Illinois football coach Bret Bielema leaves little doubt in what he expects from his football team. Bielema also doesn’t shy away from moments, big or small.
The process is paramount. A step in that process was his personal homecoming to the place that he started his coaching career. This was widely billed as a statement game for his fledging program.
Illini fans were cautiously optimistic. It seemed too convenient and too perfect. The other shoe had to drop, at some point. After all, this is Illinois football.
The elite Illini defense held the Badgers to a single rushing yard for each decade since Illinois had won in Madison.