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Illinois Football: Continued Illini improvement is evident

By Rees Woodcock

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 30: Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Lovie Smith before the Red Box Bowl between the California Golden Bears and the Illinois Fighting Illini at Levi's Stadium on December 30, 2019 in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 30: Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Lovie Smith before the Red Box Bowl between the California Golden Bears and the Illinois Fighting Illini at Levi's Stadium on December 30, 2019 in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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If someone is telling you that the future of the Illinois football team is not bright, kindly type GTFO or just block them.

I don’t want people to not have opinions. I just want opinions to develop over time. To say this team isn’t progressing isn’t correct. But I can see why you have some issues.

Losing the final three games of the season, one being to a bad Northwestern team, isn’t fun. It is not a good look whatsoever. Having stale play-calling during the bowl game where you can predict what is going to happen with great accuracy isn’t a good thing either. But does all of this mean the program is going into the toilet?

No.

Illinois had two wins during the 2017 campaign. That was rock bottom. Last season, we improved that number to four wins. A slight improvement, but an improvement, nonetheless. Expectations this season was to make a bowl game and hit the six-win mark. That happened.

So, the wins have improved.

The 2017 campaign featured none other than Jeff George Jr., Chayce Crouch and Cam Thomas at quarterback. They combined for 2,098 yards, 8 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. There isn’t a lot of winning going on with that quarterback grouping.

Fast-forward to 2019. Illinois features Brandon Peters at quarterback. He is a former five-star recruit this coaching staff was able to bring in. He threw for 1,884 yards, 18 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. His backup, Matt Robinson, threw for 475 yards, 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions.

Illinois brought in Josh Imatorbhebhe, Trevon Sidney and Casey Washington to help the wide receiver corps. Linebacker Dele Harding had the second-most tackles in the nation. Linebacker Milo Eifler came in and helped stabilize the linebackers corps as well. Defensive end, Wole Betiku, was sensational at defensive end and led the team in sacks.

So, the roster continues to improve.

If you can’t find anything positive about this program, then I am not sure you want to find anything positive. A continued record improvement and a roster that continues to improve should be enough proof that we are heading in the right direction.

dark. Next. 3 observations from the Illini loss to Cal

This was a good season. We accomplished the goal of getting to a bowl game. Would I have liked to have won more games? Sure. Would I have liked to have won the bowl game? Of course. But there is no question in my mind that this team is still on the right path. If you don’t believe that, then I have no idea what you are watching.

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