Quick Opinion about Western Illinois Game

[Quabachi]

Very glad to be playing Western Illinois.

The St. Joe and Cincy games were expected to be blowouts on both ends of the spectrum.

Western Illinois serves as a much better barometer to determine where our team stands against similar competition for the season.

I'd like to skip Quincy altogether and get on with the "real schedule", but in the meantime I look forward to seeing how we do against the Leathernecks.

[bent20]

I want some sense of payback against Quincy.

[Bally #46]

We'll worry about Quincy later. WIU will tell us all where we are, no doubt about it! An absolutely critical game for the TREES. My gut feeling is that it will be really close. A win may turn the tide in our favor.

[Sycamore Proud]

I want some sense of payback against Quincy.

Vindictive huh? That will come in due time; WIU comes first and is more indicative of our true strength I would think. However based on last years results, I might want to rethink that. Wouldn't it be great to be 3-1 going into the Valley schedule? I think it's doable, very doable. The Sycamores should fix a few things, get healthy and prepare, prepare, prepare. I have total confidence that the coaches will see to it that the guys accomplish what needs to be done.
:sycamores::sycamores::sycamores:

[bent20]

We'll worry about Quincy later. WIU will tell us all where we are, no doubt about it! An absolutely critical game for the TREES. My gut feeling is that it will be really close. A win may turn the tide in our favor.

Absolutely agree. WIU is a big game. A chance to win our first road game in a long time and to start the conference season strong. Big, big game.

[Callmedoc]

Sam Houston State will tell us alot about WIU...they are a solid program

[Quabachi]

Sam Houston State will tell us alot about WIU...they are a solid program

Oh wow, I didn't even realize we have a bye week this week.

[sycamore51]

I was impressed with how we moved the ball against Cinci and how well our lines held up. I think as long as we don't come out flat we should do well against WIU. 15 first downs and over 250 yards isn't bad against the 2 time defending big east champs. An effort like that against WIU should yield more yards and more scores. I am very excited about this one.

[sycamore51]

WIU did put up over 400 yards against Purdue this weekend. They passed at will against the Boilers, that scares the crap out of me. Our secondary seems to be our weak link thus far. What do you guys think?

[Callmedoc]

Hmmmmm i tend to think we will dial up the pressure more....and plus even traditional passing teams try to run the piss out of the ball against us....

[SycamoreBlue3209]

We beat them last year and have a really good chance to get another big win here and set the tone for the rest of the season. We already have one win, and then we knock off a conference foe, and then we get revenge on Quincy. These next few weeks will be Huge for the rest of our season!

[Jason Svoboda]

We beat them last year and have a really good chance to get another big win here and set the tone for the rest of the season. We already have one win, and then we knock off a conference foe, and then we get revenge on Quincy. These next few weeks will be Huge for the rest of our season!
You've got to throw our win against them out the window from last year. While we are much better, they are infinitely better, too.

They have Matt Barr back, who missed last year's game due to injury. Their weak spot last year during our matchup was QB as they threw three picks. They also have two very good RBs including Caulton Ray, who transferred to WIU from Michigan State. He was a rated a Top 50, three-star back per Rivals and Bryce Flowers, a former Army commit. Both are in the Top 50 in FCS rushing.

Our defense better come to play because this is going to be a helluva game if both offenses are clicking. Western Illinois is ranked 6th in FCS averaging 487 yards per game and we're ranked 28th with 384 yards per game. Hopefully Alex Sewall is able to play because we're going to need him.

[mohoops247]

I was impressed with how we moved the ball against Cinci and how well our lines held up. I think as long as we don't come out flat we should do well against WIU. 15 first downs and over 250 yards isn't bad against the 2 time defending big east champs. An effort like that against WIU should yield more yards and more scores. I am very excited about this one.

We did put up pretty good numbers against UC, but keep in mind about 150 of these yards came against their second string D. Still not a bad effort at all.


They also have two very good RBs including Caulton Ray, who transferred to WIU from Michigan State. He was a rated a Top 50, three-star back per Rivals and Bryce Flowers, a former Army commit. Both are in the Top 50 in FCS rushing.


This scares me a little as UC ran all over us the second half on Saturday. I know the D can step up it up though and the coaches will have them ready to go. And I'm not as worried about the passing game, as I thought we looked pretty strong against UC in that aspect (minus the two TD passes, which I thought were more about good passes and great plays by the WR than bad defense. Plus, I'm not sure we'll see a WR as tall, athletic, and skilled as Binns).

Anyways, I don't know if I can wait until next weekend to watch the Sycamores...after the showing and effort at UC I want a game this weekend...haha.

[Fiji Bill 72]

Since our only win was against Western last year, they will be out to get us with revenge. Also worries me that Purdue only won by 10 against them. It could be a rough Saturday. And, they traditionally have great home crowds to back them.

[jlandrus23]

You must keep in mind, that Purdue is not that great this year at all.

[IndyTreeFan]

I understand the feelings of folks who feel like FijiBill, and I tend to agree. But one thing that I think we have going for us is our coaching staff. From what I've heard, these coaches don't let up on our guys, and I am sure they'll be well prepared for anything that WIU throws at us. I'm sure our guys will be reminded that this game is going to be a war, and that they will want revenge for last season.

Of course, our guys have renewed confidence, and I think we'll be able to throw as much at WIU as they'll throw at us. We're better, they're better - it should be a great game!

Our coaches could be the difference...

[Sycamore Proud]

I understand the feelings of folks who feel like FijiBill, and I tend to agree. But one thing that I think we have going for us is our coaching staff. From what I've heard, these coaches don't let up on our guys, and I am sure they'll be well prepared for anything that WIU throws at us. I'm sure our guys will be reminded that this game is going to be a war, and that they will want revenge for last season.

Of course, our guys have renewed confidence, and I think we'll be able to throw as much at WIU as they'll throw at us. We're better, they're better - it should be a great game!

Our coaches could be the difference...

That's a big plus for us! Yes, WIU will be out for revenge--think about ISU and Quincy. We have a big motivational tool also. We want to prove that last year was no anomaly; prove that we really are the best team. That's a powerful statement for this team to confirm.