Illinois
Nebraska’s Maturity Will Be Tested Following Crushing Illinois Loss
Before the Illinois game, Nebraska football fans and players were seemingly on top of the world.
Everything was going perfectly so far during the 2024 season. The Huskers were 3-0 and were the talk of college football. True freshman phenom Dylan Raiola could seemingly do no wrong, and the Huskers were ready to make another national statement against Illinois on Friday night in a primetime-ranked showdown. Instead, the Huskers showed the entire country that they were not yet ready to take that next step.
The 31-24 loss to the Fighting Illini was frustrating for a number of reasons. It felt like Nebraska was the better team for most of the game but they could not put any separation between themselves and Illinois. Anytime they had a chance to go up by two scores, they failed to take advantage. It all culminated in a disastrous overtime period that led to Illinois players celebrating all over the field at Memorial Stadium. The sea of red in the crowd could only watch in disappointment.
The Huskers’ fan base is used to this kind of disappointment. After all, Nebraska has not beaten a ranked team since 2016. But there was a hope that this team would be different, and not subject the fan base to the familiar disappointment that they have associated with Nebraska football for the last several years. But despite the loss and the familiar feeling that fans have this week, there is still plenty of time to turn things around.
Despite the gloomy atmosphere surrounding the Huskers this week, the team still has everything to play for. Losing the conference opener is certainly not an ideal way to begin the season, but there is plenty of time to make up for it. Nebraska’s next three games are against unranked conference opponents. They play Purdue on the road before returning home to face Rutgers. Then they will get a much-needed bye week before facing off against Indiana on the road.
None of those games will likely be easy for the Huskers, but each one is a great opportunity to get a conference win. If Nebraska can take care of business and win all three of those games, then they will set up another ranked match-up with Ohio State on Oct. 26 in Columbus. That will be the best opportunity that Nebraska has all season to get a marquee victory.
Sure, it will be a tall task to win that game, but the Huskers have four weeks and three games to work out the issues that were apparent in the Illinois game. Coach Matt Rhule’s ability to improve his team and prepare them for the upcoming slate will say a lot about him as a head coach. How the Huskers respond to their first loss of the season will also say a lot about the maturity level of the team.
It is going to take a lot of maturity to turn this season around after a loss like that. The Illinois game is not the end of the world unless the Huskers allow it to be.
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People ran out of their homes into the cold overnight Tuesday into Wednesday after a fire broke out in an apartment building in the western Chicago suburb of Woodridge.
The fire broke out in a multi-family building at 7900 Janes Ave., near Forest Drive.
Smoke was seen billowing as firefighters stood on the roof.
One firefighter suffered minor injuries fighting the blaze, according to the Lisle-Woodridge Fire Protection District.
Fire officials said several units have major damage, and the families who reside in them have been displaced.
The American Red Cross was assisting the displaced residents Wednesday morning.
STICKNEY, Ill. (WLS) — The future of racing at Hawthorne Race Course in south suburban Stickney is in jeopardy.
The Illinois Racing Board suspended its harnesses racing license. In a letter sent Monday to Hawthorne’s president and general manager, the state agency said the track failed to prove its financial integrity.
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Jeff Davis, president of the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association, says the past two months have been rough.
“We don’t really know details, but what we do know is people have not been paid since before Christmas,” Davis said.
Davis says checks started bouncing, which led to races being canceled over the past few weekends.
SEE ALSO | Hawthorne Race Course not offering window betting for Kentucky Derby amid Churchill Downs dispute
“Six weeks ago, they couldn’t cash a $400 check to a trainer,” Davis said.
The remaining three races left this season are unlikely unless Hawthorne owners can prove financial stability. Hawthorne officials have not returned messages seeking comment on the issue. But it is just one of many issues facing the track. There has been an effort for nearly six years to get an approved casino up and running, but the owners cannot find a partner.
“Horse racing in every state now only survives because it has additional forms of revenue from casinos, slot machines,” said Paulick Report Publisher Ray Paulick.
Hawthorne is the only racetrack in the Chicago area and has the right to veto another one built within 35 miles. But those in the industry hope a bill before the state legislature will repeal that.
“The harness horsemen are asking the state legislature to take away that exclusivity, because Hawthorne isn’t in a position to build another track if they can’t keep the one they have going,” Paulick said.
READ MORE | Hawthorne Race Course, Illinois’ oldest horse racing track poised to be first with casino
In the meantime, Davis says he hopes the season can be salvaged.
“It really is sad. It’s a 100-year-old business. They’ve been trying, but I don’t know if they have the ability to actually get done what they’ve been awarded to do,” Davis said.
The Illinois Racing Board will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, and Hawthorne’s owner is scheduled to give an update on the track.
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Police pursued suspects wanted in an armed 7-Eleven robbery in Cicero, Illinois, on Tuesday morning.
According to police, officers responded to a call for an armed robbery at 35th Street and Austin Boulevard around 3:30 a.m.
Staff told police several armed and masked individuals came into the store, possibly from two vehicles, and fled with cash.
Police identified and pursued one of the vehicles onto 290, but the chase was terminated on 290.
No injuries were reported.
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