Dropped touchdown passes, interceptions, missed field goals, Oh My! The Illinois football team has all the elements: the heart and courage in their players, and the brains in the form of head coach and former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner. However, the fighting Illini have wandered off the yellow brick road and dropped three of their first four games. Illinois has been competitive in all three losses, losing by a combined 17 points.
In its first matchup of the year against Missouri, Illinois lead almost the entire game. They out gained Missouri in total offense 422 yards to 224. However the fighting Illini trailed late in the 4th quarter when Missouri scored on its final drive of the game. The fighting Illini had a chance to steal the victory on their final drive but they turned the ball over on downs when freshman tight end Melvin Bryant dropped a pass at the 5-yard line.
In its sole win Illinois did destroy the I-AA Illinois State Redbirds. However, the Redbirds did collect 511 total yards on the fighting Illini. If not for a fumble into the end zone by Illinois State, the game would have likely been a lot closer.
The inability to make the big play came back to haunt Illinois in its 6-3 loss to UCLA. At the end of the hard-fought game, Illinois had a chance to tie the score with a 38-yard field goal attempt by senior kicker John Grockman. Grockman had hit his six previous field goals but before he even attempted this one a 5-yard penalty pushed the kick back to 43 yards, spelling disaster. Grockman missed his first field goal of the season, sealing an Illinois defeat.
In its last game against California, Illinois fell behind 14-7 as halftime closed in. Coach Ron Turner tried to run the clock and take the 7-point deficit into halftime. However, he was forced to punt with 45 seconds left in the half. California ran the punt back from its own 32-yard line for a touchdown. Although the momentum was on Cal’s side, Illinois still made a late surge. The rally fell short, partially due to the use of their final time-out with 11:15 left in the game because they had the wrong personnel on the field for a play. The Fighting Illini lost the game 31-24.
The Fighting Illini have begun to stigmatize themselves with frustration and have looked like a team rattled with youth.
This is not to say Illinois has had no bright spots on the team. Senior quarterback Jon Beutjer was named Big Ten offensive player of the week after collecting 430 yards against Cal. True freshman running back E.B. Hasley averages 88.8 rushing yards a game, which is good enough to be the No.5 running back in the Big Ten. The fighting Illini have had moments of brilliance in 2003 but have been unable to get all the cylinders firing at once.
Illinois enters the Big Ten season as a team hungry to prove itself in a conference full of tradition but lacking a clear cut dominating force in 2003.
The Badgers head to Illinois with something to prove. Illinois has had UW’s number the past two years, including an embarrassing loss for the Badgers at home last season.
UW enters the game on the heels of news that they will be without junior cornerback Brett Bell for the remainder of the season. The absence of Bell will force sophomore Levonne Rowan to step up his play. The injury status of running back Anthony Davis is still unknown and so Booker Staley may once again carry the Badgers offensive load alongside Chicago native Dwayne Smith.
Smith, Bell, Jason Jefferson and Owen Daniels are each making return trips to their home state of Illinois with something to prove.
