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Talking Illini football with Pleas Honeywood
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Pleas, Honeywood from Oskee-Talk joins the show to talk Illini sports and coaching vacancy at Penn State.
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Transcript
Introduction to Gateway Sports Live Event
00:00:00
Speaker
Don Glenn here. Before we get started with the show, i want to let you know about a special live event happening, and it's going to be this Sunday on YouTube. It's going to be Gateway Sports' first ever roundtable, live roundtable.
00:00:15
Speaker
We've had a few of them on different podcasts. There's going to be a lot of different podcasters getting
Roundtable Participants & Focus
00:00:19
Speaker
together. It's going be myself, Ron Nuttall, Pete Geddes, Derek King, Mike Stevenson, and Rodney Capel. We're going to be talking the St. Louis Cardinals.
00:00:28
Speaker
And, uh, You can find it on the facebook Gateway Sports Facebook page. I have a link to it set up on my Facebook page, Talking Sports with Uncle Don.
00:00:40
Speaker
You can go to YouTube, HTTPS, colon, double slash, YouTube.com, slash, at, Gateway Sports Net.
Invitation to Fans
00:00:51
Speaker
Check it out there. And you can also go to www.gatewaysports.net. Find it there. A lot of different opportunities.
00:01:02
Speaker
Check it out. And it should be a fun time. We're going to discuss the the season that was and what is to come. So check it out if you're a Cardinal fan. And even if you're a Cub fan, you want to listen to you and to listen to our misery, go ahead.
00:01:18
Speaker
But check it out anyway. That's 8 o'clock this Sunday. Be there.
Introduction to 'Talking Sports with Uncle Don'
00:01:26
Speaker
This is Gateway Sports. Hey there, folks. Welcome to Talking Sports with Uncle Don. ah look at the day's sports issues and news stories from the Gateway City and across the Midwest.
00:01:44
Speaker
Let's talk some sports.
Highlight Sports Moments
00:01:46
Speaker
The rumors are true.
00:01:52
Speaker
You've got to get it done.
00:02:01
Speaker
Drew Holtz with widespread stance, arms out over the plate. Beckford from the stretch. The 1-1 pitch. A swing, and there it goes!
00:02:12
Speaker
Jeff Fields, way back! That's all-round number 700! Drew Holtz hits a three-run homer and hits 699 and 700 at Goucher Stadium on September 23, 2022.
00:02:33
Speaker
Packers crowd the line scrimmage, Romo on the shotgun, here's the snap, Romo looking, dumps it off right side, intercepted! Intercepted at the goal line by Woodson! And there is your dagger!
00:02:50
Speaker
Badgers have no timeouts, they can't stop it. McCourt for the win, in the air, it is up, and it is good!
00:03:02
Speaker
Good! Upset! Upset in Champaign! The Illini win
00:03:16
Speaker
it 24-23! want my ball! I want my ball! Get that up man! You tell my ball, come here, club! Nobody can beat me! You tell them what I said! He's next! I'm gonna kill him! Nobody can stop me! You tell my ball that! I'm coming after him! You tell him!
00:03:37
Speaker
Playoffs? Don't talk about playoffs. You kidding me? Playoffs?
00:03:53
Speaker
Hey, Dad?
00:04:01
Speaker
have a catch?
00:04:05
Speaker
I'd like that.
Illinois Football Discussion with Pleas Honeywood
00:04:15
Speaker
All right, this is Don Glenn with the Talking Sports to Uncle Don podcast. And today, folks, I have a guest for you. We'll get to him in just a minute.
00:04:26
Speaker
I want to remind you guys that the Talking Sports with Uncle Don is a proud part of the Gateway Sports Network. Gateway Sports, you can find podcasts and articles on all your favorite sports in and around the bi-state area of the St. Louis City.
00:04:42
Speaker
So with all that and without further ado, I'm joined today by ah gentleman who I've gotten to know in the last couple, three months.
Penn State Coaching Controversy
00:04:53
Speaker
um And he is with the Champagne Room. He is a co-host on the OSCE Talk podcast. He has some articles for the Champagne Room. And his name is Please Honeywood. Please, thank you for joining me today.
00:05:12
Speaker
I think it's pleas, by the way. Oh, pleas. I'm sorry. It's okay. It's fine. I give people six months. Sometimes I don't pronounce it too good. it's It's all good. I give you six months. But thank you, Don, for having me. I really appreciate look forward to talking about some Illinois football and some ah Big Ten goings on. Yeah, I think the biggest thing, I mean, are you know, I wasn't really planning on doing any coaching talk, but it looks like we have to now is James Franklin is out at Penn State.
00:05:44
Speaker
Yeah. I wish I could say I'm surprised. I'm a little surprised that it happened in the middle of the season. Okay. um That was usually firing a coach this early in the season is a panic move.
00:06:01
Speaker
So I guess Penn State must be in a state of panic after losing UCLA and Northwestern. I think they could put up with the Oregon loss, but I think it's those next two that were...
00:06:13
Speaker
the issue but i i don't know if any of your any of your listeners don have ever read my column with the champagne room but i make clear that i come from a penn state slash illini family actually my sister went to penn state so yes so penn state fans are a little bit more in my life than maybe some other illini people so just I'll just say that fan base has very high expectations and i don't think that's going to change with their goals for this hire. Yeah. ah I mean, i i was kind of looking, like you said, the panic mode, I think it did set in and in a respect because what they've got coming up is, uh, Iowa, Ohio state, Indiana, Michigan state, Nebraska, and Rutgers. Um,
00:07:06
Speaker
um I'm not sure firing Franklin is going to make that schedule any easier myself.
00:07:18
Speaker
I just don't see it happening. I agree with you, and I don't think this move was made. with the short-term future and mind. I think Franklin was so extraordinarily successful against everyone who was not a top 10 program that I think Penn State, you know, they want to get back in that national, that annual national championship chatter. And with Franklin, it was like,
00:07:44
Speaker
okay, yeah, they'll win 10 games, but yeah but does it really matter? i mean, just last season, they won two games in the playoff, if I remember correctly. Yes. And this is like, this this happened faster even than, I think, Malzahn at Auburn. wait You win that much, and then, yeah, it's not enough. Sorry, you're gone.
00:08:04
Speaker
Yeah. I'm curious about the names that are going to come up in the search. Yeah, well, it's kind of like last year. i mean, before the playoffs began, and right actually right after the Michigan game, you know the talks of getting rid of but Ryan Day at Ohio State.
00:08:21
Speaker
you know You can win 10 games, but you can't beat Michigan. Oh, give me a break. I mean, the man puts in the and he ends up winning the national championship. um you know So I think sometimes the fan bases really get too...
00:08:36
Speaker
I don't want to say too involved in the ultimate prize, but they are they kind of overestimate where they where things may – and this is one thing um I am afraid of with Illinois fans and Brett Bielema is the success he had last year and the you know what he's doing this year.
00:08:52
Speaker
you know are Are fans going to start expecting more, and then the minute he doesn't deliver, ah it's you know the the honeymoon's over?
00:09:03
Speaker
I remember when Wisconsin fired Chris after that Illini game up at Camp Randall. And I remember thinking to myself, if Bielema had accomplished at Illinois what Chris accomplished at Wisconsin, which was actually kind of similar to what Bielema accomplished at Wisconsin, if you look at the records, right there would be a statue built for Brett Bielema in Champaign if that were the case.
00:09:31
Speaker
I do see your concern that the Illinois fan base will get too accustomed to certain things if Bielema keeps winning like this, and maybe we'll start to think that Illinois football is something that it isn't. But for right now, I'm just, as an Illinois fan, just want to enjoy what Bielema's doing, and that we don't have the weight of national title or bust right chasing us around so we can just enjoy good football seasons consistently, which is something that we haven't had a lot of.
Penn State Coaching Prospects
00:10:02
Speaker
I agree. We mentioned ah you know who may be replacing um Mr. Franklin at Penn State, and I've been kind of surprised at some of the names that have shown up um Well, the and i' kind of I'm going on of off of USA Today, come although I'm getting the kind of the same means about every place. um you know One name that I just don't see, I further life me, can't see why they've coming up come up with it because of what he's accomplished, and that's Kurt Ciginetti at Indiana.
00:10:37
Speaker
i don't i don't see him take I don't see him taking the Penn State job. He's he's got these building a special program right there at Indiana.
00:10:47
Speaker
He is. Signetti's a yinzer, right? So he's a pits of Pittsburgh area guy So I think that his success at at a program that had a far lower floor in that conference would make any Penn State fan like, hey, this could be the perfect guy.
00:11:05
Speaker
I think Indiana University will build a firewall between... between signetti and penn state where they won't where they will do whatever they need to do to retain him so i i understand the rumor i understand the desire oh yeah i don't i just don't see the match happening between those two sides Another name that i I'm still trying to figure out as to why they may think he would he would jump, although I think he's probably a better one to jump than Sinjinetti, and that's Matt Rule at Nebraska.
00:11:42
Speaker
Penn State alum. actually won at Temple. who I've said many times, Temple University is the hardest place to win at football and in all of what we what we can traditionally refer to as Division one right temple Philadelphia is not built for powerhouse prep football.
00:12:05
Speaker
So you gotta so if you're going to take over Temple, you better have your tentacles all in Maryland and New Jersey. Right. And again, with Rule being a Penn State alum, I can understand this might be his dream job.
00:12:20
Speaker
i yeah So i I think he's more likely than Kurt Signetti. I'll say that. i think he's more likely. Still be a tough kid. Nebraska's got money.
00:12:31
Speaker
Oh, yeah. they can They can say, listen, how much is it going to cost for us to keep you and Raiola here for another year? Because we think in that third year, Together, y'all are really going to do something special.
00:12:44
Speaker
that's ah I think that's a possibility. But Rule would be a good candidate. I think he would. a couple other names are being thrown around is Matt Campbell at Iowa State.
00:12:56
Speaker
i I mean, and I can see that because I think he's taken Iowa State about as far as they're ever going to go right now
00:13:05
Speaker
Yeah, i I think he's going to continue to be a name that comes up for jobs like this. Eventually, he'll probably take one. the You don't think is this one, though? I think Penn State will probably get to someone who's higher on their list than Matt Campbell before they get around to making an offer to him. It's not that he's not worthy. I think he is. I think he'd be an excellent hire for them. But I think Penn State's going to shoot a little higher.
00:13:31
Speaker
Okay. One name I think, and i think this I think he's going to be the hot ticket on any coaching job that comes up in the next few months, and that's Manny Diaz out of Duke.
00:13:46
Speaker
He was an excellent defensive coordinator at Penn State. Did a great job there. That's how he got that Duke job. I... He would be my guess at leader in the clubhouse right now for this job. I would guess him slightly over Matt Rule, and then we'll we'll get to it. But there's a third candidate who I don't know if he's on anyone's list, but I think Penn State would be crazy not to call him.
00:14:15
Speaker
And who would that be? Urban Meyer. e Now, the reason I would i would say Urban Meyer is you can talk about all the moral failings. Goodness knows Penn State's seen that kind of thing up close and personal and they're in their history with a coach with some maybe really being willing to morally overlook some stuff going on in his program.
00:14:40
Speaker
But but Urban Meyer has won like at a prodigal level everywhere he's been. Like there's no doubt out that if he showed up in happy Valley, they'd be a top five team by the end of his first year. He's that good of a coach.
00:15:00
Speaker
And I know the Penn State fan base will try and get morally superior. Well, we need a high character coach. Yeah, I think that fan base rather have a coach who wins 11 games a year than someone who's nice person.
00:15:15
Speaker
So I think i think Urban Meyer will somehow, he'll be be a factor in this. Wouldn't shock me if John Gruden, want about another big name? Questionable character, big name, but track record, you can't, an unassailable track record of success.
00:15:30
Speaker
That's John Gruden too. But I think that Rule and Diaz are probably the two most likely of the big name candidates unless they go off the board and hire a hotshot assistant coach.
00:15:44
Speaker
I see. Yeah. And and there's a Lord knows there's probably plenty of them around. And I think one I saw one hotshot assistant that's on people's list and that he goes he goes by the last name of Newhaisel.
00:16:05
Speaker
It's not Rick. It's Jerry, his son. Thank you. o i was going to say we the people at penn state would would probably revolt if if it were in the i've seen the name on the list i i don't think he's i don't think he would they would go after him number one like you just said ah but he's showing up on a couple of lists i've seen uh he think he's the o offensive coordinator at sc okay or ucla i mean of Another, if you're talking assistants, Will Stein at Oregon.
00:16:38
Speaker
think as a young offensive coordinator, I would call him. um Also, i have to i have to double check the name because I want to be respectful to this gentleman.
00:16:49
Speaker
um the There is a very young head coach. ah very young head coach at uh kenny dillingham oh yeah i've seen that name too myself yeah yeah airs arizona arizona state dillingham that's a young guy if i'm penn state i would consider uh just one more assistant coach named on uh it's a name that i heard a couple years ago when someone wanted to fire franklin again couple years ago right uh someone said i said to them okay who do you know who you could hire that's definitely better than james franklin today
00:17:27
Speaker
And without a hint of irony, this person looked me in the face and said, Brian Hartline. Really? Yes. Now, and that's a name I hadn't thought of.
00:17:40
Speaker
Elite assistant coach. Yes, he is. Arguably the best recruiter in all of college football.
00:17:49
Speaker
But what, as he built the program, Has he run a program? Does he run the day-to-day? And if not, which I don't think he has, is he ready for that animal that Penn State football is?
00:18:03
Speaker
and and you've seen And I think we've seen that in the past with the even just right next door. I mean, when when you had um um Ryan Walters take the job at Purdue, I think he was very ill-advised to take that job because I don't think he was ready for a power ah power four a conference head coach job.
00:18:23
Speaker
I think he'd have done very good in the MAAC. or or, the, the mountain West. But I think, you know, when he went into, to Purdue, I just think he was, I don't want to say he was actually over his head, but he was, he was definitely punching above his weight as a head coach.
00:18:43
Speaker
Yeah, some some new coaches need better infrastructure around them in order to achieve their success. Purdue just didn't have right what he needed. Now, they hired Odom, who's an experienced head coach. He doesn't need as much as Walters needed. So Purdue is going to look better.
00:19:00
Speaker
like very quickly. but They already are, actually. I mean, look at what they played. Year over year, they're going to be a solid, well-coached, well-disciplined football team.
00:19:10
Speaker
Three things they were not under Ryan Walters. That's for sure. That's for sure. I want to talk a quickly a little bit about the rankings. um Were you surprised Illinois fell completely out after losing to their number one team in the nation?
00:19:25
Speaker
Surprise? No. Like these, these let's talk about our feelings rankings that, that come out every week are there's only, only so much value you can really take from it.
00:19:37
Speaker
Yes. Illinois lost and they didn't look particularly competitive against the top team in the country. like because of the Indiana game, they're going to be on a short leash with a lot of voters, especially voters who are or skeptical of Illinois to begin with.
00:19:53
Speaker
So, no, I'm not surprised where they wound they wound up falling out of the top 25. I don't think that's a permanent condition, looking at their schedule for the rest the year at all.
00:20:06
Speaker
Now, you mentioned, the do you think if that game in Indiana had been closer Do you think they would be looking at that as as much of as much of a bellwether as they have been? Because I do think you're right. I think that Indiana game has, has um i don't want to say poisoned the well, but you know it's given voters something to think about as Illinois is winning these other games.
00:20:33
Speaker
Yes, completely agree with that. Again, people were very skeptical about Illinois in the first place. Like, why are these guys ranked so highly? Because they they brought a bunch of guys back.
00:20:45
Speaker
Like, so what? How good are the guys they brought back? That was a popular refrain from other corners of the media sphere. So... Yes, they they were looking for an if they were looking for a reason to take this team, they assume it's overrated.
00:21:00
Speaker
Again, a lot of AP poll, ESPN's FPI, it's based on assumptions. And a lot of those assumptions are largely based on historical reputation.
00:21:11
Speaker
Illinois has to rebuild its historical reputation before it gets the benefit of the doubt in situations like this. I agree
Illinois vs. Ohio State Analysis
00:21:18
Speaker
100%. Okay, so let's let's kind of rehash the Ohio State game.
00:21:22
Speaker
Not that I really want to, but at least it's better to rehashing that one than Indiana.
00:21:30
Speaker
Absolutely is. I think that this team has come a long way since the Indiana game, regardless of the result against Ohio State. Like this team has come a long way. But sometimes you run in, you know, there's always a light at the end of the tunnel, but sometimes that light is an oncoming train.
00:21:49
Speaker
And in this case, the oncoming train of Ohio State was significant. Like, that's a legit national title. They're number one of the country for a reason. They're a national title contender. They've got their receiver room is so good that Chicago's own, Carnell Tate, might be the second best wide receiver in the country.
00:22:13
Speaker
And he's definitely the second best wide receiver on his own team. Right, right. Right. So, yeah, you got beaten by a more talented team. there yeah Their defense showed up.
00:22:26
Speaker
You know, Ohio State has the best linebacker room in the country, too. And they looked it. They looked the part. I was at the Oregon game last year. i was covering it, and I had the same conclusion.
00:22:41
Speaker
This good Illinois team. They're not where Ohio State is. Oh, no. and and And that's okay. Like, no one's expecting them to be.
00:22:51
Speaker
But, hey, if you if you win nine nine games back-to-back years at Illinois, we're going to forget this game happened. Yeah, I agree.
00:23:02
Speaker
i think watching the game, i my thought wasn't, and and I had put put out that if Illinois had a shot in that game at all,
00:23:13
Speaker
They were going to have to play basically mistake-free football, and they were going to have to hit early and often. they were you know Regardless of what Ohio State did, they were going at the offense was going to have to do something, and the defense was going to to give them a chance.
00:23:30
Speaker
um I think that first that that first quarter, you know, Ohio State got, when they held them to the field goal to start, was like, okay, that's fine. I can live with that. Let's just go on, score.
00:23:43
Speaker
They don't. And then I could see a revision of Indiana happening at that point. When they got stopped and then Ohio State scores again, it's like, okay, guys, we need to get points on the board here.
00:23:57
Speaker
You know, let's not wait too long. um You know, that they – and i think I think one of the – I can't remember which announcer it was. though i think it might have been Gus Johnson said – ah as far as Illinois' defense was concerned, penetrating that brick wall that Ohio State has as an offensive line, there wasn't a guy on that offensive line under 300 pounds or shorter than six foot four That is an impressive offensive line. and
00:24:32
Speaker
yeah Granted, we got some good guys there. Kurt Neal a really good ah defensive player. ah So is Johnson. But They can't take on big guys like that, especially five of them.
00:24:46
Speaker
Yeah, especially five of them who are likely either five-star recruits or were elite transfers who were the best of the best. Like, that's who Ohio State gets. And when you're only cherry-picking the best of the best talent, think about the ones who make it onto the field.
00:25:03
Speaker
Like, that's – That's significant. just I just want to remind everyone, Joe Burrow transferred because he couldn't play at Ohio State. like I just want you all to remember that this is how deep they tend to run it.
00:25:18
Speaker
Having said that, you're right. Kurt Neal, James Thompson, no penetration. Gay backists look mortal. And I am... I'm finding it difficult to get super worked up.
00:25:32
Speaker
Like the Indiana game was frustrating. Like that was, that was a different, that was a different piece. But this is again, like the Oregon game last year, you ran into the team. That's probably the best team in the country and they beat you.
00:25:44
Speaker
You're not where the best team in the country is. That's okay. Almost no one is. But how are you going to work over the next five years right now that revenue sharing is in place?
00:25:56
Speaker
What are you going to do to get to that point? And I think that long-term, Brett Bielema and Josh Whitman can do it. It's just we've seen what the mountaintop looks like, and it's going to take a lot more training to be able to to summit that one.
00:26:12
Speaker
Exactly. Exactly. Getting back to the defense a little bit. um And i only ask this because when I was on you guys' the show, we were talking defense.
00:26:24
Speaker
I had a lot more expectations coming out of this secondary. Now, I realize you're missing Xavier Scott. I realize that. But that secondary room at the beginning of the season seems so deep with so much talent, so much experience.
00:26:45
Speaker
They've got two picks this year. That's it. Two picks. And they are allowing pass plays, I think, on the average of over 20-some yards a game.
00:27:00
Speaker
What happened? but What did we miss? it's it's a It's a fair question. i think part of it is when you play against Ohio State, I kind of want to take Ohio State out of the equation because oh yeah yeah we have jeremiah we have Jeremiah Smith and you have Carnell Tate.
00:27:19
Speaker
Good luck. No one can cover them. But i think I think the problem is Illinois is might be scheming against its best interests because even though Illinois doesn't have the most athletic interests,
00:27:34
Speaker
Defensive backs, they're good in man coverage, talent-wise, technique-wise, etc. And their Illinois played more zone, especially early. maybe they're just not playing to their strengths.
00:27:46
Speaker
But also, Miles Scott hasn't been that great in coverage.
00:27:51
Speaker
Neither is Matthew Bailey. Now, Matthew Bailey's money at the line of scrimmage. But, you know, there's... they're They're playing guys like Jayim Clark a lot of snaps.
00:28:04
Speaker
And Torrey Cox Jr. undersized. Feisty, but undersized. You know, that's... He's good on an island, but not when Jeremiah Smith is the person he's running with. So, yeah, the secondary's been disappointing. There's just no way around it.
00:28:20
Speaker
And I think it's more of a safety issue than a corner issue. and Okay. Okay. i was It was interesting that they put Clark on Smith for a large part of that game.
00:28:33
Speaker
Yeah. And I think, you know, to his credit, I mean, he's going like you said, he's going against probably the the best player in college football right now. Yep. um he didn't do that terribly, ah you know, given the competition he was up against. I mean, um granted, yeah, ah Smith got away from him a couple, three times.
00:28:55
Speaker
um But when you're that good, you're going to. I think he gave a good accounting of himself. Now, whether that's going to carry on for the rest of the season and help out as far as making that secondary a little more stiffer than it need then than it is right now, I don't know.
00:29:10
Speaker
um But, yeah. but Yeah, i've been I've been very disappointed with the defensive with the deepens of secondary. Like you said, Bailey, um Miles, neither one of them really have. i mean, you know, Bailey, he had he was ah had a little bit more presence in the Ohio State game than I've seen him have lately.
00:29:32
Speaker
ah But even then, it was just... backing up an open field tackle. and where He wasn't really defending like he has in like he did last year.
00:29:43
Speaker
He's just making tackles right now. Yeah, I was looking at the pro football focus grades, and Matthew Bailey had a 73 against Ohio State, so that's a solid game.
00:29:54
Speaker
you know He would definitely be better. definitely be better He played better against Ohio State, no doubt about that. Miles Scott had 78 score. against Ohio State, which is interesting because you would think he didn't play well, but...
00:30:10
Speaker
PFF loved his performance. And I just want to mention one guy you're going to see a lot more the rest of the year, Sabor Kareem. Yes. ease He was looked at as a potential star when they recruited him.
00:30:23
Speaker
And now he's he's been playing behind guys who got drafted. So now he's now he's on the field, and he's getting better every week. like I think he's going to be the guy in Zagre's spot more often.
00:30:38
Speaker
could You think maybe that could be clouding some of our judgment? and because you And you mentioned it. It just now hit me. When we look at the last few years, Kirby Joseph, Devon Witherspoon, um Sidney Brown.
00:30:54
Speaker
Quan Martin. Quan Martin. I mean, and, you know, the what that group we have this year did last year. And, you know, I guess maybe we just expected it carry on because that's been the history the last few years of the of the of the secondary.
00:31:13
Speaker
Well, losing Ryan Walters obviously was a big hit to the to the secondary, especially the safeties. Let's give Ryan Walters credit where due. He did a great job coaching defensive backs. Exactly. he hell of a Hell of a secondary coach.
00:31:26
Speaker
Great job. And Aaron Henry, v to his credit, is also a good defensive backs coach, technique-wise, inspiration, hole nine. And Corey Parker has done a good job with the corners.
00:31:38
Speaker
I just think with the safeties, it seems like we're not – We're not watching an Illinois defense that schemes its safeties to put them in a best their best position to succeed. So I like to – perhaps that's what they'll work on over the bye week when they're not out recruiting is figuring out how to better position their safeties to eliminate all those chunk plays in the middle of the field they seem to give up.
00:32:01
Speaker
Offensively, i mean, like you said, that Ohio State defense is one of the best linebacking cores in the nation, if not the best. um You know, but I was really surprised that we were getting a lot of underneath passes against them.
00:32:19
Speaker
Yeah, that's all they were given. Like, Illinois' receivers, Illinois' wide receivers are good, but... Ohio State has the kind of DBs who can shut you down.
00:32:31
Speaker
Oh, yeah. So when all you're getting stuff, the underneath stuff, you take it. And i and to Illinois' credit, I think overall, when he called, he didn't call a bad game.
00:32:44
Speaker
No. And Altmaier didn't execute poorly. There were a couple of plays I'm sure he'd like to have back, but Altmaier wasn't the reason Illinois lost. No. And the offense wasn't the reason Illinois lost.
00:32:58
Speaker
Ohio State's talent was the reason that Illinois lost. Yeah, it was just ridiculous. but Hank Beatty's a really, really good player. All-conference receiver probably this year. But...
00:33:10
Speaker
he can't do all the stuff that he did against us USC against Ohio state. Yeah. I tell you it was good to see Hudson Clement finally, uh, show up in a game.
00:33:21
Speaker
I've been waiting for him to get there. and he finally, you know, I think we're like, well, three plays in a row. Altmeier went to him. Um, and, uh, you know, he, I think he's going to be somebody, uh, for the rest of the season that Altmeier can look to.
00:33:38
Speaker
um, What do you make of the running back room right now, though? Well, it's it's always the same thing, right? they They've got to stay healthy. You know, Caden Fagan, everyone loves Caden Fagan, but he's... You got a bad shoulder.
00:33:54
Speaker
The most important ability you can have is availability. And he's been injured a lot. And you hope he gets better, but you start to wonder, you know, is is he being used in a way that's going to keep him healthy?
00:34:12
Speaker
yeah that was Yeah, that was my point during the game. Somebody mentioned during the game, you know, about Fagan being a... 253 pounds and a body of glass. And I'm like, you know, well, stop and think when when, you know, he's being used to go pretty much up the middle every play and he's being pounded on by 300, you know, 260 pound guys on every play.
00:34:38
Speaker
um He's bound to get a little banged up. Yeah. But we've taken, getting banged up, which is, you know, they'll always tell you it's part of the game. It happens.
00:34:51
Speaker
But there's a difference there's a major difference between being hurt and being injured. Yes. And these guys are all hurt all the time. We know we know this. Caden Fagan is injured more often than...
Illinois Team Health Concerns
00:35:06
Speaker
you want to see it for the young man. Like yeah you want, you want to see, you don't want to see playing, playing football for your alma mater ruin a kid's life. Right. You never, you never want to see that. So, you know, as far as the other backs, though, they're i'm thankful that Illinois has enough talent. Like that's another room where they're going to use every bit of depth that they have. I've had to take Jordan Anderson out of the tight ends. Yeah.
00:35:31
Speaker
room to have him take some you know take some snaps at running back so i it would that that would be my one of my bigger concerns is health of the running back so that could that could be the difference between you winning in seattle and not Well, and, you know, when when ah Valentine went down and you could see that, that you know, Fagan was favoring that shoulder, but he went, but I give him the credit, he went back out there.
00:35:59
Speaker
And, I mean, because he almost pretty much had to. I mean, all he had left was Lawfree and Anderson and Lawfree was just coming off his own injury. Yeah, there's a walk-on they have named Aaron Ball, who I think will probably get some carries this year.
00:36:16
Speaker
One of their true freshman running backs is out for the year. The other one it is not. You know they can play four games. Right. So it wouldn't shock me if we saw a mix of some of those guys for the rest of the year. But Luke Altmaier has got a lot on his right shoulder for the rest of the season.
00:36:37
Speaker
Yeah. and And I think they made a point of it in the broadcast, too. I think the last couple games, he hasn't run the ball like he we have seen him run before.
00:36:50
Speaker
I don't know if that's by design to try and keep him healthy or if it's just to give the the running back room more snaps or more carries.
00:37:03
Speaker
Either way, i i think that Luke Altmaier's ability to keep drives going with his legs is one of the more underappreciated skills this offense has.
00:37:14
Speaker
So I hope they do more with was Luke, but at the same time, if Altmaier gets hurt because he's being such a hard-nosed player, which know we can be, that's a tough kid.
00:37:29
Speaker
Oh, yeah. But, like, if he gets hurt, then...
00:37:37
Speaker
actually that certainly shifts the expectations for the rest of the year. So I think that that may be to your point, they're scheming to keep them upright. Yeah, nothing wrong with that.
00:37:47
Speaker
me yeah And also the offensive line hasn't been a bastion of consistency this season. so maybe you don't So maybe you don't want to run too many of those right it'se when they're playing that one. I'm going to talk a little bit more about Illinois here in in a minute or two. Right now, want to tell you that hydration is important for maintaining good health.
00:38:07
Speaker
And the human body consists of 50 70% water. And on an average, dehydration causes a loss of about 3% to 5% of water per day. Higher activity levels will increase that risk of dehydration.
00:38:20
Speaker
Now, when you get to about 8% or 9%, you start feeling tired and fatigued. That's when you're you're getting dehydrated. Now, if you lose 15% of your body water, it can put you in the hospital. And folks, I have been there. It is not a fun thing.
00:38:33
Speaker
You get a lot of needles put in you and they put in all this fluid. It's just never fun. So proper hydation hydration requires more than just drinking water, though. And many individuals only consume half the recommended amount of water each day.
00:38:47
Speaker
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00:39:07
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00:39:20
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00:39:45
Speaker
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Speaker
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00:40:12
Speaker
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00:40:32
Speaker
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00:40:57
Speaker
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00:41:24
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00:41:52
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00:42:05
Speaker
We're back. So we've kind of talked the Ohio State game, and we've talked a little bit of what's causing some issues in general with Illinois.
Upcoming Illinois Matches Outlook
00:42:14
Speaker
I kind of want to look ahead now and see what we've got left.
00:42:17
Speaker
You mentioned a bye week coming up, and hopefully we can get a couple guys a little more healthy. You said they can probably look at some of the defensive schemes they've got going and figure out what's what's next. And what is next is a game at Washington.
00:42:34
Speaker
And while they're not what I would consider to be a very,
00:42:41
Speaker
ah i wouldn't say they're a middle tier program, but playing at their place is not always an easy task.
00:42:53
Speaker
They've won, I think, 24 out of their last 25 games in Seattle. So they are, as someone who's lived in the Pacific Northwest, I lived in Seattle, Washington for several years, and I have to say that's a real home field advantage. And they have a quarterback, I believe his name is Damond Williams Jr. He is...
00:43:15
Speaker
tremendous. Like he's a really gifted, talented athletic player. i would argue one of the better quarterbacks Illinois has played against this season.
00:43:26
Speaker
So Jed Fish has done a good job there. I know that there's been some talk about his heat, his seat warming up. I don't understand that one at all. um But Washington's a good team and they're a great team at home.
00:43:44
Speaker
So this will be a massive Aaron Henry as and needss an easy extra week to prepare the defense for how to deal with the mind. Williams looking at they they've done they did well again in their second matchup with Jalen Daniels.
00:43:59
Speaker
So I like to see how they similarly scheme against Williams. Yeah, i me too. And it's kind of, a you know, they they don't have a bye week. We do. So that gives us a little of an edge.
00:44:15
Speaker
ah
00:44:18
Speaker
They are, at this point, I think with Washington, they're 2-1 in conference, 5-1 overall. ah So, again, like you said, they're not a bad program. So why youre why the the coach would be getting heat, I got no clue. I mean, um that doesn't make a whole lot of it. But then again, why did Ryan Day get so much heat last year? We can talk about that, too.
00:44:39
Speaker
ah the the ryan The Ryan Day versus Ohio State University fan base feud is a completely different topic for a completely different day, but it's one that that still has me baffled. I'm still trying to figure that one out.
00:44:53
Speaker
Yeah, this doesn't make any any total sense to me whatsoever. ah Then, after if we get if can get past Washington, I think the rest of the schedule is very damn favorableable favorable for us ah because we get Rutgers at home.
00:45:09
Speaker
um I know Rutgers you know, we've had some issues with Rutgers over the last couple, three years. ah But I just, I don't think they're quite as tough. And I think at home, we've got a much better opportunity um than back-to-back home games. Cause we got Michigan Maryland right after that, Wisconsin at their place, which who knows if Luke Fickle is coaching by then.
00:45:35
Speaker
Because I've heard his name is on a hot seat. His seat is getting awful warm there at Wisconsin. And in Northwestern to finish the season. Like I guess said, the only game right now scaring me is is is coming up next week.
00:45:47
Speaker
um I ah might be a little concerned about Rutgers and Maryland just because how tough they've played us over the past couple years. But those games are at home. I mean, I can see a path for Illinois making it a 10-2 regular season.
00:46:02
Speaker
I mean, that would that would be a tremendous success. Like, that would put Illinois on the periphery of college football playoff. Or as my guy, Brent Dolce, calls it the college football tournament.
00:46:15
Speaker
um it It puts Illinois at least on the periphery. But ah before the season, I thought Illinois would be 8-4 team. And that's not because I thought there was something wrong with the roster.
00:46:27
Speaker
I just think that just saying, well, just take care of business and win all the games you're supposed to, it never happens that way. No. You always have to leave room in your mind that something unexpected will happen, like last year against Minnesota.
00:46:42
Speaker
Right. Right. So there's always – so I don't want to put the cart before the horse in the final four games of the season. But they're all – I think Illinois will be favored in all of those games.
00:46:55
Speaker
So if you do take care of business, even if you slip up in Seattle, nine and three again. Yeah. A January bowl game in Florida again. – like Illinois football will be in a completely different spot than it's been in certainly in my lifetime.
00:47:16
Speaker
Mm-hmm.
00:47:21
Speaker
One thing, like you said, what's going to what can trip you up or something will always trip you up? um You know, like I said, Washington, i because I have was on a preseason show I had on my program, I had a Corey Witt on with me, and we were talking about it.
00:47:41
Speaker
And that was a game that he also um said, you know, because I said something about the after Ohio State, the schedule gets a lot easier. And he says, we've got to play Washington. What do you mean it gets easier?
00:47:53
Speaker
And I said, huh? hes And that's when he told me about Washington's home record. looked it up. as Oh, my. Yeah. um You know, so I think there's your like you said, there's your trip up game. But you go night, you go for no after that. You're nine and three. Like you said, you're playing in Florida or someplace. They're fairly close, um you know, or and if we go 10 and two and don't make the playoffs, then we're looking, you know we're still looking New Year's Eve, New Year's Day.
00:48:21
Speaker
Yeah, either way, like if even if illinois in it even if Illinois goes 8-4 and they have a 9-3, back-to-back regular seasons, like I'm supposed to turn my nose up at that?
00:48:35
Speaker
Yeah, when was the last time that happened? Yeah, that see, that's one of those things where we where you become the ungrateful child child during the holidays saying, why didn't I get more presents? Like, I'm not going to be that guy. It's like, look, this is...
00:48:53
Speaker
Illinois being five and two, including that that debacle in Bloomington, Indiana, you take that. Because before yeah steve and before the season, if you looked at Illinois' its first seven games, you would probably have said, I know I said this, man, if they come out of those first seven games at five and two, then they're in great shape. And they did. That's exactly what they did Exactly what they did.
00:49:14
Speaker
So right now things are are looking quite good. And if Illinois finishes relatively strong, I mean, back-to-back nine-win regular seasons, at least, you know, that's that's a real possibility.
00:49:30
Speaker
Ten and two is an actual, like, it's hard to say it out loud, it's a real thing that could happen in a couple months here. Like, yeah. this team this team is not underachieving.
00:49:43
Speaker
i'll I'll say that. We can nitpick, but at the end of the day, this team is not underachieved at all.
Illinois Key Players & Strategies
00:49:49
Speaker
No. That kind of leads into the next next little bit of time we've got left here.
00:49:56
Speaker
What do you expect to see, and who do you expect to see being the, I don't want to breakouts, but the the the main cogs, if you will, going forward?
00:50:08
Speaker
I'll give you one breakout that started that I think will continue. Cole Rusk, as a receiving threat in the passing game, he's as good as any tight end Illinois has since Barker transferred to Michigan State.
00:50:23
Speaker
And so I think we'll see more of him. i think another Another player who I'm very confident in, Colin Dixon. Yes. I think he's going to step into a Casey Washington-ish role of guy's always going to move the sticks. He's a reliable target.
00:50:43
Speaker
So I think that's another player. I think defense... you're going to get a heavy dose of the usual suspects. It's going to be Matthew Bailey and Gabe Ackes and the Wisconsin transfers.
00:50:56
Speaker
And you want an under the radar, I don't think he's under the radar anymore. Angelo McCollum. Yeah. yeah That young man is stepping into a role.
00:51:08
Speaker
And that's why Alex Bray in part, probably transferred to Kansas. Yeah. because McCollum is going to be getting a lot of snaps. So those are, and Swar Kareem in the secondary. he He's already stepping up.
00:51:22
Speaker
I think now now is the time where they start to lean into his NFL trajectory. And he reminds me a lot of Kirby Joseph, just in terms of his physicality and how much stronger he's gotten since he's been at Illinois. So yeah.
00:51:38
Speaker
Let's see if we can activate that turnover, the turnover machine. That's the one thing Illinois has not done that well. To your point, two picks this year? Two pick two picks. now we do hit Now we do have, I think it's eight bumble recoveries this year. yeah So we're doing that job well. We're just not we're just not picking the ball off.
00:51:57
Speaker
Right. I think that as the weather gets worse, I think that
00:52:04
Speaker
throws maybe a little less accurate. I think you're going to see more of these Atlanta defensive backs ball hawking. But so far they've won without it. But to your point, that it is a concerning number. Mm-hmm. A couple names that i that I didn't hear you mention that have kind of been on my radar at least the last couple games.
00:52:23
Speaker
um Malachi Hood. Yeah. And Joel Barna, as far as defense goes. I think those two guys... They're going to be called on next year.
00:52:38
Speaker
I think they're going to be called on next year to take care of some business because we're go not going have the other guys there. And I think both of them have shown that they you know they they've shown glimpses that they've got what it takes. I i like i like Barna's tenac tenacity.
00:52:55
Speaker
Barna was a great recruiting get like he's exactly the kind of player that Illinois needs to get more of those tough Chicago area kids who always go to Iowa and Michigan and Wisconsin Bielam is starting to get those guys coming to Illinois and Joe Barna is is one of those kids as an edge rusher you love him Like, that's a guy who you think you can develop him to an NFL edge rusher at Illinois. and You think he takes gay back Gabe's place next year?
00:53:28
Speaker
Quite possibly. Like, that that's, I mean, that's certainly the direction it's trending. I'm sure Illinois will well look good. to the portal as well for defensive and help. Cause they've got some young guys who are developing that spot, but no, I think Barna is the future, the future in that role. Yeah.
00:53:49
Speaker
And one, one guy on offense um that I, I will agree with you 100%. I think Colin Dixon is really going to be, he's going to be, we're going to see what he's worth. These next five games.
00:54:04
Speaker
i really I really think that. And I think Justin Bowick, who doesn't get a lot of press, doesn't get a lot of stuff thrown his way, but when he does, he makes stuff happen.
00:54:18
Speaker
what did What did Buddy Ryan... You'll remember this. What did Buddy Ryan say about Chris Carter?
00:54:25
Speaker
Oh, um...
00:54:29
Speaker
All he does is catch touchdowns. Yeah, yeah. I was going to say, it was i least i was I wanted to say all all he all he gets is results, but yeah, because all he does is catch touchdowns. Yeah, and that's why the the Eagles cut him, because all he does is catch touchdowns.
00:54:44
Speaker
Like, what's the purpose of the game? score a touchdown. And that's all he does. think Well, I'm sure the Minnesota Vikings are very thankful. Oh, they appreciated 100%. Yes, they sure did.
00:54:57
Speaker
That's Justin Bowick so far. Like, in the red zone, he's great. Yeah. Like, that's such, with with lack of ah of receiving production out of the tight ends, it matters to have a big target in the red zone, and Bowick is doing that.
00:55:14
Speaker
I thought he was going more like a Josh Emad or Bebe type player. But instead, he's just like a a massive red zone weapon. Love it. yeah he's I mean, we get inside the 20. I started looking for it. I like started looking to be on the field. Where you know where is where is he at?
00:55:29
Speaker
And I think deep defense is going to start doing that, too. When he gets in that red zone, they're going to to okay, where's Bowick at? who you know Forget Beatty. Forget Dixon. Where's Bowick at? That's the guy that's catching the touchdowns.
00:55:43
Speaker
Yeah, but again, great to have a player like like that was – when Illinois got he and Clement in the portal, my thought was, okay, if you don't just replace Pat Bryan and Zachari Franklin, but –
00:55:58
Speaker
That's as well as you could do with a little bit of development. and look And wouldn't you know who won the pony? There was some development. Look at Beatty and Dixon. And cle Clement's playing better.
00:56:09
Speaker
Yeah. And Bullock is your top red zone threat. That's... they They know how to reload hold the roster. still There's no doubt about that. That's something ah on my other show, of the NCAA report, I was talking last week with ah um ah my broadcast partner on that, Russ Robinson.
Coaching Strategies & Transfer Portal
00:56:27
Speaker
and We were talking about coaches that... um some that have embraced the portal and been forced to use the portal, like Sinjinetti and ah Barry Odom. I mean, you bring in 80 players on your program from the portal.
00:56:48
Speaker
You ought to know how to use it by now. And then you've got guys like um Debo Samuels, or not Samuels, Sweeney. Dabo Sweeney, who...
00:57:00
Speaker
does not want to use the portal if he can avoid it. If he if he can avoid it, he won't use it. ah But then you've got the guys like Bielema, you know, um like Drinkwits, who they use the portal just enough to fill in the blanks, but they're still developing kids that are coming up.
00:57:21
Speaker
And I think that's that's that's the one thing I really like about Bielema is that he's using the portal, but he's also using what he's got in Homegrown. Well, hey, Plays, thank you so much for coming on. I really enjoyed this.
00:57:36
Speaker
This was great. um And where can where can folks find you if they want to read your stuff? ah Yeah, i'm thank you for having me again, Don. I had a great time.
00:57:47
Speaker
um Yeah, I'm on the champagne room.com. ah That champagne is spelled like the city. i i shudder to think what would come up if you look for champagne spelled like the drink for that champagne room.com.
00:57:59
Speaker
i don't I don't want to know. Don't do it, especially on your work machine. ah But no, don't. I write a weekly column there. usually goes live on Friday mornings, so you can check me out there.
00:58:09
Speaker
Also, I'm on X at PronouncedPlez. So ah if you want to ah follow me and tell me how dumb I am there, you're more than welcome to do so. I don't think we'll call you dumb for any stretch the imagination, my friend.
00:58:23
Speaker
And you can always find me on X at TSOTBGCS. You can also find me also at the Champagne Room. I get a weekly column there myself. You can look for me on the NCAA Report, the other podcast I do.
00:58:37
Speaker
And speaking of which, you can also go to Gateway Sports and find a lot of different podcasts. You've got the Two for Three with Moose Michaels. You've got the Team of Rivals with Ron...
00:58:48
Speaker
Nuttall, Pete Geddes and Elliot Dewey. You have about Ron Nuttall also has with Chris Annenbinder on the city
Closing & Guest Information
00:58:55
Speaker
soccer. It's called at the park. Then you have the stupidest sports show on earth with Rodney Capel and Tim Van Stratton.
00:59:03
Speaker
Those guys have just so much. It's illegal how much fun they have. Okay. I'll just put it that way. And then, of course, there is this show and the one and only Derek King with the Derek King Show.
00:59:15
Speaker
So check that out at dateway Gateway to City Sports or Gatewaysports.net. So for my guest, Plays Honeywood and myself, Don Glenn, I want to thank you guys for tuning in and we will see you again. So have fun. Stay safe.
00:59:30
Speaker
We'll talk to you next time on Talking Sports with Uncle
00:59:35
Speaker
Good night, everybody.