Illinois Fighting Illini (you'll see)

[ThaKid101]

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.

Nope...I'm thinking MAYBE around 10-12, OSU being 1 of them. And I'm not talking top 25...I'm talking top 10 every year with at worst low 20's in "down" years.

 

[sandgk]

I can't state my opinions on my favorite team (Which is the subject) in this thread?

Actually the subject is
Illinois / Zook Recruiting

not

Illinois Fans Come Boost Your Team

see the difference?

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Nope...I'm thinking MAYBE around 10-12, OSU being 1 of them. And I'm not talking top 25...I'm talking top 10 every year with at worst low 20's in "down" years.

You're pretty excited that there's life in the Illinois program. Nothing wrong with that. But, building a legit every year top 10 program takes time and effort... Hell, even with as successful as Ohio State has been since 2002, it's not uncommon for them to begin the year, or even end it on occasion, outside the top 10.

Likewise, and I am just saying this, with an increase in prowess on the field, comes an increase in pressure from the media, etc. It's not as easy as putting talent on the field. It's a big part of it, but it takes a man who can manage it too. Jury is out on if Zook is that guy. He was unable to do it at Florida. He might get it done at Illinois.... but, right now, all he has to do is go .500 and he's loved. See what I'm saying?

 

[BB73]

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

We have many fans of other teams, one's a moderator. They don't try to say how great their team is with every post.

Take a deep breath and discuss your team rationally - even in this thread we tOSU fans don't want to read a bunch of chest-thumping based on getting a few highly rated recruits. That can constitute trolling.

It's one thing to say "Illinois is still improving, and may well be in position to make a run at the NC" next year", quite another to declare:

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.

 

[ThaKid101]

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.

I don't know what you're talking about...the week before they beat MSU and THAT was where people were saying Illinois turned the corner. The loss to Indiana was actually a big letdown, but a lot of people were like, "Well, this is a young team, maybe we jumped the gun a little by saying Illinois beating MSU turned the corner. That win will come against Wisconsin or PSU" (Little did we know the MSU game was the final win of the year). You probably were reading something else. A lot of other talk was about Illinois becoming competitive too. Even if it was Indiana, did you see the Illini the years after 2002? Just brutal...so that's probably where you mixed it up. A lot of people were happy just to be competitive again.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

We have fans of other teams, one's a moderator.

But take a deep breath and discuss your team rationally - even in this thread we tOSU fans don't want to read a bunch of chest-thumping based on getting a few highly rated recruits. That can constitute trolling.

It's one thing to say "Illinois is still improving, and may well be in position to make a run at the NC" next year", quite another to declare:

I agree, of course, but he was asked to bullet point it at the top of last page.

Edit: Sorry, bottom of 33

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

 

[Sportsbuck28]

-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.

No one will ever by the next Miami nor will anyone come close. If you actually take a seat and look at the draft picks and players they have put out, not to mention take off your orange-colored-glasses, you will see why this is the case.

-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.

A) So, you think that in a year where they lose their best players, and Ohio State returns 20 starters as well as Wisconsin returning most of their best players, you think Illinois will easily win the B10?
B) You want to talk hungry? Our seniors are the hungriest motherfuckers in the country after the past two NC's. If you want to get into the topic of speed, I need only show you our 40 time chart.

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...).

You are seriously dumb as fuck. Illinois has a lot of talent, but they can't win by talent and hunger alone, no one can. Shit, Illinois had to play damn perfect with a referreeing controversy to beat us this year, and how the hell do you think they will win by talent and hunger alone when we boast the nation's most talented squad and possibly the most hungry after losing two straight NC's.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

I don't know what you're talking about...the week before they beat MSU and THAT was where people were saying Illinois turned the corner. The loss to Indiana was actually a big letdown, but a lot of people were like, "Well, this is a young team, maybe we jumped the gun a little by saying Illinois beating MSU turned the corner. That win will come against Wisconsin or PSU" (Little did we know the MSU game was the final win of the year). You probably were reading something else. A lot of other talk was about Illinois becoming competitive too. Even if it was Indiana, did you see the Illini the years after 2002? Just brutal...so that's probably where you mixed it up. A lot of people were happy just to be competitive again.

Nope, it was 2006. I wrote about it for one of our game previews. See The Lighter Side here. Also, bear in mind, the "Lighter Side" is not intended to be "fair" but you might check out the rest of the preview. There's also a link on that page to the O and D and ST analysis, and those, along with the "By The Numbers" portion are intended to be "real" preview stuff. Reading that should give you a fair idea of the kind of discussion we like around here.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

No one will ever by the next Miami nor will anyone come close. If you actually take a seat and look at the draft picks and players they have put out, not to mention take off your orange-colored-glasses, you will see why this is the case.

Miami.... aren't they the goons who got in a brawl with Florida International? Don't know why any team would aspire to be "the next Miami"

 

[Sportsbuck28]

Miami.... aren't they the goons who got in a brawl with Florida International? Don't know why any team would aspire to be "the next Miami"

Tennessee and Penn State are well on their way with the amount of arrests..

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Tennessee and Penn State are well on their way with the amount of arrests..

So, setting aside Tenny.. you don't think JoPa will get them to respect "the law" if he makes em clean up the stadium for the whole season again - assuming that by "the whole season" I mean a week or two, of course.

 

[ThaKid101]

You're pretty excited that there's life in the Illinois program. Nothing wrong with that. But, building a legit every year top 10 program takes time and effort... Hell, even with as successful as Ohio State has been since 2002, it's not uncommon for them to begin the year, or even end it on occasion, outside the top 10.

Likewise, and I am just saying this, with an increase in prowess on the field, comes an increase in pressure from the media, etc. It's not as easy as putting talent on the field. It's a big part of it, but it takes a man who can manage it too. Jury is out on if Zook is that guy. He was unable to do it at Florida. He might get it done at Illinois.... but, right now, all he has to do is go .500 and he's loved. See what I'm saying?

I hear you...I meant finish in the top 10 though. Something OSU has done really every year since '02, right? On Zook, IMO his time at Florida was just horrible timing for him, being that he had to replace a legend in Spurrier. Add to that Spurrier had become notoriously lazy in recruiting (Even admitted so himself) when he knew he was going to coach in the NFL. Florida wasn't even the 3rd best SEC team in Zook's time there. He won a lot of games he shouldn't have, and at the same time loss SOME he shouldn't have. Some other incidents were magnified on Zook while he was there (The frat incident in which the Fla AD Foley TOLD him to go down there, something he admits he shouldn't have down) , and became even more disliked then he was. Keep in mind FireRonZook was started before he even coached the team in a game...he simply had no shot.

If Zook would've been given enough time, IMO he would've been successful at Florida. He was fired a little into his 3rd year (In the season by the way). I'm glad he wasn't given time though, 'cause now he is at Illinois. He has shaken that "Great recruiter, bad coach" label for the most part, and runs a very tight ship (There have been a few issues but that is everywhere). He brings a terrific work ethic to get his players better as well as himself, his staff, and the whole program, community, and university. Not just in football, but every area of life. I think he is the perfect person for the Illinois job.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

I hear you...I meant finish in the top 10 though. Something OSU has done really every year since '02, right? On Zook, IMO his time at Florida was just horrible timing for him, being that he had to replace a legend in Spurrier. Add to that Spurrier had become notoriously lazy in recruiting (Even admitted so himself) when he knew he was going to coach in the NFL. Florida wasn't even the 3rd best SEC team in Zook's time there. He won a lot of games he shouldn't have, and at the same time loss SOME he shouldn't have. Some other incidents were magnified on Zook while he was there (The frat incident in which the Fla AD Foley TOLD him to go down there, something he admits he shouldn't have down) , and became even more disliked then he was. Keep in mind FireRonZook was started before he even coached the team in a game...he simply had no shot.

If Zook would've been given enough time, IMO he would've been successful at Florida. He was fired a little into his 3rd year (In the season by the way). I'm glad he wasn't given time though, 'cause now he is at Illinois. He has shaken that "Great recruiter, bad coach" label for the most part, and runs a very tight ship (There have been a few issues but that is everywhere). He brings a terrific work ethic to get his players better as well as himself, his staff, and the whole program, community, and university. Not just in football, but every area of life. I think he is the perfect person for the Illinois job.

I don't know that I can agree he has shaken off the "Great recruiter, bad coach" label just yet. Yeah, his team beat #1 Ohio State, in the Shoe.... but.. Let's see him sustain it first. Don't get me wrong, I think Zook if fine for Illinois, and I don't mean that to be condescending. I mean it in the same way you mention replacing Spurrier. He was screwed before he showed up. In the opposite way, he's a King in Champaign because the previous several years were SOOOOO horrid.

 

[SNIPER26]

And you guys gave me shit when I said Michigan would have a good rushing attack next year. Carlos Brown shit on Illinois, and Illinois>all. So Carlos for Heisman!

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

And you guys gave me shit when I said Michigan would have a good rushing attack next year. Carlos Brown shit on Illinois, and Illinois>all. So Carlos for Heisman!

It's "Cute" when the just got back from the cellar team says it.... when it comes from a skunkbear... well... it must be addressed swiftly. :p