Outside of the one sack that I recall (blown assignment by USF) it doesn't feel like it. There were several deflected passes.
USF 25, Illinois 19 POSTGAME
Outside of the one sack that I recall (blown assignment by USF) it doesn't feel like it. There were several deflected passes.
Starting a freshman quarterback with slightly-greater-than-zero experience, and going without 2 of your best/most influential defensive players, as well as other impact guys.
Of course it hurts, and emotion makes human beings see things all kinds of sideways, but if you love Illini sports and you look at this result with your heart open - and not from a place of resentment from your pain - there's no way you don't see encouraging signs for the rest of *this* season, let alone the next.
I have to agree with this assessment. South Florida did everything possible to give the game away and we were there, refusing to take it. There's nothing positive from this. That fourth and one call, playing conservatively, and what... pinning our hopes on a green secondary that won't give the game away with blown coverage? You could feel the game slipping away. After this loss I could only think of Dennis Green's 2006 rant after losing to the Bears in Arizona. Sadly, Illinois, at Soldier Field under Lovie Smith, played the role of the Arizona Cardinals. It hurts.
Have to edit and add one thing. The kids are improving, and they played crazy good considering the youth out there. But when, for gawdsakes when does the youth movement end? Given the total lack of depth on either line it looks like two or three years before there's experience and depth at those positions. Please tell me I'm wrong. That's a tough pill to swallow.
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Lovie is playing the long game; team is starting to pass the eye test. Did anybody see the penalty on the kickoff return with about 5 minutes left? This was a killer and wouldn't want to be the person who got called for that. Fun afternoon if front of the TV.
Most accurate statement of progress
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
The obvious is that this game SUCKED to endure as a fan. True heartbreaker.
However, how can anyone not say we’ve improved? It’s easy to “accept” we need a massive rebuild when Lovie is hired; it’s harder when we’re “getting there.” This team played with a fight tonight we haven’t seen in years, and I’m now a lot more confident that we can scrap a few more wins out going forward and possibly even score a real upset. Go Illini.
However, how can anyone not say we’ve improved? It’s easy to “accept” we need a massive rebuild when Lovie is hired; it’s harder when we’re “getting there.” This team played with a fight tonight we haven’t seen in years, and I’m now a lot more confident that we can scrap a few more wins out going forward and possibly even score a real upset. Go Illini.
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There is definitely a lot to be encouraged from.
Let's be honest. If we play like this, we'll probably win 2-3 Big Ten games. And given how weak the schedule is -- and how bad the Big Ten West is in general -- there are several winnable games ahead.
The question is how we respond mentally. My fear is that they are hung over going into Friday night, get absolutely blasted by Penn State, and then lose all confidence.
Let's be honest. If we play like this, we'll probably win 2-3 Big Ten games. And given how weak the schedule is -- and how bad the Big Ten West is in general -- there are several winnable games ahead.
The question is how we respond mentally. My fear is that they are hung over going into Friday night, get absolutely blasted by Penn State, and then lose all confidence.
FinalFour88
- Charlotte, NC
I don't think getting crushed by Penn State would destroy our confidence. (Or at least I hope not.) If losing two games in a row makes us go in the tank, the coaching staff should fired. It's their job to make sure confidence is maintained.
DAMN ... we had that game ... our guys need to continue to grow up, learn their coverage responsibilities and freakin step on the neck of an opponent when u enter the 4th qtr with a lead like that ... MJ Rivers is gonna be nice over the next few yrs ... but good god, we cannot let wins like that slip through our fingers no matter what the pregame expectations are .
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
I think that's a real stretch. If you think they lost a close game to a really good team today I think you're wrong. S. Florida played about as poorly as they could and Illinois refused to accept the charity. I hope I'm wrong but the Illini are more likely to go 2-10 or 3-9 than get six wins and go bowling.
If you're like me, this is the 1st Illinois game that I've been emotionally invested in, from start to finish, in quite some time.
Same, I came into the game expecting 2-10... Leaving the game I see 7 more games on the schedule where we should have more than a prayer of winning.
There are more true freshmen on the roster than Juniors and Seniors, combined. So yeah, I'll say "2 years" with a straight face.
That might be true. Only time will tell. But the fact remains that the schedule is very weak and the potential for 6 wins is there. You have to play your best players. Period.
t7nich
- Central IL
I was encouraged with fight our guys showed. MJ played fine for a freshman, but I wish they would have put Robinson out there some in the second half. Maybe he could have given a spark to our passing game. Obviously hindsight is 20 20.
Rod Smiths offense is predicated on having a qb with good running ability. A stat that hurt us in this game was MJ with negative rushing yards.
Rod Smiths offense is predicated on having a qb with good running ability. A stat that hurt us in this game was MJ with negative rushing yards.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Should of been a W. Not happy.
First let me say, the idea of a moral victory is BS. This game could very well keep us from a bowl, and that would be huge for us this year. And it was there for us.
Can't believe we don't win this game with the suspended players. But fully behind Lovie here. I hope Lovie and JW's goal is that when Lovie retires we have a football team that sustainably reflects the flagship university in a great state (or at least a state that was great not that long ago, but that's politics). This kind of discipline is what we need long term. Its more important than the weed wacker bowl.
I only listened to the game, and maybe it was OD, but I thought the Oline had their best game. Without dominating KSU and WIU, I was very worried about this unit. You look at the stats, we are competitive in this game because of: special teams, penalties, and turnovers. That is the mark of a veteran team, and we are anything but that.
Lets give some credit to the coaches here. No moral victory. This was an important loss that we will regret at the end of the year. But we are clearly moving in the right direction. With this schedule, this young team has a chance to win a few more games.
Can't believe we don't win this game with the suspended players. But fully behind Lovie here. I hope Lovie and JW's goal is that when Lovie retires we have a football team that sustainably reflects the flagship university in a great state (or at least a state that was great not that long ago, but that's politics). This kind of discipline is what we need long term. Its more important than the weed wacker bowl.
I only listened to the game, and maybe it was OD, but I thought the Oline had their best game. Without dominating KSU and WIU, I was very worried about this unit. You look at the stats, we are competitive in this game because of: special teams, penalties, and turnovers. That is the mark of a veteran team, and we are anything but that.
Lets give some credit to the coaches here. No moral victory. This was an important loss that we will regret at the end of the year. But we are clearly moving in the right direction. With this schedule, this young team has a chance to win a few more games.
Uh, wrong. We have five players out for suspension. Three who start and make a big difference to this team. Green is sorely needed and another DL never hurts. We have some really nice help coming in next season at WR and secondary and may get more. We look like we have a QB with a another coming in next year. The OL will be another year older as well as the DL. How many sophs do we trot out there? I saw progress and I think if they miss on a bowl game this year, meaning close to one, next year will be a lot different. Still the youngest team out there and everyone predicted them to spank us today...
+1
And for those saying they tried to give us the game with penalties, you’re kind of right but how many times has that been us in the past. We should be giving credit to the staff for preparing the team properly. When was the last time you could say our team looked more prepared than the opponent? They clearly had more talent, but we were better prepared.
Man, I think Epstein has a shot to end up the Illini's all-time rushing leader (love u Rob H.). His vision is superb and with his burstability he's just a big-play-waiting-to-happen machine.
I think we need to put this game into perspective.
1) If you told us before the game that Rivers would be our starting QB and we'd only lose by 6 with a shot at the end zone on the last play - we'd take it 99 times out of 100.
2) Yeah, it sucks to blow a lead in the 4th but with several starters suspended and several more hurt, the fact that we were in it for 60 minutes is incredible. Remember, we lost by 24 last year and USF just put up 49 on Georgia Tech last week.
3) The recruits want to see a more competitive team. I believe Shammond Cooper said he would commit if we were not losing by 30-40 points and this game is proof positive that we are moving in the right direction. Next week may be a different story but for now we can see progress.
4) I think there are six winnable games left on the schedule (Rutgers, Purdue, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern). When was the last time we could honestly look at the Big Ten schedule and say that?
Sure, today was one we let slip through our fingers but we are seeing real progress. It could be worse, we could be Rutgers (1-2), Purdue (0-2) or Nebraska (0-3) right now. Just keep building for the future.
I-L-L
1) If you told us before the game that Rivers would be our starting QB and we'd only lose by 6 with a shot at the end zone on the last play - we'd take it 99 times out of 100.
2) Yeah, it sucks to blow a lead in the 4th but with several starters suspended and several more hurt, the fact that we were in it for 60 minutes is incredible. Remember, we lost by 24 last year and USF just put up 49 on Georgia Tech last week.
3) The recruits want to see a more competitive team. I believe Shammond Cooper said he would commit if we were not losing by 30-40 points and this game is proof positive that we are moving in the right direction. Next week may be a different story but for now we can see progress.
4) I think there are six winnable games left on the schedule (Rutgers, Purdue, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern). When was the last time we could honestly look at the Big Ten schedule and say that?
Sure, today was one we let slip through our fingers but we are seeing real progress. It could be worse, we could be Rutgers (1-2), Purdue (0-2) or Nebraska (0-3) right now. Just keep building for the future.
I-L-L