Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
If the team really needs that much rest before game 3 of the season, then the offseason conditioning program was terrible! There is a reason why Game 11 tends to be the cupcake game for Nick Saban. The SEC beats up on each other for many weeks, and it is nice to have "rest" before the Iron Bowl. For teams that want to be upper echelon, you want the "rest game" to come later in the season, not in the first 3 weeks of the season when players should be freshest.Go take it up with the Illinois Inquirer guys who agree with me. This schedule if unscathed is beautiful. But ya don't get a trial, nor rest before your first B1G matchup.
For a majority of us, having FAU before Purdue is beneficial, as the Purdue game is more important to win than the Penn State game. Honestly, the Penn State game is house money if the Illini are 2-0 or 1-1. The FAU and Purdue games have always been the most important September games going into the season, as those two games are more make and break than an away game against a much improved Kansas team or home game against a ranked Penn State. A good, tough matchup against a top-tier MAC school in Week 1 is very good prep for away game at Kansas.
Your rest argument is just weak, IMO.