Hail to the Orange

MnB B1G Preview: Illinois and the search for a steady hand - Maize n Brew

2012-05-21T22:05:09Z

MnB B1G Preview: Illinois and the search for a steady hand - Maize n Brew

Maize n Brew kick off their Illini preview week, and remind us all about Ron Zook again.

Ty Isaac chooses USC

2012-05-16T02:10:17Z

All those slim hopes you were foolishly holding onto that Joliet Catholic Academy and second ranked RB Ty Isaac would for some reason choose to suit up for the Illini football team can be thrown out with today's garbage: young Mr. Isaac has decided to move to Los Angeles and play for the USC Trojans.

The news is a bummer, but not exactly unexpected. It would have been pretty neat seeing Isaac paired in the backfield with Josh Ferguson, another JCA product, but oh well. Time to ramp up the efforts to land other running backs.

And keep in mind, in no way is my desire to land another homerun threat RB a knock on Kendrick Foster, who has already committed. I just want insurance. If we're not landing two or three running backs of at least three star caliber per recruiting class, the ground game will be screwed.

So who do I want? Taquan Mizzell. Am I likely getting my hopes up over another stud HB with offers from way too many other schools to realistically be an Illini? Yup. But he plays in Chris Beatty's turf and I am nothing if not a dreamer. Add a third impressive pelt to your 2013 recruiting resume, Coach Beatty.

Building a community

2012-05-10T23:34:42Z

Hi there. Please, have a seat. Today, I'd like to talk to you about community. No, not the show that NBC keeps trying to kill, but the thing that seems to be lacking here at Hail to the Orange.

Other than the gamethreads, there seems to be little to no conversation taking place on the site. Do we need more talking points? More open ended articles? What would you like from us, your writing staff?

Would you like more content? Would you like the site to cover more than just Illini football and basketball? Personally, I can't really cover much more than that as I no longer live in state, but surely we could find contributors who can. I'd like to see the site grow. I'd like to ruin the idiotic meme that Illinois fans are an apathetic bunch who don't know how to use computers. It's a lazy joke, but let's help put an end to it.

So what can we do to help you enjoy the site more? Let's ride the wave into the new era of Illini sports together.

DT Kenton Gibbs commits to Illinois

2012-05-10T15:31:59Z

Because it had been too long since we last had a player decide to call Chambana home, last night Kenton Gibbs declared his intentions to suit up as one of us. Gibbs is a three star defensive tackle out of Detroit who had offers from Toledo, Northern Illinois, Central Michigan, and Eastern Michigan. He's also drawn interest from the likes of Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State, and Notre Dame.

Gibbs is the 30th ranked DT in the 2013 class according to Rivals. He also gives us our ninth commit of the season, one third of which have been three star defensive lineman (Ohio DE Jarrod Clements and Belleville DT Merrick Jackson). Gibbs is 6'2" and already 290 lbs, so he won't need too much more bulking up to start playing in the trenches.

Gibbs cited defensive line coach Keith Gilmore and his ability to crank out NFL talent as a huge reason for coming to Illinois, which I'm more than happy about. It looks like Gilmore isn't going to struggle to replace Michael Buchanan and Akeem Spence after all. I want another couple of four stars to sign on before I go crazy, but landing our sixth three star (to go along with majestic four star QB and righter of all wrongs Aaron Bailey) before the spring semester lets out certainly has me excited.

Poll

How do you feel about the 2012 recruiting class so far?

Illinois to play Auburn at the United Center

2012-05-10T15:14:14Z

Illinois to play Auburn at the United Center

Because it's not really basketball season without a trip to the UC, come December 29th we'll be playing that other team from Alabama up in the city.

Champaign Room 5/5/2012: Beckman and Groce Makin Moves

2012-05-05T18:44:51Z

Its new players! Its the Draft! Its offseason talk at its finest.

Eff it, lets listen to the podcast.

CR552012

Sam McLaurin is Heading to Illinois, and uh I Guess He's Excited?

2012-05-03T22:15:49Z

Warning to all of our sensitive readers: adult language ahead.

Please welcome aboard the newest member of #IlliniNation Sam McLaurin the fifth year transfer from Coastal Carolina.

And yes, that is indeed how Sam announced his intentions to head to Champaign. He later clarified that this tweet was a result of "over-excitement" on his part; but you can never take back your first impressions, Sam. It's too late, you are already my favorite player on the team.

The one thing I have to say though, is that "Fuck it", when I say it, doesn't usually come before something I am excited about, but rather something I know isn't a good idea. You know, like "Fuck it, I am getting a baconator" or "Fuck it, one more all-nighter of Call of Duty won't kill me."

You know, stuff I know I am going to regret.

My point is, I am proud to be your baconator, Mr McLaurin. We, like the baconator, offer an intriguing challenge of endurance and scale you just wont find everywhere, and also like the baconator, we will likely push you to your limits, leave you satisfied though slightly beaten up.

.....Fuck it, I am going to go get a baconator.

Sam McLaurin transfers to Illinois

2012-05-03T17:57:32Z

Sam McLaurin transfers to Illinois

Worried we wouldn't have size after Meyers Leonard left us? Stop worrying. 6'8" Sam McLaurin is transferring from Coastal Carolina.