IlliniHQ 2
General Category => Halas Hall Football Forum => Topic started by: ThePAMan on September 04, 2025, 02:55:41 PM
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All crap stolen from FightingIllini.com except for my crap as indicated...
#11[!!!] Illinois at Duke
Date/Time Saturday, Sept. 6 | 11 a.m. CT
Location Durham, N.C. (Wallace Wade Stadium) [Don't show up in Champaign expecting to go to the game, Judge Judy!]
TV ESPN [Blech]
Radio Busey Bank Illini Sports Network | Listen | SiriusXM (382), SXM App
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – #11 Illinois makes its first road trip of the year on Saturday with a visit to Duke. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. CT on ESPN.
Following a 52-3 win in the season opener, Illinois (1-0) is looking to extend its winning streak to six games dating back to last season. [When is the last time the Illini reeled off 6 in a row?] The Illini excelled on road trips down the stretch of 2024, winning the final three road/neutral games of the year (Rutgers, Northwestern, South Carolina).
Illinois QB Luke Altmyer ranks fifth in the nation in passing efficiency (214.9) and 10th in completion percentage (81.0%) after throwing for 217 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1. Altmyer connected five times for 108 yards with WR Hank Beatty, who also set Illinois' single-game record for punt return yardage (133) in the win. Beatty leads the nation in all-purpose yards per game (241.0).
Duke (1-0) is led by QB Darian Mensah, who threw for 389 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Elon in his debut for the Blue Devils. The Tulane transfer was one of the most sought-after quarterbacks in last year's transfer class after throwing for 2,723 yards with 22 touchdowns last season. [Yes, but how are Duhon's ribs?]
Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst), and Taylor McGregor (reporter) have the television broadcast on ESPN. The Busey Bank Illini Sports Network has the radio call with Brian Barnhart (play-by-play), Carey Davis (analyst), and Michael Martin (reporter).
Notes
Illinois Travels to Duke
• Illinois brings a five-game winning streak to Durham, tied for the longest active streak in the Big Ten with reigning national champion Ohio State. [FightingIllini.com comparing the Illini to OSU, Tempo!]
• Illinois finished the 2024 season with thee straight road/neutral victories: at Rutgers, at Northwestern (Wrigley Field), and vs. #14 South Carolina (Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, Orlando).
• Illinois and Duke are tied 1-1 in the all-time series.
• Duke won the teams' first matchup, 15-13, in Durham in 1958.
• Illinois beat Duke, 28-14, in Champaign in 1965.
• Illinois is scheduled to host Duke during the 2026 season as part of a home-and-home contract.
• Former Illinois cornerback V'Angelo Bentley [Isn't this one of the guys that took over the Scranton office after Michael Scott left?] is the cornerbacks coach for Duke. Bentley was a two-time All-Big Ten honorable mention selection and totaled 133 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and two interceptions in 47 career games (32 starts) from 2012-15. He is the only player in Illinois history to score touchdowns on a kick return, punt return, interception return, and fumble return in a career. Bentley is Illinois' career kick return yardage record holder (1,860).
Illinois in the Rankings
• Illinois moved up one spot to #11 in this week's AP Top 25 after coming in at #12 in the preseason AP Top 25.
• Illinois remained at #12 in this week's US LBM Coaches Poll.
• Illinois had its highest preseason ranking (#12) since 1990, when the Illini started #11 in the Preseason AP Top 25.
• Illinois' #12 preseason ranking is the ninth-highest in program history since the AP Preseason Poll began in 1950. [SAD!!!!]
• Illinois was ranked in the Preseason AP Top 25 and the Preseason Coaches Poll for the first time since 2008. [DOUBLE SAD!!!!!]
Familiar Faces
• Illinois returns 18 starters from its Cheez-It Citrus Bowl victory over #14 South Carolina, tied with Michigan for the most returning starters of any bowl team in the nation. [Enjoy it now, Illini fans!]
• Illinois returns 16 season starters from last year's 10-win campaign, which is tied with Arizona State, Clemson, and Penn State for the most returning starters in the nation. Alabama, Boise State, Duke, San Diego State, and Texas A&M are next with 14 returning season starters.
• Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr., who returns for his fourth season, is the longest-tenured offensive coordinator in the Big Ten.
• Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry, who returns for his third season, is the third-longest-tenured defensive coordinator in the Big Ten behind only Iowa's Phil Parker (14th season) and Oregon's Tosh Lupoi (fourth season).
• Illinois is the only Power-4 team to return its offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, and starting quarterback for a third straight season in 2025.
• Illinois was the only Big Ten team to have the same head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, strength coach, and starting quarterback in 2023 and 2024. All five are back again for 2025.
• Illinois is one of six Big Ten teams to return both its offensive and defensive coordinators in 2025, along with Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern, and Oregon.
• Illinois and Oregon are the only Big Ten teams to return both their offensive and defensive coordinator for at least the third straight season.
• Illinois returns nine of its 10 primary position coaches.
Beatty Breaks Red's Record
• Hank Beatty broke Illinois' 102-year-old single-game punt return record in the season opener against Western Illinois when he totaled 133 yards on four returns. The previous record of 125 yards was set by Red Grange vs. Nebraska (10/6/1923). [Our Grange is pissed!]
Single-Game Punt Return Yardage Record
1. Hank Beatty (133) vs. Western Illinois, 8/29/2025
2. Red Grange (125) vs. Nebraska, 10/6/1923
3. Eugene Wilson (109) vs. San Diego State, 9/11/1999
4. Dike Eddleman (102) vs. Minnesota, 10/18/1947 [Is is not an Illini stats list without a Dike mention.]
• Highlighting Beatty's returns was a 69 [It says "69"!]-yard TD in the third quarter, Illinois' first punt returned for a touchdown since V'Angelo Bentley vs. Ohio State (11/16/2013). [This has to be some karma.]
• Beatty's 69 [YES!]-yard touchdown was Illinois' longest punt return touchdown since Christian Morton (80 yards) vs. Indiana (11/4/2000), 25 years ago.
• Beatty added five receptions for 108 yards to total 241 all-purpose yards in the game.
• Beatty leads the nation in all-purpose yards per game (241.0) and punt return yardage (133).
• Beatty ranks third in the nation in yards per punt return (33.25).
Go Illini!
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We’re gonna take a Dookie 💩 on Duke Saturday…
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Just give the ball to the big guy and get out of the way.
https://x.com/i/status/1469838188428546056
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This just feels like a game the Illini would blow in the rare season of expectations. I-L-L!
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Let’s hope the Duke team that struggled with Elon in the first half shows up and we counter their half time adjustments.
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This just feels like a game the Illini would blow in the rare season of expectations. I-L-L!
So much this. Absolutely have to come out and handle them.
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found this while digging through some stuff today
(https://i.imgur.com/Py85pbI.jpeg)
may this game not be the same type of nut punch
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found this while digging through some stuff today
(https://i.imgur.com/Py85pbI.jpeg)
may this game not be the same type of nut punch
I played juco baseball and we were on a bus trip back to campus from a workout around Peoria that day. Our coach was a UI alumnus and had the game on the radio.
There was a whiny douchebag named Tim from Michigan that was on scholarship but never played (he conveniently cheered for MSU basketball and scUM football) that started singing “Hail to the Victors” when Michigan “won”
Coach started singing “Hail to you cheating fuckers, Hail to you maize cocksuckers” at the top of his lungs and drowned him out. I’ll never forget that day.
Tim never would acknowledge how hard Illinois got fucked in that game even when they showed the replays. Years later I got a call on my landline phone at home one evening and it was Tim trying to sell me something. I could tell he had no idea it was me he was talking to, he was just cold calling people in the industry. Was so serendipitous that I got the opportunity to cut him off mid-pitch and tell him to go fuck himself before hanging up.
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I played juco baseball and we were on a bus trip back to campus from a workout around Peoria that day. Our coach was a UI alumnus and had the game on the radio.
There was a whiny douchebag named Tim from Michigan that was on scholarship but never played (he conveniently cheered for MSU basketball and scUM football) that started singing “Hail to the Victors” when Michigan “won”
Coach started singing “Hail to you cheating fuckers, Hail to you maize cocksuckers” at the top of his lungs and drowned him out. I’ll never forget that day.
Tim never would acknowledge how hard Illinois got fucked in that game even when they showed the replays. Years later I got a call on my landline phone at home one evening and it was Tim trying to sell me something. I could tell he had no idea it was me he was talking to, he was just cold calling people in the industry. Was so serendipitous that I got the opportunity to cut him off mid-pitch and tell him to go fuck himself before hanging up.
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found this while digging through some stuff today
(https://i.imgur.com/Py85pbI.jpeg)
may this game not be the same type of nut punch
I was there. Had season tickets at the time.
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Me too, student tickets, cant believe how cheap they were lol
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Me too, student tickets, cant believe how cheap they were lol
Yes! You could get those North end zone bleacher seats for like 6 bucks or some shit
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I played juco baseball and we were on a bus trip back to campus from a workout around Peoria that day. Our coach was a UI alumnus and had the game on the radio.
There was a whiny douchebag named Tim from Michigan that was on scholarship but never played (he conveniently cheered for MSU basketball and scUM football) that started singing “Hail to the Victors” when Michigan “won”
Coach started singing “Hail to you cheating fuckers, Hail to you maize cocksuckers” at the top of his lungs and drowned him out. I’ll never forget that day.
Tim never would acknowledge how hard Illinois got fucked in that game even when they showed the replays. Years later I got a call on my landline phone at home one evening and it was Tim trying to sell me something. I could tell he had no idea it was me he was talking to, he was just cold calling people in the industry. Was so serendipitous that I got the opportunity to cut him off mid-pitch and tell him to go fuck himself before hanging up.
Yeah! Grown adults telling people to go fuck themselves because they have the nerve to root for a different team! ‘Murica!
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Yeah! Grown adults telling people to go fuck themselves because they have the nerve to root for a different team! ‘Murica!
Thought I included enough context to make it clear he was a total twat, but after reading it again maybe I didn’t.
Just a completely unlikeable diva that was a sore loser and an even worse winner. Tried to ooze a weird main character energy despite being a benchwarmer and social pariah. Also friend zoned by every decent looking girl on campus.
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Thought I included enough context to make it clear he was a total twat, but after reading it again maybe I didn’t.
Just a completely unlikeable diva that was a sore loser and an even worse winner. Tried to ooze a weird main character energy despite being a benchwarmer and social pariah. Also friend zoned by every decent looking girl on campus.
I had it figured out after 'whiny douchebag from Michigan.'
It's not that hard. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
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I had it figured out after 'whiny douchebag from Michigan.'
It's not that hard. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Yeah I thought that was plenty of context 😂
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ILL!
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Incomplete pass
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Son of a bitch we look like shit!
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Gonna need some kind of spark, and just as I’m typing that happens!
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Gonna need some kind of spark, and just as I’m typing that happens!
Woohoo!!!!
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Helluva throw and catch!
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O-line and offense been disappointing. Need to step it up. Good TD and break there…
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Son of a bitch we look like shit!
1st road game. We'll settle down.
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Bret still trolling with the late subs 😂
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Bret still trolling with the late subs 😂
Yep, he's got that down
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Love it…
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OL looks like crap. Going to be problematic come B1G season. I don't think the Illini will win the CFB championship!
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No idea why the announcers act like Bielema is doing something wrong. The way they frame it is stupid. It’s totally legal…
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Huge pick up!
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Targeting on Duke…
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I think it was commercial time so they called a review to look at no targeting
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Man our offense looks like shit…
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Starting to settle in now…
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Touchdown!
We’re cooking now!
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Touchdown!
We’re cooking now!
I L L!
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Dook's playing well and not letting us do much on either side of the ball. Time for a stop.
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Oh brother
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Jacas! Fuck yeah!
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Time for a stop.
That works
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Gabe Jacas!!! Huge play!
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Illini 15 carries for 8 yards running the ball…
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Not ideal.
Lunney better get this figured out at half time
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You fucking moron
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Stupid, stupid fucking penalty. Thanks a lot, Brown.
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You fucking moron
Miles = Coach "Warren you idiot" Guenther is a match!
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You fucking moron
Stupid fucking penalty and would’ve been 4th down! Fucker! 😡
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OC, DC and HC have got some thinking to do.
And no more penalties please
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Two guys wearing the same number penalty is new to me. Wow.
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And gives Illinois a first down. Huge break!
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And gives Illinois a first down. Huge break!
Made them pay for that penalty
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Not ideal.
Lunney better get this figured out at half time
Moving Altmyer to behind the center helped on the last couple of plays
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That’s another turnover!
ILL!
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That’s another turnover!
ILL!
I N I!
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Feels like Duke has dominated this game, yet we’re up…
And just got our third TO.
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The Wildcat haha
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Genius play call and Beatty for Heisman!
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Lunney opening up the playbook ;D
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Beatty has the Abe Lincoln beard thing going
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Ca'lil goes Kaboom on #5
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8 min 20 sec advantage in time of possesion after 3 qtrs.
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Our running game is like Trumps job market
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Defense bending but getting turnovers!
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That pick reminds me of Biden’s economy
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Bleed some clock and score here please
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Love the turnover / dumb penalty disparity today. Significant improvement from past experience, and on the road!
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Love the turnover / dumb penalty disparity today. Significant improvement from past experience, and on the road!
That’s Bielema Ball, Baby!
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Bleed some clock and score here please
Feagin discarding people like Tecmo Bowl Bo Jackson or Christian Okoye
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Our running game is like Trumps job market
It’s like your wife’s throat on my cock… choking! Now stfu!
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That pick reminds me of Biden’s economy
Reminds me of your mom’s pussy… taking the full extension of my dick! Now stfu!
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Bleed some clock and score here please
Thanks for listening to me!
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These needledicks chanted "overrated" in the first quarter of a home game they're going to lose by 3 scores.
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Beautiful goal line play call passing the ball…
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Another huge turnover!
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Heckel with the pick then the forced fumble 👍
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What a waste of $4 million dollars!! 😂
Let’s run this fucking score up! I can’t stand Manny Diaz!
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(https://i.imgur.com/8jAiH6C.png)
Beatty's game reminded me of this gem of a bill board in Reno
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Lmao another turnover. Excellent road win lads. Top 10 ranking coming up.
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Another TD!!!!!!!
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That crowd of Illini is LOUD!!!!!
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Judge Judy = Jobu is a match? Didn't see that one coming.
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Judge Judy = Jobu is a match? Didn't see that one coming.
Murph just doesn’t STFU about politics and stupid shit. It’s annoying…
Worse than Tempo regarding Fields…
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Revenge for the curbstomping they gave us in basketball
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Was plenty nervous at half and start of third quarter. Turned out to be a lot of fun. The ILL INI chants hopefully directed at the needledicks that were chanting overrated. Great comment from Calvin.
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Good win. One more step in right direction for a CFP berth…
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A good road win 👏👏
Western Michigan up next on Sat at 6. WMU lost 23-6 last week to MSU.
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Assuming we don’t shit the bed against WMU I am going to come up for the IU game. Who else is coming?
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Revenge for the curbstomping they gave us in basketball
This
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These needledicks chanted "overrated" in the first quarter of a home game they're going to lose by 3 scores.
Correction: 4 scores. Feels good!
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Assuming we don’t shit the bed against WMU I am going to come up for the IU game. Who else is coming?
I might!
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Was plenty nervous at half and start of third quarter. Turned out to be a lot of fun. The ILL INI chants hopefully directed at the needledicks that were chanting overrated. Great comment from Calvin.
The first half is a bit of a concern but we made significant improvements at half on offense and the experience/fitness gap was palpable in the 2nd half.
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I might!
It's at Memorial Stadium.
In Bloomington.
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The first half is a bit of a concern but we made significant improvements at half on offense and the experience/fitness gap was palpable in the 2nd half.
Yeah major kudos to Bielema and staff for the halftime adjustments.
And flowers to Manny Diaz for not getting the proper jerseys on his guys. That weird ass penalty swung the momentum in our favor and we never gave it back.
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It's at Memorial Stadium.
In Bloomington.
🤨🥴
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I might!
PAMan? We need an IU HQ takeover!
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Assuming we don’t shit the bed against WMU I am going to come up for the IU game. Who else is coming?
I will be there.
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PAMan? We need an IU HQ takeover!
Supposed to be in Champaign that day as of now...we shall see
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The staff got the penalty called on the two #8 players in the game because they saw it in Duke film and were be watching for it in the game. They called it out to the refs as it was happening, or they probably wouldn’t have noticed. That’s fucking wild.
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The staff got the penalty called on the two #8 players in the game because they saw it in Duke film and were be watching for it in the game. They called it out to the refs as it was happening, or they probably wouldn’t have noticed. That’s fucking wild.
No way 🤣🤣
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The staff got the penalty called on the two #8 players in the game because they saw it in Duke film and were be watching for it in the game. They called it out to the refs as it was happening, or they probably wouldn’t have noticed. That’s fucking wild.
Did Duke do it last week against FCS Elon and get away with it ?
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The staff got the penalty called on the two #8 players in the game because they saw it in Duke film and were be watching for it in the game. They called it out to the refs as it was happening, or they probably wouldn’t have noticed. That’s fucking wild.
Bert is the best!
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Did Duke do it last week against FCS Elon and get away with it ?
I read someone claiming that the special team guy saw it on film from last week and brought it to Bielema's attention...
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I read someone claiming that the special team guy saw it on film from last week and brought it to Bielema's attention...
Lol. And Diaz blamed it on the 2 players after doing it in back to back games which means they would have done it in practice too.
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#9 in the Coaches Poll. Clemson got dropped to #11.
And the AP
(https://i.ibb.co/6SPYRzT/Screenshot-20250907-172931-Samsung-Internet.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fWpMYfy)
(https://imgbb.com/)
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Frankly both FSU and us should probably be above ND and Texas but we're Illinois and can't complain about a no. 9 ranking.
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Frankly both FSU and us should probably be above ND and Texas but we're Illinois and can't complain about a no. 9 ranking.
Just keep winning baby
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Custard may have left his cell phone in his car, but I tripped that night cleaning up the tailgate, didn't have any issues until after cleaning out the car the next day and feeling like I pulled a muscle in my chest, only to learn today that I have a fractured rib.
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Custard may have left his cell phone in his car, but I tripped that night cleaning up the tailgate, didn't have any issues until after cleaning out the car the next day and feeling like I pulled a muscle in my chest, only to learn today that I have a fractured rib.
can't wait to hear about Pman's rib all season long!
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Illini tailgating is not for the weak. May the legend of PAMan’s rib be as illustrious as Chris Duhon’s!
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PAMan’s rib > Duhon’a ribs