Matthew BaileyDidn’t we have two players wearing #2 last season, Chase Brown and his “double” on defense?
Yep. It's a college thing. Don't think NFL can do that.If you look at our current roster there are more than two dozen shared numbers with offensive and defensive players. Numbers 0-19 are all shared, but several more are as well. Too lazy to give you an exact count.
Correct. It would be a 5 yard penalty.Yep. It's a college thing. Don't think NFL can do that.
Only problem can come down to special teams where there is usually a mix of offensive and defensive players....at least I'm assuming both of the same numbers can't be on the field at the same time.
Just for roster numbers I don’t think the nfl has to do it.Yep. It's a college thing. Don't think NFL can do that.
Only problem can come down to special teams where there is usually a mix of offensive and defensive players....at least I'm assuming both of the same numbers can't be on the field at the same time.
From practice reports I’ve read, Hugh has looked good. I’m not overly concerned about special teams.This feels like a game where poor special teams could sink us. It's weird that they had Griffin practicing punting, guessing coaches don't have lots of confidence in Robertson
No insight here, but my speculation was punter depth, in case anything happens to Hugh.This feels like a game where poor special teams could sink us. It's weird that they had Griffin practicing punting, guessing coaches don't have lots of confidence in Robertson
Yup. We have 121 on the roster this year (I believe that's the number I heard Bret say last week), so just mathematically, there's a decent amount of doubles. I'd also assume they couldn't be on special teams together.Just for roster numbers I don’t think the nfl has to do it.
In the special teams situation somebody throws on a different number jersey for special teams only.
Yup. We have 121 on the roster this year (I believe that's the number I heard Bret say last week), so just mathematically, there's a decent amount of doubles. I'd also assume they couldn't be on special teams together.
Oh my God, I'll take any W, but DAMN ... please don't do this to my blood pressure!28 - Illinois
27 - Toledo
Toledo scores in the final minute of the game and goes for 2 to try to win the game but the law firm explodes through the line to break up the play.
My heart can't afford this type of nailbiter either, but unfortunately I think a nailbiter is more likely than a comfortable win.Oh my God, I'll take any W, but DAMN ... please don't do this to my blood pressure!
Thanks for posting that panoramic photo of the stadium v. Michigan in '83. Great memories of being a high school senior that day, sitting in my living room watching that game, having received my UIUC admissions letter only a week earlier. Completely jacked about the team, the university, and the opportunity I had in front of me.The sellouts when Mike White came to town were unreal 70,000 every game. They had to rebuild the 2nd deck because the crowds were so rowdy concrete was falling into the concessions area.
Didn’t we sign a punter in the 2023 class or am I mistaken? If so, the frosh is the third string punter?This feels like a game where poor special teams could sink us. It's weird that they had Griffin practicing punting, guessing coaches don't have lots of confidence in Robertson
Have only heard good things about Luke's attitude and work ethic since he got here. I have high hopes
2002 I think was poor because the team opened that year with a neutral site game and an away game and we’re 0-2 heading into the home opener.I'm "nervous" for this one because Toledo is a good football team, but not in the way I would be truly nervous in years past ... I have no doubt Bret and Co. will have our boys ready to play and will not take Toledo lightly in any way, shape or form. We have a tough trip to Lawrence coming up six days after and a massive home game against PSU a week after that, so I think everyone knows how important it is to start this season off strong.
Illinois 31
Toledo 14
I also hope we can give the staff and the team a nice gesture by having over 45k in the stands. While having below 55k or so for the home opener is still well below "big boy program" levels, it takes time to reengage the fanbase, and 45k would represent a very big (nearly 20%) increase from last year's crowd vs. Wyoming. Not sure if our boy @IlliniInBuckeyeState has seen any movement on the sellout tracker, but it looks like as of now the west side will be pretty much full, East Main will be decently full but will have splotches of empty areas, the Horseshoe will be full at the bottom and empty in the last several rows and the East Balcony will be quite sparsely populated. For reference of where I feel we should be getting back to as a respectable program, here are past home openers vs. non-Power Five opponents:
2022: 37,832 vs. Toledo
...
2016: 48,644 vs. Murray State (Lovie's first season created an uptick)
...
2011: 45,154 vs. Arkansas State
2010: 52,217 vs. Southern Illinois
2009: 62,347 vs. Southern Illinois (above current capacity but not quite a sellout in 2009)
2008: 60,131 vs. Eastern Illinois (see above)
2007: 48,301 vs. Western Illinois
2006: 45,444 vs. Eastern Illinois (for a 2-10 Illini team that was 2-10 the year before)
...
2004: 46,106 vs. Florida A&M (for a 3-8 Illini team that was 1-11 the year before...)
2003: 56,304 vs. Illinois State
2002: 46,258 vs. Arkansas State (pretty bad showing coming off Sugar Bowl season)
2001: 45,674 vs. Northern Illinois
So, moral of the story I guess is that while it will take time to reengage even more fans and the nature of attending a game vs. watching on TV has drastically changed in recent years, even a bad Illini team should be putting 45k+ in the stands every game. There are just too many people in the C-U area, Central Illinois and at least SOME able to travel from Chicago, St. Louis or wherever not to have that many in attendance (i.e., it just speaks to apathy and nothing else). For years where we have a bit of hype like 2008 or 2009, it seems we can easily get above 50k.
So - getting close to 50k for this opener would be a pretty meaningful statement that our fan base is fully behind this staff and team!
Naming Luke over Paddock isn't a surprise for week 1. He went 13/35 for 94 yards and an INT vs. Toledo last year. He's a mid G5 talent with P5 leadership.
I think a typical college football roster has like 120 or so playersIf you look at our current roster there are more than two dozen shared numbers with offensive and defensive players. Numbers 0-19 are all shared, but several more are as well. Too lazy to give you an exact count.
Naming Luke over Paddock isn't a surprise for week 1. He went 13/35 for 94 yards and an INT vs. Toledo last year. He's a mid G5 talent with P5 leadership.
Love to hear Illinois hasn't shifted to Toledo totally yet. They've also gone thru Kansas and PSU already in camp... that's probably not the smartest as Toledo has an FCS opponent and Kansas lumes 6 days after September 2nd... One team has all its marbles in for week 1.