It's Game Time!

IlliniBeat is currently at the Shoe in Columbus, Ohio to cover the 2009 installment of the Illibuck rivalry! Check back as the game draws closer to get up to the minute news on today's game.

35 Minutes before game time- OSU comes out of the locker room tunnel and after their traditional huddle in the end zone, the Buckeyes charged mid-field and met with the Illini for some heated trash talk.

The OSU band is taking the field. I love this part.

Acting as Coin Toss Captains are Juice, Garrett Edwards, Doug Pilcher, and Asamoah. For OSU; Cloemanm, Spitler, Sanzenbacher, and Worthington. OSU to receive.

Returning for OSU Laamar Thomas to the 26.

OSU opening up with the quick passing game as I expected. Looking to get Pryor some confidence. Hardeman with great pressure.

OSU punts for 22 yards.

Illinois is obviously trying to make a statement. Going on it on 4th down isn't risky here, but it sure isn't conservative.

Juice really seemed to be in sync with his hot read, but going down field is a different story. Rolle with a 39 yard pick.

Clay Nurse just saved a huge play! We are already seeing Terrelle Pryor's scrambling ability.

OSU hits a 50 yard field goal. Aaron Pettrey as a previous long of 52 yards, so this was known to be in his range.

To this point Illinois has moved the ball better than OSU, but the turnovers are going to kill us. We need to play more disciplined football to win another game in the Shoe.

That is why Benn is going to the NFL. He just took that ball out of the air. Then next play it goes right back to him for 9 more. Illinois still looks good on offense. I know they threw a pick, but they are moving the ball.

Todd Denlinger just picked up his third sack for his career.

Anthony Santella punts for 39 yards, fair caught by Ray Small. Santella is averaging 39.8 yards this year... a nice improvement.

Here comes the rain! Let's see how that affects OSU's run heavy offense.

Russel Ellington made a nice tackle there, he was taking on a lineman and still got a strong arm out.

As I predicted, Brandon Saine is looking great today. 11+ yards per carry so far.

OSU is benefiting from some great down field blocking. On almost every one of these big runs, there is a lineman down field hitting someone.

Clay Nurse is having a good game! Two tackles for loss, both on Pryor, for a total of -10 yards. This one also happened to stop the Bucks on 3rd down.

Aaron Pettrey does it again... 46 yard field goal.

And for all of you who hate the guy who runs on the field and holds up the game for TV timeouts... He just blew his role and caused a re-kick, because he allowed the kick to happen while TV was still at break.

#24 Marcus Williams is down for OSU.

I feel like the read option is working well. Illinois is hitting the holes and making decisions quickly.

Pollard fumbles and if Anderson Russel has two more yards till the side line, it's OSU ball. Buckeye fans are booing, but it was the right call.

Clay Nurse does it again with a tackle for loss on Pryor, but this time it's nullified by a face mask penalty.

Shotgun... Meet foot. Illinois is killing themselves with two, 15-yard personal fouls this drive.

Terrelle Pryor is 0-2 passing, and we still can't stop their offense. Illinois needs to stop making mistakes with penalties and shore up the outside run defense.

Dan "Boom" Herron with his 10th career rushing touchdown.

Email me at IlliniBeat@gmail.com with any game questions.

Anthony Santella just hit his season high for a punt on that kick. 43 yards.

Ellington is having a good game for Illinois.

Fayson returning the punt make a mental mistake... Instead of fair catching the ball at about the 30, he lets is bounce to inside the 10. Illini ball.

Ray Small fumbles the punt, and Illinois takes over in OSU territory. We need to score here.

Rejus Benn almost hooked up with a deep Juice pass for a TD. Instead the Buckeyes commit pass interference.

5 men in the backfield? Illinois shoots themselves again with a dumb penalty.

Now Fayson drops a wide open pass... The last 5 minutes have been very sloppy for the Illini.

And now holding. Two years ago the Illini didn't commit a single penelty in the first half to beat OSU. This year has been the exact opposite.

Santella punts for 46 yards, inside the Illini 5... Pryor takes a knee to end the half.

OSU 13- Ill 0 in what could be a very different game if Illinois could play more disciplined.

My hopes that Illinois would cut out the penalties were quickly wiped out... Holding on the kickoff return.

First play after the kickoff, Juice is sacked by Thadeus Gibson. That was Gibson's 15th career sack.

Thad again. Gibson hits Juice Williams and causes a fumble. Illinois recovers and will have to punt.

Santella had looked good until that punt... 27 yards.

So far Terrelle just looks plain bad at throwing the ball. Sanzenbacher was wide open, and Pryor couldn't hit him for the first down.

And there it is. Two quarters and 3 minutes into the game, Pryor completes his first pass. The former number one High School player in the nation is now 1-4, 7 yards.

Dan "Boom" Herron scores his second touchdown of the day. 5 for the season, 11 for the career.

20-0 OSU.

Benn fumbles the kickoff. This has just been a sloppy, sloppy game.

Well, the Ohio State defense has really stepped it up a notch. Coming out, OSU was allowing Illinois to develop plays. The defense has really put the pressure on, and now the Illini offense looks like it is rushing things and trying to force a play.

Once again, the OSU defense put pressure on Illinois, and we didn't respond. The outside blitz has been stopped so far, but it's allowing for the interior defensive lineman to get a free shot up the middle. Lawrence Wilson bats the pass and intercepts Williams for the second INT. of his career.

Today's attendance broke the 105,000 mark, good for the 17th all time mark in the Shoe.

Sanzenbacher just caught the second pass of the day and followed it up with the third on the next play.

There have been some really disheartening stats this season... How about Rejus Benn with only 4 catches and 35 yards after 8 quarters of football.

Illinois is behind OSU in penalties this game 8-1.

Don't turn the game off. Juice Williams is less than 80 yards away from breaking the all-time school total offense record.

Getting to Know the Buckeyes

First let's get a little history about the stadium we are going to play in. Ohio Stadium was built in 1922 and held its first game on October 7th against Ohio Wesleyan. Originally holding 66,000 fans, the Horseshoe now lists a capacity of 102,329. On September 12 this year, Ohio State hosted USC in front of a stadium record crowd of 106,033. Ranking fourth all time, the Buckeyes have won 386 times at home. The crowd who took in Illinois' win in 2007 ranks seventh all time in the stadium record books; 105,453 people witnessed the Illini beat the number one ranked Buckeyes.

Head Coach Jim Tressel is almost a sure fire NCAA Hall of Famer. Before he was the Head of the Bucks, Tressel's team was Division II Youngstown State. From 1986 to 2000, The sweater vest wearing one compiled a record of 137-57-2 including 4 National Championships and two additional National Runner-ups. In 2001, Tressel moved his winning ways to Ohio State where it only took him 2 seasons to get his National Championship. After eight seasons in Columbus, Tressel now has 3 National Coach of the Year awards, a 52-12 record against Big Ten teams, and maybe most importantly in Buckeye country... a 7-1 record against Michigan. With a career record of 220-77-2, Tressel will be coaching his 300th college game this Saturday.

Quarterback Terrelle Pryor Buckeye fans seem to waver back and forth on this guy. From one stand point, he is one of the most athletic guys in the NCAA. On the other hand, his passing skills don't seem to fit the mold of the typical OSU quarterback. When you think of Ohio State quarterbacks, you think of guys who like to stand tall in the pocket and deliver accurate passes while his bulldozer of a running back helps move the ball in chunks. Pryor is the definition of a home run hitter with his feet. This season he averages 6.3 yards per carry and is putting up just under 60 yards per game. That is the good. He is only passing for a 57% rate and has a one to one touchdown to interception ratio. That is not good. Last year Pryor didn't need to bring his arm to the game. As a freshman, he ran for over 100 yards and wasn't sacked a single time, but failed to break the 50 yard mark throwing the ball. The key here will be the pressure we put on Pryor. If you cover the receivers well but don't get to him, he will kill you with his feet. The way to contain him is to force him out of the pocket to throw the ball, not wait for him to leave it himself as he runs for another OSU first down.

Wide Receiver Dane Sanzenbacher Sanzenbacher isn't a guy, as Dave Biddle put it, "Who will put fear into opposing defenses." But at the same time, the 5'11" junior finds himself as the only wideout ranked in the top ten for Big Ten yards per game who has less than 10 receptions. That comes as a product of the offensive game plan, however any guy who only averages 3 catches per game but is 4th in the conference in in yards impresses me. Doing the math, he averages just under 27 yards per catch... not bad considering the closest guy to him averages 7 yards less than that. It's easy to tell where this statistical anomaly comes from. In each game this season, Pryor and Sazenbacher have hooked up at least once with a connection that ranked in the top three longest plays of the season. Against Navy there was a 38 yarder, USC saw a 56 yarder, and Toledo had to watch the two hook up for a 76 yard touchdown. The biggest thing will be preventing any of these big plays. The OSU passing game doesn't scare me for the most part, but it only takes one good play action play to change that in a hurry.

Running Back Dan "Boom" Herron The depth chart still says the same thing at running back as it did the last three weeks; Herron. But I question whether or not the sophomore is the best option for the Buckeyes. If you go off of stats, it appears the best back this year has been junior Brandon Saine. Herron may have three touchdowns to Saine's zero, but Saine's 5.3 yards per carry look much better than Herron's 3.2. Herron continues to get the heavy load, though, as he has carried the ball 50 times this season compared to Saine's 19. Jordan Hall was impressive in the Toledo game as the freshman saw the first action of his young career, and it sounds like the coaching staff is pretty set on him being the number three guy in their rotation. Keeping in mind that Herron only gained 29 yards on 12 carries last year against the Illini in a game where both Benie Wells and Terelle Pryor rushed for over 100 yards, I am not expecting a big game. I would guess that Herron still gets more carries than Saine tomorrow, but I would think that Saine's 217 lbs. frame and experience would get him some red zone carries soon.

Defensive End Cameron Heyward Heyward is one of the most versatile defensive lineman in the Big Ten. At 6'6", 287 lbs., it is easy to see why he was mainly recruited for the defensive tackle position. Twenty-nine games and seven and a half sacks later, Heyward is doing his damage mostly as an over sized defensive end. He is quicker than you would expect for a guy his size, and sometimes the Buckeyes will take advantage of that by sliding him over to tackle and getting some extra pressure on the quarterback. The kid has a great "motor" as coaches say, and he loves to play till the whistle... That, and according to this picture, he can fly... which I think is sorta neat. The OSU defensive line as a whole is much better now than it was when Illinois beat OSU 2 years ago. I like Doug Worthington a lot. He's another versatile player with a good motor. A big key in this game will be whether Illinois' offensive line can slow down the OSU front four.

Middle Linebacker Brian Rolle Rolle does not fit the prototypical middle linebacker mold. At only 5'11" he is the shortest of the six linebackers in the two deep. Coming into the season, a lot of people thought the MLB spot would go to senior Austin Spitler who backed up All-American James Lauriniatis. There was a battle for the starting spot, and in the end Rolle came away the starter with Spitler moving over to outside linebacker. What Rolle lacks in size, he makes up for with his ability to cover good ground. Coming into the game tomorrow, Rolle is averaging 8.3 tackles per game, good for 9th in the Big Ten. I don't see him as a guy who you always know you can depend on every play like A.J. Hawk or Laurinaitis, but I do think he knows his role (no pun intended). One think I can say for sure is that he reminds me of Illinois safety Donsay Hardeman in that he loves to lay someone out with a big hit whenever possible. Brian is a cousin of Arizona Cardinal Antrel Rolle.

Orange Out Penn State!

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics is calling for an "Orange Out" at Memorial Stadium for the Oct. 3 Penn State football game. The "Orange Out" is being sponsored by The News-Gazette, WHMS, and WDWS.

Coca-Cola is providing orange metallic shakers for the first 60,000 fans in Memorial Stadium. Nearly all Illinois fans already wear their orange to Memorial Stadium, but everyone is asked to do so for this game.

The contest featuring Ron Zook's Fighting Illini and Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions is set for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff. The game has been sold out since Sept. 9.

"Our fans have always provided an amazing atmosphere for home games and an `Orange Out' will only take that to the next level," Zook said. "We have been a part of some of these games at other stadiums and it energizes a crowd and presents problems for the visiting team. The team looks forward to playing in front of a sold-out crowd that's all wearing orange next week."

While the Penn State game and the Oct. 10 Michigan State game are sold out, tickets remain available for games with Michigan (Oct. 31), Northwestern (Nov. 14), and Fresno State (Dec. 5). Only limiting seating is available for Michigan and Northwestern before Illinois must open the first five obstructed rows. Tickets are available at FightingIllini.com or at 1-866-ILLINI-1.

Information and picture courtesy of Illinois DIA.

Dave Biddle of Bucknuts.com Weighs in on this Weekend's Game

IlliniBeat was lucky enough to interview Bucknuts.com's Dave Biddle this week and get his view on the upcoming clash between Illinois and OSU. Bucknuts is in my opinion the premier site on the net for a behind the scenes look at the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Biddle was the sports editor of The Madison Press in London, Ohio for nearly five years (February 2000-December 2004). While at the Press, he won three Associated Press Awards, including two for Best Sports Writer. Biddle also held the position of sports editor at the Kettering-Oakwood Times in Dayton, Ohio from July 1999-February 2000.

Let's talk about Terrelle Pryor. Any quarterback who starts that young is going to need mechanics work. What changes have you noticed in Pryor this year compared to his freshman year, and where does he still need to improve?

"Well, first of all his throwing mechanics are improving, they're still a little ways off though. His throwing motion was a little bit too long, that, and he needed to do a better job of stepping into his throws; he tended to throw off of his back foot a lot. He's gotten better at that this year, but he still has work to do. No question he has a strong arm, and he's still such a young guy. You can compare him to Juice Williams a little bit, and maybe he will really start to get it towards the end of his sophomore season. A lot of quarterbacks in their mold red shirt like Vince Young, and they weren't given that luxury."

And mentally he must be tough to start at OSU as a true freshman. Where can he improve there?

"He really doesn't do a real good job of going through all of his checks. He's better this year in that if his primary receiver isn't there he can check down once, but he's not a guy who will go through four or five progressions. He still tends to get happy feet. If his primary guy isn't open, he'll check down once, maybe twice, then he's off. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. He's always going to be what he is, and that's a guy who can kill you with his running skills. He's trying to become a pocket passer. I think you saw that a little bit last week against Toledo (262 passing yards, 3 passing TD). But against USC, I feel like he didn't run the ball nearly enough, was going out of bounds too early, wasn't taking those big hits that maybe he would have taken last year. He's working through that, and it looked better against Toledo...He did a better job of finishing his rushes."

Does he seem more comfortable this year with things like time management, watching film, and just daily football life?

"No question about it because, as you know, a lot of guys who play early as freshman are the ones who were able to come in for spring ball the year before. And that wasn't the case for him. He wasn't able to get in until June. He came in trying to just learn the offense and became the starter week 4. It was sort of a surprise to everyone. Todd Boeckman was a captain and 6th year senior... I think it shocked people how bad he was playing. Terrelle took over and didn't really know the nuances of the position at the college level that well. I definitely think he has a better command of the offense, although they aren't giving him the freedom to go out there and just call plays. Basic stuff. It really did help to get him a full spring with his teammates, and he is getting there. But, like I said, as a whole quarterback package, he's still a little bit away from where they need him to be."

I know Ohio State has battled Penn State for the title of linebacker U, but most people don't realize that the Buckeyes recently have been turning out wide receivers at almost the same rate. Going back to Cris Carter who retired in 2002 with 130 NFL touchdown catches, you have names like Joey Galloway, Terry Glen, Santonio Holmes, and Ted Ginn Jr. OSU has been lucky to have a go-to-guy on offense that when it's third and seven, you want the ball in his hands. This year there seems to be a lack of the obvious go-to-wide receiver although Dane Sanzenbacher has looked good. Is he the guy you would say is stepping into that role?

"Yeah, no question about it right now, Dane is the number one receiver... DeVier Posey, you could call a close second. I would say that Ohio State has two very solid number twos but not that game breaker. Sanzenbacher is a guy who's very solid...I don't think he is the type that will put a lot of fear into top opposing defenses. He's quicker than fast, a guy who probably runs in the middle to low 4.5's in the 40 meter. He will probably never be a 4.4 guy, but he's very quick out there, runs good routes, very sure hands. He's really not that big of a guy at 5'11", 180 lbs. So he's the number one, but ideally he's the kind of guy you'd like to have at the number two spot. Posey is stepping up, he's a sophomore where as Sanzenbacher is a junior. Nobody really knew heading into the season which one of them would take the number one spot. Sanzenbacher got it, but Posey has been playing well as well. I would guess that Posey has the higher ceiling, he's the bigger guy at 6'3", 205 lbs., a high 4.4 guy, not as quick as Dane...It's a good battle between the two. Also taking a role early is freshman Duron Carter, Cris Carter's son."

Illini fans may remember former recruiting target Lamaar "Flash" Thomas. Where is the sophomore fitting into the OSU offense?

"He's currently the fifth receiver on the roster, I think some expected and hoped he would be playing a bigger role than that. The Buckeyes really cut it off after the top four guys, and if you're not in that top four you're going to be hard pressed to get a lot of playing time offensively. His biggest role is as Ohio State's primary kickoff returner. They've really struggled and been one of the worst teams in the nation on kick returns since Ted Ginn Jr. left. According to the assistant coaches though, they like him, they like his speed and his agility, they think he brings a lot to the table. He's just still learning to be a true wide receiver after he played all over in high school."

Looking at the recruiting classes recently, OSU has really been cleaning up. Tell me about some of the young guys we all hear about like running back Jaamal Berry. Who has stepped up?

"Well, Berry hasn't played yet in a game. He was the guy who was supposed to be the top running back in the class. They actually signed three of them, one of them didn't make it academically, he was also from Florida like Berry. The guy who has been the big surprise has been Jordan Hall. He was the lowest rated of the three signed... a former teammate of Terelle Pryor, just a year younger. He had huge stats as a high school junior. Then last year as a senior without Pryor, he rushed for 35 touchdowns, and even still people wondered if he was just a throw in with Terrelle Pryor. He's been impressing people since the preseason scrimmage though, and I think it's impressive that he's been able to win the number three spot behind Dan "Boom" Herron and Brandon Saine. Berry was the higher regarded of the two, just had all of the accolades, but really Jordan Hall has been very impressive. Coach Tressel says that he doesn't want to red shirt Jaamal, but it's getting to the point where you start wondering if that's going to happen. I feel that the top three running backs are set because Hall has looked so good and not just as a freshman. I would guess that barring an injury, Berry red shirts."

Illini fans were happy to find out that running back Justin Green had changed his mind and decided to play for the Illini instead of the Buckeyes last year. They weren't so happy however to find out that DE Melvin Fellows was doing the same thing but going the opposite direction. What's the plan for Fellows?

"Well, he had a knee injury his final year of high school which caused him to have surgery. He was selected for the Ohio vs. Pennsylvania Big 33 Classic, which is a pretty big all-star game around here and wasn't able to play. That was in June. He thought he would be 100% by the time he got to fall camp. That wasn't the case, so they've decided to red shirt him. He's really not that far off, he's been able to practice a little bit. It seems like a pretty straight up trade between Fellows and Green, we'll have to wait and see. I really do feel that he will challenge to crack the rotation at defensive end though, if he is healthy."

Two years ago, Juice was able to run out the clock in the fourth quarter by running up the middle repeatedly. From that point on people were saying that the defensive tackle spot position was maybe a weakness compared to years in the past. Do you feel that OSU has solidified the D-tackle position?

"They've looked very impressive this year. It's hard to call the position a weakness in years past because the Buckeyes ranked so high in run defense, but you didn't really see the defensive tackles dominating the guards they went up against. Now the group has played for three years together for the most part. You have senior Doug Worthington and junior Dexter Larimore. Then there is senior Todd Denlinger who is technically the number three, but they have a true freshman who's coming on, John Simon, who is already one of the strongest on the team, if not the strongest. He's playing a lot and that's really rare at Ohio State to see a true freshman getting that much time on the defensive line. Besides that, defensive end Cameron Heyward is an over sized end at 6'6", 290 lbs., so they slide him down to tackle at times to get some extra speed up front. No question that this is the best defensive tackle team at OSU since the 2006 team that went to the national championship with Quinn Pitcock, and it may be better. I really feel that the defensive line as a whole is the strength of this defense."

How has corner back Chimdi Checkwa done stepping up into the role of top dog since Malcolm Jenkins' graduated to the NFL?

"Well he looks solid so far, but I feel like he hasn't really been tested. Ohio State's defense played really well against USC, who didn't take a lot of shots down field. It's kind of a wait and see. He looked good against Toledo who's a team that had done very well moving the ball through the air on teams like Purdue and Colorado, who I don't think are all that good, especially Colorado. So it's really a little too early to tell, but he's a guy that physically has all of the tools. With the ability to run in the low 4.4 forty meter range, Checkwa was a member of OSU's Big Ten championship winning outdoor 4X100 relay team. He's not huge for a corner, but also not small by any means. Coming in at 6'0" 180 lbs, Checkwa knows how to be physical and is pretty good run support... Not Malcolm Jenkins good, but he's stepped up pretty well. The real concern was the other corner spot, and junior Devon Torrence has been starting there along with Andre Amos getting snaps as well. Torrence has impressed me. He's a big, physical corner like Ohio State likes to have out there. He still needs to work on his coverage a little, but he's done a solid job. Really the corners have done well this year. It was a concern to everyone who followed the Buckeyes coming into the season, but I think that's not the case anymore."

Looking towards the game this weekend, what things besides a win are you looking for to call it a successful game?

"First I'll be looking at the defense and whether they are able to contain Juice Williams or not. Some of those plays where you get pressure on him, nothing's open down field, and he just slips away and has 8 yards in front of him... that just killed us in 2007 when the Fighting Illini came into the horseshoe and upset the number one ranked Buckeyes. I'll tell you what, we've seen far too much of this in Columbus. Illinois has won seven of the last ten games in Columbus, and that's just a mind boggling stat if you think about it. So mainly it's on Ohio State's defense to slow Juice down. If he get's some confidence early, the team knows that they can win in this stadium...You can't let Rejus Benn get going either. He's a guy who even on the short passes can break a tackle and take it to the house. It's all about being tough early. If we let Illinois hang around, Juice is the kind of guy who can have a half like he did in 2007 where he just controls the ball and the clock."

And for the Buckeyes on offense?

"On Offense, Terrelle and the rest of the guys need to take care of the ball. Pryor did that pretty well as a true freshman. This year he's been a little sloppier, taking a few more chances...And that's the way Illinois is going to win this game. If Pryor goes out there and is sloppy with the football, fumbles, throws interceptions, Illinois can get momentum, a lead, and, like I said, just run the clock. If OSU is going to win, then they are going to have to throw the ball. If you're playing against Ohio State this year, why wouldn't you cheat up and try to take away the run? Not just the running backs but Pryor too. I would like to see some play action early to open things up. People are going to have eight and nine guys in the box, daring us to throw. Illinois lost a great corner this year in Vontae Davis. Ohio state was in a similar situation losing Jenkins in the first round, but I think we might have a had a little bit more returning depth so it was a more seamless transition."

Thoughts on the Illini this season?

"This is a dangerous Illini team in my opinion. I had them picked as the number three team in the Big Ten coming into the season. They sort of laid an egg against Missouri, which is too bad because I really thought that this was going to be the year that they beat them. I still think that this is a dangerous team though, and I expect them to play us like they have nothing to lose. I pick this game at 27-17, OSU"

Thoughts on the IlliBuck trophy?

"This really is a great rivalry, and, if you ask me, it's one of the most underrated in the country. These teams have been playing each other for so long now, and while some may think the trophy is a little silly, I think it still means a lot to the guys. All you have to do is look a the win-loss record over the last 20 or so years to realize that both of these teams get fired up for this, and it is usually anybody's game."

Zook Holds Weekly Media Luncheon

Coach Ron Zook sat down today for his weekly media luncheon. Here is what the head of the Fighting Illini had to say.

Opening Statement
"We are out of the preseason. We are jumping into the Big Ten and I think that's a time that everybody is excited about. We will find out what we learned in the preseason. I think everybody understands the importance of the Big Ten schedule and these next eight weeks are what you play for. We are excited about it and looking forward to it. Everybody practiced last night. I think the couple of days we had off was good for everybody and now it's back to work. It starts this Saturday."

On Juice Williams:
"He's full go. He was not limited in practice. He's fine."

On Juice Williams' injury:
"He's got a strained muscle. Obviously he has to rehab it every day, but I don't foresee it being an issue. He doesn't feel like it's an issue and the trainers don't feel like it's an issue. When he gets out there and starts playing, I don't think he will even remember."

On Martez Wilson:
"Martez is scheduled to have surgery on Monday. It will be a couple days, probably an overnight stay in the hospital. Then he will be back out here. The first few days we will be keeping an eye on him, but then he will start to rehab, which is three to seven months. I talked to the doctor myself and the prognosis is good. He will probably be ready in time for spring ball ... I think the good thing, just by the way the doctor spoke, is it is not going to be too long before he's able to get in the weight room and on the treadmill. He's not going to be down long. Obviously, he's got to be careful and that kind of stuff, but he won't be down long. He'll be able to get right back at it."

On the possibility of Martez Wilson redshirting:
"With redshirting, you get five years to play four (seasons). Whether that's a medical redshirt or you just don't play that year, it doesn't really matter. A redshirt is a redshirt. When you hear guys getting a sixth year or for a guy to get a medical redshirt for a year, I think 20 percent is the rule. You cannot play more than 20 percent (of the games). This is a slam dunk."

On if Martez Wilson will travel with the team:
"As much as we can. We plan on him coming to Columbus with us on Saturday. He was having fun out there watching us coach yesterday. I feel bad for him. Obviously he has worked awful hard and prepared and really taken great strides to become the linebacker we all think and know he is capable of doing. Now we have to wait another year to see it."

On how Martez Wilson is dealing with his injury:
"As well as you can take it. Last night I saw Texas lost a linebacker and Ohio State lost an offensive lineman, and it's an unfortunate thing. Football is a game that particularly early in the year, guys have injuries. I don't know if it's any more this year than any other year, but it seems like there are a bunch of guys that are out for the season already this year."

On Juice Williams' drive to win at Ohio State two seasons ago:
"I don't look back at that game. I think people try to bring that up, but that's history. That's something that happened in Juice's career. This is a different ball game. What happened then, happened then and obviously Ohio State remembers it, our guys remember it. But every game is different and every year is different. It's going to be important that we go and play the way we are capable of playing ... That game is not going to have anything to do with this week. It's like the great accomplishments their players have had. Sure, you go back and look at them and they are big. But on the same token, I don't think now is the time to go back and reflect on that because I don't think it has anything to do with this week."


On Juice Williams' growth since the 2007 game at Ohio State:
"When you have good things happen in tough situations like that, usually there is a confidence growth there. I think Juice in a lot of ways has made the normal progression that you would expect a guy to make in his fourth year. He understands and it is important to him to continue to grow and to continue to get better, as we all have to do."

On how the team goals are still in reach:
"That's what I told the team after the Missouri game. I'll be honest with you, I never thought we were going to go 12-0. The first thing out of my mouth after the game was that. That's a game that you learn from. I think it put a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths, but as I told the staff this morning, I feel the same way about this football team as I did five weeks ago. I think we have to go play and we have to go prove that. That's why we play the games and that's why it is fun to be a competitor and compete. These guys will learn from that and bounce back. I think if you go back and look at the ISU game, we got better especially in the first half. There's not a whole lot of things you can change in the first half of that Illinois State game. We have to continue to get better. I think we used last week to continue to get better, and it's important that we continue to get better this week."

On how the linebackers are responding to Martez Wilson's injury:
"Good. They understand it's a game. We said it in the first meeting that football is a game of adversity. Life is a game of adversity. I always go back to the things I have learned through the game of football that have helped me so much in life. It gives guys an opportunity to step up. Look at the Chicago Bears. They lose their linebacker and they go and line up against the world champions and win. It's just everyone has to step up a little bit. Evan Frierson, I'm sure he feels bad for Martez no question. But deep down inside he's excited about the opportunity he has as well."

On Evan Frierson:
"I think the first time he goes out there, he'll play like a freshman like everyone does. We've said it all camp, if you go back and look at camp last year and it's not his fault, but he did not go through camp. The school was changing, H.D. Woodson was changing, and they were building a new school and it was hard to get the records to the clearing house and so forth. Spring football was really his first start at us coaching him in the system. We said at that time, he is probably just as natural as a linebacker as any of them. He's gotten better and better and continues to improve. We've said it all through camp and in the first two weeks of the season, he's just a guy that continues to get better. Football is a game of reaction. When you are thinking, you slow down. When you react and just let your God-given ability take over it works and he is going to be a fine player."

On the defense Illinois will play:
"It depends. They are typical Ohio State. They are going to lineup, play smash mouth, knock you off the ball and try to run it down your throat. They are going to play two backs, one back and no backs. There are going to be times, obviously more than in the past two games, where we are going to want to be in a three linebacker defense."

On Michael Hoomanawanui:
"I was talking to him last night at supper and we were talking about where he's come, where he's gone and where his goals are. He has always been a great catcher, always been able to catch the football. But he understands the game so much better now. He's a big, strong guy that works hard. He's a leader. His blocking is getting better and better. A lot of guys come in here and unless they have done it a lot, they don't understand, particularly at tight end, that they have to be able to block. That's the thing, we can move him around and let him do something. He is smart and besides his God-given ability, he is football smart and understands the game. I think it has helped him make the normal transition you would expect a guy to make."

On Michael Hoomanawanui's catching abilities:
"The best (tight end) I have ever been around is playing for the Atlanta Falcons now. But he is able to catch the ball, he has soft hands and he knows how to position his body and all those things."

On the running backs:
"I think they are all 100 percent and they are all healthy. Reggie (Mitchell) has done a great job with them. They all understand how important they are, they are all going to play and we need them all."

On Justin Green:
"Justin just keeps getting better and better. His brother goes to Ohio State, so I'm sure he's going to be excited when he runs out on the field. He just gets better. Everyone keeps asking 'Are you going to redshirt this guy or this guy?' This is really early in the season. This is only our third football game. These guys are going to get better. You don't want to make decisions on a lot of them too early, but Justin keeps getting better and better."

On Mikel LeShoure and Ashante Williams:
"Mikel and Ashante are back on the playing status and I don't foresee any more issues there."

On Ohio State's defense:
"Obviously their defensive ends are bulldogs. They run around, they make plays. I think probably the biggest difference between this year's defense and last year's defense is that there may be some names you don't recognize. But I think in terms of what they do and how they play, I think they are second in the league in defense. They are pretty good. Two of the captains are on the defensive side, so there is a lot of leadership over there."

On who will call the defensive signals this week:
"We try to put a little more on Ian (Thomas), then we do on Evan (Frierson). We are trying to just let Evan play. When things are signaled in, everyone needs to know the defense and they are just listening for a directional call in most instances. It will be a little bit easier for Ian to make it than Evan."

On Juice Williams and Arrelious Benn being back on the field together:
"Hopefully those guys will able to connect and do the things we all know they are capable of doing. I think the good thing is that Juice understands we have another quarterback if God forbid something happens to him, and obviously Rejus the same way. The more weapons you have, the more chances you have to make things happen."

On the mood surrounding the team:
"Our coaching staff feels the same way about this football team as we did August 5 when we started. Five years ago, no one cared. Now people care. This is not our football team. This is the University of Illinois football program. Obviously it is our job to make them happy and to make our football team happy. That's what we all want. If people are upset, I don't blame them. There are some things that I am upset about as well. It's our job to make sure we get it corrected."

On Jeff Cumberland:
"Guys don't ever get in our dog house. Jeff has done an unbelievable job here, he really has. Not just as a football player but as a person and as a student as well. Jeff is going to play a lot of football, he's going to continue to play. If you remember back last year the same thing kind of happened. He had the foot problem and kind of got off to a slow start. But he's going to be out there, he's going to be playing and making plays. I think it's important that everyone is held accountable. I think as a coaching staff we are held accountable and players are held accountable. The great thing about Jeff Cumberland is that you know that he is going to correct anything that we or he don't feel good about. The players have to be held accountable and it just helps them become better football players."

On how to deal with criticism:
"It's part of the profession. Do you like it? No. There are a lot of things I get upset about as well so I can understand why people get upset. That means they care. They are passionate about their football team. It's kind of the society we live in now. Everybody wants to be undefeated. Whether you know anything about football or not, it gives them the opportunity to communicate and be involved with something. You just have to accept that as part of the business."

On who he vents to:
"My poor wife for the most part. But luckily, we have a very close knit coaching staff. They want the same things, we all want the same things and are trying to accomplish the same things just like Coach Tressel and his coaching staff are. Sometimes it doesn't work exactly how you want it to work."

On the stretch of three tough games:
"They know the schedule, we talked about the schedule on our first meeting- August 5. We know it's going to be a grind and we are going to have to be ready to play. I think at this point in time, everybody knows these games are so important. We have eight Big Ten games. It's going to be critical that we do the best we can in every one of those games. If you begin to think past this first game then they are not focused on the game at hand. We have to concern ourselves with one game. When this game is over we will look at the next game. That's not coach speak. This is going to be a tremendous challenge. It's going to be a great, great opportunity for our guys. They are excited about playing in front of all the people, in a hostile environment against a great football team. We can't be worrying about what is next. There is enough to worry about on Saturday. Every program I have even been around feels the same way. If you get ahead or if they get behind a particular play then usually it's going to jump up and smack you."

On preparing for Terrelle Pryor:
"The thing about Terrelle is that he's a hard guy to simulate. First of all he runs really fast and he's really strong and he's big. Nathan Scheelhaase is the guy that provides that a little bit. It's really hard to prepare for a guy like (Pryor) because you don't want to beat your guys up by trying. He'd probably take an offensive lineman if you really wanted to get the guy to the ground. Then you'd try to put him in Justin Green's body speed-wise. You're not going to go stop him. What we have to do is understand that he's going to get hits and we have to contain the best that we can and give up as few big plays as we can."

On the Illinois players from Ohio playing at home:
"I think a lot of them are excited about having the opportunity to go home and play in their home state. If they grew up in Ohio they heard about Ohio State. I think anytime you play an opponent, if you're a competitor you love to compete against the best and obviously they're one of the best."

Courtesy of Illinois Sports Information Office

Why Winning at OSU is a Big Deal

Let's face it. There may not be a more unfairly scrutinized team in America than the Ohio State Buckeyes. It seems that Jim Tressel and his crew don't get the credit that they deserve. Maybe going to school for four years in Ohio as an Illinois fan gave me a different perspective... But let me share with you some reasons why a win at the "Shoe" should never be overlooked.

In Ohio, the Buckeyes matter. It is as simple as that. It doesn't matter if you are from North, South, East, or West Ohio; you probably live next door to a fan of the Scarlet and Grey on at least one side of your house... And the numbers don't lie. You have to go back over 50 games to find the last time that the "Shoe" had less than 100,000 fans in attendance. Not too shabby.

And it doesn't help when the team turns out NFL players and head coaches at such an alarming rate. At the start of the 2009 season, 40 former Buckeyes found themselves on NFL rosters. If that's not enough, this will be the third time already this year that the Bucks have faced a head coach who used to be an assistant at OSU. Once again, not too shabby.

I don't want to hear about falling short in Bowl Games either. Ohio State has four consecutive Big Ten titles and has played in as many straight BCS games. If that isn't good enough for you, then I'm not sure you're going to be happy with any team.

So now that I have praised the Bucks... My point is that the game this weekend should get you excited. Did you know that Illinois has won 7 of the last 10 games in Columbus? Well you do now. And I assure you that the team already does.

To the winner goes the "IlliBuck", the second oldest rivalry trophy in the Big Ten, after the "Little Brown Jug" game between Michigan and Minnesota. Since 1925, the teams have battled for the turtle. Two years ago, we took it out of Columbus before OSU came to our house last year and snatched it. What do you say we go and get it back?

My Big Ten Picks for the Off Week

The off week can be a hard time for a fan. It happens to be even harder when you have a ranked conference rival to look forward to while also kicking off the Big Ten season. IlliniBeat will break down the game between the Illini and the Buckeyes later this week, but before then let's take a look at some games going on during our break.

Cal at Minnesota Cal's Jahvid Best is one of the top five running backs in the country... hands down. Anybody with a carry average over 10 yards per rush after 2 games has my early vote for a Heisman contender. Minnesota, on the other hand, has one of the keys to stopping a great running game, and that is a middle linebacker with good awareness. Nate Triplett has been very solid in the middle for the Golden Gophers. Through 2 games, the senior has already racked up 26 tackles. In the new stadium, I expect Minnesota to keep it close for awhile in front of a pumped home crowd, but in the end there will be too much Best for Brewster's team to overcome. Pick: Cal

Eastern Michigan at Michigan Last week we saw both of these teams fight hard, and for Michigan, it led to the biggest win in Rich Rodriguez's short Wolverine career (over Notre Dame). As for EMU, a late rally almost earned the Eagles a win over Northwestern before falling 24-27. I had doubts about Tate Forcier, but maybe it was just my pre-existing opinion of him after reading his self-promoting web site www.qbforce.com. I think the version of UM that we saw against Notre Dame is about as good as this team can be, but maybe I will be surprised. Either way, this game shouldn't be close. Michigan will have the advantage at size, speed, and skill. There will be no upset in the Big House this weekend. Pick: Michigan

Northern Illinois at Purdue At this point in the season, Purdue may have the most dynamic offense in the Big Ten. People knew that Joey Elliot was going to be throwing the ball around, but what most didn't expect was for Ralph Bolden to come out with this kind of impact. After only 2 games, the Purdue sophomore has already accumulated 357 yards on the ground with 4 scores. Northern Illinois has looked good this year under Coach Jerry Kill. After giving Wisconsin all they could handle in week one, the Huskies pounded Western Illinois 41-7 last week. If this game were being played in DeKalb, I would tell you that it might start off closer than you think... but it's in West Lafayette. I think Purdue wins by a solid margin as their offense is just too much to stop. Pick: Purdue

Ohio State vs Toledo (in Cleveland) Close but no cigar. Ever heard that before? Ohio State fans have been hearing it all week. The national media loves bashing the Big Ten right now, and whether it is fair or not, OSU has felt the brunt of the heat. I think Greg Tressel's team looks solid on defense. On offense, however, I am still looking to see that sense on consistency. We all know that Terrelle Pryor is a home run threat in the running game, but his passing numbers leave you asking for more. The skill positions are decent as always but there are no Chris Wells' or Ted Ginns which make a defensive coordinator game plan differently. Toledo has one of the most explosive offenses in the nation. Quarterback Aaron Opelt is tossing for 371 yards per contest, and unlike some other throw happy teams, the running game is also producing a solid 185 yards. Averaging 560 yards per game after facing Oregon and Purdue is impressive. Averaging 42.5 points per game is impressive. Giving up 45 points per game is not. The neutral site isn't a disadvantage for OSU either. I have lived in Ohio, and trust me, this is just a chance for the OSU fans in the Cleveland area to see their boys in Scarlet... The Buckeyes have no shortage of fans in any corner of the state. I'm going with Ohio State here, but I wouldn't be terribly surprised if this were a close game. Pick: Ohio State

Temple at Penn State This game will come and go, but we will still know virtually nothing about Penn State. If Illinois fans are angry over a schedule that seems a little rough, Penn State fans are complaining over just the opposite. Akron, Syracuse, Temple, and Eastern Illinois all at home. The stats should be jumping off of the page right? Wait a minute... Does preseason All Big Ten Running Back Evan Royster only have 100 yards after two games? That doesn't sound right, but it's true. Penn State fans are concerned that when the cupcakes stop getting paid to lose in Happy Valley, the Nittany Lions may find themselves in a tough game with no tough game experience. Temple has been called one of the worst programs in college football in recent years, and I would say that there is zero chance that they pull this upset. Pick: Penn State

Wofford at Wisconsin If you like seeing the passing game in action, then change the channel. Wofford is a very run heavy team who uses the triple option. Quarterback Mitch Allen has only 7 completions on the season and has run for more yards than he has passed for. Wisconsin's running game should have a big, big day. Wofford's defensive line is very young and undersized compared to Wisconsin's offensive front. I think John Clay will have around 150 yards on the ground with two scores and Wisconsin should cruise to an easy win. Pick: Wisconsin

Arizona at Iowa This one is my pick for the underrated match-up of the week for conference teams. The Iowa defense is good as always. The Arizona offense can really run the ball, which any good coach will tell you opens up the offense. Wildcat sophomore quarterback Matt Scott is a name that many people don't know, but he can run a good offense. The win over Central Michigan is looking even better now that CSU has beaten Michigan State. Iowa will will force you to earn your yards every year. The defense is a given. The offense was thought to have taken a big hit when starting running back Jewel Hampton was declared out for the season with a knee injury, but back-ups Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher have done a great job stepping up. Say what you want about quarterback Rick Stanzie, but his career record is pretty darn good. If people think that OSU and PSU are the cream of the crop this year in the Big Ten, I think Iowa is just a step behind. The Iowa defense outshines Arizona's run game, and Kirk Ferentz leads his team to another home win at the always rough Kinnick Stadium. Pick: Iowa

Indiana at Akron I would love to pick Akron here in the "upset", but I simply can't do it. Akron's offense is just anemic. When you have beaten punching bag Morgan State 41-0... and your team still only has one rushing touchdown... and it came from your leading ball carrier who is getting a slim 2.1 yards per carry... you have issues. Bill Lynch will be the coach of a 3-0 team with the win, but don't go shooting off fireworks yet. I have watched Indiana play and I have been very underwhelmed. They barely won their first two games against Western Michigan and Eastern Kentucky and when you watch film, their clips seems to be in slow motion compared to other Big Ten teams. I would still be surprised if the Hoosiers won 6 games this year and went to a bowl, but not shocked with the free wins they scheduled. Pick: Indiana

Northwestern at Syracuse Wildcat Coach Pat Fitzgerald graduated from Northwestern in 1996, and Orange coach Doug Marrone from Syracuse in 1985. They now lead their former teams into battle in New York's Carrier Dome. The story of the year for the Orange, of course, is starting quarterback Greg Paulus who transferred from Duke where he played on the basketball team. That's all good and fine for writing a story, but when it comes to winning football games, it's not a good sign when a former basketball player transfers in and is the best quarterback on the team. Northwestern has featured a very balanced offense. The main thing that needs to improve is the passing offense in the red zone. Quarterback Mike Kafka has thrown for 350 yards and a respectable 66% completion percentage. However with no touchdown passes, Kafka's career totals remain 3 touchdowns and 8 interceptions... not a ratio coaches like to see. Pick: Northwestern

Michigan State at Notre Dame This is obviously the game of the week in the Big Ten. After being ranked and anointed as the team that would bring Notre Dame football back to prominence, the Irish fell flat on their faces against the Michigan Wolverines. Let's look at what we know about these teams. Charlie Weis' support was short-lived, and he is feeling the pressure. I don't care who you are, that has to affect your mental state. You can't tell me that when Charlie Weis knew he was about to lose to Michigan, his job security never flashed through his mind. Michigan State has won 6 straight times in South Bend, so no one will be intimidated wearing Green. What do I see as the key here? The Notre Dame passing game should dominate the Michigan State secondary. MSU lost to Central Michigan and stand-out quarterback Dan Lefevour because he was able to carve the Spartans up for over 300 passing yards. I believe that Jimmy Clausen will have a big day and that the Irish will finally snap the home losing streak to MSU. Pick: Notre Dame

Wilson Sidelined for Season

Neck Injury Ends Year for Junior Linebacker

CHAMPAIGN, Ill - University of Illinois head football coach Ron Zook announced today that junior linebacker Martez Wilson will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a herniated disc in his neck.

"We feel awful for Martez," Zook said. "He worked so hard and had such a great offseason. I'm really proud of him for that. You never want to see injuries happen, but we feel that we were able to catch this in time to ensure a successful surgery and recovery for Martez. I feel confident that he will return from the injury stronger and with more determination next year. We talk about adversity and our team knows others will have to step up and fill his shoes. I think they are ready to do that."

"Of course, I am upset and frustrated, but you can't control injuries," Wilson said. "The biggest thing for me is that I have a lot of support around me with my family, the coaches and my teammates and they will help me get through this. I was really looking forward to being a leader on this defense, but I can still do that from the sidelines. I will get healed and make sure I am 100 percent for next season."

It's game time!!!

Join IlliniBeat as they follow the action LIVE! Illinois Vs. ISU.

Hey Illini fans! Adam Marsh here blogging live from Memorial Stadium! Fans are still filling the seats here with about 2 minutes to go until kickoff. It feels great to be back in Memorial Stadium!

Illinois wins the toss. Illini defending the North goal to begin. Asamoah, Edwards, Pilcher, Hooman, and Thomas are the captains.

First play, ISU passes and Russell Ellington comes very close to a pick 6.

Martez Wilson not starting at MLB... perhaps resting with the stinger injury.

ISU trying the short pass early. Brown looking ok at QB, but the WR's hands are lacking.

Juice takes the first play all the way down to inside the 5 with a great QB keeper on the option. He stumbled and looked a little tender in the lower body, but stays in the game for the TD on the following play.

Martez was just announced as doubtful with a strained neck.

Ian Thomas makes a great play up the middle to hit ISU QB Brown.

As I typed that, Edwards recovers an Brown fumble. Illini Ball!

Eddie McGee tries the deep ball and is picked off in the Illini end-zone.

Donsay just took someones head off... Hell of a hit! ISU punts for 30 yards.

Eddie McGee still in at QB.

Hooman makes a nice catch. I would love to see him get going as it just wasn't there Vs. Mizzou.

There it is again... Hooman is setting up for a good day.

Touchdown!!! Eddie McGee runs it in for a gain of 1. 14-0 Illini!

The first thing you notice about these two teams is the difference in size. Illinois just looks like a good physical football team whereas ISU is a bit undersized.

Sack by the Sophomore phenom #93 Liuget. Loss of 20 on the play! 3rd and 26!

Benn with a catch, always good to see... the holding however, not so much... ball on the 27, 1st and 20.

End of the first quarter, and I would say that this Illini team is playing with a ton of energy that just wasn't there against Mizzou.

Side Note: Minnesota's new TCF stadium is the first new stadium in the Big Ten since 1960.

27 yard pass from Eddie McGee to senior Chris Duvalt. I talked with Chris in camp Rantoul, and he has worked very hard to get ready for the season. Good to see him get a TD.

Still no word on Juice Williams.

Great tip by the great Liuget! Pilcher scoops up the INT, and the senior DE runs it about 45 yards!

ISU #24 Kelvyn Hemphill just destroys Eddie Mcgee for his first career sack. The Illini settle for a field goal.

If you are watching on TV, then I hope you can see the extra effort today compared to Saturday. It is very apparent in person.

Illini called on the return for a block in the back... on a fair catch? Doesn't happen often.

Hooman with a big play. Once again, the Mike Schultz's spread uses the TE more than Locksley's did... It was just not an option against Mizzou.

The lights are really starting to illuminate the field... Finally it feels like a night game!

One minute from half-time, and the Illini are trying to keep this shut-out intact.

Looks like USC is pulling out all of the stops. Just went for it on 4th and scored first against OSU.

Just got word that it was a quad injury with Juice, but he may still see action.

Fred Sykes goes down after the catch.. looks like they are working out a cramp on the sidelines.

Touchdown Dufrene! 24 yard run up the gut.

62,347 announced as the official attendance.

At the half, Juice Williams still leads the team in rushing with 49 yards, but that's all he has. I was excited to watch him break the Illini Total Offense record, but I guess I will have to wait two weeks until I am in Columbus.

Brown to Blow... By far the biggest play of the day for the Redbirds.

Salem just caught his 13th TD for ISU... He is now 5th in school history. 31-7 Illinois. Big plays were one of the things the Illini needed to cut down on coming into the season, and that is why. The huge pass set up a quick TD.

Illini fumble. ISU ball.

Ian Thomas with a big 7 yard sack. People have been doubting Thomas due to his height, but he has looked like a good player for us.

52 yard FG attempt well short by ISU..... the fumble doesn't hurt us, and it remains 31-7, Illinois.

Santella with a 16 yard punt. He has looked much better this year, but that one would have fooled you.

Tavon Wilson needs to tackle better. He had a clear chance for a wrap up but instead went for a strip and ended up giving up a 35 yard play.

I'll tell you something, that Eyad Salem, 6'2" senior WR from Elgin is a great player for the Redbirds. He has some good hands and is clearly this team's go-to-guy.

45 yard FG attempt good for ISU making it a career long for kicker Zach Kutch . Illinois 31- ISU 10... If the game started at the half, we would be down 7-10... let's get some momentum back.

Ford just missed a break away TD by a matter of inches... gain of 24 on the ground.

I love the hustle by Mcgee, but if you think Juice held on to the ball to long, I think Eddie decides to run too soon. He is leading the team in carries today.

Supo Sanni getting good time now.

I just got an email from ILLGreg asking about Jason Ford. I was about to say I thought he would put up bigger numbers, and then he takes one 50 yards. Justin Green now getting carries. Keep your eye out for him, #26.

Maybe I should speak of individual players more often! Touchdown Justin Green! This is the first touchdown of Green's promising career.

The Illini now with over 500 yards and 350 on the ground.

Live Game Blog!

Sorry that I have not posted a game preview. There were technical issues that prevented me from posting at all. My quick game prediction is for a 54-17 Illini win! I'm looking for the long ball, the establishment of a solid running game, and a defense who may not always make the play but at least is not missing due to lack of effort or mental mistakes. Join us during the game as Adam Marsh blogs live from the game!

My Look at the Season... Beatles Style!

Week 1- Missouri- "Hold Me Tight": This one left us all feeling a little bit discouraged and, let's face it, needing a nice big hug. I can't stress this enough though, don't give up on this team. I watched them practice and know that they can do much better.

Week 2- Illinois State- "Fixing a Hole": The timing of this game is good. We need to go out against the Redbirds and work on the little things that make a team run. Angles taken by the safeties when covering a man, the existence of the long pass, and a boost in effort are all things Illini fans want to see improved against ISU.

Week 3- Off- "Come Together": The amount of preparation and unity displayed by the team this week is key. The Illini have a long haul ahead of themselves, and coming into it from a bye week can be a positive or a negative. If we study film, work together, and build a sense of pride; the Illini will be ready to take on their rough start to the Big Ten schedule.

Week 4- at Ohio State- "Carry That Weight": And so it begins... The three game stretch of Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan State seems like a bad way to start the Big Ten... and maybe it is. If we lose the first two by a lot, how much confidence will this team have going into Michigan State? On the other hand, if we win even one of the first two games, we then come into a sold out home game against MSU with some momentum; well, that might just be the launch to a 2-1 start and a favorable remaining conference schedule. Can the Illini contain Terelle Pryor? There are a lot of new faces on this Buckeye team, but we all know that coach Jim Tressel recruits with the best.

Week 5- Penn State- "With a Little Help from my Friends": This will not be the type of game where one guy has a great day, and it is enough to get us a win. Juice and Benn are going to need every piece of the offense to work in order to conquer the mighty Nittany Lions' defense. Linebacker Sean Lee is back after missing last season with a leg injury and is ready to show the country that he is another elite talent for the PSU defense. Once again, this is a home game, in front of a sold out crowd, versus a Big Ten title contender... anything can happen when you play to your full potential.

Week 6- Michigan State- "Here Comes the Sun": Depending on what has transpired in the weeks before, this might be the biggest game of the season. Let's say the Illini beat two out of the first three Big Ten opponents... not many people will be complaining about the Missouri game. MSU has two of the best freshman running backs in the country in Larry Caper and Caulton Ray. Neither of them reach 6 feet, but both pack a punch with the former at 215 lbs., and the later at 198 lbs. MSU is going with Kirk Cousins at quarterback, and we will have to see if he lasts long enough over Keith Nichol to start against Illinois. Cousins looked solid against Montana State... but I mean it was Montana State...

Week 7- at Indiana- "You Can't Do That": This is a must win for the Illini. I remember losing to these guys on a last second Austin Starr field goal a couple of years back, and since that day I have decided that beating Indiana is a MUST every year. The Hoosiers are playing the schedule game, and it just may pay off. With all four non-conference games being played in the first six weeks against the likes of Eastern Kentucky, Western Michigan, Akron, and Virginia (who lost this week to the College of William and Mary), Indiana may be riding some confidence. I assume they will lose to OSU, and the Michigan game will be a tough win... but really they could be any where from 5-1 to 2-4. No matter what their record is, the team needs to not overlook this game.

Week 8- at Purdue- "Happiness is a Warm Gun": This one could be a shoot-out. A 234-yard game against Toledo has people asking themselves, "Just how good is (Purdue running back) Ralph Bolden?" The sophomore had only a 1.8 yards per carry average last year before exploding with 21 carries and an incredible 11.1 yards per carry the opening week. Both teams should score in this game. If the Illini are going to win in West Lafayette, the fireworks need to be going off.

Week 9- Michigan- "Rocky Raccoon": Rich Rodriguez has plenty of Michigan fans and donors questioning the state of the program. A maize and blue fan will be quick to remind you that they are the all-time winningest program... And you will be quick to remind them, not so much lately. After losing the most games in a season, ever, for the Wolverines, UM fans are looking for a noticeable improvement. True freshman quarterback Tate Forcier looked poised against Western Michigan. His counterpart Tim Hillier went into the match up as the more touted quarterback. Michigan did a great job of shutting down the running game though, holding the Broncos to only 38 yards on the ground. Illinois can win this game again, this time at home. I would guess that at some point this season things stop seeming so easy for Forcier, and at that point we will see what we have with this Michigan team.

Week 10- Minnesota- "Getting Better": Tim Brewster has improved this Minnesota team by leaps and bounds in a very short amount of time. However, I think Gopher fans were expecting a little bit more from their guys against Syracuse in week one. If I had had to guess, I would have said Minnesota was going to walk on doormat Syracuse. Junior quarterback Adam Weber has worked his way up into the discussion for top signal caller in the Big Ten. Looking at his stats in week one would fool you though. Only 19-42, Weber put up 248 yards and 183 (or 74%) of them went to star wide receiver Eric Decker. Air Force put up 72 unanswered points in their opener, so let's see who wins this week two match up. I think that Illinois is the better team, and I think we are upset that we lost at home to the Gophers last year. Playing in Minnesota's brand new outdoor stadium, I think the Illini get the win.

Week 11- Northwestern- "I Me Mine": The game with Northwestern really needs to be about pride. This is a state rivalry, and any team should be fired up to play in one of those. The staff has spoken about shutting down the borders when it comes to recruiting. The mentality here needs to be that this is our state, this is our game to win. If you truly want to convince recruits that you are the top program in the state, then you need to show it on the field. The Northwestern offense was very balanced in a Week 1 blow out of Towson. Again, it's hard to take a whole lot from a game against such an inferior foe, so it will be a while until we know what the Wildcats are all about. They win my award, by the way, for the best cupcake schedule... Towson, Eastern Michigan, Syracuse, and Miami (OH)... yawn.

Week 12- Off- "Golden Slumbers": This will be a much needed rest for the Illini. By this point, we will be done competing for the Big Ten title. The remainder of the season may just be an annoying after thought, or it could be a fight for bowl position. I would like to think that the team I watched in practice all of those times will emerge, and we will be playing our way to a warm climate.

Week 13- Cincinnati- "It's All Too Much": Brian Kelly has done amazing things in Cincy, and I would consider the Bearcats one of the most improved teams in the country over the last few years. Not too many fans love the idea of playing both Mizzou and Cincinnati in the same non-conference schedule. I think we can win this game, but in reality I'm not counting on it. I think Tony Pike is a hell of a quarterback and that he has the weapons around him to lead his team to a great offensive season. They absolutely destroyed Rutgers in the first week. I predict Cincinnati to win the Big East and play in another BCS bowl.

Week 14- Fresno State- "Hey Bulldog": Fresno State may play in the WAC, but they will be plenty battle tested for this match up. Right off the bat, the Bulldogs play Wisconsin, Boise State, and Cincinnati in the first four weeks. We all know that this team has played the role of giant killer in the past. No more are the days that this team will sneak up on you. If the season is still rocky by this point, the guys from California will beat an non-unified Illini team. If we are fighting hard for a good bowl spot, I expect this to be a good win. It will be Juice Williams', Doug Pilcher's, Jeff Cumberland's, Danial Dufrene's, and probably Rejus Benn's last games at Memorial Stadium... If that doesn't pump the guys up, not much will.

Penn State and Michigan State Games Sold Out!

Sept. 9, 2009

CHAMPAIGN- The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics announced today that both the Oct. 3 Penn State and Oct. 10 Michigan State home football games are sold out.

"We are pleased to sell out these important home games," said Assistant Director of Athletics for Ticket Operations Jason Heggemeyer said. "Our football team loves to play in front of a full house at Memorial Stadium. The atmosphere for these two games should be tremendous."

The games mark the first two sellouts of the 2009 season. Illinois has now sold out 10 games over the last three seasons. The Sept. 12 Illinois State, Oct. 31 Michigan, and Nov. 14 Northwestern games show steady ticket demand. Fighting Illini football single-game tickets can be purchased at fightingillini.com, by calling 1-866-ILLINI-1 or visiting the Athletic Ticket Office at Assembly Hall.

Step Back from the Ledge...

We all either watched the game or have read about the results. I feel that if I sat here and posted a review of the action, it would be a waste of our time. Instead I will discuss what I feel is needed from here on out to right the ship.

Let's be honest... No one is happy right now. Not coach Zook, not his players, and not the fans. But let's put some things in perspective here. First of all, the season is not doomed. The last time I checked, Mizzou is not in the Big Ten. I would have loved to have beaten the Tigers, don't get me wrong, but I did disagree all along with the fans who said it was the most important game of the year. It would have to have been some kind of special game to convince me that a non-conference foe was our most important game. If you don't believe me, ask coach Bill McCartney and his 1990 Colorado University Buffaloes. The Buffaloes lost a 23-22 heart breaker to none other than our very own Fighting Illini. What did they do next? They won out the remainder of the season and were crowned National Champions. I never said the Illini would win it all or even the Big Ten; I do, however, expect this to be a very successful season. It is always nice to get a good win against a non-conference rival, but trust me when I say that it is not imperative to having a successful season.

My hat's off to Gary Pinkel. His game plan against us worked to a T. I am hearing many fans complain about the lack of the long pass on Saturday. If you review the film, Missouri was dropping six, and sometimes seven, players into pass coverage. If the Illini offensive line holds up, Juice is allowed to throw the short stuff all day, right? Well, things get a little bit harder when preseason All-American Rejus Benn leaves with an ankle injury in the first 3 minutes. So what do you do now? Any good coach will tell you that it is time to get the running game going. Once again, however, the Illini are missing starting senior Daniel Dufrene, and back-up Jason Ford leaves around the same time Benn does. Let's face it. The deck was stacked against Illinois. Also, congratulations to Blaine Gabbert on his first NCAA win... I would not be surprised to see him in Heisman talks someday with that arm and this offensive system.

The most important thing right now is to not hang our heads and lose the remainder of the tremendous confidence this team showed in the preseason. We play Illinois State in a week, and then we must prepare for the real test. No section of the season will be tougher or more telling than the three game stretch of Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan State. We need to play with a chip on our shoulders so that we don't come out of that stretch at 1-4. If we pull things together and win two of the three, well, the schedule shapes up nicely for an Illini run at a Big Ten title.

Some things I would like to see after this game.

1. Get the TE the ball. The Illini are blessed with experience all over the offense, and the tight end is no exception. If teams are going to be dropping back into coverage like Missouri did, then we need to be able to use the tight end as a receiver and not just a blocker. The game in St. Louis resulted in two catches by the Illini tight ends resulting in a total of 5 yards.

2. Use the screen. The Illini receiving corps isn't going to be able to burn safeties deep if the safeties continue to play this kind of defense. Speed is only a threat when you get the ball to a receiver in the open field. Creating space with the screen pass is a great way to force those safeties to stay honest.

3. Take what the defense gives you. I felt that the read option was working well for the most part. The defensive backs were of little help because of the amount of North-South ground they had to gain as well as the lateral distance. The Illini were trying to pound the ball up the middle at times with the power I and just couldn't seem to push the defense much.

Once again, relax. I know we all wanted to beat Mizzou, but we all want to win the Big Ten more. The season may not have started the way we would have liked, but don't give up on this team.