Pregame: Illinois vs South Carolina, Tuesday, December 31st, 2:00pm CT, ABC

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#226      
pvaughn8
Illini2010-11 said:
Agreed. I am as much an Illini homer as most of you, but I will be happy if Illinois covers the spread and keeps it close. This is simply not the best matchup for Illinois, but it won't stop me from cheerly loud and proud for the beloved in Wrigleyville.
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I feel a lot better with rocket Sanders probably sitting out. Our guys would have trouble bringing him down
 
#229      
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
NASchamp said:
Never said they were fools for picking SC. It’s expected. But prime opportunity for us to do the unexpected and turn some heads.
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You were trying to use it as an argument for bulletin board material. I'd think the team has enough motivation in general. Only people who would care are the social media team in case Illinois wins.
 
#230      
BZuppke
You know we were supposed to have no chance in Ann Arbor a couple of years ago, no chance at Iowa or Nebraska. Objectively I’d pick USC as well but we’ll see.
 
#232      
jmwillini
From ESPN

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#236      
KenR
Just for old times sake I remember the last time Illinois played in the Citrus Bowl. It was New Year's Day 1990. Illinois was 9-2 on the regular season with wins over #5 USC. The two losses were to #8 Colorado at Boulder and a home loss to #3 michigan (The Beloved avenged the loss to Colorado the next season at Memorial. It was Colorado's only loss and they were voted National Champions for 1990).

We were celebrating New Year's in Las Vegas and the game started at 9:30 AM Vegas time. Needless to say we'd rung the New Year in 'till all hours but I drug my hung-over !!! outa' bed and went to the Mirage sports book to watch the game. We Illini fans were outnumbered by Virginia fans by about a half dozen and there was some chirpin' goin' from both contingents but all in good fun!

Jeff George passed for 321 yards, 3 TD's and 1 pick. Howard Griffith had 93 yards rushing and 1 TD. Machovic had the boys ready. Mac would bolt to Texas following the .

On a side note: The Beloved played on New Year's Day one year later only to have their asses handed to them by Kenny Hatfield's Clemson Tigers at the Hall of Fame Bowl in Tampa Stadium. My bride and I (we were married the day before at her parents place on the beach in Daytona Beach Shores) attended that debacle and the only good thing is it was a beautiful New Year's Day in Tampa. However, The Beloved didn't show up despite having guys like Moe Gardner, Howard Griffith, Jason Verduzco, Shawn Wax and Darrick Brownlow on the field. It wasn't quite as embarrassing as the '84 Rose Bowl but close!
 
#238      
DeonThomas
skamin7 said:
The only thing I am finding is that the tailgate experience will not be that great unless you are willing to pay a lung for parking next to the stadium. I'm having trouble trying to find a spot to do it that is under $200. Anyone finding anything different?
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I'm paying $11 for parking downtown. Taking the free shuttle to the game. Believe it's just 1.1 miles.

Then attending the ILLINI tailgate that starts at noon.
 
#239      
Fighter of the Nightman
DeonThomas said:
I attended and thought the stadium was perhaps 55-60% filled.
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Yeah, to be clear my percentages were referring to a two-way split among fans in attendance. So if it was 60% full and 50% Illini fans, it would be "30% Illini fans." I feel like these bowls hardly ever have full crowds unless a directly local team is good and playing in it.
 
#240      
DeonThomas
aaeismacgychel said:
Yes, but also no. We're only a short couple hour drive from Orlando after our move from Arizona, and I wanted to make sure the family had a ton of fun at the parks ahead of time so I didn't have to worry about scheduling around the game. I'll be back next week :) As for my prediction, I think there's going to be more Illini fans there than Gamecock fans. We travel really really really well especially considering our modern history.
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I'll predict more South Carolina fans attending. It's a rabid fan base and they've been starving for success over the past 10 years, ever since arch rival Clemson's rise to glory. The 2022 Gator Bowl between ND and South Carolina was a sellout at 68,000 --- and was a 50/50 crowd per my USC neighbor who attended.

Plus, Orlando is just a relatively short drive South, with great weather most the trip, more than likely. (Admittedly, fans are a bit miffed at being left out of the CFP.)
 
#241      
Fighter of the Nightman
^ It seems very difficult to judge the crowd. As I posted earlier, for two of our biggest bowls in modern history, we were forced into playing literal road games vs. USC in Pasadena and LSU in New Orleans. However, we brought very large followings for both. Outnumbering Mississippi State fans in Tampa was certainly impressive, even if the overall crowd was not full. Given South Carolina is genuinely good this year and their closer proximity, I will also agree that they'll slightly outnumber us ... but I also think Illini fans are going to have a great turnout, with our side selling more tickets so far perhaps indicating this.

I'll go with a 55/45 split in favor of South Carolina.
 
#242      
ptgrd23
Big 10 teams always travel well to Pasadena. Most locals buying tickets are fair weather USC fans. However if Oregon or WA are in game they travel well.

Illini bought out endzone in both 1984 and 2008.

I am 62, live in SoCal. I want to see Illinois win Rose Bowl before I pass even if it is via CFP.
 
#243      
SuperintendentChalmers
DeonThomas said:
I'll predict more South Carolina fans attending. It's a rabid fan base and they've been starving for success over the past 10 years, ever since arch rival Clemson's rise to glory. The 2022 Gator Bowl between ND and South Carolina was a sellout at 68,000 --- and was a 50/50 crowd per my USC neighbor who attended.

Plus, Orlando is just a relatively short drive South, with great weather most the trip, more than likely. (Admittedly, fans are a bit miffed at being left out of the CFP.)
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"No football program in America has a greater fan enthusiasm-to-success ratio than South Carolina."
 
#247      
OrangeBlue98
DeonThomas said:
I'll predict more South Carolina fans attending. It's a rabid fan base and they've been starving for success over the past 10 years, ever since arch rival Clemson's rise to glory. The 2022 Gator Bowl between ND and South Carolina was a sellout at 68,000 --- and was a 50/50 crowd per my USC neighbor who attended.

Plus, Orlando is just a relatively short drive South, with great weather most the trip, more than likely. (Admittedly, fans are a bit miffed at being left out of the CFP.)
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About a six-hour drive from Williams-Brice Stadium to Camping World Stadium straight south on I-95. I'm guessing there will be a lot of Gamecock fans in attendance. I have a buddy who spent a lot of time in Columbia working for the university, and he said they are every bit as rabid about football as other fans in the SEC.
 
#248      
TGB
Well back to the game. Please do not run up the middle on first down for no gain, and put us in a 2nd and long situation. This is coming from a season ticket holder for 47 years. We are the only team in America that has 2 downs to make 10 yards. Being a big under dog should let us play loose with nothing to lose. Play action should be the name of the game, and then we can hand off when they least expect it. Tom Brady became the GOAT on short ball control passes, many after freezing the linebacker with play action. Yards after the catch is what made Oregon #1 this year. That will also slow the pass rush down. IMO of course.
 
#250      
CubIllini
OrangeBlue98 said:
About a six-hour drive from Williams-Brice Stadium to Camping World Stadium straight south on I-95. I'm guessing there will be a lot of Gamecock fans in attendance. I have a buddy who spent a lot of time in Columbia working for the university, and he said they are every bit as rabid about football as other fans in the SEC.
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Can confirm this- would expect a huge showing from South Carolina. Traveled well two years ago to Tampa for the game against Notre Dame. Orlando is closer and it's a bigger bowl game and as others said- the sting of being left out of the CFP has the fan base energized. Super excited for this one.
 
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