IlliniKrush

QUOTE (raBBit @ May 5, 2014 -> 01:54 PM) Rick Hahn deviously strokes his cat. Frank Thomas kicks his dog.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ May 5, 2014 -> 01:55 PM) I read somewhere (247sports maybe?) that Thomas was Illinois' to lose. They're in very good with him. That'd be a heck of a pull for Groce if it happens. Not sure how a guy from TX is ours to lose...plus he's not even announcing until Jan 2015. I'm as hopeful as the next guy, but I don't put much stock in to whoever said/thought that wherever you read it.

QUOTE (bmags @ May 5, 2014 -> 12:58 PM) Me being sleepy is the end of my world. Pretty sure you're youngish. You can stay up until 11:00 on a Friday. Your parents even said it's OK.

It's not rocket science guys, it's about TV. 6:00 and 8:30. Game is over at 11:00ish. Not the end of the world. Plus it's a Friday, as was last week. Oh, and we are in the western conference.

QUOTE (lord chas @ May 4, 2014 -> 08:13 PM) I expect that some sort of pitch clock will be put in soon. Games just drag too long Yup, they need to do this. Especially with runners on. But, go to the high school rule for the batters box and put the onus on the hitters as well.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ May 4, 2014 -> 08:20 PM) And the Wild are on their fourth string goalie, the Russian cosmonaut. (Who actually has played well) When the playoffs started I was questioning the Hawks making the conference finals, now they are suddenly the favorites with Boston to win it all. (Of course anything can happen in hockey) Whoever comes out of the Ducks/Kings series, if not completely injured, is going to be one hell of a tough match up. And yeah, it'd be great to get rid of the Bruins somehow if they can get that far.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ May 4, 2014 -> 06:55 PM) The Hawks just learned how to close about a week ago, around game 4. Since then they have been Mariano-esque It kind of seems like the team playing better hockey is down 0-2, but I will take it. Game one Wild for sure played better hockey. Today they didn't play that well outside of a period. Hawks have basically slept-walk through 2 games and up 2-0. Wild just aren't talented enough take advantage of something like that.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ May 2, 2014 -> 11:03 PM) Patrick kane is one ridonk b****. What a sick goal. I dreamt I could score like that once, and woke up with wet whitey tighties. His backhand > our forehands.

"Illini sleeper team in BT" http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball...s-best-top-five

The best one brought up how David Ortiz is black. Selective racism, I guess. Twitter's slogan really does need to be "a tool for idiots"

The first Avs goal shouldn't have been allowed, that was an absolute joke. Waved off correctly to begin with, somehow turns into a goal.

I spent the whole OT intermission sitting down in a corner looking at the back of the couch as to try to prevent a heart attack.

And you know at least one will go OT, which is just the most ridiculous thing to watch ever.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 30, 2014 -> 09:32 AM) Jameis Winston arrested For shoplifting crab legs. Brain the size of a pea. You don't know what you're talking about, he just doesn't seem like the type of person that would do such a thing.

More momentum for football recruiting...rumors swirling of another good in-state commit or two this week/weekend.

I'm probably the furthest thing from a homer with all of my teams.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Apr 28, 2014 -> 07:38 PM) Go Wild.

Hey I found our boy the 49ers superfan: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-footba...ve-ticket-sales

I haven't looked through this whole thread so forgive me if this was posted already:

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Apr 28, 2014 -> 12:48 PM) Regarding Illinois, yeah I've posted about them forever but I was certainly more defensive (passive is probably the better word here) about Weber/Zook compared to the rest of you guys so I'm not sure where that comes in. I'm wait and see on Groce. This year was ultimately disappointing but the previous one was better so it balances out for me. Beckman I've seen enough to decide that he should have been gone. Not only are we not competing, we haven't even looked closed to doing so for the most part. Well, we've had this same argument a million times; you know my stance. I'm rooting for the team to succeed. I go down to the games and enjoy myself. I wouldn't do that if I wished them to lose. Hopefully they make it a lot more enjoyable to make that trip, and soon. I'm all in on Groce. Maybe I'll be wrong, but I'm all in. We knew this year was going to be a dip, so they basically aligned with my expectations before the season started. In regards to Beckman, last year was a lot better than the year before. Yes, I know it's not saying a ton since they were so bad, but the arrow was pointing up. The defense regressed but offense was much better. Beckman stuck his neck out for Banks, so that's on him this year if it doesn't turn around. I really hate to play this game...but we took Penn St to overtime and NW was close to a win as well. We weren't THAT far off compared to where we were in 2012. Ultimately, this will be the year to see where everything is at. Overall, Illinois fans are more negative than some of these other fan bases IMO. We need to help change the culture. Yes, the teams/admin have to help as well. I think MT is obviously moving it forward compared to RG. Do you go to every game? I didn't make a home game last year but made the Washington game. Year before, the last game I was at was the La Tech game and that was just awful. I'm probably planning one of the first 2 with the family since weather will be nice, then play it by ear for any of the BT home games. I think Minnesota is going to be the huge turning point game one way or another, so I have that circled. I think we're 4-3 at that point (barring a slip up against Purdue at home). You either jump to 5 wins and need just one of PSU/Iowa/@NW, or you drop to even and you need to get 2 of those 3 with morale down and sitting at 4-5 after a loss at OSU.

You've been posting on here about Illinois for what, 10 years? You haven't only been negative regarding Beckman. It's everything Illini. I'm not the only one that thinks so. So what's your thought process going into this year? Actually rooting for wins and for Beckman to maybe be the guy to turn it around? Or you're so anti-Beckman that you're hoping they s*** the bed? Of course you'e never come out and say you're rooting against the Illini on here, but I still think you're just waiting for the other shoe to drop so you can get on here and post all the "I told you" stuff. Because pro or anti Beckman, any Illini fan should be in the first category. I'm not even a huge fan of Beckman at all from what we've seen so far, but I have to root for wins for the long-term stability of the program and a faster turnaround.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Apr 28, 2014 -> 11:11 AM) We've won 1 Big Ten game in 2 years. It's pretty easy to be negative. We have fans of other programs on the previous page saying the same things as me. It's just how we are looked at, for good reason. It's not really negativity though. It's just realistic. That's not really the point. The next time you post something positive it will be the first time. Deep down, you are praying they don't get 6 wins, because you won't be able to easily trot out your fire beckman posts all the time. It's just so much easier, in any sport and with any team, to be the "fire the manager! trade these guys!" guy than it is to be constructive and hope for positivity. It's an easier path to take. QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Apr 28, 2014 -> 11:25 AM) And then on the other side, we have Illini fans who can't see that holding on to someone for too long puts your program in an even bigger hole. The Illinois football program has been that way for the last 25 years. Every time there are some gains, they take a huge leap backwards because they hire the wrong guy and stick with him way too long. From Tepper to Turner to Zook. Illinois fans, for some strange reason, have amnesia about that and pretend that THIS time is going to be different. I'm in the middle here. I think it takes a few seasons to dig a program out of the mud. It takes time to get the players you want. It takes time to change the culture. But you don't get 4-5 years, you get three to show real improvement. So far, only the offense has improved. This upcoming season will be a telling one. Maybe they go bowling and Beckman and Co. can continue to nab some of these good, not great, players. If they suck next year, he better be gone. And on the other side, we have guys who still want Zook around... I'm not for hanging on to guys for kicks, but I'm for giving guys a shot to turn things around. Weber and Zook were both there too long. 2 years for Beckman with where the program was, clearly isn't enough. Completely unfair to expect that, and that's been my argument for a long time. I don't really know what people's expectations were going into year 1 and year 2 with this team. Clearly different than mine. Deep down, do I think Beckman is the long-term answer? Probably not. But I'd rather root for it to be that way and have me be wrong, as you're back to respectability much faster if he is. Hell, even if he gets us to the low to middle tier and then you decide to make a change, at least the next guy isn't starting from rock bottom. Constantly blowing up your program sounds great in theory, but it just moves your backwards even more and it's going to be really tough to hire ANYONE decent after you gave a guy 2 years with a program that sucked. This is the year it has to turn around. We saw forward movement last year, which we needed to see. This year is basically bowl or bust, although 5 wins, depending on how they come and how they play, may be enough. That's why I don't like setting an really hard line on # of wins. The schedule breaks down into 4 almost lock wins, 4 almost lock losses, and 4 toss up games. So 2-2 and those would get it done, if the other 8 went as we think they will. So for me, I'd rather root for them to succeed, get momentum going and build from here. Keep the recruits they have committed. If they suck this year, I will be right there with everyone else on the "let's make a change" bandwagon. QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 28, 2014 -> 11:40 AM) it's gotten to the point where there are fans (even in this thread) that are ok with not ever being at the top level of the conference. Count me in on that then, depending on your definition of top level of the conference (do you mean top half? Do you mean top elite 2-3 teams?). We're never going to consistently be in the "top level" of a conference, at least not any time soon. I think that's realistic. My expectations are to be in the middle tier of the BT, be competitive and entertaining, and going bowling more times than not (in other words, let's try to be an Iowa first). Once in a while, you put it all together and you're competing for a BT title/BCS bowl. But it'd be ignorant to have OSU expectations for an Illinois program. In college football (and basketball for that matter), with as many teams as there are, it's different from pro sports. The expectation can't be "championship", depending on your program. Some people can have those expectations in one sport, some both, some none.

Indeed. He takes more pride in being the negative, complaining Illini fan. Some people are just that way.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Apr 28, 2014 -> 08:40 AM) Bailey should move to WR to get some play. If he wanted to play QB, he should have transferred as soon as they signed Lunt. I used to coach against Bailey when he was in HS at Brook. Kid is a beast but he's never playing QB in the NFL anyway. No better time than now to switch positions. Or move him to the defensive side of the ball - safety. Problem is, Illinois may have promised him that he'd be a QB and not pull a position change on him, so it'd really have to be Bailey asking for it. I'm also surprised/aggravated they didn't red shirt him last year, as his 2 carries per game was a complete waste of a year, and now he's the same year as Lunt. Although that may have been an unofficial promise as well.

NHL playoffs > everything