Illinitalk

The Illini football spring scrimmage was OK, with only one offensive score. But no one got hurt, and the defense looked strong. And the fact that more than 12,000 fans showed up to watch a scrimmage reinforces the excitement Zook and Company are building. We have plenty to look forward to this fall...

On another note, the NFL draft this weekend may very well have an Illini in the first round. And despite ankle surgery, J Leman believes a team should take a chance on him, too. The combination of Leman's size -- on the small side for an NFL linebacker -- and his inability to participate in spring workouts, make him a longshot to be picked in the draft. But his attitude and determination may help him earn a roster spot next fall. Good luck, J!

Labels: Illini football, J Leman

The Illini football team left for southern California Christmas night. They clearly need time to settle in and develop a routine for the week -- not an issue for the local Trojans. They've seen the sites, met legends, eaten a ridiculous amount of prime rib, made classy impressions, and buckled down in practice.

College football fans around the nation have questions about the Fighting Illini and how they got to the Rose Bowl. They are 13.5 point underdogs -- the biggest spread in any post-season event. Do they have the speed to play USC? The strength? The coaches? Will Mendenhall go pro? When will Mike Locksley get a head coaching job?

We don't have all those answers yet, but with the Zooker, senior leaders like All-American Martin O'Donnell and J Leman, and the freshman confidence of Arrelious Benn, there is plenty of reason for optimism within Illini nation. Benn believes in the Illini -- and he clearly is comfortable that he choose the 9-3 Illini over the 3-9 Irish. And after all, will the Rose Bowl be any tougher than the Ohio State game? What we do know is that Ron Zook never stops coaching or recruiting. Since the Ohio State game, the 2008 recruiting class has improved significantly, so the Illini are gearing up for much more than just one Rose Bowl appearance to cap off an unbelievable season.

I'm gearing up, as well. My tickets are in hand, travel arrangements confirmed, and bag (almost) packed. I look forward to ringing in the Illini New Year at Universal Studios Hollywood with my Illini family. And I can't wait to watch the Illini play in January! See you in Pasadena...

Go Illini!

Labels: Arrelious Benn, Illini football, J Leman, Martin O'Donnell, Ron Zook, Rose Bowl

Congratulations to J Leman on being chosen first-team All-America by the Coaches' Association. Illini fans know he deserves this honor, as one of the leading tacklers in the hard-hitting Big Ten for the last two seasons. But the fact that others are noticing proves that Illinois has made the national radar.

Go Illini!

Labels: Illini football, J Leman

I've had a bit of time for this win to sink in. The Illini were in the national spotlight today, and they stepped up. Yes, they got a break, but they played this game to win. Here's what I saw:

• A drive to win. The Illini went into Columbus with no fear. They didn't let two quick Buckeye scores rattle them. They stuck to their game plan well.
• An "all or nothing" attitude. You need this to beat a #1 team on their home field. You have to take chances -- which Zook did with two 4th down conversions. And he took chances again keeping the ball on the ground during the final drive of the game, even on 3rd and long. The Illini had nothing to lose, and they played like it. Ohio State had a lot more on the line, no question. Tressel's conservative coaching style suits the talented #1 team, but today risks paid off.
• No turnovers. Juice and his offense protected the ball perfectly.
• Few mistakes. The first Illini penalty came in the 4th quarter. Just three weeks ago, penalties killed this team.
• Taking what's there. Ohio State had a great defensive plan for the Illini, which they appeared to borrow from Iowa: Stop Rashard Mendenhall. They executed this strategy very well, but the Illini took what was available. QB draws and passes kept many drives alive, and Juice found the open man of the moment in the endzone not once or twice, but four times. He took control of this game.
• Hard hits. Both the Illini, led by J Leman, and Ohio State, led by James Laurenitis, made offensive players earn their yards. Beanie Wells got up limping, and Russ Weil was knocked out of the game. The hit of the day belonged to Vontae Davis -- it was impressive. He just didn't need to knock himself out of the game.
• Unexpected contributions. Benn was out for the second half, and barely touched the ball, although he did affect the game. But Gamble, Wilkins, Hoomanawanui, and Willis stepped up. True freshman Marcus Thomas filled in for Vontae, tipping a pass to Antonio Steele in the end zone and a 4th quarter interception.
• A dominating O-line. The Illini got the ball with 8:09 left in the game and a 7-point lead. The offensive line closed out the game, making it possible to use the entire 8:09 with the ball on the ground. These guys allows Illinois to control the clock.
• Strong defense. Leman had 12 tackles, and was on the ball for almost every other play. Beanie Wells and Brian Robiskie were contained relatively well. Plus, the Illini grabbed 3 interceptions -- one in the end zone.
• A lucky break. You don't pull huge upsets without a few of these, and the Illini clearly took advantage of theirs. But regardless of this call, the Illini out-played the Buckeyes for 60 full minutes.
• Sweet victory. Congratulations to Ron Zook. This is the second time he's put together a team that beat Ohio State. Zook and Juice Williams both were a bit choked up during their post-game interviews. The team clearly savored this win -- and so did the Illini Nation. (Note to team: Next time, let's avoid the mid-field altercation.)
• National attention. The Illini victory/Ohio State loss led SportsCenter, and Juice earned a College GameDay Final helmet sticker. The game grabbed top sports headlines on multiple websites, as well. It's nice to be the top story. Thanks to Buckeye Kirk Herbstreit for giving the Illini credit for a well-played game on national television.

Thank you to the Florida Gators for giving Coach Zook experience that has made him a great fit for Illinois. I look forward to seeing where this team will head for post-season play.

Go Illini!

Labels: Illini football, J Leman, Juice Williams, Ron Zook

My caution in assessing the 2007 Fighting Illini football team scattered with a lovely late-September breeze on Saturday. The concerns I cited still exists -- with one key exception. These boys have learned how to win! Penn State had plenty of opportunities, but the Illini somehow managed to hang on. We have a real football team that is competitive in the (admittedly weak) Big Ten. And the Illini are starting to garner some national attention. What a great weekend to be an Illini fan!

Highlights:

• Rejus Benn. He is explosive, exciting and actually living up to (or exceeding?) the high expectations set for him. I look forward to cheering for him on Sundays in the not-too-distant future, but for now, let's keep getting him the ball. Although the opening kick return was impressive and exciting, I most appreciated the multiple broken tackles after receptions.
• J Leman. A leader, determined to win, he made the difference in one late drive by Penn State, ending it with his first career interception. Our defense allows big plays, but they have managed to make critical red zone stands that make all the difference. And Leman is the heart of the defense.
• Turnovers. The Illini still have their share, and Juice could certainly improve in accuracy. But they are capitalizing on turnovers recovered by the Illini defense.
• Special teams. After dreading punts, field goals, and other special teams plays for a couple years, it's exciting to see these units make plays more often than not.
• QB options. Juice Williams is exciting to watch, but having a reliable option to bring in, even in key situations, is very reassuring.

Best of all, we already have the upset I was looking for to get us headed toward bowl eligibility. With the Big Ten beating up on each other, we have a legitimate chance in almost every game on our schedule. Wisconsin struggled against Michigan State, Indiana beat Iowa in Iowa City, and Northwestern led Michigan for much of the game. Our schedule looks a lot better now than it did last spring.

Go Illini!!

Labels: Arrelious “Rejus” Benn, Big Ten football, Illini football, J Leman, Juice Williams

My thoughts from yesterday:

1. Great win on the road! Should do a lot to help change the culture of losing and build confidence. (BTW, I'm glad we beat IU on the gridiron because I'm a lot less confident of our chances on the hardwood.)

2. Our defense just rocks the house. J Leman and V. Davis are studs, even though V got beat for a TD...he made up for it later in the game with the IT. I thought he was gonna go out of his mind when he got beat. It's nice to see guys get really upset when they're scored on.

3. Rashard.

4. Can we please hire Peyton Manning to come over to Champaign and teach Juice how to hit his receivers? I know some of the drops weren't his fault but if he were to execute the passing game like he does the option, we'll really be dangerous.

5. Big Ten Network. Totally see Alma Mater's point below but disagree. Sports TV is a huge business and this is all about money. I would say now that BTN has Direct TV and Dish, the heat really is on Comcast to pony up. If they offer something like the Tennis Channel, they should offer BTN.

Labels: Big Ten Network, J Leman, Rashard Mendenhall, Vontae Davis

Mark Tupper is genuinely excited about the shape the Illini are in at "Camp Rantoul" this year - lean, muscular and athletic. And these guys expect to win.

Coach Zook's recruiting has boosted expectations (and ticket sales) in Champaign this year, and the excitement is building toward the season opener Sept. 1.

Like every team, the 2007 Fighting Illini football team is made up of individuals who shape the team personality. We've heard plenty about potential stars who made foolish decisions and got kicked off the team, but the Illini have other leaders, as well. Senior linebacker J Leman may be "The best linebacker you've never heard of" and he makes an impact on and off the field. QB Juice Williams has more confidence after a year at the college level and a summer at the Mannings' camp. Freshman Martez Wilson plans to make an immediate impact, and he's not alone. And don't forget Regis Benn or the members of last year's recruiting class who now have a year of experience.

Have I mentioned yet that I'm excited about Illini football?

Labels: Illini football, J Leman, Juice Williams, Martez Wilson, Regis Benn