The Sun-Times who has "outplayed" the Tribune all year long in terms of NU media coverage gets a loud BOO from LTP today. After no coverage in Thursday's edition, the ST fumbled bigtime with merely an inset box promoting tomorrow's game. What the hell is going on around here? There has been less coverage for the Illini game than the season opener against Syracuse. There has been no mention on local sports talk radio, nothing on TV and no buzz at all for this game. I'm so disappointed on all fronts. The old addage "winning cures everything" is taking a major setback as I'd be shocked if we get north of 35,000 tomorrow, which with a team on the verge of a 9 win season is an absolute crime. Since no one in town seems to care about offering up coverage, I'll try and fill the void.
Sweet Sioux Sweet Stats
Alltime Series: Illini 52-44-5
First game: 1892
Sweet Sioux Series: Illini 32-27-2 (started in 1945)
Series Since 1988: NU 10-IL 10
Series Since 1995: NU 8 IL 5
NU largest margin of victory: (47) - 1943 - NU 53 IL 6
Illini largest margin of victory: (66) - 1894 - IL 66 NU 0
NU longest series win streak: (4) - 2 times - 1947-1950, 2003-2006
Illini longest series win streak (7) - 2 times - 1913-1928, 1979-1985
Most combined points in a game: (84) NU 61 IL 23 - 2000
Least combined points in a game: (0) - multiple times, last time 1978
Cardiac Cats Stats
Most fans enter this game assuming, regardless of records or standings, it will be a nailbiter. I heard all last weekend how the Cats were "18-4 in the last 22 games decided by 7 points or less" which I instantly knew was a Mike Wolf Wildcataganda! stat. Mike is the NU Associate AD and oversees football for media relations. He is the master at Wildcataganda and I've tried to model my statistical manipulation after his great work!
Truth be told, the stat is correct, if you include regular season (17-5 if you include the one bowl game that qualifies). I dug deeper knowing that the 18-4 mark likely was as far back as you could go making it as impressive a number as possible. If you take it all the way back to the beginning of the decade, it is still pretty impressive - we are 24-10 in the 34 games this decade we've played in decided by 7 points or less. This includes 8 OT games in which we are an astounding 7-1. Here are the 34 games this decade decided by 7 points or less:
2008
NU 21 Michigan 14
NU 24 Minnesota 17
Indiana 21 NU 19
NU 22 Iowa 17
NU 24 Duke 20
2007
NU 31 Indiana 28
NU 49 Minnesota 48 (2OT)
NU 48 Michigan St. 41 (OT)
Duke 20 NU 14
NU 36 Nevada 31
2005
NU 28 Iowa 27
NU 35 Purdue 29
Penn State 34 NU 29
NU 38 NIU 37
2004
NU 28 IL 21 (OT)
NU 14 Penn State 7
NU 13 (#17)Purdue 10
NU 31 Indiana 24 (2 OT)
NU 33 Ohio State 27 (OT)
NU 20 Kansas 17
TCU 48 NU 45 (2OT)
2003
Bowling Green 28 NU 24 (Motor City Bowl)
NU 37 Indiana 31 (OT)
Air Force 22 NU 21
2002
IL 31 NU 24
NU 41 Indiana 37
Minnesota 45 NU 42
NU 26 Duke 21
2001
IL 34 NU 28
Purdue 32 NU 27
NU 27 Michigan St. 26
2000
NU 54 Michigan 51
NU 41 Minnesota 35
NU 47 Wisconsin 44 (2OT)
Friday, November 21, 2008
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2 comments:
The Trib is reporting that the Sweet Sioux is staying in Evanston....permanently.
But not for the reason we all think. Apparently the NCAA is forcing Illinois to give up all the Native American/offensive stuff.
Now, I personally think the Chief is pretty callous...but a Tomahawk trophy getting retired by the PC police? Going a little too far, IMHO.
So this is the LAST BATTLE for Sweet Sioux...even MORE reason to take it on the field!
As for the radio, I heard mention for it earlier this week on Waddle and Silvy on ESPN 1000, and apparenty Fitz was on ESPN 1000 this week, can anyone confirm this?
SAUZA!
no more tomahawk!?!?!
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