Week 5 (9/28/2024) - vs McKendree University

[ST_Lawson]

VS
Date: 9/28/2024
Time: 6 PM
Location: Hanson Field, Macomb, IL
TV: ESPN+

McKendree's record - McKendree is 2-1 this season, with a loss at West Florida (38-6), a win at Lincoln University of Missouri (34-19), then a win in their home opener against MN State Moorhead (22-15).

History - WIU has played McKendree 5 times with McKendree holding a 2-3 series lead against us, although the last time the two teams played was 1935 (Ray Hanson's 10th season as HC), when it was a much different game.

Predictions - Massey says we have a 74% chance of winning this game, with a prediced score of 35-24. I hope it's not actually that close, but we haven't won in a while, so I understand why the model is unlikely to give us too much of an advantage.

It's the home opener, and it's Family Day and Ag Day (with the BBQ competition before the game), so hopefully there's a decent crowd. Weather is currently projected to be ~70 degrees at kickoff with a 35% chance of rain.
 
 
 

[wiu712]

I have to question the wisdom of having a night game for Family Weekend.

I would think that an afternoon game would be better for game attendance.

[vatusay]

If they lose this game just shut the program down, Pay everyone’s buy-outs, auction off Hanson field and call it a day. 

[4EverPurple&Gold]

If they lose this game just shut the program down, Pay everyone’s buy-outs, auction off Hanson field and call it a day. 

 

Couldn't of said it better...

But who knows, we don't know how to win and McKendree has nothing to lose 

[meganeck]

I have to question the wisdom of having a night game for Family Weekend.

I would think that an afternoon game would be better for game attendance.

 

I would have thought of coming down, but with a 6pm kickoff, no way am I heading down

[ST_Lawson]

I have to question the wisdom of having a night game for Family Weekend.

I would think that an afternoon game would be better for game attendance.


 

I would have thought of coming down, but with a 6pm kickoff, no way am I heading down

 

My guess on the reasoning for that is because early afternoon games that are early in the season are often really hot (I remember seeing people complaining about that in previous years). So they push them later in the day so it's not quite so bad. It looks like they went with 6 PM for the game in September, 3 PM for the October games, and 1 PM for the November games.
 

[jtrinaldi]

4 point favorites for this one. Gosh I really hate scheduling a d2 opponent to be the slump buster when we are no longer the battering ram in the MVC conference. 

[Western_101]

Has facilities maintenance or Musco Lighting replaced/fixed the multitude of non-functioning metal halide lamps that illuminate the field? If not it could be rather dim and inconsistent lighting.

[wiu712]

Saturday could be a rainy day.


 

[ST_Lawson]

Saturday could be a rainy day.


 

 

Looks like the forecast now is for Hurricane Helene to make it up to around the TN/KY area before starting to move back east. Rain not likely to get much further north than southern Illinois. Forecast for kickoff for our area currently says 74 degrees, mostly cloudy, and 4% chance of precipitation (it'll get up to 15% mid day, but drop in the late afternoon), and down to the mid-60s by the end of the game. Should be a beautiful night for football, but you'll probably want a jacket once the sun goes down.