Illinois Fighting Illini Football Fanatics

The Illini are 2 - 1 going into the bye week before the conference schedule begins.  The Illini could be 3 - 0 if they had only shown up to play the 2nd half against Missouri.  The team is looking good. Nathan Scheelhasse is the real deal.  Personally, I think he will much farther than Juice Williams.  Scheelhasse is a good runner and has a great arm.  He does not look like a redshirt Freshman out on the field.  Mikel Leshoure is reminding fans of another great running back who wore #5 in Rashard Mendenhall.  The next three weeks look very tough as the Illini are home to Ohio State, on the road at Penn State and Michigan State.  Honestly, I will not be surprised if the Illini lose all three games but stranger things can happen.  So, Illini fans, what record do you think this team will finish?  My prediction is that Illini will finish 7-5.  I would be very happy with that record.

Category: NCAAF

Watching the first half of the Illinois - Mizzou game, I was really feeled with hope about this season.  A new young quarterback, a defense that was attacking the ball carrier and a game plan from the coaching staff to hold down what has been a high power offense over the last few years.   But reality kicked me right in the gut during the second half and my ILLINI went right back to what we've seen over the last few years.  An offense with no creativity, a defense will gaps to be exploited and a coaching staff not able to anticipate the adjustments made by the opposing coaching staff.   I will always be a FAN, but it discouraging to see a game slip through your fingers that could have meant so much to the program.  Starting the season off with a WIN, bringing some intimidation to your next two in-state games (must win games if there is ANY Bowl hope for 2010), building confidence from the players perspective as well as us fans.   I hope I'm wrong, but best case I see our ILLINI finishing 5-7 (and another year with a bowl bid) and at worst maybe looking at 3-9 (ugghhhh.....).   I know next year's schedule sets up better, but we deserve to win now.   I know we all have short term memory lose from time to time, and when Zook came in, the ILLINI were are rock bottom.  At this point competing for a Big Ten title every year is not a realistic expectation, but competing is.  So let me know what you think.  Can we compete? Or should we get ready for just another 12 weeks of disappointment until basketball season starts?



Category: NCAAF

The Missouri Tigers have exploited the game for five years by keeping it in St. Louis. The result has been an imbalance of power between the BCS moderate Missouri and the playoff supporter Illinois. The Big 12 has rigged the series with BCS influence to distort the game. But I have a solution: A boycott in St. Louis against the Missouri tomorrow. We must take back the series before things get our control. We must get rid of the BCS, and replace it with the college football playoffs. And we must win this game to set up a huge upset of the BCS.

The boycott will include plans to move the game to East St. Louis, which will maintain the balance of power. It will be scheduled on:

September 4, 2010 ALL DAY
St. Louis, Missouri at the Edward Jones Dome
A petition to move the series to East St. Louis, Illinois

Additional information
This move will help groups in support of the college football playoff system. A win against Missouri will mean a win for the playoffs and against the BCS. I encourage anyone to participate in the boycott if you can, but you can still show your support online. This is necessary to take back the series currently controlled by Missouri. If you want to show support, sign the petition in the following link:

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/messag
es/chrono/24312301

For more information, go to:

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/messag
es/chrono/24312102

Category: NCAAF

COME JOIN A NEW GROUP FOR ALL FANS OF BIG TEN TEAMS! THESE DAYS EVERYONE IS DOWN ON THE BIG TEN, BUT THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO COME TOGETHER AS FANS!  

Follow the link below or click on my username to get to the group homepage.

GO BIG TEN!!!

http://big-ten-conference-fans.grou
ps.cbssports.com/mcc/groups/group/2
0535258

Category: General

I agree that the firing of the Offensive Coordinator and three other assistants is a joke.  What really bothers me is how Ron Guenther has this love affair with Ron Zook and lets Zook keep Disch and Mallory.  Granted, the Illini played some teams with weak defenses at the end of the season.  Also, how can a player regress from having all of the potential of being great to struggling really?  In this case, that was Juice Williams.  Juice Williams looked Rex Grossman out there for the Illini.  You never knew which Juice would show up for you.  Donovan McNabb even helped Juice with his game and that still did not help.  I will say the boosters and alums could easily buy out Zook's contract.  Also, why would you give someone an extension on their contract when they have had one winning season.  Zook's record in five years speaks for itself, 21 wins and 39 losses.  I really hope things can turn around but I cannot say I am sure about that.

Category: NCAAF