I appreciate your view. I think that the University did what it had to do to protect it's reputation.I have thought about this a few times. What I am about to say is O-N-L-Y regarding this specific topic, so please nobody infer anything else.
With that said ... I do wonder how recruits see this. We have seen a couple athletes on social media suggest this case is BS, some other athletes like those posts and we have seen two of our own players wearing black tights to show support for Shannon. This is a total guess, but I actually think your average athlete - especially one with a similar upbringing as TJ where basketball was their "way out" of a life trajectory that probably wasn't leading to millions otherwise - probably sees this situation, assumes that TJ is innocent and thanks his lucky stars that the exact same accusation didn't ever come his way. And I kind of worry that (again, rightly or wrongly!) Illinois will come across as particularly - err - ready to dump him?
NEVER have I been so happy to see a thread closed!Welcome back young man.
I'm pretty confident we can just beat up the northwestern fans if they say anythingAnother thing RE: hostile fans on the road, does anyone think this will maintain the same steam at a constant rate? Perhaps an initial huge blowback, then a lull and then pick up again around his hearing? Perhaps just constant hate? Perhaps the first few games are really rough and by March it's not QUITE as bad? Either way, these are our games away from Champaign:
Wednesday 1/24 at Northwestern ... at least there will be tons of Illini fans!
Tuesday 1/30 at Ohio State ... their attendance sucks.
Saturday 2/10 at Michigan State ... likely pretty brutal.
Saturday 2/17 at Maryland ... likely bordering on dangerous.
Wednesday 2/21 at Penn State ... their attendance REALLY sucks.
Saturday 3/2 at Wisconsin ... very brutal if things remain at the same level.
Sunday 3/10 at Iowa ... I'll be at this one and I'M nervous, so yeah...
Thursday 3/14-Sunday 3/17 BTT in Minneapolis ... pretty much an away game given Illini fans alone will be a small minority at any one time (until we make the championship!)
Not in EvanstonGoing to the Northwestern game on Wednesday. Serious question, can we buy TSJ jerseys at the stadium? My wife said she wants to rock one.