Comfort And Joy

I can't think of a time in the last 17 years when I've had less to write about. I mean, there's always something to write about, and if I did a mailbag request right now you'd have dozens of questions, but in terms of the little exercise that I do where I open the laptop and ponder "what goes in the article today?", this past week has been as barren as I've seen it.

That's partly because my brain is elsewhere. Every member of my family is here in Champaign. All of the boys and all of their kids. This will be the first Christmas since 2022 where all of us are under the same roof and I cannot wait. It's all I've been thinking about for days and days.

So yes, my brain is elsewhere. But there's also this issue of... nothing concerning going on with Illinois Athletics. I mean, I guess the wrestling coach being on paid leave for an investigation into "fiscal control policies" is concerning, but I'm more talking about the general anxiety of the last 15 years. Football was always "will it ever be rebuilt?" or "sure, this was one good year, but will it last?" Illini basketball fans, as recently as two years ago, were openly stating that Brad Underwood wasn't the answer and a new coach must be found. And my brain was stuck in "I have to write something about this" mode for that entire period.

Remember the article I wrote at the beginning of May last year titled "Unrest City"? Illini basketball "insiders" were fabricating Illini interest in transfer targets (only to see those transfer targets choose other schools) and then blaming Underwood for his failures. And because offensive lineman Andrew Dennis transferred back to Michigan State after one semester, well, our fans made an appearance on the Message Board Geniuses account (a Twitter account created to mock fanbases for overreacting):

Yes, those are actual Illini football opinions offered (in public, where other people could see the words) on April 29, 2024. All because offensive lineman Andrew Dennis returned to Michigan State. In your world, you wave these away with "it's just a few nutballs on the internet." In my world, I swing the hammer one more time in hopes that I can somehow remove us from the "most negative fanbase in the Big Ten" throne.

Let's check back in on what I felt I needed to write in that article (again, this is just a year and a half ago):

Everyone is just pretending that this isn't a massive old ocean liner that Bielema is trying to turn around and that 12 conference wins in years 1-3 isn't wildly impressive. They simply point to Kansas 2024 as if Kansas won't go 3-9 in 2025 after their 15 senior starters graduate. 

(Editor's Note: Kansas went 5-7 in 2025. Back to the snippet.)

Am I saying this is guaranteed to work? Of course not! The chances of any Illini football coach turning the program into a consistent Big Ten contender are around 15%. Suggesting "all it takes is the right coach" is like saying "all it takes for DePaul Basketball to turn things around is the right coach." No. It will take much more than that. Over a very long period of time. 

Which is why I've consistently delivered this same "the coach who turns things around in Champaign will play the longest of long games" message for 15 years. It's why I ignore all "ease up on the fan policing and you'll gain more subscribers" advice. Fan investment is part of this, and I'm going to continue to encourage the fanbase to invest. Especially now. 

If this rusty old ship is going to get turned around, everyone needs to plug a hole until Bielema can get this thing back to dry dock. And since so many people are telling you to quit plugging your hole and wait for management to provide a shiny new ship, I'm going to franticly run from deck to deck and encourage you to stay at your post. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only person on earth who understands that fanbase investment is critical during a rebuild attempt. 

This is the best 180 attempt I've observed in the last 33 years. It feels like the current captain has turned this thing nearly 90 degrees at this point. But there's a storm brewing in the western sky (a storm of four new teams from the west) so the second half of this 180 is going to be extremely difficult. Not to mention the rough seas on the way back to dry dock. 

Halfway through a turn is when you're most susceptible to overturning. Gotta get the bow pointed back into the waves. It's not going to be easy. But if we can just get this thing back to dry dock for the first time since the late 80's, we can finally make long-term repairs and have a stable program (er, ship) to send back out to sea. 

I'm 51 now. 51 is how old Jim Backus was when he started playing Thurston Howell on Gilligan's Island. I don't have time for seven more attempts to turn the SS Illini Football around. It has to happen now. 

Which means I don't have patience for those working against the cause. I have no patience for your lack of patience, in other words. We're 18th out of 18 Big Ten teams in fan vibes. And it hurts the program every day.

That was the mood a year and a half ago. "This program is completely cooked" because somehow, Andrew Dennis returning to his home state was the last straw. Underwood hate was everywhere because the April/May portal season was determined to be a failure (KJ would commit to Illinois in late May, Will Riley in late June). Even "Shauna Green was just a one-year wonder" had entered the chat 18 months ago. I wrote that article with a scowl on my face and my teeth clenched.

Now? Well, let me set the scene now.

• Illini football is 18-7 since then. Eighteen and freaking seven. Twenty five college football games and Illinois has won EIGHTEEN of them.
• Illini basketball was a 6-seed last year and is likely a top-4 seed this year. The Braggin' Rights score was 91 to freaking 48. In my mind, I still see a 2-seed in March.
• Illini women's basketball is currently 11-1. 11 wins is tied for the best season Nancy Fahey put together in her five years. And it's not even Christmas yet.

Which brings me back to the glow in this house right now. As I sit here, I can hear the sound machine in the guest bedroom which is keeping my grandson oblivious to any noises in the world. Four hours ago, this same room was noisy and messy and chaotic (in the best way).

I took a video of the scene tonight. It was just for me, but I think I'll share it here. It's probably risky showing you the inside of my home and some of the faces of my kids and grandkids, but I need to show it to make my point. I'll put up the paywall right here so that I can keep this video in the family, so to speak.