Will Illinois show more composure than it did Saturday or will hotheaded outbursts become a trend as the season continues?
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Boyd: Emotions boil over with 'unacceptable' penalties in Illinois' lopsided loss at Virginia
Ever since Illinois coach Bret Bielema was hired in December, he's repeatedly mentioned that "penalties, mental errors and turnovers" are the easiest ways to lose games.
All three were on full display in the Illini's 42-14 loss at Virginia on Saturday, just days after Bielema drove that point home again during his weekly Monday press conference.
Illinois committed two turnovers, one interception and one fumble. But the perhaps the biggest issue Bielema addressed following his team's second straight loss was its lack of composure. The Illini racked up eight penalties for 90 yards, including three 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct fouls in the second half.
"Completely unacceptable, especially some of the reactions late in the game that we can't have," Bielema said in his post-game press conference
This week is different. In my opinion, it marks the first real adversity the Illini have faced during Bielema's nine-month tenure. They were hit squarely in the mouth by Virginia, which never let up, and I'm interested to see how the team responds not only performance-wise, but character-wise after a such a humbling defeat.
Will Illinois show more composure than it did Saturday or will hotheaded outbursts become a trend as the season continues?
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sigh................................................