Illinois actually wins Texas Bowl...Yeah, there is such a game

QB Nathan Scheelhaase and RB Mikel Leshoure/Courtesy: Darrell Homeann-illinihq.com

If we come off sounding sarcastic or anything else about the plethora of strange and odd bowl games, it because of games like this.

Sure, it's a great capper to a rebound season for Illinois, from 3-9 in 2009 to a 7-6 record this season is a nice comeback and the Zooker and his Illini do have reason to be proud of that. That 7th win came Wednesday night when they pounded Baylor, 38-14 in the Texas Bowl.

Your MVP, Illinois RB Mikel Leshoure, who ran for 184 yards and scored 3 times.

More on the game from Illinihq.com RIGHT HERE

If you actually stayed up Wednesday night and watched this game, good for you. You are either a hardcore, football alum from one of these schools or a crazed football addict with nothing better to do. We aren't trying to be haters, but think about it.

Anyway, yeah, sorry we are being grouchy about this, but we...or at least I don't think there should be 836 Bowl games every year. Sorry, I just don't. But hey, if it makes you happy, then great, congrats on a good win Illinois and as for Baylor...we thought you were better than that.

Here's your look at the game, thanks to our friends at the Big Ten Network...
((HT: BTN/Youtube))

Wrigley Game Down To One Endzone

Northwestern, Illinois and the Big Ten have agreed to run offense in only one direction at Wrigley Field because of concerns that the stadium's outfield wall is too close to the field behind one end zone.

Illinois SID Kent Brown says all parties agreed everyone will run only toward the west end zone.

Brown said the schools and conference were concerned that plays could run into the outfield wall behind the east end zone. The wall is heavily padded for the game but still only a couple of feet from the field.

If that much, really...

Illinois head coach Ron Zook and some of his players said this week that they were very aware of how close the outfield wall is to the field of play. Zook had said it could affect the play calling.

And that whole "people getting injured" thing...

Here's a piece our friends at MyFoxChicago ran when they thought they had two endzones...

Ron Zook Is A Desperate Man. Hires Paul Petrino As Offensive Coordinator

OSG Sports received word of a press conference Monday at 2pm where the University of Illinois will announce that Arkansas offensive coordinator Paul Petrino will be introduced as the Fighting Illni OC.

Illinois' offense couldn't throw the ball and couldn't score points. It was enough for Ron Zook to wipe out his offensive staff last Friday it what could be a desperate move by Zook to save his job.

Petrino is a good hire, if not an expensive hire for Illinois. Petrino made $308,000 this season with the Hogs and will get a sizable bump in pay. Reports have Paul Petrino making over $500,000.

With Petrino leaving Arkansas, will quarterback Ryan Mallett go into the NFL Draft. Let the dominoes fall.

Photo Courtesy: Jason Ivester/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

TWTW: (Name Redacted) Is So Fired...

((HT: CBS/Big Ten Network))

You won't believe the ending of the game between Fresno State and Illinois...

Down 52-51, the Bulldogs go for two...
They get it- rather unconventionally...

All those of us at OSG HQ can do is laugh...
Huzzahs to Devan Cunningham...

Here's the conversion...


And here's the extended version of the highlights- and there are a lot of them...