Loane on the Loose

BYE WEEK

Posted by: Dave Loane

Friday, September 19, 2008 9:29 AM

Never really sure how to approach an open date on the Illini football schedule. Makes for slow news days. Maybe an extra around of golf.

I'm not sure what football coaches in general think. Some seem to like it. Some don't. I've never heard one say it comes at a good time.

As for Illinois, their record is 3-1 this decade after a bye week. In 2000, Ron Turner's Illini, then ranked #24 lost at Minnesota 44-10, got dropped from the rankings, had a week off, and then beat Iowa 31-0.

In 2001, an October 20th 42-35 win over Wisconsin vaulted Illinois to #21 in the AP. Then on November 3, Illinois crushed 20th ranked Purdue 38-13 in West Lafayette.

2002 saw the Illini beat Purdue in overtime, and after a bye week, hammer Indiana 45-14.

Ron Zook's 2005 Illinois squad was in the throws of a four game losing streak when an open date came along. Just what the doctor ordered? Wrong Doc. On October, 22 12th ranked Penn State throttled the Illini 63-10 in Memorial Stadium. Coach Zook has often refered to that as the low point of his tenure at Illinois. I'm sure he will remind this years team of that, and they will be ready to play next saturday in State College.

Not really trying to draw any conclusions here. Just looking for a tee time.

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