IlliniHQ 2
General Category => Halas Hall Football Forum => Topic started by: ThePAMan on December 31, 2024, 09:55:22 AM
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Everything stolen unless bracketed....
#20 Illinois (9-3, 6-3 Big Ten) vs. #15 South Carolina (9-3, 5-3 SEC)
Date/Time Tuesday, Dec. 31 | 2 p.m. CT
Location Orlando, Florida (Camping World Stadium) (Judge Judy had best left awhile ago)
TV ABC
Radio SiriusXM 82
Earning its 13th guaranteed opportunity of the season, No. 20 Illinois will take on No. 15 South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on New Year's Eve. The contest marks the team's second bowl appearance under head coach Bret Bielema, while the Orange and Blue aim to leave Camping World Stadium in Orlando with their first postseason victory since 2011. [SAD!]
Facing off against one of the hottest teams in the country, the Orange and Blue look to bring the juice against the Gamecocks in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.
Illini Look for 10th Win of the Season, First Bowl Victory Since 2011
Entering the game with a 9-3 mark and having already posted three ranked wins this season, the Illini aim to match their program's single-season record and reach 10 victories for the fifth time. [PATHETIC!]
The team's last 10-win campaign came back in 2001, when the Orange and Blue earned a bid to the Sugar Bowl. The only other prior instances occurred in 1902, 1983, and 1989, with the 1983 team playing in the Rose Bowl and the 1989 squad securing a spot in the Citrus Bowl.
That appearance at the 1990 Citrus Bowl, an 31-21 Illinois victory over Virginia, is the team's only other trip to the Orlando-based bowl.
Bielema's first-career bowl appearance as a head coach took place at the 2007 Citrus Bowl, then called the Capital One Bowl, guiding Wisconsin to the postseason and to a 17-14 victory over Arkansas.
In his 16 years as a head coach, Bielema has led 12 of his teams – including this year's Illini squad – to bowl games.
Opponent Scout: South Carolina Offense
The Gamecocks arrive in Orlando having won their last six games, with their most recent triumph coming in a 17-14 road victory over ACC champion and College Football Playoff participant Clemson. South Carolina has not lost since Oct. 12, a narrow 27-25 road defeat to Alabama, while the Gamecocks have averaged 35.7 points per game during their lengthy winning streak.
South Carolina's offensive success can be attributed, in large part, to quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who was named SEC Freshman of the Year by the conference's coaches. Playing in 11 games this season, Sellers is averaging 206.7 passing and 59.5 rushing yards per game while completing nearly 65% of his pass attempts. Sellers has totaled multiple scores in each of the last five games, and he has registered 17 passing and seven rushing touchdowns this season compared to only seven interceptions. [DANGER WILL ROBINSON!]
The Gamecocks' leading rusher is senior running back Raheim Sanders, who finished the regular season with team-best marks in rushing yards (881, 73.4 yards per game) and rushing touchdowns (11). Sanders was one of seven players in the SEC to post double-digit rushing scores during the 2024 campaign.
Tight end Joshua Simon is the team's top receiver with 450 yards and six touchdowns on 34 catches, all of which are team-leading tallies. Simon has secured a receiving score in four of the last five games after recording only one touchdown through his first six appearances.
Nine different Gamecock pass-catchers have over 100 receiving yards this season, while wide receivers Mazeo Bennett Jr. and Nyck Harbor rank second on the team with three receiving scores apiece.
Opponent Scout: South Carolina Defense
South Carolina EDGE rusher Kyle Kennard was the leader of the Gamecock defense in 2024, which culminated in his recognition as the winners of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and SEC Defensive Player of the Year award. Kennard declared for the 2025 NFL Draft on Dec. 13 after amassing 15.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
Defensive back Nick Emmanwori finished the regular season with a team-high 83 tackles, while his four interceptions were tied with DB Jalon Kilgore for the team lead. Three other Gamecock defenders made over 50 tackles: linebackers Demetrius Knight Jr. (75), Bam Martin-Scott (65), and Debo Williams (59).
Though Kennard made the most sacks, EDGE rusher Dylan Stewart was not far behind with 6.5 sacks. Defensive tackles Tonka Hemingway and T.J. Sanders totaled four sacks each. DB Judge Collier led the Gamecocks with eight pass breakups.
[THEY ARE MISSING GUYS! NO CLUE WHO]
Notes
#20 Illinois Selected for the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
• Illinois qualified for the 21st bowl game in program history. [ANOTHER INDICTMENT!]
• The Citrus Bowl will be Illinois' second New Year's bowl game in the last three seasons, along with the 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl following Illinois' 8-4 regular season in 2022. The last time Illinois played in two New Year's bowls in a three-year span was 1990-91, when the program played in the 1990 Citrus Bowl and the 1991 Hall of Fame Bowl (now the ReliaQuest Bowl).
• Illinois will play in two bowls over a three-year stretch for the first time since back-to-back bowl seasons in 2010 and 2011. [YOU CANNOT MAKE THESE TERRIBLE STATS UP]
• Bret Bielema is the first Illini coach to go to two bowl games in his first four seasons since Lou Tepper from 1991-94. [LOL!]
• Illinois is looking to win a bowl game for the first time since Dec. 31, 2011 (Kraft Fight Hunger vs. UCLA, W, 20-14). [ZOOK DID NOT EVEN COACH THE GAME!]
Nine-Win Illinois
• Illinois is looking to tie its school record for wins in a season with 10, set in 1902, 1983, 1989, and 2001.
• Illinois won 9+ regular season games for the eighth time in program history (1892, 1902, 1904, 1983, 1989, 2001, 2007).
• Illinois has 22 wins over the last three seasons, the program's most in a three-year span since 1999-01 (23 wins).
• Illinois had six Big Ten wins for the first time since going 6-2 in Big Ten games in 2007 on the way to the 2008 Rose Bowl.
• Illinois had its third six-win Big Ten season in the last 30 years (2001, 2007, 2024). [IT REALLY IS TOO SAD FOR ME TO KEEP COMMENTING...]
Illinois in the Rankings
• Illinois was #20 in the final College Football Playoff Top 25. The Illini were ranked in the last four CFP rankings, the longest stretch of consecutive CFP rankings in program history. Before this year, Illinois had appeared in two CFP rankings in 2022.
• Illinois is in the AP Top 25 for the 11th time this season, coming in at #21 in the Dec. 8 poll.
• Illinois' 11 AP Poll appearances are tied for the third-most in program history behind only 1989 (17) and 1990 (16).
• Illinois has five wins when ranked in the AP Top 25, the most since recording eight such wins during the 1990 season.
Illinois at the Citrus Bowl
• Illinois was invited to the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl for the second time in program history (1990 Florida Citrus Bowl vs. Virginia).
• Illinois will return to the Citrus Bowl for the first time since the 1989 season, when RB Howard Griffith and QB Jeff George led the Fighting Illini to a 31-21 victory over Virginia in the 1990 Florida Citrus Bowl.
• Illinois snapped a 26-year bowl victory drought with the win over Virginia in the 1990 Florida Citrus Bowl, the Illini's only appearance in the Citrus Bowl. Illinois jumped on the Cavaliers early, with LB Bill Henkel recovering a fumble on the opening kickoff. Five plays later, QB Jeff George drilled a 15-yard scoring strike to Steven Williams. After Virginia tied the game early in the second quarter, George directed Illinois on an 80-yard scoring drive. Illinois opened the second half with an 84-yard drive capped by RB Howard Griffith's three-yard TD. Early in the fourth quarter, WR Mike Bellamy scored on a 26-yard pass from George to clinch an Illini victory. George earned MVP honors, completing 26-of-38 for 321 yards and three TDs.
The Bielema Era
• Bret Bielema is 27-22 during his Illinois career. Since Robert Zuppke went undefeated in two of his first three seasons at Illinois from 1913-15, Bielema's 27-22 start is the second-best through 49 games by an Illini head coach, behind only Mike White (29-19-1, 1980-83).
• Bielema has won at least eight games in two of his first four seasons at Illinois, becoming the first Illini head coach since John Mackovic (1988-91) to do so.
• Bielema's 18 Big Ten wins through his first four seasons at Illinois are the most since John Mackovic won 22 in his first four seasons from 1988-91.
• Bielema's five ranked wins (AP/Coaches/CFP) during his first four seasons are tied for the second-most in program history, behind only John Mackovic (8, 1988-91) and tied with Mike White (5, 1980-83).
• Bielema has three road ranked wins (AP/Coaches/CFP) during his first four seasons in Champaign. He is the second coach in Illinois history to win three ranked games on the road during his first four seasons, joining Lou Tepper (1992-96).
• Bielema has had the Illini ranked in 15 AP polls during his first four seasons in Champaign. Only John Mackovic (39 weeks, 1988-91) had the Illini ranked more during their first four seasons as Illinois head coaches.
• Bielema joined John Mackovic (1988-91) and Lou Tepper (1992-95) as the only head coaches in Illinois history to win 5+ games in each of their first four seasons leading the Fighting Illini.
• Bielema is 10-8 in Big Ten road games at Illinois. His 10 Big Ten road wins are tied for the second-most by an Illini head coach in his first four seasons, behind only Mike White (11, 1980-83) and tied with Lou Tepper (10, 1992-95), and John Mackovic (10, 1988-91)
GAMBLING!
VSiN had the original line at Illini +9.5. Now between 9.5 and 8.5. Ouch. I thought I saw it at 10 to 10.5. Hopefully the Illini don't suck Cocks today and they cover the spread!
M/L: Cocks were -343 and Illini were +263. Cocks now -330to -350. Illini +260 to +275
O/U 49.5 has not moved. All these bowl games seem to be going over. The Cocks may go over by themselves.
Illini wearing new script helmets. I saw it on the BlueSkyye!
Go Illini!
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I L L
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By the way thanks for ripping this off and making the post!
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I L L
I N I
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LFG! Let’s win this Cheez Dick Bowl!
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oh shit I'm not gonna get much work done today, i thought the game was on tomorrow, whoops
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Mizzou-xxxx was close. Bama-Mich is close. Let's do the same vs an SEC team and get a win.
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Way to play with some sand, defense!
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Mizzou-xxxx was close. Bama-Mich is close. Let's do the same vs an SEC team and get a win.
Did Bama have star players sit out? If not, another bad look for the SEC.
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WTF
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Holy Toledo
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That’s literally the first play I saw. Just turned it on. SMH
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What are the odds you can't see squat from the replays?
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I was like “oh cool, Illini touchdown!” Oops.
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What are the odds you can't see squat from the replays?
Sure looked like he was in. But I was watching through the door on the shitter.
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TD !!!
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TD !!!
Ahh, nope
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Of course the video is pretty inconclusive on what appeared to be a touchdown…
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Total fucking bullshit call!!
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Fuck this already!
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Oh well. Nice call Barry.
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Did Bama have star players sit out? If not, another bad look for the SEC.
Anyone know the answer to this?
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They've got stars everywhere.
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They've got stars everywhere.
Thanks, you’ve been a huge help.
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Anyone know the answer to this?
No they didn’t. They just got beat by the B1G team. Fuck the SEC…
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TD!!!
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No they didn’t. They just got beat by the B1G team. Fuck the SEC…
That sounds more like smack talk than fact talk. 🤷🏻♂️
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Milroe was awful and their rush end played. Milroe threw a pick and fumbled early.
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That sounds more like smack talk than fact talk. 🤷🏻♂️
Look it up. They didn’t.
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Beamer is a goofball. He’s as dumb as Becktard…
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#6 gonna hear footsteps all game now
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Look it up. They didn’t.
Ok, thanks. Got the answer I was looking for. Figured you or Mn would know.
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Bama has no complaint about missing CFP. Hell, Illinois deserved it more than them…
B1G > SEC
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Love Bielema trolling them with the subs.
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Lot of bitching and moaning about defensive subs lol
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Yes, love it. Beamer losing his mind…
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Now put these crooked refs and crybaby SC team away…
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Bama has no complaint about missing CFP. Hell, Illinois deserved it more than them…
B1G > SEC
That might be a stretch
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That might be a stretch
Shitty-ass Michigan just beat a team people were bitching about not making the CFP…
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WTF is the deal with tve damned punter today?
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Is Robertson in the portal ?
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Is Robertson in the portal ?
Yeah
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So is Declan Duley…
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Is Robertson in the portal ?
Yes and applied for Social Security.
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6'5" 235lbs and runs a sub 10.2 ? Yeah, sure. Why not.
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Dawn Staley should stop talking about football.
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Doink!
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DOINNK!
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Dawn Staley should stop talking about football.
She shoulda had a 1 on 1 with the dumbass coach.
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Half way there…
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Not a great half of quality football on anybody's part. Most points wins tho.
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They're up 7 1/2 minutes in time of possession.
They're 7-11 on 3rd down.
They average 31.6 a game.
A half to go. Lfg
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Not sure about that decision
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I do like that the D has been physical today
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Not sure about that decision
They did everything right except secure the ball
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No harm done tho
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Should have made better subs
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And here is where the wheels fall off
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We better get our offense going. Terrible…
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Be nice if the refs called the holds
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Ball!
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We get it back!
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Might need those timeouts
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Not sure taunting Beamer right now was the smartest thing to do
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wtf
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Lol Bielema is trolling the shit out of Beamer.
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This stuff is more entertaining than the game
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😂 🤣
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Let’s go win this motherfucker and shut them pussies up!
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What a catch!
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YES.. what a fun game.
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YES.. what a fun game.
It is always good when the teams and coaches hate each other!
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I honestly expected us to get dong whipped in this one, but this has been high entertainment. Some big moments this year for the Illini in the spotlight. Let’s finish this off!
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(https://y.yarn.co/f9f95fbf-028b-45cf-836e-c34aff2f68b6_text.gif)
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I honestly expected us to get dong whipped in this one, but this has been high entertainment. Some big moments this year for the Illini in the spotlight. Let’s finish this off!
It has been very entertaining and I've only had 2 beers. And the Hawks are only down 2-1 after 1
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I just cracked my third! Then off to a party for the rest of the evening hopefully in all our Illini gear!
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How can anyone find run of the mill NFL games more entertaining than college football is beyond me.
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How can anyone find run of the mill NFL games more entertaining than college football is beyond me.
Agreed.
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This has been far more entertaining than what I expected. We've got the lead with 4 to go vs a team thinking they may be in the cfp
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Make it 3 to go. 😄😄
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Finish them!
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Finish them! Run it down their throat!
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Pick this up
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Going out of bounds on first down was not an ideal situation
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(https://i.ibb.co/brhQqyn/FCaps-Xf-WUBAx7-HR.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FBvmNft)
(https://imgbb.com/)
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Yes!!!!!
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FUCK YES
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YES. Pound the ball
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Get the cheesy orange cheese bowl mascot trophy ready
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Woohoo!!!
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The postgame handshake is gonna be interesting.
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The postgame handshake is gonna be interesting.
Can’t wait…
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Hug it out
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Bielema outcoached and out trolled Beamer today
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Just a great year. I hoped for a bowl, any old bowl.
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(https://i.ibb.co/brhQqyn/FCaps-Xf-WUBAx7-HR.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FBvmNft)
(https://imgbb.com/)
I had a feeling this was coming from you lol
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I’m so fucking so happy right now
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Congratulations to the coaches and kids for gutting one out vs a pretty good SEC team. 10 wins and it feels so fucking good.
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https://x.com/BarstoolILL/status/1874236394341884345
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THAT WAS FUCKING AWESOME WOOOOOOO
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(https://www.illinoisloyalty.com/attachments/f-yea-gif.38131/)
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I’m so fucking so happy right now
Great way to end 2024. Well, a blowj tonight would be nice too....
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10-3 and we're young.
We weren't supposed to have much of a chance. But we held the ball for 5 minutes more than them in the 2nd half for the win.
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We were preseason picked to finish 17th in the big ten
.....
Suck it haters!
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We were preseason picked to finish 17th in the big ten
.....
Suck it haters!
Just eeking out a 6-6 bowl would have been good enough for me. The thought of 10-3 never even crossed my mind before the year.
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Bielema outcoached and out trolled Beamer today
"It is better to out think your opponent, rather than out fight him"
-- Sun Tzu "Art of War"
"Know your opponent, Know yourself, you will never be defeated..in a hundred battles"
-- Sun Tzu "Art of War"
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Just eeking out a 6-6 bowl would have been good enough for me. The thought of 10-3 never even crossed my mind before the year.
Exactly. Makes up a little for the late season collapse in 2022 with what was a better team—at least on paper.
There have been a lot of good moments this year in the public eye, hope we can capitalize, even though I heard it takes 5 years after a Citrus Bowl win for the recruiting to pick up!
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That was an enjoyable game. I was at medical appointments, and grocery shopping all morning. I had it recorded, was almost an hour behind to start. Never quite caught up.
Best quote I heard was something like, 'If Beamer doesn't like it; he should stop substituting.'
Think maybe Bretts psychological warfare affected the outcome? It was fun to watch him grinning while his opponent was having a meltdown.
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https://x.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1874241035146322295?t=Gc_rMMvZgl6ebbgrgOZ-UQ&s=19
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https://x.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1874241035146322295?t=Gc_rMMvZgl6ebbgrgOZ-UQ&s=19
A chick who didn't hear the explanation during the press conference.
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https://x.com/GourdieReport/status/1874249650196357374?t=9pUvs7-2_Q4zfjbWVyJ1Ug&s=19
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As Bielema says, Happy New Year !!
https://youtu.be/0tJm__uE1tk
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Awesome game and feels really nice to have the more competent coaching staff in a big game. Massive credit to Bielema for not being like the last few coaches and knowing both how to get talent and what to do with it.
Arguably better we got this slot than Indiana's. Network game on New Years Eve and we looked like a big boy program versus a good SEC squad.
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You know he is doing something right when some dumbass Trumper chick goes after him....
https://www.thetelegraph.com/sports/article/michele-tafoya-bret-bielema-illinois-football-20009413.php
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https://x.com/LinkJeffery/status/1874241483928461799
DNA test revealed: Bret Bielema, not Frank, is Shane Beamer's daddy. #BowlSeason #CFB #Chezitbowl #SCvsILL
With a picture of Maury....
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https://x.com/LinkJeffery/status/1874241483928461799
With a picture of Maury....
(https://i.ibb.co/7Qsjym3/IMG-8402.jpg) (https://ibb.co/MfFZN0z)
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Is that Effingham Dave?
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You know he is doing something right when some dumbass Trumper chick goes after him....
https://www.thetelegraph.com/sports/article/michele-tafoya-bret-bielema-illinois-football-20009413.php
Further proof that women shouldn't be commenting on football, especially when they don't know what it was all about.
She fell for the dumbass sideline reporter with the 'he taunted him, I saw it'. 😂😂
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Is that Effingham Dave?
Holy shit, it is! That’s the cross!
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Is that Effingham Dave?
I suppose you could look at his bio, bless his soul.
(https://i.ibb.co/P4W0cnT/Screenshot-20250101-084716-Chrome.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nf1t7v3)
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These 🤡🤡s all write the same headline after one of their own masquerading as a side line reporter cries 'omg, he taunted him. I saw it.' 🤣🤣
(https://i.ibb.co/HVK5W3J/Screenshot-20250101-095548-Samsung-Internet.jpg) (https://ibb.co/R9gRxd5)
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I suppose you could look at his bio, bless his soul.
(https://i.ibb.co/P4W0cnT/Screenshot-20250101-084716-Chrome.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nf1t7v3)
That is one seriously epic sticker collection the original chief logo is just chef's kiss
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Maybe if he was on The BlueSkyye I could check out his bio.
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Don’t think Dave is a BlueSkie kinda guy.
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https://x.com/ArmchairIllini/status/1874236417758683466?t=L3FkXaraKPYSrNZIETY3fA&s=19
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https://bsky.app/profile/illinifb.bsky.social/post/3lesjfmedcc2q
The Mad Shane Beamer TD celebration!!!
WR Antwane "Juice" Wells Jr. played two seasons for Shane Beamer at South Carolina meaning he was also coached by current Illinois WR coach Justin Stepp for one season and his current WR coach is former Illinois WR coach under Bielema, George McDonald.
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That’s amazing
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LOL
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(https://i.postimg.cc/6yYc0L0Q/PXL-20250125-005737231-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/6yYc0L0Q)
Luke Altmeyer wanted an Illini hockey sweater. The lads told him to show up to a game and they woukd give him one. He dropped the puck for the ceremonial faceoff. I went down and asked if he was taking picture requests. He obliged. Told him he had a great season and was.glad he was.back. He thanked me..
To not ruin the photo for you, I edited myself out of it....
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(https://i.postimg.cc/6yYc0L0Q/PXL-20250125-005737231-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/6yYc0L0Q)
Luke Altmeyer wanted an Illini hockey sweater. The lads told him to show up to a game and they woukd give him one. He dropped the puck for the ceremonial faceoff. I went down and asked if he was taking picture requests. He obliged. Told him he had a great season and was.glad he was.back. He thanked me..
To not ruin the photo for you, I edited myself out of it....
I don't know what's on his hat but you should have given him your MAGA hat for the picture.
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I don't know what's on his hat but you should have given him your MAGA hat for the picture.
Why do you think I edited myself out? I had to protect my reputation here!
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(https://i.postimg.cc/6yYc0L0Q/PXL-20250125-005737231-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/6yYc0L0Q)
Luke Altmeyer wanted an Illini hockey sweater. The lads told him to show up to a game and they woukd give him one. He dropped the puck for the ceremonial faceoff. I went down and asked if he was taking picture requests. He obliged. Told him he had a great season and was.glad he was.back. He thanked me..
To not ruin the photo for you, I edited myself out of it....
Idk man this seems fake no way you were that polite to him
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I don't know what's on his hat but you should have given him your MAGA hat for the picture.
I chuckled
His hat has a skeleton on a skateboard, naturally.
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(https://i.postimg.cc/6yYc0L0Q/PXL-20250125-005737231-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/6yYc0L0Q)
Luke Altmeyer wanted an Illini hockey sweater. The lads told him to show up to a game and they woukd give him one. He dropped the puck for the ceremonial faceoff. I went down and asked if he was taking picture requests. He obliged. Told him he had a great season and was.glad he was.back. He thanked me..
To not ruin the photo for you, I edited myself out of it....
THANK YOU for editing yourself out!
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THANK YOU for editing yourself out!
He wasn't using his head.
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(https://i.postimg.cc/6yYc0L0Q/PXL-20250125-005737231-2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/6yYc0L0Q)
Luke Altmeyer wanted an Illini hockey sweater. The lads told him to show up to a game and they woukd give him one. He dropped the puck for the ceremonial faceoff. I went down and asked if he was taking picture requests. He obliged. Told him he had a great season and was.glad he was.back. He thanked me..
To not ruin the photo for you, I edited myself out of it....
You were afraid I was going to draw a dick in your mouth
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Idk man this seems fake no way you were that polite to him
That's why I am THE PassiveaggressiveMan
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You were afraid I was going to draw a dick in your mouth
That did cross my mind....