The 90 Illini #59: Nate Guinn

47 is the big threshold for The 90 Illini. Once you get to player #47 we're basically talking about the two-deep (22 on offense, 22 on defense) plus the starting kicker, punter, and longsnapper. The next dozen spots after that – let's say 48 through 59 – would be the players right on the edge of cracking that two-deep. So once we get into the 50's (hey look, we're now in the 50's), these are the numbers to learn when you head out to Camp Rantoul to watch practice.

Wait - I've just been handed a note: Camp Rantoul is no longer a thing. Well, when you head to campus to check out practice, you should watch for.... sorry, another note here. Apparently fans are no longer allowed at practice? So when you head to the stadium for the open scrimmages in August, make sure you note that.... my God, this guy won't stop handing me notes. No scrimmages are open either?

So, like, all of those clips of open-for-the-first-few-weeks NFL training camps that we see right now, with fan excitement and beat reporter exaggeration at an all-time high... that's not something Illinois is interested in? That very specific part of our fanbase culture which was canceled during Covid and then "do you think anyone will notice?" eliminated... it's just gone?

This very special and unique part of who we are is trashed, everyone is scratching their heads at attendance meetings and wondering why we haven't sold out a game since 2016, noting that we drew 43k for the opener in 2012 but only 37k for the opener in 2022 when everything felt more stable, and no one raises their hand at that meeting and says "we eliminated the part of the Illini preseason experience that connected fans to the team"?

Sorry. That just bubbles up and boils over from time to time. I'll talk about Nate Guinn now.