I'm so hyped for this game. Win or lose, we're definitely on the upswing, but I'm craving that W on Saturday night. We'll need to be LOUD
Pregame: Illinois vs North Carolina, Saturday, September 10th, 6:30pm CT, BTN
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I'm so hyped for this game. Win or lose, we're definitely on the upswing, but I'm craving that W on Saturday night. We'll need to be LOUD
2 missed field goals at the tobacco smokers last year. A 48 yard field goal last week.
Also last year the tobacco growers ran a punt back for a TD.
Some days it's not your day and you kinda give up. I don't think that happens to a Lovie Smith team.
Catch three of those drop passes and the Illini score some more TDs and maybe out gain the cancer causers. Ferguson had like 133 yes rushing and Vaughn had about50 more.
What does every body think about Beckman hanging with Fedora? I never disliked Beckman but that's rude dude.
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal
Maybe sit the next few plays out.
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"Enter Sandman" at VA Tech is an awesome experience. If you haven't been to a game with that kind of production and theater its hard to explain. I have emotional ties as a close family member went there and I attend some games each year. Goosebumps is what we need.
http://www.ncaa.com/news/football/a...rance-music-virginia-techs-enter-sandman-best
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Concussion protocol says perhaps a few games....
Illinisteve25
- Champaign
Wonder if any of Lovie's former NFL players might make an appearance at this game?
As long as we don't get caught, they could really help us
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How about Illini NFL players?
Illinisteve25
- Champaign
Was more thinking players like Peanut Tillman that don't have an NFL game the next day. Really think having them for a little pregame pep talk might help!
I laughed out loud at this one.
Or, crazy thought, Illinois could be its own entity and not try to rip off other organizations.
Singing "Sweet Caroline" still makes me cringe.
ILLINIFAN2
- Des Moines, IA
COSIGN on Sweet Caroline, the entire touching me/touching you part of it is just:tsk: but in all seriousness, I would prefer music that really gets the fans and players pumped..
I just clicked on Chicago Trib Sports site and there is a pop up that shows "Inside College Football"s Lock of the Week" 
Yep, they have North Carolina!
We don't need no stanking bastages! :hand:
Yep, they have North Carolina! We don't need no stanking bastages! :hand:
UGH, I know this is Lovie's first year, so I certainly don't expect a win, but it stings a bit seeing UNC favored. I feel we can pull this off! Loving that there's a reason to bel
eve again. Win or lose I'm very excited about our potential!
eve again. Win or lose I'm very excited about our potential!JDHalfrack
- Springfield, IL
Here's my prediction: I'm feeling a 34-24 NC win, but the score will look worse than it will be. We'll only be down by 3 late in the 4th, but NC will seal the deal with a long, time-consuming TD drive.
We'll look back and be disappointing in a loss that will really sting, but we'll realize we mainly lost because of depth, and we'll all come away realizing how much better this team is coached and prepared for big time games than previous years. We will actually ride the momentum of a "good loss" and go 4-0 the next 4 games. We'll storm into B1G play and shock some teams with our excellent game play... before being reminded by Michigan who the big boys in the conference really are.
In Michigan, we will leave beaten. It won't be as close ans UNC, but it won't be ugly. We'll never be in it, but we'll never give up. Instead, we learn a lot about ourselves as players and coaches, and what we need to do to get to the next level.
And so, after the loss to Michigan, the team will get even hungrier to show the country that while we're not in the elites yet, we're making huge strides. We'll take our vengeance out on Minnesota and thrash them and continue by dominating MSU to begin what future generations will refer to as "the day we knew the program turned around".
The game in Wisconsin will be the game that really starts to turn people's heads. On the road, in a nasty atmosphere, in awful cold rainy weather, the defense that has trained so hard and practiced so long, shuts out the Wisconsin offense. We'll already be ranked by this point, but this win puts us into the top 15. The nation will begin to talk about "the Lovie effect".
The next two games will have Illinois favored. People will be afraid to bet against the Illini, and Vegas will share in their fear. Being 9.5 point favorites against Iowa and double-digit favorites against Northwestern prove to be the folly of those that bet against the spread. Iowa is left dumbfounded after 60 minutes of physical game play, and Northwestern is reminded why the Illini is Illinois' team. For the first time in history, the Illini will play in the B1G championship game.
The fans will be excited regardless of the outcome, but nervous because as fate would have it, Michigan brings their #1 rated, 12-0 team to the championship as well. But, you see... the Lovie-led Illini have learned. They will have matured. They're like animals adapting in a survival of the fittest environment, and they intend to survive.
Illinois will be down by 3 late in the 4th quarter. But this isn't the same team that lost to UNC in Week #2. This isn't the same team that lost to Michigan 5 games later. This won't be the same team that dropped passes all year last year... that allowed big plays at in opportune times... that had games with more personal foul yards than yards from scrimmage...
No... THIS team is the team that is lead by a man who has been to two Super Bowls and has won the NFL Coach of the Year... THIS is the team that is lead by a coaching staff with more NFL experience than any other in Division I... THIS is the team that is ready to say WE WILL WIN, and do it.
That night, when the Illini are crowned B1G champions, and the they're out celebrating, and the fans are celebrating, and the nation is celebrating, and college football is left with a decision to make about the playoffs, remember this...
It all started with a 34-24 loss to North Carolina. Because in week #2, it's not whether you win or lose... it's what you do afterwards with the results.
Or, maybe I'm just getting too specific in my prediction...
We'll look back and be disappointing in a loss that will really sting, but we'll realize we mainly lost because of depth, and we'll all come away realizing how much better this team is coached and prepared for big time games than previous years. We will actually ride the momentum of a "good loss" and go 4-0 the next 4 games. We'll storm into B1G play and shock some teams with our excellent game play... before being reminded by Michigan who the big boys in the conference really are.
In Michigan, we will leave beaten. It won't be as close ans UNC, but it won't be ugly. We'll never be in it, but we'll never give up. Instead, we learn a lot about ourselves as players and coaches, and what we need to do to get to the next level.
And so, after the loss to Michigan, the team will get even hungrier to show the country that while we're not in the elites yet, we're making huge strides. We'll take our vengeance out on Minnesota and thrash them and continue by dominating MSU to begin what future generations will refer to as "the day we knew the program turned around".
The game in Wisconsin will be the game that really starts to turn people's heads. On the road, in a nasty atmosphere, in awful cold rainy weather, the defense that has trained so hard and practiced so long, shuts out the Wisconsin offense. We'll already be ranked by this point, but this win puts us into the top 15. The nation will begin to talk about "the Lovie effect".
The next two games will have Illinois favored. People will be afraid to bet against the Illini, and Vegas will share in their fear. Being 9.5 point favorites against Iowa and double-digit favorites against Northwestern prove to be the folly of those that bet against the spread. Iowa is left dumbfounded after 60 minutes of physical game play, and Northwestern is reminded why the Illini is Illinois' team. For the first time in history, the Illini will play in the B1G championship game.
The fans will be excited regardless of the outcome, but nervous because as fate would have it, Michigan brings their #1 rated, 12-0 team to the championship as well. But, you see... the Lovie-led Illini have learned. They will have matured. They're like animals adapting in a survival of the fittest environment, and they intend to survive.
Illinois will be down by 3 late in the 4th quarter. But this isn't the same team that lost to UNC in Week #2. This isn't the same team that lost to Michigan 5 games later. This won't be the same team that dropped passes all year last year... that allowed big plays at in opportune times... that had games with more personal foul yards than yards from scrimmage...
No... THIS team is the team that is lead by a man who has been to two Super Bowls and has won the NFL Coach of the Year... THIS is the team that is lead by a coaching staff with more NFL experience than any other in Division I... THIS is the team that is ready to say WE WILL WIN, and do it.
That night, when the Illini are crowned B1G champions, and the they're out celebrating, and the fans are celebrating, and the nation is celebrating, and college football is left with a decision to make about the playoffs, remember this...
It all started with a 34-24 loss to North Carolina. Because in week #2, it's not whether you win or lose... it's what you do afterwards with the results.
Or, maybe I'm just getting too specific in my prediction...
I thought that "Right Here Right Now" by Fat Boy Slim would work really well.... Starts a bit slow but team could come out at about 30 seconds into it coming out of the tunnel. obviously it is more impressive if we can build a winning program. And hopefully Lovie and crew can get the job done.
Stevegarbs
- Mokena, IL
Exactly. And we already have our own thing...THE WAR CHANT.
What is wrong with what we already have? If 60,000 people are doing the war chant while the drums are beating you will get goosebumbs. If you don't then you need to see a doctor.
I was at the game last year, it was definitely ugly. But more so on our end. I didn't feel like they (UNC) looked as good as the score showed. We just made A LOT of mistakes...and they took advantage of, well, all of them.
I think a confident, juiced up, better executing team will pull it off and get a W. Bet on it.
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I think a confident, juiced up, better executing team will pull it off and get a W. Bet on it.
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DrewD007
- Woodridge, IL
Exactly. And we already have our own thing...THE WAR CHANT.
What is wrong with what we already have? If 60,000 people are doing the war chant while the drums are beating you will get goosebumbs. If you don't then you need to see a doctor.
Band has bad timing with War Chant. Theyre still playing as the other team snaps the ball not allowing fans to start yelling and get really loud.
I was just talking about before the team comes out of the locker room. But yeah I agree. I really don't like how the band plays it on 3rd downs. Some fans are trying to clap while others are trying to get loud. Makes it really awkward.
I didn't say play Chelsea Dagger. I said like the Blackhawks on the intro. If anyone has been to the introduction when the stitches are going in the Blackhawk sweater prior to them coming out of the locker room , that gives hills and fires up a dead man.
Something LIKE that . Not Exactly like it .................. So throw out your idea bobbob
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