Catch up a bit (again)

Workout notes:

Thursday: 4 mile lower Bradley course in 56:26 (14:05 pace)

Friday: 2 commuter walks totaling 5k, plus weights as follows:

pull ups: 5 singles (with scapular), set of 5 (scapular first), 5 chins, 5 chins, 10, 5, 5, 5, 5

bench press: 10 x 134, then 4 x 160, 5 x 155, 4 x 155, 6 x 150
high incline: 2 sets of 10 x 84, 10 x 94 (oh-so-slight slide away in the final rep or 2)

curls: 3 sets of 10.

Today: easy 2 mile walk. They hay is in the barn. Weather: some rain expected, starting at 70 F and actually dropping a degree or two during the race. Should not be as brutal as Mahomet. Just keep the 2:50 pace group in front of me until the end, and I should be fine.

Illinois football: I don’t comment much on TV games, but this one: I took Illinois and the points. In public, I said that I expected Nebraska to win a tight battle, but on Off Tackle Empire I was one of the 15 percent that picked the Illini to win.

From the game: I was surprised that the Illini passing attack was as sharp as it was. Receivers were open all day long and the quarterback had time to throw. I was surprised that Nebraska didn’t run better: Kansas had 182 rushing yards against us, and Central Michigan had 142.

There were some key plays: in the first half, a pass in the end zone was ruled as a touchdown, then ruled to be an interception. The overrule was correct by modern rules; you have to “complete the catch.” When I played (high school in the 1970’s) the ruling would have been “receiver in the end zone with possession: touchdown.” So, the game remained tied at 10.

Later, Illinois had the ball on 4’th down and went for it. Referees missed a face mask penalty and Nebraska got the stop, and promptly marched for a touchdown and a 17-10 halftime lead.

Then, with the game tied at 24 and about 8 minutes to go, a strip sack set up Nebraska in good field position. They drove it to the Illini 22 and had 3’rd and 3. Instead of a run or a short pass (open all day), they took an end zone shot. Receiver WAS open but the Freshman QB overthrew him. Then on 4’th, the back up kicker missed a 39 yard field goal.

The Illini could not get close enough and so punted and Nebraska decided to play for overtime.

First overtime: Illinois scored, then on their possession, Nebraska went backwards (though their fans complained about a late hit that would have given them a first down).

My thoughts: Nebraska played a very sloppy, undisciplined game. Illinois did what they needed to do; their coach is a good “road game” coach. Illinois is 4-0 with 2 wins over “ranked, but probably should not have been ranked” teams: Kansas and Nebraska.

This was a good game between evenly matched, “Beef O’Brady’s Bowl” caliber teams.