More excellent points … [we are in position to reach mountain top; take you Illini hat off (like the analogy) and look at program; premier conference; on TV; reach potential time is now and within our grasp as we keep knocking on the door; the passion has always been there in Champaign]. I’ll add that it all started with Whitman. Leadership is there. And … your assessment that our best times are ahead. This 70 year old alum and basketball enthusiast over my lifetime as an Illini .. I continue to be very very impressed with your perspectives and how you explain and express them. Kudos Sunny 👍
Thank you so much Bill! This show was made for people like you! I know there’s going to be folks ridiculing the title on this one but I just thought to myself forget about them. I know what I’m saying is in earnest. This video is for the Illini fans like you and I.
Hi Sunny, I am glad you brought up the topic of revenue. Illinois needs more corporate support to be competitive with the top football teams in the nation. Coach Bielema is doing a great job given the resources that he has at his disposal. Hopefully, he gets us to a bowl game this year. Success on the field could lead to a virtuous cycle of more revenue and more success. The basketball program is doing fantastic thanks to Coach Brad and his staff and Josh Whitman.
I really hope Bret can get us to a bowl game too. We’ve been so close to having back to back to back bowl games and if that had happened we would’ve been in prime position to take the next step.
The NIL era has been a godsend to Illinois athletics. . Josh Whitman is one of the best AD in college sports also. It's all coming to fruition. Hopefully the other sports are about to benefit. When i was younger , the football team was consistently good all the way up until they made a huge mistake and hired Lou Tepper and let Mackovic go to Texas where he only lasted a few years anyway. So I would love football to be at least consistent bowl contenders.
Love his perspective about Josh Whitman. Whitman handled that rape charge extremely well last year. He had a tightrope hoisted up between two sky scrapers to walk… and he pulled it off without falling
I really don’t how anyone can muster up energy to watch the football team and it’s partly because the college football landscape is so chalky every year. I treat it like a bowl game if they win 7 games. Doubt we’ll ever see a national title for Illini Football honestly. Guess the good news is we won’t be teased only to lose in the college football playoff. Idk, wish I felt differently. Two years ago was a fun year. 2008 was memorable. But there is no consistency here. Probably the biggest reason no one cares as much as we do the basketball program.
How important is it for BU to get some incoming 2025 recruits soon? Particularly since Jeremiah Fears decommitted this week, and there looks to be a lot of player turnover again next year.
There may not be as much turnover. Only player out of eligibility after next year is Humrichous. With underwood & staff in charge, I’m not really worried about recruiting for next season. Not yet at least lol.
If I had to guess right now maybe in the 20-25 range. But I think this is a team that will be much better in March than at the beginning of the season.
Because IlliniNation is the real deal!
No doubt about it. Some of the best in the country.
More excellent points … [we are in position to reach mountain top; take you Illini hat off (like the analogy) and look at program; premier conference; on TV; reach potential time is now and within our grasp as we keep knocking on the door; the passion has always been there in Champaign]. I’ll add that it all started with Whitman. Leadership is there. And … your assessment that our best times are ahead. This 70 year old alum and basketball enthusiast over my lifetime as an Illini .. I continue to be very very impressed with your perspectives and how you explain and express them. Kudos Sunny 👍
Thank you so much Bill! This show was made for people like you! I know there’s going to be folks ridiculing the title on this one but I just thought to myself forget about them. I know what I’m saying is in earnest. This video is for the Illini fans like you and I.
Also love that you and our fan base don’t give any F*cks what ppl think! Thats what an excellent fan base should act like!
Exactly. This show isn’t for them, this show is for us!
THAT IS HUGE
Agreed!
Also keep up the vids I starting listening to you everyday now. Also loved the Sleepers collab!
Thank you so much! It’s not easy coming up with topics to discuss every day during this offseason but that’s my goal!
It is not easy and you’re making it look easy 😂 Keep it up!
Awesome! Thank you!
Hi Sunny, I am glad you brought up the topic of revenue. Illinois needs more corporate support to be competitive with the top football teams in the nation. Coach Bielema is doing a great job given the resources that he has at his disposal. Hopefully, he gets us to a bowl game this year. Success on the field could lead to a virtuous cycle of more revenue and more success. The basketball program is doing fantastic thanks to Coach Brad and his staff and Josh Whitman.
I really hope Bret can get us to a bowl game too. We’ve been so close to having back to back to back bowl games and if that had happened we would’ve been in prime position to take the next step.
The NIL era has been a godsend to Illinois athletics. . Josh Whitman is one of the best AD in college sports also. It's all coming to fruition. Hopefully the other sports are about to benefit. When i was younger , the football team was consistently good all the way up until they made a huge mistake and hired Lou Tepper and let Mackovic go to Texas where he only lasted a few years anyway. So I would love football to be at least consistent bowl contenders.
Love his perspective about Josh Whitman. Whitman handled that rape charge extremely well last year. He had a tightrope hoisted up between two sky scrapers to walk… and he pulled it off without falling
Nice job! Appreciate the daily videos.
Thanks Stephen! It’s not easy but feedback like this motivates me to keep coming up with content!
Morning sunny
Good morning Tim!
I would add Fletcher and the world class facilities to the pile. Both matter to recruiting and performance than most fans realize.
Oh heck yeah. I’ve long said Fletch is an absolute cheat code and one of the greatest secrets in all of college basketball!
Question. Who do you think will have the better season, Will Riley or Morez?
With this portal, every year everything changes, these folks dont stay they move around..
I really don’t how anyone can muster up energy to watch the football team and it’s partly because the college football landscape is so chalky every year. I treat it like a bowl game if they win 7 games. Doubt we’ll ever see a national title for Illini Football honestly. Guess the good news is we won’t be teased only to lose in the college football playoff. Idk, wish I felt differently. Two years ago was a fun year. 2008 was memorable. But there is no consistency here. Probably the biggest reason no one cares as much as we do the basketball program.
What’s the intro music? Its there a name?
I’m not sure, it was provided to me by the network!
@@LockedOnIllini👍🏼
How important is it for BU to get some incoming 2025 recruits soon? Particularly since Jeremiah Fears decommitted this week, and there looks to be a lot of player turnover again next year.
There may not be as much turnover. Only player out of eligibility after next year is Humrichous.
With underwood & staff in charge, I’m not really worried about recruiting for next season. Not yet at least lol.
Where do we think illinois will be rated nationally?
If I had to guess right now maybe in the 20-25 range. But I think this is a team that will be much better in March than at the beginning of the season.