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Arch Rival preview

After attending Fan Appreciation Day at Memorial Stadium last Saturday, I will state this of our Fighting Illini football players: there is more enthusiasm and emotion among them than I have seen in a long time. 

As a former coach, I am concerned about the tough schedule they face this season. 

As a former player, I am optimistic that this challenging schedule presents a lot of great opportunities.  As I have said before, no opponent has seen their new offense or defense and that is something to get excited about. These players do not care what happened last season against Missouri — or the previous four years for that matter. 

All they know is their season starts September 4. I believe Missouri should be prepared to get a taste of their own medicine. The coaches, I am sure, can live with physical mistakes as long as we remain positive and limit our mental mistakes. This is an exhilarating time to be an Illini fan!

What a difference a year makes.  Last year as we approached the Arch Rival game against Missouri, we had an experienced offense as senior Juice Williams led a talented receiving core into the Edward Jones dome in St Louis. For the first time in four years, the Illini were favored to win the game. That was before sophomore QB Blaine Gabbert took the field-throwing 313 yards and three touchdowns then running in a fourth. No one could have foreseen this stellar starting debut which led the rebuilding Tigers to a 37–9 victory over Illinois, their fifth win in a row in the neutral-site series.

This year freshman Nathan Scheelhaase will make his starting debut in this same Arch Rival showcase. Currently, Illinois is a 13 point underdog in the sixth and final game of the series. How ironic would it be if underdog Illini with a new offense and defense pulled off the upset? Upsets will need to be the theme for this group of Fighting Illini football players, with the odds-makers predicting us underdogs in nine of our twelve games. Ouch!

In Missouri's first major scrimmage of fall camp several big plays highlighted the simulated game.  Two long pass plays for scores, an interception for a score, and a 57-yard field goal were all key features. In their second scrimmage, QB Blaine Gabbert led his first string offense to a productive day. Gabbert finished the day 16 for 21, passing for 208 yards to score three times — to WR T.J. Moe (9 yards), TB Derrick Washington (31 yards), and TE Michael Egnew (23 yards).

Injury Update: When Missouri meets Illinois on Sept 4, 2010, they will play without #29 WR Jerrell Jackson, the team's leading returning receiver who suffered a broken wrist in practice.  Jackson is expected to miss at least four weeks. Illinois will be without #7 SS Supo Sanni who tore his Achilles tendon and is out for the season. Also, #41 TE/FB Zach Becker and #1 CB Terry Hawthorne will miss at least three games both with stress fractures of the foot.

Missouri will also be without #24 Derrick Washington who has been charged with one count of felony sexual assault, and has been dismissed from the team. Also long snapper #86 Beau Brinkley and reserve LB #32 Will Ebner both awaiting hearings for suspicion of DWI.

Illinois opens its 121st season of varsity football Saturday against Missouri. It's time to put the FIGHT back in Fighting Illini. I believe this football squad can do this, and I predict an Illini victory in a squeaker.

Prep Picks week #2: SP Wildcats, GCMS Falcons, VG Blue Devils, STM Sabers, Unity Rockets, SJO Spartans, MS Bulldogs, Central Maroons, Centennial Chargers.

 

1 comments

Most Recent Sports Comments

{username}

Illinois has simply had no luck at all in these Mizzou games. None. I think maybe we’re do for a couple of bounces to go our way. If we get one or two (or sever or eight) breaks, I think it’s a win. 

{username}

Jamie, you gave me goosebumps talking about the race with Rachel Alexandra and Life at Ten, wish I could be there!!  Go Rachel!!!!!

{username}

Hope for the best, expect the worst. 81-126-2 FIRE RON GUENTHER

{username}

Beat Missouri and there is validity here, but until this team wins a game it should not, it is all speculation.

{username}

Gret pix, Jamie!

Jeff Kohmstedt avatar

I think any conversation about the limits of the human body are innately limiting.  As a non-yoga guy, seeing a skilled yoga person twist his or her body in unthinkable ways challenges my ideas of what the body can and cannot do.  Heck, seeing George Clooney double over and…

{username}

But couldn’t you receive the same benefits (balance, muscle strength, etc.) from doing yoga barfeoot?  From everything I’ve read, the Vibram Five Fingers seem to limit the distance you are able to run, and I am not convinced that is such a good tradeoff.   Heck, Pheidippides…

{username}

The thing people don’t realize about barefoot running/ five fingers before they try it is that they have been completely isolated from their environment by their shoes. For example saying that hard surfaces like concrete are a recent invention., In the summer trails with a lot of…

{username}

Rob, Zola asks you to read further: “I no longer run barefoot,“ she said. “As I got older I had injuries to my hamstring. I found that wearing shoes gives me more support and protection from injuries.“ http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2005/aug/10/southafrica.past1

{username}

Many people, including myself, run barefoot on concrete, asphalt, grass, and dirt.  No problems.  You actually end up with LESS impact than if you were shod in crazy cushioned/supportive shoes.  Your body adapts and you land with less force.  Think short, quick strides with bent knees.  I…

Most Recent Comments

{username}

Illinois has simply had no luck at all in these Mizzou games. None. I think maybe we’re do for a couple of bounces to go our way. If we get one or two (or sever or eight) breaks, I think it’s a win. 

Dan Schreiber avatar

Jason, Savoy could easily join the CPL tax district, which is probably closer to most Savoy residents than the Tolono library is.  But my impression is that Savoy residents as a whole don’t want to pay the cost of the CPL (Tolono’s library taxes are cheaper), even…

{username}

Sorry, but I am lagging behind on updates to the map. Also, some construction projects were delayed from their original start date. On a more positive note, I am putting together a map of haunted houses in Central Illinois. I have a few plotted already, and I…

{username}

I’ve never gotten the privilege of all the services CPL cardholders get.  I just want to be able to go out of my way to drive to the CPL to check out books, pay fines, maybe buy some coffee, and enjoy the library.  None of those activities…

{username}

These days, there is more to using a library than checking out books. At one time, paying into the Lincoln Trails system probably would cover the expenses incurred by other libraries in the system. Now, with Internet, videos, coffee shops, wireless Internet hubs, etc., I suspect the…

{username}

(speaking as a Savoy resident)  By paying taxes to support a member of the LTLS, we are paying our “fair share” to use any LTLS library—Tolono, Champaign, Urbana, etc.  This is how library systems work.  The 6% of CPL’s circulation represented by Tolono users is NOT significant…

Rob McColley avatar

I read Timbo’s argument. I think the key word is “speculating.“

{username}

I would be interested to hear more about the “word on the street”—how are individual hauling companies fulfilling their promise to recycle?

{username}

Timbo makes a smart, sound argument. Reread it.

emma reaux avatar

I joined on 09-09-09 after living here over a year, and having to listen to my dad tell me how his best friend is, like, #27 or something crazy like that, and how said friend never lived further than 50 feet from the Illini Inn while going…

Dan Schreiber avatar

And, I might add, no one is being prevented from using the Champaign library. They are just being asked to pay their fair share if they are going to use it as their primary library.

Dan Schreiber avatar

The equation is pretty simple here. If you want social services, then pay the taxes required to run those social services. These things only work if everyone puts in their fair share. As a heavy user of the Champaign Library, I say bravo to this new policy.

Timbo avatar

Curtis Orchard is always good for an hour or three, especially if you have rugrats.

Timbo avatar

What is the increased marginal cost of serving a resident of Savoy or Mahomet? I suspect negligible. What is the increased revenue to be realized by this new policy? I suspect very little. Aside from these financial aspects, what are the most probable results from this new…

{username}

Looks like you are also all members of the killer sideburns club.

{username}

Thanks for the article, Ben.  I was not familiar with this band until now and even though I won’t be able to attend the show on Friday they are now on my radar.  A *good* jam band is hard to find, and these folks appear to fill…

{username}

Nice article, love the Dead quote in the beginning. If they can get down here to Central FL I’ll definitely be heading out to the show. Some of my friends have finally stopped wincing when I say “jam band.“ I’ve now tried my best at more descriptive…

Joel Gillespie avatar

@Annie: Yeah, my bad. That was the best part! Drinking + memory exercises = fun @Rob: According to Ask the English Teacher, “My dictionary says ‘drunk’ is an archaic past tense of ‘drink.‘“ We’re all about the new grammar around here.

Tracy Nectoux avatar

Katie, have the residents of Savoy and Tolono thought about having their taxes raised a little to help their public library expand? That’s a possibility for them. And then everybody wins.

Ben Valocchi avatar

good call on that Herring recording, Josh. Love that version of Exit Music….here’s a clip of the Cinco de Mayo show (from about six months prior). As I recall, this Shakedown went on for roughly a half hour, while getting into the Trampled Underfoot jam in the…

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