Great stuff
Pregame: Illinois vs Northwestern, Saturday, November 29th, 6:30pm CT, FOX
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WCIA is currently predicting 4-7 inches of snow from Friday night through noon Sunday for the I-72 corridor. Heavier amounts north, especially up towards Bloomington, Pontiac, and Watseka.
National Weather Service is predicting total snow in excess of 5 inches north of I-70 and greater than 8 inches along and north of a Macomb to Bloomington line.
National Weather Service is predicting total snow in excess of 5 inches north of I-70 and greater than 8 inches along and north of a Macomb to Bloomington line.
Serious Late
- Peoria via Denver via Ann Arbor via Albuquerque vi
If we win Saturday, which we should, we will net out at 8 wins, spot on Vegas' projections. A season that lived up to the expectations of the smartest people projecting these things.
Win the bowl game, take the 8+ wins 3 of the last 4 years mesaaging into the portal season, and upgrade the talent. Recognition of the talent on a roster is done better by number-crunching analysts in the world of sports betting, than does the "I know ball" method of rankings used by pollsters. The disconnect between Vegas and Polls was based on this. They saw the talent of a 30-35th best team. That is what we (hopefully) are.
We gotta upgrade the talent if we want to compete with the big boys. Have to. Win Saturday, and get busy Bret!
Win the bowl game, take the 8+ wins 3 of the last 4 years mesaaging into the portal season, and upgrade the talent. Recognition of the talent on a roster is done better by number-crunching analysts in the world of sports betting, than does the "I know ball" method of rankings used by pollsters. The disconnect between Vegas and Polls was based on this. They saw the talent of a 30-35th best team. That is what we (hopefully) are.
We gotta upgrade the talent if we want to compete with the big boys. Have to. Win Saturday, and get busy Bret!
How did those 71k 1951 fans make it in a blizzard with no GPS, no SUVs, worse cars, worse roads, etc?
Nine wins is still possible and is objectively a great season. Eight wins is still a great season FOR US, but I would love to get rid of that "for us" qualifier.
blackdog
- Champaign
Probably because there was no option to watch on TV so either you had to be there or miss it. Also not a lot of other entertainment option so people were more willing to do stuff like that just for the experience.
The Greatest Generation was still in their prime. The Battle of the Bulge was their benchmark for a tough winter fight. This was just an afternoon game. It was also an hopeful era.
After the Great Depression and the sacrifices of WWII most were grateful for the opportunity to participate in such a wonderful event. Happy Thanksgiving btw!
In fairness to today’s population…expectations for road safety were different back then when highway death rates were literally 5X higher. There wasn’t weather radar, advanced forecasts or communication to know what you were getting yourself into. And generally speaking people were much more ignorant of the risks.
This. And any other explanation is just an unnecessary attack on today’s fans. I’ve had season tickets for 21 years. I’ve actually been in Champaign since Wednesday celebrating Thanksgiving with family that lives here. We had planned all along to go to the game Saturday and head home to St. Louis after the game (have obligations Sunday morning).
We just made the decision last night after watching the latest weather forecast to leave tonight instead.
We aren’t weak. We aren’t disloyal. We aren’t bad fans.
What we aren’t is stupid and/or misinformed. Not risking hazardous driving conditions to watch a game I can watch on TV.
illinifan31
Former Krush Cow
- South Bend, IN
For better or for worse, we will be driving down from Chicago for the game. Who can say no to a snow game?!
I agree. It’s a once in 30-40 year event. 1951, 1993, 2025…Go and have fun.
I normally will call out fans that don’t show but I won’t do that tomorrow. Personal decision based on a lot of factors. Some people will have flexibility to make a last minute decision based on how the weather turns out. Others, like you, will not.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
Ugh! PTSD of the 1987 basketball game vs Iowa. Blew a 61-39 lead, lost in overtime then I spent the next hour or so helping push cars (mine included) out of the muddy parking lot. Remains my most traumatic regular season loss.
Dan
Admin
Jon Asamoah to Serve as Honorary Captain vs. Northwestern - University of Illinois Athletics
Asamoah was a four-year starting offensive guard for the Fighting Illini.
fightingillini.com
chiefini
- Rockford, Illinois
We will be driving from Rockford…
I was in the MI at that time. I was one of first on the field after the end of the game. Did a belly slide about 10 yards. Fantastic game and atmosphere.
Probably train.
I’m certainly not attacking fans, just observing why 71,000 souls might have turned out in 1951. It wasn’t ignorance or recklessness. They lived different lives. We each choose what to do in life based on our own risk-reward calculations. You be you.
Personally, I’ve enjoyed whitewater kayaking, wilderness canoe camping & backpacking, 40,000 miles of road cycling, a decade of mountain biking, and lots of tree skiing. I might drive down from Peoria tomorrow, depending on how things unfold. Temperatures just below freezing means salt is highly effective, so it might just be slop on I-74. Winds are the wild card. I’ve regretted cancelling too many adventures based on forecasts to pull the plug just yet.
Locals can now buy parking for $1 and tickets for $2, a cheap winter outdoor adventure and memory.
illinifan31
Former Krush Cow
- South Bend, IN
There's no chance a game like this would get postponed would it?
IHSA just postponed all state final games
5-8A football championships are postponed.
Im only coming from bloomington and not sure if im going to make the trek. I assume if the game is on, we are looking at 10,000 people max showing up.
I have to think Northwestern is in town. It won't get postponed.
It's only snow.
Edit: Assuming you're talking about Illinois.
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