Fan Blog

Now that's more like it

Posted by: Kim Johnson

Sunday, October 19, 2008 1:49 PM

What did I say last week?  I hoped that my thankful list would be short, right?  Yes, I am very thankful for an Illini win.  A big win by lots of points.  Love it.  Frankly, I thought that is how it was going to be against Minnesota.  Oh well, so I'm a week off.  This was a much needed win.

 

Not too much to find wrong with this Illini performance.  Yes, it was against an Indiana team that isn't exactly a force in the league.  But it's hard to argue with the show we saw on offense.  Lots of guys got into the act.  Ford had his breakout game.  Benn does what he's done for the past 4 games or so.  And Juice, well, what more can you even say about him?

 

Special teams were again improved on their coverage.  And, the Illini were the ones to score on a kickoff return, not the opponent.  That's how it's supposed to work!

 

There were so many good plays and scoring going on that there was never a good time for a concession stand and restroom break for my kids!

 

We had friends from the Chicago area come down for the game this weekend.  The Langas and Williams families are all Illinois grads and big Illini fans.  But, as most of you can relate to, they don't get down here but every 3 years or so for a game due to scheduling, kids activities, etc.  Thankfully, they missed Homecoming this year and saw a much better game.  Lots of scoring and a victory.  Makes for a fun weekend.

 

We were contrasting how things have changed at football games since we were students in the late 80's.  First of all, at halftime during the 3-in-1, they were wondering where the Chief was.  They said they couldn't see him. 

 

They liked the fact that it is such a concerted effort to wear orange.  It does look really cool when everyone has orange on in the stadium.  We only wore blue or gray in college, never orange.  Also, has there always been 2 Block I's, they wondered?  And, why does the band still face the east side?  Don't know the answers to those questions.

 

We did see people passing a fan through the stands.  That used to be pretty common in football block years ago.  Don't know if you were supposed to do that back then, but I hadn't seen it done in years. 

 

Fans were fired up for the game.  It was a great day for tailgating.  It was a festive, friendly atmosphere.  And we finally won a night game.

 

Around the Big Ten, what is happening with Wisconsin?  Looks like the Iowa coach saved his job for another week anyway.  I didn't think Michigan St. would get beat by that much.  And yes, Michigan lost again.  Oh well.

 

I wish I had a better feeling about next week's game at Wisconsin.  I am hoping that Wisconsin is so down now that they don't have it in them to come out of the hole they've dug.  But now they are the desperate team, and they are gunning for the Illini.  I doubt they have forgotten last year either.

 

I'll try to get the report from my Wisconsin friends next weekend.  I hope they'll be in a bad mood, and I will be the one that is happy because of an Illini victory.  Go Illini!

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