(09-04-2023 06:12 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(09-04-2023 06:16 AM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(09-03-2023 05:17 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I watched the Toledo at Illinois game last night. If Toledo is the team we need to beat to be MAC champions we really need to improve. We struggled to beat Howard at home and Toledo lost in the closing seconds at Illinois.

Really? I remember a MAC team once went into Champaign and actually BEAT Illinois, who was that? Oh yeah, it was Eastern Michigan University!

'79 makes a GREAT point. The Illinois team we beat was not very good. Bielma changed that.

Every season is different. We don't know how good Illinois is this season.

(09-04-2023 06:12 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(09-04-2023 06:16 AM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(09-03-2023 05:17 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I watched the Toledo at Illinois game last night. If Toledo is the team we need to beat to be MAC champions we really need to improve. We struggled to beat Howard at home and Toledo lost in the closing seconds at Illinois.

Really? I remember a MAC team once went into Champaign and actually BEAT Illinois, who was that? Oh yeah, it was Eastern Michigan University!

'79 makes a GREAT point. The Illinois team we beat was not very good. Bielma changed that.

That not very good Illinois team knocked off #6 Wisconsin that year and went to a bowl game.

(09-05-2023 12:08 PM)EagleHawk Wrote:  

(09-04-2023 06:12 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(09-04-2023 06:16 AM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(09-03-2023 05:17 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I watched the Toledo at Illinois game last night. If Toledo is the team we need to beat to be MAC champions we really need to improve. We struggled to beat Howard at home and Toledo lost in the closing seconds at Illinois.

Really? I remember a MAC team once went into Champaign and actually BEAT Illinois, who was that? Oh yeah, it was Eastern Michigan University!

'79 makes a GREAT point. The Illinois team we beat was not very good. Bielma changed that.

That not very good Illinois team knocked off #6 Wisconsin that year and went to a bowl game.

Excellent point.

(09-05-2023 06:11 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(09-05-2023 12:08 PM)EagleHawk Wrote:  

(09-04-2023 06:12 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(09-04-2023 06:16 AM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(09-03-2023 05:17 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I watched the Toledo at Illinois game last night. If Toledo is the team we need to beat to be MAC champions we really need to improve. We struggled to beat Howard at home and Toledo lost in the closing seconds at Illinois.

Really? I remember a MAC team once went into Champaign and actually BEAT Illinois, who was that? Oh yeah, it was Eastern Michigan University!

'79 makes a GREAT point. The Illinois team we beat was not very good. Bielma changed that.

That not very good Illinois team knocked off #6 Wisconsin that year and went to a bowl game.

Excellent point.

I apologize. I have been schooled. Illinois was a POWERHOUSE that year! They went 6-7 while playing in the B1G JV division (nobody there has been a conference champ) and avoided OSU, Michigan and Penn State in crossover games. They did beat Wisconsin by one point at home and that celebration certainly overscores their spanking by "national power" California 35-20 in the bowl game. Let's face facts.

(09-06-2023 06:12 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(09-05-2023 06:11 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(09-05-2023 12:08 PM)EagleHawk Wrote:  

(09-04-2023 06:12 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(09-04-2023 06:16 AM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  Really? I remember a MAC team once went into Champaign and actually BEAT Illinois, who was that? Oh yeah, it was Eastern Michigan University!

'79 makes a GREAT point. The Illinois team we beat was not very good. Bielma changed that.

That not very good Illinois team knocked off #6 Wisconsin that year and went to a bowl game.

Excellent point.

I apologize. I have been schooled. Illinois was a POWERHOUSE that year! They went 6-7 while playing in the B1G JV division (nobody there has been a conference champ) and avoided OSU, Michigan and Penn State in crossover games. They did beat Wisconsin by one point at home and that celebration certainly overscores their spanking by "national power" California 35-20 in the bowl game. Let's face facts.

The sky is always falling on this board its objectively hilarious

(09-07-2023 07:31 AM)dansplaining Wrote:  

(09-06-2023 06:12 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(09-05-2023 06:11 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(09-05-2023 12:08 PM)EagleHawk Wrote:  

(09-04-2023 06:12 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  '79 makes a GREAT point. The Illinois team we beat was not very good. Bielma changed that.

That not very good Illinois team knocked off #6 Wisconsin that year and went to a bowl game.

Excellent point.

I apologize. I have been schooled. Illinois was a POWERHOUSE that year! They went 6-7 while playing in the B1G JV division (nobody there has been a conference champ) and avoided OSU, Michigan and Penn State in crossover games. They did beat Wisconsin by one point at home and that celebration certainly overscores their spanking by "national power" California 35-20 in the bowl game. Let's face facts.

The sky is always falling on this board its objectively hilarious

Now that comment nailed it!

(09-07-2023 07:31 AM)dansplaining Wrote:  

(09-06-2023 06:12 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(09-05-2023 06:11 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(09-05-2023 12:08 PM)EagleHawk Wrote:  

(09-04-2023 06:12 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  '79 makes a GREAT point. The Illinois team we beat was not very good. Bielma changed that.

That not very good Illinois team knocked off #6 Wisconsin that year and went to a bowl game.

Excellent point.

I apologize. I have been schooled. Illinois was a POWERHOUSE that year! They went 6-7 while playing in the B1G JV division (nobody there has been a conference champ) and avoided OSU, Michigan and Penn State in crossover games. They did beat Wisconsin by one point at home and that celebration certainly overscores their spanking by "national power" California 35-20 in the bowl game. Let's face facts.

The sky is always falling on this board its objectively hilarious

Buried in the story...they beat the #6 team in the nation. But you see, it was a home game and they only won by a single point. No big deal. Shouldn't even count!

(09-07-2023 12:26 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(09-07-2023 07:31 AM)dansplaining Wrote:  

(09-06-2023 06:12 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(09-05-2023 06:11 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(09-05-2023 12:08 PM)EagleHawk Wrote:  That not very good Illinois team knocked off #6 Wisconsin that year and went to a bowl game.

Excellent point.

I apologize. I have been schooled. Illinois was a POWERHOUSE that year! They went 6-7 while playing in the B1G JV division (nobody there has been a conference champ) and avoided OSU, Michigan and Penn State in crossover games. They did beat Wisconsin by one point at home and that celebration certainly overscores their spanking by "national power" California 35-20 in the bowl game. Let's face facts.

The sky is always falling on this board its objectively hilarious

Buried in the story...they beat the #6 team in the nation. But you see, it was a home game and they only won by a single point. No big deal. Shouldn't even count!

You are right, The Fighting Illini were SIMPLY UNSTOPPABLE that season. One quality win with JUST SEVEN LOSSES! They were ROBBED for the CFP trophy! What was I thinking?