Wisconsin 45, Illinois 7 Postgame

#101      

JFGsCoffeeMug

BU:1 Trash cans:0
Chicago
There's no way all players didn't get tested and cleared before the game, right? If not, then everything could go sideways pretty quickly here.
 
#102      
There's no way all players didn't get tested and cleared before the game, right? If not, then everything could go sideways pretty quickly here.
I would agree, but tests are never 100% accurate, and if he contracted it at the game, that might make this even worse, though I doubt the virus would show up that quickly.

They have another test to confirm that it wasnt a false positive, not sure if/when those result will be shared, though it'll be obvious if he isn't playing next Saturday.
 
#103      

JFGsCoffeeMug

BU:1 Trash cans:0
Chicago
I would agree, but tests are never 100% accurate, and if he contracted it at the game, that might make this even worse, though I doubt the virus would show up that quickly.

They have another test to confirm that it wasnt a false positive, not sure if/when those result will be shared, though it'll be obvious if he isn't playing next Saturday.
I was more responding to the suggestion that there was an intentional delay of testing to ensure Mertz could take the field. But, yes, you raise some valid points as well.
 
#104      
Re-cancelling the season may be net positive for us at this point. We'll have to wait and see how widespread this is. If they caught him before he was able to infect anyone else, then the system works. If not...this is going to look really bad on the B1G.
 
#105      

illini80

Forgottonia
I was more responding to the suggestion that there was an intentional delay of testing to ensure Mertz could take the field. But, yes, you raise some valid points as well.
From the B10 website: " The Big Ten will require student-athletes, coaches, trainers and other individuals that are on the field for all practices and games to undergo daily antigen testing. Test results must be completed and recorded prior to each practice or game. "

There is no way that he skipped a pregame test. And if he tested negative prior to the game, it is extremely unlikely, but not impossible, he would be shedding virus at game time.
 
#106      
From the B10 website: " The Big Ten will require student-athletes, coaches, trainers and other individuals that are on the field for all practices and games to undergo daily antigen testing. Test results must be completed and recorded prior to each practice or game. "

There is no way that he skipped a pregame test. And if he tested negative prior to the game, it is extremely unlikely, but not impossible, he would be shedding virus at game time.

Thank you. That’s good news.
 
#107      

altenberger22

South Carolina
There are weekly "Covid positives" across both the SEC and ACC. Games have thus far been delayed/rescheduled without any significant threat to the lives or well-being of players, coaches and staff. I believe the daily testing allows healthcare workers to catch the virus early before any serious damage can be done.

The disadvantage we have in the Big Ten is that we have no open dates for make-up games. Will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Sounds as if we needed to flipflop the WISC (Mertz) and PURD (Moore) games.
 
#108      
Re-cancelling the season may be net positive for us at this point. We'll have to wait and see how widespread this is. If they caught him before he was able to infect anyone else, then the system works. If not...this is going to look really bad on the B1G.
I want the season to play out, just to see if the coaching and the play on the field has improved. And if it hasn't, hopefully Lovie is forced to change his staff, or JW figures out how to buy out Lovie and move the program in a different direction.
I thought the Lovie hire at the time was solid, and I want him to succeed. He is a good guy in so many ways.
I just have this feeling after watching Wisconsin game that our play in the field is not good.
I hope it changes, I do. But JW may need to start passing the hat around for buyout donations, as there are some quality candidates out there for the taking.
 
#109      
I want the season to play out, just to see if the coaching and the play on the field has improved. And if it hasn't, hopefully Lovie is forced to change his staff, or JW figures out how to buy out Lovie and move the program in a different direction.
I thought the Lovie hire at the time was solid, and I want him to succeed. He is a good guy in so many ways.
I just have this feeling after watching Wisconsin game that our play in the field is not good.
I hope it changes, I do. But JW may need to start passing the hat around for buyout donations, as there are some quality candidates out there for the taking.
Buyout is $2M this year and $1M next year
 
#110      

illini80

Forgottonia
Buyout is $2M this year and $1M next year
He didn't quote any figures, but Tate said the athletic dept was in debt so heavily he didn't think they could afford the buyout. Of course if someone else pays for that helps. I've never been able to wrap my head around people who have so much money they will throw it at someone just to get them to leave.
 
#111      

Deleted member 29907

D
Guest
Buyout is $2M this year and $1M next year
Chump change. Time to move on from the guy who hired himself as D coordinator and his son as Linebackers coach. There is absolutely no energy on the sideline under Lovie. He's a nice guy and brought some respectability back, but a fish out of water running a college FBall program.
 
#112      
Chump change. Time to move on from the guy who hired himself as D coordinator and his son as Linebackers coach. There is absolutely no energy on the sideline under Lovie. He's a nice guy and brought some respectability back, but a fish out of water running a college FBall program.
You are either psyched to play or you are not. No knucklehead coach bouncing or yelling along the sideline is going to change that, once you get past high school.
 
#113      

RedRocksIllini

Morrison, CO
You are either psyched to play or you are not. No knucklehead coach bouncing or yelling along the sideline is going to change that, once you get past high school.

I respectfully beg to differ

HSFh.gif
 
#114      

Deleted member 29907

D
Guest
You are either psyched to play or you are not. No knucklehead coach bouncing or yelling along the sideline is going to change that, once you get past high school.
I think there is a happy medium between sloth reactions and knucklehead coach bouncing and/or yelling along the sideline. Young men at this age still need to feel like they are letting someone (other than themselves) down if they aren't performing well and there is accountability for their play.

I don't get a sense that anyone is feeling the need to be where they are supposed to be on every single play and i think the evidence over these last years has shown that. We have some skill - what we don't have is execution and that is coaching. Accepting sloppy play spreads to the team quickly - and we have been 'out-executed' way too many times (especially at the start of the season).

Our only saving grace has been turnovers and those are VERY hard to count on to save your butt in a game.
 
#120      

Cook

Richmond, VA
He didn't quote any figures, but Tate said the athletic dept was in debt so heavily he didn't think they could afford the buyout. Of course if someone else pays for that helps. I've never been able to wrap my head around people who have so much money they will throw it at someone just to get them to leave.
I remember some time ago hearing about Indiana and how bad their athletic debt/deficit was, it was described as "crisis" level. No idea how true that was or is, or if they got some kind of bail out, but from the outside I certainly have not seen any actual impacts to their bball or fball programs. They've turned over coaches and been renovating their fball stadium. So I'm not buying the debt excuse. The best way to increase revenue is to win.
Sidenote: whenever I'm searching for merchandise, it seems we're second or third class. Looking for a baseball hat recently and Illinois wasn't even offered even though every other B1G school and plenty other way smaller/less reputable schools were.
 
Last edited:
#121      

SKane

Tennessee
If anyone is statistically-minded and has a lot of time, it would be interesting to calculate how many FBS wins Illinois has gotten per $1,000 of Lovie's salary and compare that with some other coaches who took on a rebuild and stayed for five years.

On another note, I now live in TN and happened to see a fellow wearing a nice Illini jacket at the grocery yesterday. It was fun to see another Illini person so I said Oskee-Wow-Wow and we commiserated about the WI game.
 
#122      
If anyone is statistically-minded and has a lot of time, it would be interesting to calculate how many FBS wins Illinois has gotten per $1,000 of Lovie's salary and compare that with some other coaches who took on a rebuild and stayed for five years.
It's not even worth calculating. If he was paid half of what he's making, it would still be a poor return on investment.
 
#123      

RedRocksIllini

Morrison, CO
Yeah show the picture of the guy that went 4-20 in B1G games! Obviously his enthusiasm didn't have much of a positive effect. I'm not saying we should keep Lovie if this year goes into the toilet.
Trust me, I was being facetious. It just seemed funny (maybe only to me) in response to the line about a knucklehead coach bouncing and yelling. Beckman should be used for demotivational posters. To make matters worse, he probably got a penalty for being on the field for that foolishness. However one feels about Lovie, he is a massive improvement over that clown.
 
#124      
Trust me, I was being facetious. It just seemed funny (maybe only to me) in response to the line about a knucklehead coach bouncing and yelling. Beckman should be used for demotivational posters. To make matters worse, he probably got a penalty for being on the field for that foolishness. However one feels about Lovie, he is a massive improvement over that clown.