I looked at the replay and still didn't know. Missed FG.
PSU 3 and out
ILL fumble first play. PSU FG
ILL interception. PSU FG
ILL interception Q1 ends
I'm thinking that was crazy. Kind of impressive in a perverse rationalization way. 6-0 after a Missed FG, FUM, INT, INT in 4 possessions.
PSU TD (13-0)
ILL punt still better than a TO
PSU FG blocked ILL TD (13-7)
Couple of punts and PSU FG (16-7)
I'm now thinking this outrageously crazy. I am very happy with this situation and excited about the 2H.
PSU punt
ILL interception
PSU punt
ILL punt
PSU punt blocked
ILL has the ball with under 6 minutes left in the 3Q down 13-7. After what I have witnessed with ILL Missed GF and 4 TOs, But 2 blocked kicks of PSU. I actually think to myself ILL is going to win this game and PSU will wonder how they did not win? I am pumped!
ILL loses ground and punts
PSU TD I know it's over
ILL interception number 4 just for good measure and to be certain
The game ended on that ILL possession with negative yardage after a blocked punt starting under the 6 minutes followed with a 2 minute PSU TD drive. The entire sequence took 2 minutes of game clock. I couldn't believ it, but it also seemed fitting.
I don't like to single out the cause ro an individual. But, after watching Altmeyer miss a wide open WR for a TD, throw 4 INTs (only one was a good play by the defender, the other 3 left me wondering what he was looking at or for). His play was the game. I still believe in what we have there and think it was an anomaly.
Sorry if everybody has discussed this in other threads. I haven't had time to be on the board most of this week and don't feel like going back.
On a personal note, the game was a fitting endingto a fews days of "alone time" for me. I decided to go camping and fishing at Lake Shelbyville for coppe of days before going to the game Saturday. Two days on the water and not a single fish. The highlight for me was when the band played Louis Prima's "Just a Gigolo" in the 4th quarter. I stood and applauded.