IlliniKrush

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 07:41 AM) FWIW it appears White was limited in practice yesterday with a new kneee injury. Don't think it's severe, but the guy has been hurt all year and any new ailment would alarm me if I was thinking of starting him Yeah, that further complicates things. Really don't know what to do.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 11:51 AM) After losing Foster, I have 5 RB 2 typish backs to choose from every week and I've been getting killed every time. Whoever I sit goes off. 2 RB slots and a FLEX. Who do you play? Chris Johnson vs. AZ Ben Tate @ IND Giovanni Bernard @ PIT Stephen Jackson vs. WSH Chris Ivory @ CAR I am thinking Ivory is basically a sure sit. Otherwise I am clueless. If it makes it easier, who from CJ2K, Tate, Bernard and Jackson do you sit? Wow, tough call. I'd be sitting CJ2K. ARZ defense is best or one of the best against the run. I think you could get lucky and get a Jackson TD in that game, and the potential of Bernard and Tate to have good games is too hard to sit them.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 11:48 AM) PPR league, I need to start 2 RBs out of Tate, Gerhart, Spiller, Sproles, Rainey I'm fairly sure I'm playing Tate and am leaning towards Gerhart if he's the starter. I just don't know if I can trust the others. I'd play Rainey again if he wasn't going up against SF Yeah, I'd go Tate and Gerhart as long as he's starting.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 11:24 AM) The asshole I'm playing against picked up Starks and Gerhart. That's one s***ty thing about working a night shift job, you miss stuff like updates and such in the morning. (speaking of which, I should get some sleep now) Can't believe I'm gonna play Ball. If he does well for me Krush, I'll owe you big time.. maybe put whatever you want on my sig or something or fed-ex you a beer.. It's risky considering I'm also playing Decker and Julius Thomas. I know Peyton likes to feed people, but I might have a turd in the punchbowl somewhere in there... If you can't get Starks and there's no one like Gerhart to pick up, you're really, really risking a 0 come Sunday if you only have Lacy and Bell. I'd rather get points at this point considering IMO, Bell and Ball have similar expectations for the week.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 11:13 AM) My favorite part of the Beckman disaster is that people are actually crediting this year's team as improving. It's amazing. That is to say Beckman is actually being credited for being such an incredibly terrible coach his first year and has somehow benefited from this. They didn't improve? OK then. What were your expectations for this year?

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 10:50 AM) With his two assists last night, Patrick Kane is now on pace for a 100 point season. If he does that and the Hawks keep winning, he has a legit shot at the Hart trophy. Remember when he stopped the KANERRRRRRR drunken act and took off the past 2 years? Wow, such a coincidence.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 10:55 AM) The coaches know more than the AD's as to who can coach or not. If a qualified guy is sitting there saying, "Beckman is not qualified for that job," which is what Illinois needs to decide it will not impact the next guy to take the job especially if Illinois is going to pay the guy. The problem is, does Illinois fire a guy without giving him a shot? I do not follow Illinois football but I know they stink. All I have heard is that Beckman was not qualified for the job when he was hired and it appears to still be the case. Year one is actually irrelevant to year two, once it was established that he was coming back for year two. You had to look at the situation of year one being an embarrassment, and ask yourself, what do we need to see in year two to show the arrow is pointing up and stick for a third year? That, apparently, is where I have a disconnect from the others. My realistic expectations were win 4 games (5 if lucky), be more competitive in losses, show improvement in areas, look more competent than last year. Those were met, especially with this young, awful defense coming into this year. Next year, with basically the entire defense back and a lot of the offensive pieces, now you establish new expectations, which for me, is 6 wins and a bowl and looking much more improved yet again. Anything less than that likely means he's fired.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 10:43 AM) Asking people's opinion on Montee Ball. Just picked him up. It's a huge gamble, but his snaps have increased lately and Moreno is a bit banged up. (I'm facing Moreno tonight btw) Should I start Ball or wait out and see if Lacy plays (hopefully) and/or Le'Veon Bell as a flex? This is NON PPR. My Rb's.. McCoy (must start) Lacy, Bell, Ball. Pick 3 from that list. I would try to wait it out to play Lacy, maybe pick up Starks if available. I don't see a huge difference in potential between Bell and Ball, and actually think Ball has a better chance to score. I'd probably roll the dice with Ball, then Sunday place Lacy if he's active, and if not, you have Bell to go to. If you sit Ball, you roll the dice that Lacy plays, and if he doesn't come Sunday, you better have Starks or someone off the waiver wire ready to go.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 10:01 AM) This stuff is just false. Plenty of midmajors coaches and coordinators would jump on the opportunity of the Illinois job. One year isn't going to make a difference in their mind. Kevin Sumlin is a terrible comparison since he had a lot better job offer in Texas AM. Yes, if a better program than us offers a coach we want, we won't get him. But it's terrible to somehow think that changes by giving an extra year to Beckman. There's plenty of people that think exactly how I think about this. One year does make a huge difference when it's year 2 to 3, which is 50% more time to do something with the program. If you think coaches don't see exactly what's going on at Illinois and just see "Illinois job open," you're wrong. Coach improves team into year 2, still fired? Good luck with that. Again, not sure where your expectations were going into this year, but most people's were met. That's what this all comes down to. You don't go from laughingstock one year to 8 wins the next with that roster.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 08:59 PM) Looks like ss2k5 has been hitting the eggnog early this year. Man, I love me some good eggnog. I prefer the non-alcoholic kind, though. Just a good old carton.

Need to fill RB Flex With Moreno, Bush (Monday), and White. PPR. Have J. Bell as well to backup Bush. But with Monday being questionable for Bush, and the fact that they may split more than normal, I'm thinking Moreno and White at this point. He's had I think 24 targets past 2 weeks. Seems like the safer play for now.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 03:23 PM) How is 1-18 or whatever in conference play not a really good justification? How many of those games should we have won? Did you see improvement? Do new coaches in new environments not have terrible starts in conference? Happens everywhere, even this year. Takes time to put in your system and establish everything. QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 03:23 PM) This is difference between football and basketball in Champaign. There actually are people who think there is no justification to fire Beckman. No matter what, year 1, year 2, if a basketball coach came in and his only conference win was a close one vs. NU, he would be gone in a heartbeat. And you are only kidding yourself if you don't think his job status has any effect on his recruiting. Again, it goes back to expectations of the current team and state of the program. Basketball was in a much different position than football. Also, show me where I said job status has no effect on recruiting. QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 03:54 PM) "If you fire him now, NO ONE is going to take the job knowing they have 2 years to fix everything, and even if they show improvement in year 2, they are still gone. No coach walks into a situation knowing tIt now." I dont really buy this. Our candidates would be the same now as they are a yeaaren'tm now. Pretty much no non-bcs level coach is going to turn us down since the job is still a step up from where they are at. It's either that or pay big money for a tarnished name like Petrino or Tressel and they aren't saying no to the payday either or would they have any concern over what their inept predecessor did. Don't buy it all you want. No one's taking that job knowing you're immediately fired if you walk into a s***storm and don't immediately turn it around. I'm pretty sure we offered Sumlin more money and he said no. Money isn't everything to some of these guys, especially when they can wait for a better fit and situation. You're all dreaming. You also forget that last year I said if MT is 100% convinced he f***ed up and didn't think Beckman was the answer, to fire him. I said if they didn't show improvement this year, fire him. Once we went into this year, the barometer was improvement. This team was night and day from last year. As such, he gets a 3rd year and we see what happens next year. You know what I thought our record, and realistic expectations this year was? 4-8 with an outside shot at maybe 5-7 if we get lucky. Where did we end up? 4-8. What was everyone's expectations going into the year, bowl or bust? BT championship or bust? The results this year were in line with where most everyone thought they'd be, and we showed improvement, big time, over last year, especially on offense. Not sure what everyone was expecting. I guess everyone was just waiting for the season to end to yell "fire Beckman!" yet again. Look, deep down, I'm not convinced Beckman's the long-term answer either. I think my posting last year was more than clear about that. But I'm willing to give it next year to find out after what was done this year, based on what everyone thought going into this season.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 02:49 PM) Good luck Beckman selling recruits he will be the coach when their redshirt season is up. He is a lame duck in every sense. So his recruiting class will be weak. That is what happened to Zook's recruiting classes. Once your job status is up for debate, even if your institution has said nothing, you become a lame duck. The only way for him to escape it is for a miracle season and an extension. If he has 2 good QBs coming in, there would be plenty of guys willing to take that job. You can only go up. Coaches walk into bad situations all the time. They have egos. It is rather obvious Beckman is in over his head. Waiting just prolongs the losing, something that wouldn't happen there in basketball. You're just wrong about him being a lame duck in every sense. You won't know if he's fired until this time next year. If they make a bowl next year and look decent, there's a decent chance he gets an extension. That's far from a miracle season. Zook wasn't there 2 years and looking to be fired by his 3rd year. You're missing the boat - you fire a coach after 2 years without really, really good justification, good luck getting anyone, anywhere to take the job. Coaches walk into bad situations all the time, but they usually get more than 2 years to fix it. Which is what Beckman is getting. Next year decides it.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 11:46 AM) Vinnie's on grand across from salernos (also the best) has the GREATEST tuna salad sub. Its a little sleeper place. I'll have to hit that up.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 12:14 PM) I may try to go. Danny Ecker ‏@DannyEcker 7m Chicago will host the 2017 Frozen Four at the United Center, the NCAA has announced. Awesome. I've been wondering for years if/when Chicago would get it. I'll definitely go.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 11:03 AM) http://www.jpgraziano.com/ Get the Mr G Sharp imported provolone, hot sopresatta, Prosciutto di Parma, Volpi genoa salami, truffle mustard balsamic vinaigrette, hot oil, marinated roman-style artichokes, fresh basil, lettuce w/ red wine vinegar & oregano … $8.25 Or their tuna and italian are great. They make the tuna right in front of you so you can dictate how much mayo etc you want in it. Great italian deli. Im literally debating whether to drive downtown or naperville at this point for some deli. I can vouch for this, it's well worth it.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 09:54 AM) With the co-ordinator, I don't know. Is it the scheme or lack of talent, and is the lack of talent his fault? IMO, bringing a lame duck head coach back is all you need to know about what they think of their programs. No way a basketball coach gets away with that much failure. And if the reason is they don't think they could attract the right guy right now, why is it going to get better with more failure? A bit of both, obviously a ton of youth. I would have been fine with Banks going, as the fundamentals/scheming didn't seem to improve. At this moment in time, he's not a lame duck head coach. If that's your opinion, fine, but as of this moment, MT isn't sitting there figuring out who to hire next year. If a bball coach inherited the garbage on this year's roster, and showed improvement with it, then yeah, I could see him getting more time. It takes 3 years, especially with this roster and situation, to see where you are at. Has to make a bowl next year and show a lot of improvement now that a decent amount of the roster is back and older, and will have 2 good qbs to help. If you fire him now, NO ONE is going to take the job knowing they have 2 years to fix everything, and even if they show improvement in year 2, they are still gone. No coach walks into a situation knowing that now. Good luck selling that. So that's how it gets better, even if there is more failure. Everything will be determined next year.

It's also now state farm center as we're getting 30 mil to help with the renovation.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 09:05 PM) I hate A section people. I also hate the inept people who set up the seating. We are finally getting a ticket exchange but why does that have to wait? It could be up tomorrow. Because we just got electronic, scan-able tickets for football what, last year? We're the slowest AD ever with this stuff. Thanks RG. Hell, we'll have a ticket exchange and I bet A section people will be too lazy to even post them for sale there. QUOTE (Brian @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 09:06 PM) Reading Brad Sturdy tweets, game wasn't close. Dartmouth was dropping 3's in the end. Yeah, apparently a dude made 3 ridiculous NBA threes. Even so, should have had a bigger lead at the end.

Beat Dartmouth, but since it's not on TV, no idea what to take from the game. Not that interesting of a box score. Definitely a closer game than we were expecting though. Box score says 2 big guys tore us up, and we shot OK from 2 and 3 point land. Starters all contributed pretty evenly in scoring. Hill had 10 points, which stands out.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 08:58 PM) But yeah, that'll look way better. I just wish there was a way for these idiots to move those seats to someone else. Why do they even have them? There are BT games where there's empty seats down there too. So pointless.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 08:54 PM) #hawks You'll get this. I freely admit that pass would have jumped off my stick on the backhand. I may catch that Keith pass 1/10 times. It's one of those things that unless you've tried to do that, you can't appreciate how hard that is. Similar to a nice saucer pass landing where it needs to, catching one in your skate to your feet while skating etc. Those are the best things to watch, and the hardest things to do, but I think the casual fan takes it for granted. They just see a pass was completed and it was a goal. I live for those little things.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 08:54 PM) f*** these A level half empty seats, can't wait for them to be gone and replaced by Krush all along the court. I don't know that I can fill all those seats though.

That pass from Keith, and to catch a rocket pass on the backhand like that by Sharp...thing of beauty. Ho hum, 5-0 mid 2nd.

QUOTE (farmteam @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 08:23 PM) Yeah, there was stuff this week saying they're going to try to do some renovations, nothing concrete yet. Glass (AD) says he wants the kids who are freshmen on the team now to be able to play in the renovated arena as seniors, but I'll believe that when I see it. There are definitely some bad seats in there. For the IU-Illinois game my freshman year our tickets were next to this wall that juts out in the middle from the back of the balcony, and we could only see half the court. Luckily, there wasn't anyone across the aisle from us (we were literally in the last row of the nosebleeds) so we just sat there. And when you're way in the back of the lower deck it can get almost claustrophobic because the ceiling from the balcony is so damn low. But I will admit, the view it gets from the floor of just a wall of people...that's pretty neat. LOL at a wall preventing you from seeing half the court. Those ones way up were awful, it was like watching a game at Wrigley from under the deck, but even worse. It felt like I was watching the game through a box or something. I'm sure that view up is cool, but there has to be a way to make it more functional. Although, I read something that Sampson said the arena was so dumpy that all he could really do with a recruit was point at the banners, say hey help us get a 6th, and leave. I can't wait until ours is all the way done 3 years from now (will start this spring).