Illinois Fighting Illini (you'll see)

[BuckeyeNation27]

I would have liked to see Locksley at Syracuse. I doubt he can pull the DC kids all the way out to NM, but I could see them going up to Syracuse.

 

[NFBuck]

Illini linebacker Wilson hospitalized

By Steve Bauer

Friday, December 12, 2008 3:40 PM CDT

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CHAMPAIGN ? Illinois sophomore linebacker Martez Wilson was the victim of a stabbing early Friday, The News-Gazette has learned.
Wilson, 19, was in stable condition at Carle Foundation Hospital on Friday, according to Kent Brown, University of Illinois sports information director.
Continued...

The News-Gazette.com: Illini linebacker Wilson hospitalized

Rough year in Champaign.

 

[WaitingforKickoff]

Martinez is a great example that it still very much matters where you go to school even though you have talent.

 

[heisman]

Martinez?

 

[OregonBuckeye]

Martinez?

You know, Martinez Walton!

 

[Sportsbuck28]

Scout.com: The entire Martez Wilson story...

Here is the entire Martez Wilson story, with every detail. This should end all of the rumors:

Last night, Martez was with a number of players at Fubar. The players were having a good time, it was one of their birthdays, and they were leaving near 2 a.m., give or take. Most of the players had already gone, Martez and Jack Ramsey were the last two. All were in good spirits.

As Tez and Jack got in the car, they saw the commotion, a fight nearby. The more they looked, they could tell a bunch of guys were jumping one guy, who was on the ground and in trouble. Tez looked closer and recognized the victim, DeAngelo McCray, his former teammate, who at this point was on the ground and defenseless.

McCray, although he attends Eastern Illinois, is often back in Champaign hanging with friends, although on this night he wasn't with football players.

Tez jumped out of the car and ran to the commotion just as the punks were pulling Big D's hoodie up over his head. At this point, McCray was barely conscious. Some accounts said he was actually unconscious. He had been beaten pretty badly. Yet they were still kicking him and hitting him. Not a few to finish him off, but still going at it viciously. It was a dangerous time for DeAngelo.

Tez ran into the middle of it and threw a couple of guys out of there and tried to grab Big D to get him out of there. He had not thrown a punch. Then before Ramsey could get there, a few of the assailants -- the number totaled six in all -- tried to jump Tez, but Tez fought them off, absolutely cold cocked one guy. By the time he turned to the next one, they all were backing away.

All except the one coward who stabbed him twice pretty severely.

The next thing you know, the cops were called and on their way and everyone was gone. Big D was taken to the hospital and being treated but apparently is fine.

Tez is still in the hospital with significant injuries, yet not life-threatening. By all accounts, he is very fortunate. Regarding his football career, it will be awhile before the school issues any information about the extent of his recovery. But my guess is, from what I've heard, he will make a full recovery and play next season.

Many will want to spin this as another football player getting in trouble. The truth is
Martez Wilson, who was in no way involved in the confrontation, ran to the aid of a fallen friend who couldn't defend himself and was in real trouble. Who knows how long the cowards would have continued to kick Big D while he was unconscious, but for all we know, Tez might have saved his life.

By now, numerous accounts from witnesses all around have detailed the exact same story. That is what happened.

If true, I have gained a ton of respect for Wilson.

Here's to a speedy recovery.

 

[NFBuck]

Be sure to give his prognostications a bump on the Illini board as well. :)

Scout.com: ThaKid




Edit: Nuked.

 

[Muck]

Edit: Nuked.

 

[OrangeRoughy]

*pokes head in*

Oh Hai! Remember me? I'm the rational Illini fan who told you that we wouldn't be very good this fall. I predicted 7-5, we finished 5-7, 7s, 5s, losses to Western Michigan... what's the difference, right?

Thought I'd chime in on a few things around here.

Great hire by New Mexico...tough pill to swallow for Illinois fans

I think 30% of Illini fans were upset to lose Locksley, and 70% (like myself) danced a jig in the streets. Since Arrelious Benn, Locksley hasn't really hooked into many studs (while Recruiting Coordinator Reggie Mitchell has landed 12 or so 4-stars), so I don't think our recruiting will take much of a hit. Zook gets the closer coffee, not Locksley.

And on the offensive coordinator side of things, I think most Illini fans are overjoyed at his departure. Stat of the year as far as the Illini are concerned? We finished 19th in Total Offense, and 42nd in Scoring Offense. So many yards. So few points. The talent was there, Juice's maturation was there, and yet everything fell apart when we reached the 25 yard line, ESPECIALLY the play calling. As the games went on this season, I began to wonder if Mike Locksley truly understood the nuances of play calling on the 12 yard line with the safeties forward. It's as if his play calling did not change one bit as he approached the end zone. It was all very frustrating to watch. We outgained Minnesota 551-312... and lost 27-20. That's right - 551 yards, 20 points. That's really hard to do.

But if we get the playcalling corrected, I still feel really, really good about next season. Juice in his 4th year as a starter. Arrelious Benn in his last year before heading off to the NFL. 5-star WR Jarred Fayson eligible after transferring from Florida. 18 starters returning. A Big Ten schedule that skips Iowa and Wisconsin. A Big Ten road schedule that only includes you guys, Purdue, Indiana, and Minnesota. EIGHT teams on the schedule that lose more than 11 starters.

I know, I know - they'll get "Zooked". Ron Zook will "coach 'em down". I've heard it all. But from the moment Benn picked Illinois, I've pointed towards 2009 as our Big Year. No reason to stop now.

 

[LordJeffBuck]

I know, I know - they'll get "Zooked". Ron Zook will "coach 'em down". I've heard it all. But from the moment Benn picked Illinois, I've pointed towards 2009 as our Big Year. No reason to stop now.

If by "Big Year" you mean a trip to the Alamo Bowl, then I agree with you....

 

[wadc45]

*pokes head in*

Oh Hai! Remember me? I'm the rational Illini fan who told you that we wouldn't be very good this fall.

Seeing as though there aren't many rational Illini fans, of course we remember when we stumble across one...

I think 30% of Illini fans were upset to lose Locksley, and 70% (like myself) danced a jig in the streets. Since Arrelious Benn, Locksley hasn't really hooked into many studs (while Recruiting Coordinator Reggie Mitchell has landed 12 or so 4-stars), so I don't think our recruiting will take much of a hit. Zook gets the closer coffee, not Locksley.

I must be talking to the wrong Illini fans...but either way I agree that Mitchell and Wolford have had much more recruiting success recently than Locks did...

And on the offensive coordinator side of things, I think most Illini fans are overjoyed at his departure. Stat of the year as far as the Illini are concerned? We finished 19th in Total Offense, and 42nd in Scoring Offense. So many yards. So few points. The talent was there, Juice's maturation was there, and yet everything fell apart when we reached the 25 yard line, ESPECIALLY the play calling. As the games went on this season, I began to wonder if Mike Locksley truly understood the nuances of play calling on the 12 yard line with the safeties forward. It's as if his play calling did not change one bit as he approached the end zone. It was all very frustrating to watch. We outgained Minnesota 551-312... and lost 27-20. That's right - 551 yards, 20 points. That's really hard to do.

I don't know how much of that was playcalling/coaching and how much was execution...but I defer to someone who probably watched more Illini football games/film than I did.

I know, I know - they'll get "Zooked". Ron Zook will "coach 'em down". I've heard it all. But from the moment Benn picked Illinois, I've pointed towards 2009 as our Big Year. No reason to stop now.

I guess we will see...the '09 schedule is no breeze...Missouri followed by Illinois State and then a rough three game stretch where you at least get PSU and MSU at home after having to travel to OSU. A 3-2 start puts Illinois in great shape with a second half schedule of @Indiana, @ Purdue, Michigan, @ Minnesota and Northwestern...and then capped off with an interesting matchup against those pesky Fresno State Bulldogs.

 

[OrangeRoughy]

If by "Big Year" you mean a trip to the Alamo Bowl, then I agree with you....

Nah. I honestly think they can get to 9 wins, with an outside shot at 10.

Missouri (in St. Louis) W (Mizzou loses their QB, his top 3 receivers, their top two O-linemen, and half their defense. Think GREEN.)
Illinois State W
at tOSU L
Michigan State L
Penn State W (They lose 14 starters, and we'll be at home)
at Indiana W
at Purdue W
Michigan W (they'll have yet another freshman QB who looks lost)
at Minnesota W
Northwestern W
Fresno State W
at Cincinnati L (dumbest. scheduling move. ever.)

It's just one of those seasons where everything aligns pretty well. We return every skill position player except Will Judson (Who? Exactly.) at the same time as many of our opponents are rebuilding/reloading from senior-laden teams. Plus, we'll only play one ranked opponent on the road (you guys). If our AD scheduled like any other AD in the country, I'd predict 10-2 (6-2) without batting an eyelash. Instead, Missouri, Fresno, and at Cincy will be a pretty tough run (although I think we win 2 out of those 3).

In Illiniland, I was labeled a KoolAid drinking madman for predicting 8-5 with a bowl victory in 2007 (after we had one 8 games in 4 seasons and finished 2-10 the season before), and I was pretty close. I was again called insane for predicting 7-5 this season, but this time is was by the majority who had us in a New Years Day bowl. So hopefully next August, when I toss out the 10-2, people start with the insane labels again.

 

[LordJeffBuck]

Nah. I honestly think they can get to 9 wins, with an outside shot at 10.

Missouri (in St. Louis) W (Mizzou loses their QB, his top 3 receivers, their top two O-linemen, and half their defense. Think GREEN.)
Illinois State W
at tOSU L
Michigan State L
Penn State W (They lose 14 starters, and we'll be at home)
at Indiana W
at Purdue W
Michigan W (they'll have yet another freshman QB who looks lost)
at Minnesota W
Northwestern W
Fresno State W
at Cincinnati L (dumbest. scheduling move. ever.)

It's just one of those seasons where everything aligns pretty well. We return every skill position player except Will Judson (Who? Exactly.) at the same time as many of our opponents are rebuilding/reloading from senior-laden teams. Plus, we'll only play one ranked opponent on the road (you guys). If our AD scheduled like any other AD in the country, I'd predict 10-2 (6-2) without batting an eyelash. Instead, Missouri, Fresno, and at Cincy will be a pretty tough run (although I think we win 2 out of those 3).

In Illiniland, I was labeled a KoolAid drinking madman for predicting 8-5 with a bowl victory in 2007 (after we had one 8 games in 4 seasons and finished 2-10 the season before), and I was pretty close. I was again called insane for predicting 7-5 this season, but this time is was by the majority who had us in a New Years Day bowl. So hopefully next August, when I toss out the 10-2, people start with the insane labels again.

Eh, it all depends on whether your team decides to play an entire season, or pack it in after Week 4 like they did this year ... and you could easily be 1-3 heading into a Penn State game that certainly will be a challenge, regardless of its being a home game. If you aren't already bowl eligible heading into the UC game (and there's a very good chance that you won't be), then enjoy another season home for the holidays.

 

[buckeyesin07]

Vontae Davis has declared for the 2009 NFL Draft. No real surprise.

ESPN - Illiniois Fightin' Illini cornerback Vontae Davis declares for NFL draft

 

[eobuck]

Looks like a 7 win schedule at best to me.