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For the Fans

My Thoughts on Saturday's Penn State-Illini game

Posted by: Tom Young

Monday, October 5, 2009 7:33 AM

First of all, I think it’s fair to say I was completely wrong on my predictions for Saturday. Opps….

Second of all, why am I even writing this? You all know what I’m going to say. It’s the same exact thing every week. Terrible offense + poor tackling + iffy play calling = another loss for your “Fighting” Illini. When will this thing get straightened out? Will it get fixed before the season ends? Could we really go 1-11? I’m sorry, but we don’t play any more division II opponents, so our chances to win a game have slimmed to a very low percentage.

I saw a lot of John Schoop at Saturday’s game. I just don’t understand the logic of throwing a screen or flat pass when you have a 3^rd and 11. Why aren’t we going down the field more? Maybe it’s because our wide outs aren’t doing a good job of getting open. Next question then… Why aren’t our wide outs getting open? Why can’t we run? Should there be any position changes? Seriously Jeff Cumberland, what were you thinking? Did the Orange-Out really look different than any other game? Wow, can you believe how awesome this press box is? These were just some questions I was asking during and after another Illini embarrassment.

Despite the game, I had a pretty cool experience on Saturday. As you might have been able to figure out from one of my previous questions, I was able to go up in the new press box for the first time. If you ever get a chance to check it out, you should. That thing was beautiful. I was up there because I was doing some work for Radio P-A and 98.9 WQLV in Millersburg, Pennsylvania, the pulse of Central P-A (Don’t call me a traitor. They paid me.) After the game, I headed on down to Penn State’s locker room to grab some audio for Radio P-A. I sat in the media room for a bit and waited to grab some audio after the game. I heard the players coming in and they were cheering and yelling “Nice Win” and other various phrases along those lines. At this time I’m the only one sitting in the media room just waiting for the post-game press conference. Guess who the first person to walk into the room was? It was none other than Joe Paterno! He walked in, saw me sitting there and said hello. I said hello back and asked him how he was and he said he was doing good (of course he was, he got another win). It might have only been a five second “conversation”, but I feel like we bonded, lol. It was a pretty good experience being at the game and being able to check out areas that I had never seen before.

I heard a number of funny quotes during and after the game. Here are the ones that stuck out to me.

‘They spent $120 million dollars on a new press box? You think they would have spent some money on this media room.’ - Some Penn State media guy who was in the media room after the game.

“I don’t really want to say it’s the flu. You know, they got a temperature, they’re coughin’, they don’t feel good, I said ‘Geez, I got the flu 365 days a year.” - Penn State coach Joe Paterno after the game, talking about defensive back Chad Powell and his illness.

‘They should fire all of the coaches, disband the team, and burn down the stadium’ – My mom on what Illinois should do after Saturday’s loss.

Okay, Moving on…

Later tonight, I will do my “Monday Night Sim” of Illinois-Michigan State and I will update the standings of our little prediction game (I didn’t look to smart in that). In the meantime listen to what Ron Zook had to say in today’s First Word with Stevie Jay on News Talk 1400 WDWS. HERE THE BIG NEWS FROM RON ZOOK.

I-L-L…

Comments

I dont like the QB change at all... stick with Juice! Juice didnt get all those yards by luck. Eddie is way to tournover prone I think for this team. What happens now if Eddie struggles worse? Pulled the plug 2 games too soon at least.

Maybe if we got ride of this dumbass spread offense we would be better. I hate it!!!!! Lets hike the ball and pound it down your throat! Hell we got the backs lets run the Navy triple option, seems to be better than what we do.

I never thought id say our defense kept us in a game. But yet it did for the first half and probably would have the whole game if the offense could hold the ball for a lil more time.

We will win a few more games... IU and PU, but I dont see much more. Makes scheduling Cincinnati look like a great move doesnt it?! We might be able to catch NU, MSU, Minn and MU, but look very unlikely.

We throw a screen, bc the Downfield accuracy of Juice isnt great, but i guess he cant hit the short pass either very well. (still like juice better than eddie!) And well we cant run bc teams know we have issues with passing the ball. Was there an Oragne-Out? I couldnt tell on the TV thats for sure.

Wow got to meet Joe Pa, thats awesome, at least you had a good time. I hope they paid you well to watch and Illini football game haha. HAHA your mom cracks me up. I got a quote for you... "thats illinois football at its finest" -- ME :) Thats all i could think about watching this game. Not that im old enought to remember that fall into illinois history, but from the 90's to present this has been the normal for us. I almost got to the point that it doesnt even bother me when we play like this.

Posted by Jshaw on October 5, 2009 at 8:29 AM

Wow, that was quite an announcement this morning, and im none to pleased. Eddie McGee would of done no better, and possibly worse, against the top 2 defenses in the big ten. Sure he looked good versus Illinois state but, heck i could probably complete some passes on them.

I am just disappointed in our performance on the offensive side of the ball. The play calling is uninspired and lacks creativity. Im calling it right now.....

Illinois will win next week! why you ask? simple they will tone down the pass plays and concentrate on the run because they don't wanna overload McGee, it will look similar to the ISU same after he came in for an injured Juice. we will have 300 yards rushing and win by 10 or 17...

Again its not because McGee will be the quarterback it is because we will run the ball.... heck look back on the osu game and if you break down the possessions we often had great success on the ground then we let juice throw..... there is our mistake.... we shot ourselves in the foot every time...

In that game McGee came in later.... threw a perfect pass... right to the OSU guy! keep the ball on the ground when you have success!

Posted by jweeks on October 5, 2009 at 10:21 AM

I'm going to agree with Tom's mother on this. But his mother's statement made an almost insane amount of sense. You almost have to tear everything down and start completely from scratch in order to get this program going. I could go on and on about how I can't stand Ron Zook and go on and on about recruiting vs. actual coaching, but I would be beating a dead horse. But I feel a lot of people will be calling for his head next Saturday after his QB decision goes up in smoke.

I didn't have an "bonding moment" with Paterno, but was there in Madison in 2006 and saw the hit that broke his leg on the sideline.

Posted by combatmedic44 on October 5, 2009 at 10:31 AM

I dont mind Zook its his coaching philosiphies what really get to me!

Posted by Jshaw on October 5, 2009 at 3:18 PM

I dont mind Zook its his coaching philosiphies what really get to me!

Posted by Jshaw on October 5, 2009 at 3:18 PM