Illini Soccer Coach Rayfield Retiring After 23 Seasons
From Illinois Sports Information Office: CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Head Coach Janet […]
Illini Soccer Coach Rayfield Retiring After 23 Seasons
From Illinois Sports Information Office: CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Head Coach Janet […]
Illini Film Review: Henry’s Early-Game Decision & Missed Tackles Leads to 14-0 Deficit in Blowout Loss
Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry said Monday he was more frustrated by the lack of execution after an Oregon catch by his defensive players than disappointed by the call itself.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
October 30, 2024
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — On Saturday at No. 1 Oregon, the Illinois defense and specifically defensive play-caller Aaron Henry had a choice to make.
The choice was between dropping seven or eight in coverage and putting the Illini second level and secondary in positions to make open-field tackles or playing man coverage and blitzing with multiple players to get negative plays, possibly a turnover or at the very least create a quick decision by Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabirel.
Henry and the Illini defensive players elected to drop into coverage and force the Ducks veteran quarterback to make decisions from the pocket but limit deep throws and try to play a coverage where Oregon’s speed could get negated by effective tackling - something Illinois did well against Kansas, Nebraska and Michigan.
“I’m not waking up worried all the time anymore”: Why Luke Altmyer is Different in 2024
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
October 30, 2024
Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) operates out of the shotgun formation in Saturday's game at top ranked Oregon. (Courtesy Illinois Athletics)
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The litmus test to the difference of Luke Altmyer from last season to this 2024 campaign can likely be judged in the idea of being able to get a full night’s sleep following the blowout loss Saturday to No. 1 Oregon.
In his first season, Altmyer used to wake up in a cold sweat early in the morning like he was in the middle of a nightmare, stressed out and worrying about his performance on the football field the previous day.
Football Recruiting Spotlight on Logan Farrell
Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst
October 30, 2024
Illinois got the first of what figures to be several flips from other programs as a result of their on-field success when Logan Farrell changed his commitment from North Carolina to Illinois this week.
Sturdy's Takeaways: Ole Miss Exhibition Lesson
By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular
October 28, 2024
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
The Illini fell to Ole Miss on Sunday in a charity exhibition 92-74 as the Rebels changed their name to ‘Can’t Miss’ and made it rain from 3 point range. The Rebels also stifled the Illini early on with their physical defense and getting ito passing lanes and making it difficult for them.
Here are our takeaways from this one.
The Farrell Files Illinois - Surprising Commitment
Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert
October 29, 2024
(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)
In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll take a look at the latest, and most surprising, commitment.
All About Communication Between Lunney Jr. & Altmyer Following Blowout Loss
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema believes second-year starting quarterback Luke Altmyer and offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. weren’t on the same communication level on Saturday at Oregon.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
October 28, 2024
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Sunday represented a therapy day set up by Illinois head coach Bret Bielema for offensive play-caller Barry Lunney Jr. and quarterback Luke Altmyer to voice things out.
The Illini fourth-year head coach suggested Monday, less than 48 hours after a 38-9 loss at No. 1 Oregon in the previous weekend, whatever the second-year starting quarterback Altmyer was trying to say Saturday wasn’t being heard or interpreted correctly by the Illinois coaches.
Bielema: Illini WR Pat Bryant in Concussion Protocol
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
October 28, 2024
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — When the players and coaches arrived at the Illinois team facility Sunday morning, Pat Bryant wanted to guarantee his head coach that he’d be available for the following game against Minnesota.
Upon seeing and hearing that face-to-face interaction, Illinois fourth-year head coach Bret Bielema reminded Bryant he’s not qualified to make that kind of promise.
“He literally told me (Sunday) there’s not a chance he’s not playing in this game,” Bielema said in his Monday media conference inside Memorial Stadium. “I said to him that unless you stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night and got a doctorate degree that I’m not aware of, you don’t get to make that call.”
Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Brayden Trimble Updates His Recruitment and Recruiting Mindset
Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
October 25, 2024
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. and wide receivers coach Justin Stepp secured their commitment from three-star recruit Brayden Trimble of Mt. Zion, Illinois. Trimble committed to Illinois in early May and stands firm on it.
Heat Checks & Hail Marys - Is Oregon an Illini Turning Point, Illini Exhibition Reaction & B1G Football Tiers
Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio […]
Ked's Rapid Game Reaction: The Good, Bad, and The Ugly From Mississippi
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
October 27, 2024
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
Oxford, MS — One of the most iconic westerns of all time, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966), starred Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef. Today, the Illinois men’s basketball team found itself in a fitting comparison as it traveled to Oxford, Mississippi, to take on the 24th-ranked Ole Miss Rebels in an exhibition game.
After Illinois’ impressive March run and a revamped roster, fans were excited to see the ten new players on the 2024-25 roster. However, the Illini faced a veteran Ole Miss team — the second-oldest in Division I basketball. Today’s game showed the importance of experience, as the Rebels beat Illinois 91-74 in front of 7,023 fans at the Pavilion.
Illini Struggle in 91-74 Exhibition Loss At Ole Miss
By IlliniGuys Staff October 27, 2024 OXFORD, Miss. - […]
Illini Tackling Problem Leads to Miserable First Half Performance
Oregon’s ability to avoid first open-field tackle leads to forgettable first 30 minutes from Illinois defense in blowout loss in Pacific Northwest.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
October 27, 2024
EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon’s offense needed just one missed tackle to showcase its track-level tempo and Illinois certainly allowed that speed to showcase itself.
Sturdy's Illini Basketball Preview - “OLD Miss” on Tap for Illini
Brad Sturdy, Illini Insider & IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular & Big Sports Radio Host
October 27, 2024
No, that isn’t a typo, the Illini are set to face an old and physical Mississippi basketball squad on Sunday in a game that Brad Underwood loves. Under Chris Beard the Rebels will be physical and he has added an older and more talented squad, leading to their first ever preseason ranking in the coaches poll.
Illini WR Pat Bryant Leaves Game With Head Injury; Future Playing Status Unknown
Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant left the game Saturday in the second half under the watch of Illini training staff after a hit to the heck area and went straight to the locker room after the hit.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
October 26, 2024
(Photos courtesy Illinois Athletics)
EUGENE, Ore. — Illinois could be without its leading receiver for the start of the final month of the season.
After receiving a hit to the head and/or neck area following a pass breakup in the fourth quarter of the 38-9 loss at No. 1 Oregon, Pat Bryant was immediately taken off the field by Illinois training staff and taken straight to the visiting locker room. The fourth-year receiver, who came into Saturday leading the Illini with 31 receptions for 484 yards and seven touchdowns, did not return to the game.
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