# Illinois leading No. 1 Ohio State 21-14 at the half! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 10, 2007, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-leading-no-1-ohio-state-21-14-at-the-half/425962 "2007-11-10T22:08:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-leading-no-1-ohio-state-21-14-at-the-half/425962/1 "2007-11-10T22:08:18Z")
I know we’ve got a decent contingent of Illinois alumni and fans here, as well as Big Ten folks in general. Illinois is looking pretty good today. I turned it on late and didn’t see the first four scores, but after that it didn’t seem like either offense was doing all that well, and I think Illinois got a break with the good field position which led to the go-ahead TD. I haven’t seen Illinois play a ton this year, but based on what I have seen and read, I’ve got to agree with one of the announcers’ assessments: Most Improved in the Big Ten, no contest. Is anyone watching this game? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-leading-no-1-ohio-state-21-14-at-the-half/425962/2 "2007-11-10T22:17:57Z")
[QUOTE=Garfield226] I know we’ve got a decent contingent of Illinois alumni and fans here, as well as Big Ten folks in general. Illinois is looking pretty good today. I turned it on late and didn’t see the first four scores, but after that it didn’t seem like either offense was doing all that well, and I think Illinois got a break with the good field position which led to the go-ahead TD. I haven’t seen Illinois play a ton this year, but based on what I have seen and read, I’ve got to agree with one of the announcers’ assessments: Most Improved in the Big Ten, no contest. Is anyone watching this game? [/QUOTE] Well, my wife is an Illini, so I just told her - the 3rd quarter is just starting - thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-leading-no-1-ohio-state-21-14-at-the-half/425962/3 "2007-11-10T22:39:07Z")
One thing is for sure: national announcers will talk about how crappy the Big Ten is if Ohio State loses. As a Michigan fan, I’m all for the Big Ten getting crappier today. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-leading-no-1-ohio-state-21-14-at-the-half/425962/4 "2007-11-10T22:52:36Z")
Shut up shut up shut up it’s not over yet. Ivylad will be in _such_ a foul mood if they lose. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-leading-no-1-ohio-state-21-14-at-the-half/425962/5 "2007-11-10T23:00:37Z")
Imagine the mood he’ll be in when they lose the last game of the season… ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-leading-no-1-ohio-state-21-14-at-the-half/425962/6 "2007-11-10T23:11:04Z")
Lalalalalalalalalala I can’t hear you lalalalalalalalalalalalala. At least Michigan lost. He can take some solace in that. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-leading-no-1-ohio-state-21-14-at-the-half/425962/7 "2007-11-10T23:14:28Z")
Ill! Ini! ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-leading-no-1-ohio-state-21-14-at-the-half/425962/8 "2007-11-10T23:16:03Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] Lalalalalalalalalala I can’t hear you lalalalalalalalalalalalala. At least Michigan lost. He can take some solace in that. [/QUOTE] Yeah, but losing the #1 ranking in all the land can’t feel too good… ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-leading-no-1-ohio-state-21-14-at-the-half/425962/9 "2007-11-10T23:16:40Z")
See post 4, please. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-leading-no-1-ohio-state-21-14-at-the-half/425962/10 "2007-11-10T23:27:30Z")
Sorry,\*\* ivylad\*\*. Not. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-leading-no-1-ohio-state-21-14-at-the-half/425962/11 "2007-11-10T23:28:06Z")
What a game. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-leading-no-1-ohio-state-21-14-at-the-half/425962/12 "2007-11-10T23:29:09Z")
Yes! ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-leading-no-1-ohio-state-21-14-at-the-half/425962/13 "2007-11-10T23:30:14Z")
Bye Bye Ohio ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-leading-no-1-ohio-state-21-14-at-the-half/425962/14 "2007-11-10T23:31:38Z")
Wow\> ---
**Author:** ![Stringer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Stringer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringer)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-leading-no-1-ohio-state-21-14-at-the-half/425962/15 "2007-11-10T23:45:05Z")
What a great game, go Illini! ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-leading-no-1-ohio-state-21-14-at-the-half/425962/16 "2007-11-10T23:45:44Z")
ILL INI ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-leading-no-1-ohio-state-21-14-at-the-half/425962/17 "2007-11-10T23:46:54Z")
I just want to say that Michigan State won, Ohio State lost and so did Michigan. I have no idea when the last time I could have said that but it sure is nice. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-leading-no-1-ohio-state-21-14-at-the-half/425962/18 "2007-11-10T23:52:58Z")
O NO ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-leading-no-1-ohio-state-21-14-at-the-half/425962/19 "2007-11-10T23:55:32Z")
First off, let me say that Ron Zook is still a idiot. The man can coach and recruit a little bit though. That game went exactly how it was drawn up. I loved the first 4th down call. As many football guys have stated, going on 4th down there is absolutely the right call. It’s, frankly, the only call. A punt is only going to get you 15 or 20 yards and the FG is out of the question. 4th and 1 is the highest probability play there. Most coaches are too chicken to go for it though since a failure would look like a stupid gamble, even though it’s not. Really thrilled he was gutsy and smart enough to do it. The second 4th down play was fabulous. It was gutsy, and I love that the players went over an demanded that he trust them to get it done. And I’m thrilled that they didn’t go in to the shotgun on that play, it was the perfect play call even if it’s something we haven;t done much this season. This win should lock up a New Years Day Bowl Game for the Illini assuming we are able to get past Northwestern next week at home. It’s our second win versus a top 5 team and we are 3-1 versus the top 25. That close loss to Mizzou in the opener on a neutral (but not really) field looks pretty good right now as well. Mendenhall is going to be a Heisman candidate next season, book it. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-leading-no-1-ohio-state-21-14-at-the-half/425962/20 "2007-11-11T00:07:46Z")
EYE ELL ELL!!! Helluva first two minutes - deep depression followed by giddiness. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-leading-no-1-ohio-state-21-14-at-the-half/425962.md?page=2)