I feel like if Illinois campus was in Chicago, they would have a totally different identity. Being in Champaign really hurts them in my opinion. 134 miles and 2hrs and 16 mins away from Chicago makes it feel like its in a different world. Its like there is a disconnect with the rest of the in state talent. But having said that, they are still the sleeping giant of the B1G. Too much talent in Chicago to be a doormat. Quite puzzling to be honest.

This post was edited on 1/15/18 at 10:25 am

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Posted by nvasil1

Hellinois

Member since Oct 2009

15937 posts

Posted on 1/15/18 at 12:52 pm to Buckeye Backer

quote:
I feel like if Illinois campus was in Chicago, they would have a totally different identity. Being in Champaign really hurts them in my opinion. 134 miles and 2hrs and 16 mins away from Chicago makes it feel like its in a different world. Its like there is a disconnect with the rest of the in state talent.

It is a different world, but Illinois is to blame for not bridging the gap. They were an administrative clown show for a while, particularly during the player abuse scandals and the new AD search. There was also a report on Chicago radio a year or two ago that Shad Khan volunteered any assistance that was needed and he was mostly ignored.

To make things worse for them, Northwestern has lapped them in local marketing. The whole "Chicago's Big Ten Team" thing has been working, and Fitzgerald and Collins have been front and center in the media.

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Posted by crazyatthecamp

Member since Nov 2006

2102 posts

Posted on 1/15/18 at 5:01 pm to Buckeye Backer

Champaign Urbana is in the middle of nowhere. Totally boring.

Do kids in Illinois grow up dreaming of being Illini?

Somehow I don't think the passion is there.

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