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* The Sox and Cubs are finished for the year, the Bears’ prospects look increasingly glum and it’s only October. But this win was so sweet…
The Illini were 31-point underdogs against Wisconsin. 31-points! And yet, we still managed to pull off what is being called the biggest upset of the college football season. That is such a great feeling to know the media outlets are talking about Illinois football. As I type this, I can hear SportsCenter talking about the game. What a time to be alive.
A win like the one against the No. 6 team in the nation on Saturday does a lot for a program like Illinois. We haven’t been a winning team in a long time, so it is nice to get back on the map in some form or fashion. Taking down what was looked at as one of the favorites to get to the national title is great feeling and it has positive implications for the future of the Illini.
Let’s also not forget that this win makes us a legit contender to get back to a bowl game too. We now have three wins on the season and are looking for three more. There are five games left and four of them are against mediocre to below mediocre teams. That is an exciting thing to think about.
Been a long time since we could feel positive about that particular program.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 11:29 am
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As someone who has given the U of I football program a lot of flack (like how NIU has almost as many big 10 wins the last few years), that was a big win for the program and likely saved Lovey’s job.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 11:33 am
ILL -
Comment by Scott Cross for President Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 11:36 am
Saturday’s win could be the thing Lovie needed to show the team how to win. With Rutgers, NW and Purdue still to play, they could hit the magic Number 6 and go bowling. That keeps Lovie at Illinois.
However, if they end up winning only one more game, I don’t see how Whitman can keep him.
The real questions comes if they win two more games ending with five wins. What does Whitman do then as that is a one game improvement from last year?
Comment by Give Me A Break Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 11:37 am
-INI
Homecoming weekend plus the closure of beloved Kams makes this win so so sweet.
Comment by RIP Kams Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 11:42 am
Watched from the second quarter on, was a crazy kinda game, Lovie’s players hung around, and hung around, and that turnover that led to the winning kick, that makes a program.
The relief on that kicker’s face too. Bless that guy.
Kickers, amirite?
It’s a signature win that helps recruits see a culture *to* win is there, even if wins are still few… for now.
So, Ohio State, Clemson. LSU (I think they’re the best program in America) Alabama, Oklahoma, and Penn State. The “Playoff Four” will come from these folks.
No Pac12, sorry. That conference has serious problems in trying to get in. It’s not even East Coast Bias anymore.
Ohio State plays Penn State, LSU plays Alabama, those games will sort out quite a bit. Oklahoma and Clemson can’t lose or they are out.
Fun times ahead, Go Illini.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 11:43 am
==As someone who has given the U of I football program a lot of flack==
That’s OK. They’ve deserved lots of flack. But making national news headlines with their totally surprising win over Wisconsin was wonderful to behold. Seemed almost world-coming-to-an end weird when juxtaposed with Kams’ closing forever on Daniel in campustown the same weekend.
Comment by Responsa Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 11:44 am
Big win, no doubt, but they did lose to Eastern Michigan at home, so I really don’t know how positive you can feel about the program.
Comment by So_Ill Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 11:45 am
The fact that this win is such a big deal is commentary on how awful Illinois’ program has been. No reason why Wisconsin can be a perennial top 20 team while Illinois is not. That’s even more true in basketball.
Comment by BC Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 11:49 am
Good win for Love..but can not get excited about U of I athletics or the possibility of a mediocre late December bowl game..
Comment by NotRich Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 11:51 am
A great and dramatic win on Saturday. Yesterday was not good, with the Bears already having lost almost as many games as last year and the Packers sitting at 6-1.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 11:52 am
Was a great game to see in person
Cochran and company made a killing with “last call” at kam’s
Murphy’s is now the only bar left from my era!!
Comment by Go Illini Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 11:54 am
It was the second time as an Illini fan that I stormed the field. It was cathartic! My wife attended the game with me. She’s a Wisconsin alumna. We didn’t talk about the game on the way home….Beat Purdue.
Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 11:54 am
Unfortunately it’s a transition year for the Huskies. Good for the Illini though.
Comment by Lt. Guv Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 11:58 am
First question for a college coaching staff is whether they recruit good players. Determining that takes work and expertise. Illinois could probably hire a retired coach to asses the quality of recruits.
My old coach used to classify players as pro prospects, competitors, and participants. One year there was a 3 way co-championship. Each team had 7 pro prospects.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 12:05 pm
no one saw that win coming, not when you are a 30pt underdog. So its a very sweet victory no matter what people want to say otherwise
Comment by truthteller Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 12:24 pm
Congrats to the Illini for beating Wisconsin and hanging tough for the first half against Michigan.
While I respect Tua, I would argue that Alabama has the softest schedule this year…at least until November 9th.
Comment by Jocko Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 12:32 pm
So good to see Illini football in all the highlight recaps over the weekend. Here’s hoping Lovie can build on this and take these kids bowling.
@RIP Kams - Wait a second. Kam’s closed for something other than letting a kid too young to legally drive get alcohol?
Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 12:40 pm
The Illini’s victory demonstrates the beauty of college football. Many more exciting finishes in college than in the NFL.
Comment by Practical Politics Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 12:41 pm
Always bet on the MAC..
Comment by OneMan Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 1:12 pm
“On any given Saturday…”
Comment by Skeptic Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 1:53 pm
Every U of I, Urbana student has to pay $140.15 per year in mandatory fees to the athletic department, in many cases adding to their debt load. But hey, maybe some of them feel today like they got their money’s worth. I wonder how they’ll feel when they’re still paying it off ten years from now?
Comment by Filmmaker prof Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 1:57 pm
If the answers to these questions are positive, then Lovie should stay. 1) What is his retention rate? 2) Do his players graduate? 3) Does he take roll call in Urbana at the Champaign County jail?
Kam’s died because they did not adapt. If they imported suds and spirits from China, they would still be open.
Comment by Enemy of the State Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 3:18 pm
Absolutely made my weekend. However, I hope the decision regarding Lovie’s future at UofI is not swayed by this one outcome.
Comment by Geesh Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 3:58 pm
Big fan of Lovie - thought he would turn the program around - but if this win keeps him on the job for another year then it is actually a loss. Time for Lovie to go. Don’t know if they can get anyone better but Lovie has shown he is not the guy.
Comment by Chippy Dave Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 4:21 pm
The win was bad news for Illini fans because it means you’re stuck with Lovie fo a couple of mor years
Comment by Flyer Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 4:51 pm
Such a fun win, way to go Lovie, “don’t be surprised if we win.”
Comment by overcooked Monday, Oct 21, 19 @ 6:10 pm