Illinois Football: Illini Fans Please Keep Hope Despite Losing

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Despite the loss last night, the Illinois football team brought in a great group of fans that packed Memorial Stadium.

So many Illinois Fighting Illini fans showed up that it was sold out for the first time since the 2011 season. That is impressive and sad at the same time.

It is sad because that is how long we have been bad enough to where the Illini fan base didn’t want to come to games.

But, it is impressive because the game was a sell-out and the future is bright for the Illini.

I was actually asked last night why it was the first sell-out in five years. The person asked me why it was such a big deal.

The answer I gave this person was just one word; Lovie.

Get the FanSided App

If you implant a different coach with the same team then I think it is a different story. If Bill Cubit or Tim Beckman was still on those sidelines then I think that Stadium isn’t nearly as filled.

I explained to this person that Lovie is bringing out a new level of excitement and hope to this Illinois fan base.

Illinois wasn’t making shirts that said ‘Beckman’ or ‘Cubit’ but they are making shirts that say ‘Lovie’. This all has to do with the Lovie Effect.

But, my biggest fear is that this great Illini fan base will lose some of that hope that Lovie has brought out just because we lost to North Carolina.

illinois fighting illini

Writing Illini 2wIllinois Basketball: Mayan Kiir Could Be the Next Piece to the Puzzle

More headlines around FanSided:

2w - Illinois Basketball: Illini add point guard Trent Frazier to already stout recruiting class 2w - Illinois Basketball: 3 Areas Trent Frazier Will Improve the Illini 2w - Illinois Sports: Trent Frazier Commits to Illinois Fighting Illini 2w - Illinois Basketball: Trent Frazier Creates Stability with Commitment 2w - Illinois Basketball: Ranking the Illini Recruiting Classes for the Last DecadeMore News at Writing Illini

While I was extremely disappointed in how some key players played, I don’t think this is panic mode by any means.

This also doesn’t mean we are the same old Illini team that just beats up on the weak competition but folds against the tough guys.

When I was watching the game last night I could feel the buzz. I could feel the sense of hope fluttering around like the weird little moths that would take nose dives at you.

This hope continued throughout the entire game until the realization of an inevitable Illini loss hit.

But, that hope shouldn’t be gone. That hope needs to return every game because the thing that Josh Whitman and Lovie are building isn’t a one or two game project.

The future of the Illini isn’t going to be built in a short time. The great thing being built will take time and Illinois fans need to wait.

I still have the hope and excitement. This game had a different feel and I don’t think this team is that far away from competing against teams like North Carolina.

I am excited about the future of the Illinois football program. There is a lot to be hopeful for and I just want the Illini fan base to continue believing in what is being built in Champaign.