Aug. 28—CHAMPAIGN — When Bret Bielema leads his Illinois football team onto the Memorial Stadium turf Thursday night, it will be the 16th time as a head coach.
If, as Bill Shakespeare wrote, what’s past is prologue, then Bielema and Illinois will walk off the field with a win against Eastern Illinois.
In Bielema’s previous openers, his teams at Wisconsin, Arkansas and Illinois are a combined 14-1. The lone loss came in 2014, when the SEC sent Arkansas to Auburn for its debut. The Tigers rolled 45-14.
Bielema’s first opener as head coach in 2006 was neither home nor away. Wisconsin played Bowling Green at Cleveland Browns Stadium and won 35-14.
Bielema’s most lopsided opening win came in his final season at Arkansas. The Razorbacks rattled Florida A&M by 42, 49-7. Five of the games were decided by eight or fewer points, including 30-28 victory against Toledo to kick off the 2023 season.
Bielema’s teams have opened away from home three times, none at Illinois. The Illini are set to open at home in 2025 against Western Illinois on Aug. 30. The team could be sent on the road by the Big Ten in followings seasons. While opponents are known through 2028, dates and sites are still undetermined.
Almost half of Bielema’s openers have been in August, with the matchup against the Panthers the seventh. The earliest was the 2022 date against Wyoming, Aug. 27.
Counting it down
On a steamy Tuesday, Bielema met the media at the Smith Center for a 10-minute session. The team had just finished practice.
How is he feeling going into another season? “Because it’s been so many, there’s been an evolution,” Bielema said. “I don’t think there’s any doubt every year presents its own set of challenges and unique scenarios. You open up with a certain type of opponent, offense, defense. But coaching is coaching, you’ve got to adapt to the…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/bob-asmussen-first-impressions-144800155.html
Author : The News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
Publish date : 2024-08-28 14:48:00
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