Murphy's Pub is BACK

Apologies to the Hobbserver’s loyal reader for the long hiatus. A dying laptop, the mediocrity of the Chicago White Sox, and a busier than expected work schedule have conspired to keep me from writing. With that lame excuse out of the way:

It’s time for the Hobbserver’s First Annual Hugely Optimistic Preseason Post about Illinois Football. I’m not delusional. Illinois isn’t winning the National Title. They probably aren’t going to play in the inaugural Big 10 Championship Game (at Lucas Oil in Indy!). But I am utterly and completely convinced that Illinois is going to win not fewer than 8 games this year and will make back to back bowl games for the first time since... cringes... 1992.

I know what you are thinking, Rational Illinois Fan. Why on earth would I think that an Illinois team that lost their three best players to the NFL could possibly be as good this year as they were last year? Am I new to Illinois football? Why hasn’t all optimism been beaten out of me?

I know it isn’t easy to be optimistic about Illinois football. And I’m well aware of the history. I was crushed when the ‘94 Illini (starring Kevin Hardy and Simeon Rice, the second and third picks in the next NFL draft) were annihilated by the hated Michigan Wolverines on the opening day of the 100th season of Big 10 football (my first game at Memorial Stadium). I suffered through the anemic Lou Tepper era, the 0-11 Ron Turner team, the loss at home to San Jose State the year after making the Sugar Bowl, the heartbreak of John Mackovic leaving for the greener pastures of Texas after the Illini went 10-2 in ‘89. And, well, the Illini have been Zooked more often than they have Zooked their opponents during the Ron Zook era.

But this year, I believe. I believe that Akeem Spence will do a reasonable Corey Liuget impression. I believe that Jason Ford will come into Camp Rantoul at something less than the 245 pounds he weighed in at last year and that he will mimic the production of Mikel Leshoure. I believe Ian Thomas will slide into the MLB spot and adequately replace the production of Martez Wilson.

More importantly, I believe that Nathan Scheelhaase’s noodle arm has improved to the point that defenses won’t be able to sit on short routes. I believe that AJ Jenkins is going to be a game changing receiver again this year. I believe the o-line is going to be fantastic and that freshman Donovan Young is going to be the Next Illinois RB in the NFL. And I believe that Terry Hawthorne and Justin Green are going to anchor one of the best defensive backfields in the Big 10.

I believe that Illinois will be 6-0 when they host Ohio State October 15. I believe that Illinois will beat a tough Arizona State team at home, that they will overcome Western Michigan (who the Illini lost to in 2008), that they will beat Northwestern at home and Indiana on the road. Include two easy home games (Arkansas State and South Dakota State) and the Illini are 6-0. Ohio State could be reeling that deep into the season. An inspired Illinois team could gut out a win (a win they almost stole last year at Memorial Stadium) and then they are 7-0. I believe that will absolutely, maybe, happen.

Why do I believe? Honestly, the schedule really is favorable and a lot of people really do believe that Spence and Ford will be able to replace lost production. But more than anything else, it’s more fun to believe than not. That eternal optimism is what makes sports fun. That is why Opening Day is one of the most fun days of the year. That’s why I watch the NBA and NFL Drafts every year. And that’s why I will be in front of the TV every Saturday that I’m not actually at Memorial Stadium. Cheers from Murphy’s Pub. Go Illini.