Trip to Illinois

Pictures from Iowa's trip to Illinois, starting with the Friday walk-thru.
Waiting for the bus, Iowa Play-by-Play Man, Gary Dolphin, Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz and his son Steven.

Silvercreek, the dining option for the Iowa Video Staff.

The Illiniois Indoor Practice Facility. A 70 yard permanent structure attached to Memorial Stadium. On game day it is used for Will Call.

The Illini Outdoor practice facility backs up to their Indoor as well as Memorial Stadium.

A few of the tailgators around Memorial Stadium

Tailgating in the parking lots of Assembly Hall

On the field a half hour from Game Time

The Illini take the field

Followed by the Hawkeyes

A sea of Orange at Memorial Stadium on a balmy 70 degree November day in Champaign

Memorial Stadium lies on the most southern part of the Illinois campus

College Football Week 1

After the first week of college football, a couple of observations.

The ACC is a basketball conference. Clemson is pummeled by Alabama, East Carolina surprises Virginia Tech, North Carolina State is throttled by South Carolina and Southern California punishes Virginia. North Carolina narrowly beats McNeese State, Maryland is a touchdown better than Delaware and Boston College defeats Kent State 21-0. The most impressive victory is by conference doormat Duke. They beat James Madison 31-7.

Clemson...ENOUGH! We consistently are led to believe the Tigers will be battling for the national title. This year they enter the season ninth in the nation, on national television and get thoroughly beat. Nothing new. Remember, it is better to have your fifteen minutes of fame at the end of the season, not the beginning.

The Big Ten proved they can beat the wannabes of the college football world, but Michigan, Michigan State and Illinois did not make the conference proud. When was the last time Michigan lost back to back home season openers to non-BCS conference teams. I do believe Michigan State has a promising future. Playing on the west coast is tough duty.


Did anyone else notice that Texas A&M lost at home to Arkansas State? And Arkansas was behind by ten entering the fourth quarter against Western Illinois?

Pittsburgh, I'll hold off on my comments until September 21, the day after the Hawks travel east.