Illinois Fighting Illini (you'll see)

[ThaKid101]

So what are you claiming is going to happen "in the future"? Bullet-point list it for us.

-Illinois is going to start churning out a lot of pro prospects...very Miami esque. Starting with the 2009 NFL Draft. Vontae Davis, "barring injury or just a horrible campaign is a 1st round pick", Will Davis (Could be another with the really big year some are expecting), Xavier Fulton (Tons of upside...just starting playing LT last year...), etc. are just some of the names for next year. It REALLY takes off with the 2010 NFL Draft (Benn, Wilson, etc.) and after.

-Illinois will win the B10 and go to a BCS this year, setting up a HUGE 2009 when they win it again and win a NC. I can also see them not winning the B10 this year, but I doubt it. I think Illinois will just be too fast, too hungry (ESPECIALLY after that Rose Bowl...a lot of players are as hungry as you can imagine), too tough, too aggressive as well as disciplined for a lot of teams. Any game where they could be unusually undisciplined, they can win just by talent and hunger IMO. I definitely have them winning the B10 and NC (Well I should change that and just say I think they will be undefeated in 2009...you never know how things could go in the BCS...).

-Illinois will become a national power in the next 5-10 years.

That is basically the sum of what I think...

 

[sandgk]

I know Miami has produced more 1st round talent than any school in history. I know about the picks they sent to the NFL then (And even still now...the 14 year 1st round streak, etc.). I'm saying I think Illinois will be similar to that...

NFBuck - you missed this one ..

So now Illinois will not only be right up there with the elite of the Big 10 perennially, they will also have a streak of 1st rounders like Da U's

ThaKids last name must be Simpson - as his first name must begin with "H."

We wondered what OrangeRoughy was griping about with the Illinois Scout board till he came over :)

-Illinois is going to start churning out a lot of pro prospects...very Miami esque.

Miami of Ohio? c'mon man, are you just trying to put on the garb of a troll and see how fast your rubies can multiply?

-Illinois will win the B10 and go to a BCS this year, setting up a HUGE 2009 when they win it again and win a NC.

I refer you to BB73's earlier post.

-Illinois will become a national power in the next 5-10 years.

[sarcasm]You are simply being far too modest.[/sarcasm]

That is basically the sum of what I think...

And to think you had a future as Champagne's famous Scout Psychic. No longer.

 

[SNIPER26]

-Illinois is going to start churning out a lot of pro prospects...very Miami esque. Starting with the 2009 NFL Draft. Vontae Davis, "barring injury or just a horrible campaign is a 1st round pick", Will Davis (Could be another with the really big year some are expecting), Xavier Fulton (Tons of upside...just starting playing LT last year...), etc. are just some of the names for next year. It REALLY takes off with the 2010 NFL Draft (Benn, Wilson, etc.) and after.

-Illinois will win the B10 and go to a BCS this year, setting up a HUGE 2009 when they win it again and win a NC. I can also see them not winning the B10 this year, but I doubt it. I think Illinois will just be too fast, too hungry (ESPECIALLY after that Rose Bowl...a lot of players are as hungry as you can imagine), too tough, too aggressive as well as disciplined for a lot of teams. Any game where they could be unusually undisciplined, they can win just by talent and hunger IMO. I definitely have them winning the B10 and NC (Well I should change that and just say I think they will be undefeated in 2009...you never know how things could go in the BCS...).

-Illinois will become a national power in the next 5-10 years.

That is basically the sum of what I think...

Betcha they don't.

 

[ThaKid101]

Betcha they don't.

We'll see right? This thread will be around in the next 2-3 years or so...by then we'll have an idea of how things are shaping up.

 

[NFBuck]

-Illinois is going to start churning out a lot of pro prospects...very Miami esque. Starting with the 2009 NFL Draft. Vontae Davis, "barring injury or just a horrible campaign is a 1st round pick", Will Davis (Could be another with the really big year some are expecting), Xavier Fulton (Tons of upside...just starting playing LT last year...), etc. are just some of the names for next year. It REALLY takes off with the 2010 NFL Draft (Benn, Wilson, etc.) and after.

-Illinois will win the B10 and go to a BCS this year, setting up a HUGE 2009 when they win it again and win a NC. I can also see them not winning the B10 this year, but I doubt it. I think Illinois will just be too fast, too hungry (ESPECIALLY after that Rose Bowl...a lot of players are as hungry as you can imagine), too tough, too aggressive as well as disciplined for a lot of teams. Any game where they could be unusually undisciplined, they can win just by talent and hunger IMO. I definitely have them winning the B10 and NC (Well I should change that and just say I think they will be undefeated in 2009...you never know how things could go in the BCS...).

-Illinois will become a national power in the next 5-10 years.

That is basically the sum of what I think...

I know it's been a somewhat rough couple seasons for the 'horns xray, but I never took you for somebody that would switch allegiances. I guess the 'horns and illini have orange in common.

 

[SNIPER26]

We'll see right? This thread will be around in the next 2-3 years or so...by then we'll have an idea of how things are shaping up.

Haha yeah I can't wait to see all these stud draft picks...Man you belong on the ESPN boards.

 

[osubartender23]

True, Mercilus never got an offer. Watch what he's going to do. I'm done talking about this over and over. You can say it's BS all you want. Just wait and see. You'll be really surprised...anyway...

What list are you looking at? 'Cause if it has Deries Hodge on there he's not going to make it (Sadly) for the 2nd straight year (Would have been a monster and he is an example of what I meant when I talk about evaluating talent), and if it involves K Derek Dimke, he's a grayshirt possibility (Supposidly (sp?) promised to get an offer next year but I don't know if that's true). Brandon Davis from Jacksonville is another grayshirt possibility if he can make the grades (Watch out for him). As for the scholarship prospects, all are expected to make it. Only London Davis and Jason Ford are considered close, but they should make it.

The problem I see with you touting all these Illini prospects is one thing, no one knows for sure. You are singing their gospel like its set in stone, and after following OSU recruiting for a number of years Im here to tell you there is no guarantees. A prospect can come in either as an unknown or a 5 Star and absolutely no one can predict how they are going to pan out. Cold Mercilus be a great one, sure he could. But will he? Who knows. He is raw coming out of high school and it all depends on how he develops.

I think the major problem people are having with the way you are stating things is this. You guys snuck up on EVERYONE this year. NO one expected the Illini to win more then 6 games max. You guys wont have that element of surprise this year. You will have to bring your A game every single week and that is something that Ron Zook teams of the past havent always been able to do. Secondly you guys have had exactly 1 good year over the last decade or so and you are already touting the Illini as NFL U etc etc. Can you say Hello to Iowa and Northwestern for me? They both have had 1 or 2 years of consistent winning over the last decade nd havent been able to sustain it. Heck Iowa even had an excellent recruiting class like the Illini have had this year. The key is sustaining it. Come back to us with this rah rah bravado in 2 to 3 years if you guys continue to win 8 plus games in a season and you might see a different reaction to the way you are speaking. But until then relax, stop drinking so much of the kool aid and just enjoy th ride because if its anything like some of the past programs it might not be a very long one! Just my humble opinion of course

 

[BB73]

-Illinois will win the B10 and go to a BCS this year, setting up a HUGE 2009 when they win it again and win a NC.

Like you pointed out earlier, threads around here last a while. This post will get revisited sometime in late 2009.

You've made your feelings known. You've been asked to tone it down nicely, but ignored it.

Now calm the Hell down, or you'll be given a vacation from this board.

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

xrayrandy's kid is an Illinois fan? :p

I know it's been a somewhat rough couple seasons for the 'horns xray, but I never took you for somebody that would switch allegiances. I guess the 'horns and illini have orange in common.

Wow, NF. You think of that on your own?

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

God love this guy. Why.... it was just 2006 Illini fans were chatting away on their boards about how a close loss to Indiana was clear evidence they've turned the corner. Next stop, BCS Championship. Indeed...

 

[ThaKid101]

The problem I see with you touting all these Illini prospects is one thing, no one knows for sure. You are singing their gospel like its set in stone, and after following OSU recruiting for a number of years Im here to tell you there is no guarantees. A prospect can come in either as an unknown or a 5 Star and absolutely no one can predict how they are going to pan out. Cold Mercilus be a great one, sure he could. But will he? Who knows. He is raw coming out of high school and it all depends on how he develops.

I think the major problem people are having with the way you are stating things is this. You guys snuck up on EVERYONE this year. NO one expected the Illini to win more then 6 games max. You guys wont have that element of surprise this year. You will have to bring your A game every single week and that is something that Ron Zook teams of the past havent always been able to do. Secondly you guys have had exactly 1 good year over the last decade or so and you are already touting the Illini as NFL U etc etc. Can you say Hello to Iowa and Northwestern for me? They both have had 1 or 2 years of consistent winning over the last decade nd havent been able to sustain it. Heck Iowa even had an excellent recruiting class like the Illini have had this year. The key is sustaining it. Come back to us with this rah rah bravado in 2 to 3 years if you guys continue to win 8 plus games in a season and you might see a different reaction to the way you are speaking. But until then relax, stop drinking so much of the kool aid and just enjoy th ride because if its anything like some of the past programs it might not be a very long one! Just my humble opinion of course

1 good year? They did go to the Sugar Bowl in '01 (Got murdered by LSU though) and while it probably wouldn't be considered a good year to you, a decent year in 1999 when they beat Michigan and MURDERED Viriginia and Thomas Jones in the Micron PC Bowl. So that's 3 right there including this past year.

Secondly, I do not think Illinois really snuck up on anybody this year. I think they snuck up on teams the year before when they went 2-10. The record doesn't reflect it obviously but that team was better than it's record. They didn't get blown out in a single game outside of Rutgers (Which was just a mess all around). They almost beat PSU and UW, not to mention kept it close with OSU. I know you will say Jim Tressel went too conservative with the playcalling but you still would murdered the '05 Illini with that "conservative" playcalling. Vontae Davis just plain and simple shut down Ted Ginn that day and Illinois shut the RB's Antonio Pittman/Beanie down. They also led against Purdue before losing the lead, beat MSU (Yeah I know they were in traditionally John L "collapse mode"), and statistically dominated pretty much every team they played that year. They were just too young and there wasn't any depth at all (They were still young this year with little depth but it was much more than the year before).

So that's why I think Illinois didn't sneak up on anybody. Teams should have saw in the opener when they almost came back to beat a top 25 (Finished the year in the top 10) Missouri team in St. Louis that Illinois was for real. And if that wasn't enough, they should have realized by halftime of their game that Illinois was for real.

I understand what you're saying about Iowa and NW making their runs and fading back and such, but they haven't brought in the type of player Illinois is bringing in. The type of athlete, demeanor Illinois is bringing in, there aren't many teams in the country bringing in these players ALONG with the talent they have. They simply have "it". That's why I think Illinois is here to stay.

 

[sandgk]

1 good year? They did go to the Sugar Bowl in '01

Thread -- Title -- Relevance

 

[BB73]

I understand what you're saying about Iowa and NW making their runs and fading back and such, but they haven't brought in the type of player Illinois is bringing in. The type of athlete, demeanor Illinois is bringing in, there aren't many teams in the country bringing in these players ALONG with the talent they have. They simply have "it". That's why I think Illinois is here to stay.

Probably only 20 or 25 other teams, but I guess the definition of "many" varies.

But being a top-25 team isn't what's considered a national power around here.

 

[ThaKid101]

Like you pointed out earlier, threads around here last a while. This post will get revisited sometime in late 2009.

You've made your feelings known. You've been asked to tone it down nicely, but ignored it.

Now calm the Hell down, or you'll be given a vacation from this board.

What are you talking about? It's not like I'm bashing OSU or "flaming" or anything. I can't state my opinions on my favorite team (Which is the subject) in this thread? I hold OSU in high regards, and have never said anything bad about them (Only had some run ins with some fans on certain subjects...something like this thread). So why would/should I be given a vacation? Just asking if you don't mind...I just signed up today hopefully I don't get banned...lol

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Seriously. They were talking about losing to Indiana as a positive thing... Oh... and, to be clear, it was a football discussion.

So, in 10 years, you've had three good seasons and the best 2-10 team ever. Bravo.