Illinois AD Josh Whitman on playing in Ireland for Week Zero in 2021: 'We need those big stages'
On Monday, it was announced that Illinois would be opening its 2021 season in Ireland.
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The Fighting Illini will be playing Nebraska at a time to be determined during Week Zero of the season. Following the news coming out, Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman spoke with the media:
#illini Whitman: Trip to Italy with men's basketball team this summer reinforced how big of an impact trips like these can have on student-athletes.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) October 14, 2019
#illini Whitman: Giving up a home football game was not one we came to easily. It took time for us to dive into the elements on the cost and benefits of the Ireland game.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) October 14, 2019
#illini Whitman: Looked at several opponents. Didn't want to give up cross-divisional opponent we rarely host.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) October 14, 2019
#illini Whitman: Our plan is to field a high-level team and go over for a high-profile win.
"We need those big stages."
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) October 14, 2019
#illini Whitman: Irish American Events and other sponsors help make up for loss of revenue by giving away a home game.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) October 14, 2019
#illini Whitman: I hope most of our fans, many of our fans, will make the journey with us across the Atlantic.
"Hope there's a FOMO, fear of missing out."
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) October 14, 2019
#illini Whitman: The connection with Chicago can't be overstated, one of the most Irish-American cities in the US.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) October 14, 2019
#illini Whitman: Big day for our football program. We're excited about what this can be mean for our student-athletes. Players are really excited. I hope our fans will embrace that same enthusiasm.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) October 14, 2019
#illini Whitman on if this is like a bowl trip: We hope to have a couple more bowl trips between now and then. Few bowls have an international flavor.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) October 14, 2019
#illini Whitman: From a recruiting perspective, I think it'll be helpful.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) October 14, 2019
Whitman also talked about everyone being able to watch Illinois football since the game will be in Week Zero of the season:
#illini Whitman: Week Zero game is really appealing. "All eyes of the college football world will be on us."
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) October 14, 2019
Fans didn’t seem to be as enthusiastic:
Do we want that …
— Matt (@illini_matt) October 14, 2019
Watching them get whooped. Not gonna be much to brag on when Isaiah and Marquez transfer this offseasons
— Stephon Urkelle (@Randall57477001) October 14, 2019
…and that’s a good thing??
— Thomas Vee (@ThomasVee1) October 14, 2019
That's what I'm afraid of…
— Chase Meislahn (@Illini4life217) October 14, 2019
Not a lot of positivity coming from Illinois fans. Realistically, a losing team has this kind of thinking. What fan base is thrilled when its favorite team is losing consistently? If a team is good and playing well, fans can be optimistic about anything thrown their way.
When the team is losing? Even a trip overseas that every player on the roster will remember forever will draw a negative reaction.
