Robert Rosenthal
@ALionEye
Followers
22K
Following
2K
Media
5K
Statuses
35K
One of the 17 Illini fans who cares more about football than basketball. Because of that, everyone thinks I hate basketball. Publisher of https://t.co/rbZFJ8G6vv
Champaign, IL
Joined May 2009
A friend sent me this from LinkedIn. Can't say it loud enough: . I-L-L
52
296
2K
That was the single greatest regular season Big Ten victory of my lifetime.
27
69
2K
I asked Brad Underwood about Trent and he called him "The Ultimate Illini". Agreed.
8
67
2K
He grew up an Illini fan. His great grandfather, grandfather, and uncle played for Illinois. He left his starting job at Ball State to walk on and fulfill his childhood dream of playing for Illinois. He wore Illini gear every day to his Michigan HS. And he just did THAT.
26
111
2K
Iowa fans headed for the exits with 38 seconds left as the Illini fans in attendance showered them with an I-L-L I-N-I cheer.
35
141
1K
Carey Booth came back out to work on some post moves in an empty SFC. Deon Thomas was watching him, saw something, and went out to give him some pointers. Pay attention, kid. Greatest post scorer in Illini history.
29
53
1K
No Kofi Cockburn. No Andre Curbelo. Out-rebounded 41-27. Illini made one single shot in the final 9:45. Illini scored 4 total points in the final 9:45. MSU made 14 free throws. Illini made 3. Trent missed the front-end with 6 seconds left. Illini foul with 0.2 left. Illini win.
37
105
1K
The “player putting in work after the game” tweet is probably overused but… Da’Monte working on free throws at 11:12 pm.
16
42
1K
It has been 1⃣0⃣8⃣0⃣ days since Illinois lost to Wisconsin.
13
76
1K
For the first time in Illini football history, we will tune in to the College Football Playoff rankings show on Tuesday to see where we stand.
15
82
1K
If there was still a Big Ten West, final standings:. Illinois 6-3 (9-3).Iowa 6-3 (8-4).Minnesota 5-4 (7-5).Nebraska 3-6 (6-6).Wisconsin 3-6 (5-7).Northwestern 2-7 (4-8).Purdue 1-11 (0-9).
19
51
1K
Wisconsin rushing yards in each of their games this season:. Illinois State - 221 yards.Washington State - 174.New Mexico State - 260.Ohio State - 192.Illinois - 2.
7
87
1K
It.Has.Been.1️⃣8️⃣5️⃣4️⃣ days since Illinois lost to Wisconsin.
8
126
1K
It has been 1⃣1⃣4⃣4⃣ days since Illinois lost to Michigan. Five straight - three in Ann Arbor, two in Champaign.
6
89
1K
I’m just bursting with Illini pride. Absolutely teeming. Sound on for some Oskee Wow Wow before bed.
13
51
1K
I wish upon all of you one simple thing. That just once during your life you get to experience the sound the MSU crowd made when Trent's three splashed.
22
53
1K
217. THE SCORE WAS 217.
11
47
1K
We don’t talk about it enough:. That’s Frank Williams’ son.
20
23
1K
It has been 1️⃣8️⃣3️⃣9️⃣ days since Wisconsin has beaten Illinois.
14
110
1K
Feels like this should be the college football story of the day. Covid found it's way to Wisconsin (grew to 30 cases, two games canceled), Maryland (grew to 30, two games canceled), Minnesota (has now grown to 47 cases) and Illinois (3 cases back to 0). Why? The UIUC saliva test.
16
119
984
If not for that pesky 30-0 run we would have won 52-47.
13
53
985
It has been 1⃣8⃣3⃣4⃣ days since Michigan beat Illinois on the basketball court.
8
117
977
I remember tweeting about this a few years ago so I filmed it this time. Juwan Howard waits until it’s quiet for the free throws and then uses “box out” as his way to, more or less, yell “miss it.”
142
50
962
1984.1989.2001.2005.2024. The five seasons during my lifetime where we made the ELITE EIGHT. A special, special season. And we’re not done.
13
31
959
Ayo Dosunmu, ladies and gentlemen. With most of his team sound asleep, he one-on-five'd us back from a 6 point deficit with 2:40 left, blocked their attempt at a buzzer beater to get us to OT, and then took over in overtime. We don't deserve him.
20
53
957
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you. the best player in the country.
2
78
933
4-14.7-13.13-7.16-4.15-5 and the 17-year regular season title winless streak is finally over.
7
52
935
Meet Engine 77. Arriving in Lot 31 in 48 hours. This is not just my thing. It's not some IlliniBoard thing. It wasn't even my idea (those who know my crew know exactly whose idea it was). There are six of us in on this. I was just in charge of the transformation. She's a beaut.
38
57
934
Walked by a security guard earlier and he gave me the old “pssst”.
5
28
925
Almost forgot. Shoutout to the guy in the front row of the Iowa student section in a Curbelo jersey.
16
37
913
Some personal news. Actually, that's not dramatic enough. Some MASSIVE news: my last day at work was Friday and my wife and I are moving to Champaign. This is a very long post, but I explain it all here:
83
31
900
Seasons where Illini Football has had 7 or more regular season wins in the last THIRTY YEARS:. 1999.2001.2007.2022.2024.
16
64
949
22. Illinois.23. Army.24. Michigan.25. Navy. Are we *certain* it’s not 1924?.
6
33
919
Coach B walked past me after the press conference and this was our exchange:. Him: "Did you drive the fire truck here?". Me: "No, but I'm gonna drive it to Indianapolis.".
4
33
921
The Minnesota student section chanted “over-rated” at Kofi Cockburn during a game where he had 29 points, 10 boards, 4 blocks, & 2 assists. The Minnesota student section chanted “over-rated” at Kofi Cockburn during a game where he had 29 points, 10 boards, 4 blocks, & 2 assists.
20
62
899
That’s about as much fun as I’ve ever had at a gamewatch. (Also, the Michigan fans cheering for UCLA left with 5 minutes to go. Perfect.). I-L-L
15
11
892
It has been 1️⃣1️⃣0️⃣1️⃣ days since Illinois lost to Michigan.
2
49
897
How do I love thee, Illini football? Let me count the ways. I’m currently eating alone in an Arby’s on my 50th birthday somewhere between Champaign & Tampa because I had to leave today to get there for bowling tomorrow night & I had to drive because I’m bringing tailgating stuff.
64
9
887
Someone explain. You can strip the ball. after a play is over? . And even if the play wasn't over, then he caught it again with a foot inbounds.
49
108
868
Folks, we’re having a little fun over here at Engine 77.
12
76
879
It has been 1️⃣4️⃣4️⃣0️⃣ days since Illinois lost to Wisconsin in basketball.
11
71
867
If Illinois and Wisconsin win out this week (and both should), Illinois will be 44-16 in the B1G the last 3 years, Wisconsin will be 39-21, Illinois will be 4-0 against Wisconsin in those 3 seasons (2 at Kohl, 2 at SFC), and Wisconsin will have 2 conference titles and Illinois 0.
79
69
868
I'll just say this. I'm over here crying in my fan soup, devastated by all that's happened in the last week, and this team - the ones who have actually had to deal with this (and then go play basketball) - have responded like warrior poets. There's fire in their eyes.
12
22
860
Seven years and seven days ago on the day Groce was fired. Sound on.
19
55
861
For immediate release:. Due to the unfortunate circumstance of press seating being sixty miles from the court, I have decided to eschew my press pass today, wear orange, buy a ticket, and sit in the stands. Just too big of a game to squint.
19
12
826
And at #1 on my list of Top Plays of 2024, the Rutgers Reversal. Greg Schiano calls timeout to ice our kicker, the test kick comes up short, so we send the offense back out for 4th & 13 with 14 seconds left and this happens. Merry Christmas, Illini fans. See you in Orlando.
9
50
858
I still don’t understand what happened. I’m sitting here in the press conference and I can’t concentrate. Still in complete disbelief. We’re going BOWLING.
15
25
801
So so so so thrilled for Dain to have moments like this.
5
25
817
The wait is over. 1,869 days later, we cheer for a ranked team again.
9
75
800
Can you imagine being the Epps family last night? Seeing your son do *that*, on ESPN, as a freshman, in Madison Square Garden, against the #2 team?.
10
17
808
It was not hyperbole when I tweeted that - it’s honestly the worst call I’ve ever seen.
38
111
795
That, right there, was the single loudest college basketball cheer in the country in the last 12 months. Well done, Illini nation. Life felt normal for a moment.
3
41
787
Just a fantastic day with my family. Everyone is A-OK. So glad I got to watch this game with them. See you all in Boston. 🧡💙.
7
5
795
I wish we weren’t talking about titles. Michigan postponed the game, MSU broke Ayo’s nose, three B1G teams had Covid cases which forced us into 6 games the final 2 weeks, 5 on the road. And we used all of that to go scorched earth on the entire conference. Let’s stay there.
21
39
766
We don't win that game without RJ Melendez. What incredible battle through all of the low points to get to this moment.
12
12
763
I'll just say it like this: I did not suffer through 5 winning seasons in 26 years from 1995 to 2020 to suddenly flip to "nine wins or I'm pissed" fandom in 2024. Especially not during a "wow, we need more talent" game against #1. I'm gonna wear bowl eligibility like sunscreen.
25
33
774
Have the Hat, have the Cannon, and have a shot to bring IlliBuck home next season. And yes, it is with a completely straight face that I say this 9-3 team — the 4th youngest in P4 football with 16 starters returning — has a good chance to beat Ohio State in Champaign next season.
19
29
785
How you feel about the Illini? You mean like signing up for a username on IlliniBoard to assure the fans that "everything is fine" when you were, in fact, meeting with another coach while in the process of flipping?. Flip all you want. Just don't lie *directly* to the fans.
22
45
750
This is so much fun. Going blow-for-blow with a 9-3 SEC team in the Citrus Bowl. Remember, Purdue lost 63-7 in this game two years ago. Amazing Illini crowd, too. FULLY invested.
4
20
780
With the home schedule complete, attendance since 2015:. 2015: 41,342.2016: 45,644 .2017: 39,429 .2018: 36,151 .2019: 36,587 .2021: 35,347 .2022: 43,048.2023: 49,698.2024: 54,750.
17
24
779
Had a dream that Nebraska beat Wisconsin, we beat Iowa, and we won a share of the Big Ten title. The students rushed the court, they shot confetti cannons… one of those dreams that’s so vivid you convince yourself it was real. Someday.
8
22
763
RIP Keith Jackson. Will be forever remembered as the voice of college football, but Illini fans will remember him for this innnncrrrredible call:
15
294
738
Maybe it was the orange-out, but this had the feeling of a game from the early 2000's. Michigan State in town, sold out Orange Out, crowd keeps getting louder and louder as we turn a nine point deficit into a nine point win in the final 12 minutes. So good to be back.
9
18
742
A very simple graphic for the Brad Underwood era. Here's every Big Ten game so far (including all Big Ten Tournaments). Blue = losses, Orange = wins.
15
55
734
Shoutout to whoever added this chart to the Braggin’ Rights Wikipedia page.
7
37
761
Illini Big Ten wins the last 10 years:. 2011: 9.2012: 6.2013: 8.2014: 7.2015: 9.2016: 5.2017: 8.2018: 4.2019: 7.2020: 9 with five games remaining.
13
48
732