Pregame: Illinois vs Penn State, Saturday, September 16th, 11:00am CT, FOX
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BZuppke
- Plainfield
We will win. We played two teams with very experienced QBs and schemes we’re not designed to defend. Bert will have them ready. Just be there.
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Win. Period. Until then we will get what we deserve. Colorado is more enticing location right now hands down.
Why? They beat Nebraska who wasn’t supposed to be good. If you bring in talent any team can become good overnight with the transfer rules. It is not like he turn a 1-11 team around with the same players
They beat TCU and I think when you look at the end of season they had too much hype.
He is a good salesman
I know Prime is ratings gold but is Colorado-Colorado State a game worth everyone being at?
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Act like you've been there before, college football media.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
I am fine with Big Noon going to Boulder. I can honestly say that I have never watched the show anyway. College Gameday is my preferred show on Saturday mornings. Until Illini win more regularly, things like this will happen. We still have the national stigma of low student turnout and poor overall attendance. Fox made the strategically wise, though very late decision to go to Boulder (i think Gameday had already announced their decision late in their show).
I hope the team will see this move as disrespect and play with a chip on their shoulders.
I hope the team will see this move as disrespect and play with a chip on their shoulders.
That's not intriguing? That isn't a fun story line? That was my only point.
It's grows tiresome watching the Alabamas and Michigans of the world dominate every year while everyone else is left with dashed hopes and "just wait until next coach, next year, etc." It's our lot in life, I suppose.
We will see what happens with Colorado during the season but at this point, they ARE the story. I'm ok with that. If nothing else, it brings me hope, before I run out of "next years", that maybe there's a chance everyone else has a shot.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
You answered your own question. The game itself does not matter as much as the potential ratings.
Unfortunately there was probably justified fear from Fox that we would not show up in numbers for the show, in addition to the general interest from football fans in the "Prime Time" experiment.
We should not be shocked to be passed over. Until we start getting close to sellouts and winning consistently, we should not expect to see a national show in Champaign. I was surprised when we were initially announced to host Big Noon.
Any signs of life before halftime would be a welcome change! Go Illini!
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
To be fair, I generally try NOT to complain about announcers, AND I love Bardo … but he goes overboard to not appear biased toward us. That would be a virtue if all the other announcers weren’t total homers for their teams … so get in the right corner, Stephen.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I cannot described how crushed I am. 
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Like WTF? They do games they’ve committed to that end up worse all the time. This was promised to our stadium and community. Utterly crushed that I’m driving down for this now, was so excited.
I agree. I got season tickets and was looking forward to this game. Wait till the tarnish wears off the prime.
The decision probably has a lot to do with the fact that Colorado actually didn't look that good against a bad Nebraska team. They ran up the score in the 4th.
I think both networks are banking on Oregon and USC beatdowns coming up, so they want to cash in now before the hype fades.
I think both networks are banking on Oregon and USC beatdowns coming up, so they want to cash in now before the hype fades.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Blows my mind anyone is defending this. If FOX didn’t want to “owe” this to Champaign, then don’t f#%£cking announce it months in advance. Announce it weekly like Gameday. Now it’s just cruel.
Our own fans rationalizing this because our defense has disappointed and KU smoked us?! Good God, how psychologically broken are we?! This isn’t an AP voter deciding we aren’t worthy of being ranked … it’s a giant spit in our face, and if it doesn’t make you mad, I question your pride in the Illini. Nobody can hide behind being a “realist” here … this is embarrassing, and if you’re excusing it, you’re coping to (pathetically) save face.
Three straight weeks of CU, and we have ONE fan defending the decision?! Screw FOX.
Our own fans rationalizing this because our defense has disappointed and KU smoked us?! Good God, how psychologically broken are we?! This isn’t an AP voter deciding we aren’t worthy of being ranked … it’s a giant spit in our face, and if it doesn’t make you mad, I question your pride in the Illini. Nobody can hide behind being a “realist” here … this is embarrassing, and if you’re excusing it, you’re coping to (pathetically) save face.
Three straight weeks of CU, and we have ONE fan defending the decision?! Screw FOX.
Plus there is game film on them now. With 87 new players, CO was a complete unknown week 1 and, to a lesser extent, week 2.
SuperMetroid
- Evanston
It’s been two weeks, I’ve barely watched any college football outside of our games, and I’m already sick of hearing about Deion Sanders.
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
I said much the same thing today. If moving the game because one or both teams were a disappointment was a possibility then why announce it months in advance? Like you said, just do it week by week.
That being said if you just go by the lines, are we really any worse off than expected by the casual viewer? We won the game we were supposed to win and lost a game most predicted we would lose, they had to expect a 2-0 PSU vs a 1-1 Illinois team was the most likely outcome from the first two weeks.
That leaves only one explanation, that they're crawling onto the Prime train. Didn't someone say last week that there was NO WAY Game Day and Big Noon would be at the same spot (Barring UM vs OSU)? So that goes back to the original question of if all they care about is chasing the ratings then why promise the game to anyone knowing you're just going to with the flavor of the week? It's not like CU is playing USC or something, they're playing CSU, do they expect that game to be any closer than the Illinois game?
I don't disagree with you- it's a pretty big insult and testament to how poor our program is viewed nationally. I even like the righteous indignation of your post, but as sad as it is, I do get the business decision to walk out on our team and fanbase for the likelihood of better ratings. That said there's a solution to this issue. Do what good teams do. Take it as the insult it is and win out. None of the teams on our schedule are unbeatable. Beat PSU in stunning fashion, rush the field, tear down the goalposts, carry them out of the stadium and throw them on a bunch of cardboard boxes that say "Big Noon on FOX". Then watch the team rattle off win after win until we're 11-1 headed into the B10 Championship Game.
Point is, it sucks, but there is something that can be done about it. Just win. It's been 33 years since we've had back to back regular seasons with a winning record. We start changing that and we'll get the big game treatment
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