Sept. 3, 2001
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FOR OPENERS
After opening its 112th season of varsity football with a win last week at
California, Illinois begins its 78th year at Memorial Stadium with a 46-27-4
record in home openers at Memorial Stadium ... The Illini have won three home
openers in a row ... Illinois is trying to win its ninth consecutive game
against non-Big Ten foes Saturday vs. Northern Illinois ... In that stretch,
Illinois is averaging 41.8 points per game, while only allowing 17.8 ... The
last time Illinois won at least nine non-conference games in a row was a
nine-game winning streak in 1950-51 and 1952, which was part of a 12-game
unbeaten streak (11-0-1, tie with Nebraska) from 1950-53 ... Illinois is
43-1-3 all-time against in-state non-Big Ten teams with the only loss coming
to Illinois Wesleyan in the UI's very first varsity football game in 1890.
THE COACHES' CORNER
RON TURNER, Illinois (17-29 in his fifth year at Illinois, 24-33 overall) -
Ron Turner is in his fifth year at Illinois and enters the Northern Illinois
game with a 24-33 coaching record, including 17-29 at UI. Turner will be
facing Northern Illinois for the first time as a head coach. NIU is Turner's
first in-state non-conference match-up while at Illinois.
After sub-par seasons in 1997 and 1998, Turner led the Illini to an 8-4
record and a 63-21 thumping of Virginia in the Micronpc.com Bowl in 1999.
For his efforts, Turner finished fourth in the Associated Press Coach of the
Year voting. Turner came to Illinois after a four-year stint as the
offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears (1993-96). In 1992, he was the
head coach for San Jose State where he turned in a 7-4 record and a
second-place finish in the Big West Conference. Turner has served as an
assistant at Stanford, Texas A&M, Southern California, Pittsburgh,
Northwestern and Arizona working mainly with quarterbacks and receivers
during his 20+ years in college coaching.
JOE NOVAK, Northern Illinois (15-41 in his sixth year at Northern Illinois
and as a collegiate head coach) - Novak is in his sixth year as head coach
at NIU after stints as an assistant Miami (1974-76), Illinois (1977-79),
Northern Illinois (1980-83) and Indiana (1984-95). He served as the Fighting
Illini defensive line coach under Gary Moeller from 1977-79. He assisted
Bill Mallory, father of Illini assistant Mike Mallory, at both Northern
Illinois and Indiana.
COACHING CONNECTIONS
Illinois receivers coach Robert Jackson was an assistant at NIU from 1986-90
under Jerry Pettibone, while Illini secondary coach Mike Mallory was
defensive coordinator for the Huskies from 1996-99 under Novak. Jackson
graduated from NIU in 1974. Illini strength and conditioning coach Jim
Zielinski graduated from Northern Illinois in 1986 and worked at NIU as a
student assistant from 1986-87 and as the head strength coach from 1989-94.
Other than Novak, the NIU staff has two other Illini connections in
offensive coordinator Dan Roushar and receiver coach George McDonald.
Roushar coached quarterbacks, offensive tackles and tight ends under Lou
Tepper for the Illini in 1995 and 1996. McDonald was a four-year football
letterwinner at Illinois while also lettering twice in track as a sprinter
from 1995-98. He made 57 receptions during his Illini career and still
stands seventh on the Illini career kickoff return average list at 22.7
yards per return.
SERIES HISTORY
Illinois has won both previous meetings with the Huskies including a 30-14
win in 1992 and 34-10 victory in 1994 with both games played in Champaign.
Those are the last two Illini non-conference games against in-state schools.
In 1992, Illini quarterback Jason Verduzco earned Big Ten Player of the Week
honors after throwing for 157 yards and three touchdowns, and rushing for
another in a 30-14 UI win. The Illini dominated the line of scrimmage while
rolling up 212 yards in rushing offense. The win came in Lou Tepper's first
regular-season game as a head coach.
In 1994, Illini quarterback Johnny Johnson came off the bench to complete
15-of-20 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the 34-10 UI win. The
Illini held the Huskies to just 28 yards of total offense and two first
downs in the second half. Illini running back Ty Douthard ran with the ball
27 times for 109 yards and a touchdown. Robert Holcombe added 53 yards and a
TD on 15 carries. Illini All-American Simeon Rice had two QB sacks to set
the Illini career sack mark with 25.
PLAYER CONNECTIONS
On Saturday, Northern Illinois' star linebacker Larry Williams will line up
across from former high school teammate, tailback Rocky Harvey. Harvey
(senior) and Williams (junior) are both graduates of Dunbar High School in
Chicago ... Sophomore middle linebacker Nick Duffy was a teammate of Illini
wide receiver Eric McGoey at Wheaton-Warrenville South ...Junior free safety
Vince Thompson went to St. Rita, the high school of redshirt-freshman Ade
Adeyemo.
LLOYD'S BACK AND EARNING HONORS
It didn't take long for sophomore wide receiver Brandon Lloyd to remind
Illini fans that "he's back." Lloyd hauled catches on the first two plays of
the game for 35 yards and finished with eight receptions, 178 yards and two
touchdowns, earning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors. His
performance ranks fifth all-time in Illinois' single-game receiving yardage
list and fell 30 yards shy of the school record. Lloyd's two touchdowns
against Cal matched his entire scoring output from his freshman season in
1999. He caught passes of 46 and 49 yards, bringing his big-play total
(30-plus yard plays) to 10 in 13 games played. He also returned one kickoff
for 21 yards.
MAKING A DEBUT
Fifteen Illini players made their collegiate debut in Saturday's 44-17 win
over the Cal Bears, including redshirt-freshman offensive guard Patrick
Babcock and junior college transfer linebacker Mario Ivy, who each got their
first start as well. Only two true-freshmen, Cory Flisakowski and Taman
Jordan, saw playing time over the weekend. Others making their debut were
JC transfers DT Jamie Hanton and CB Michael Hall, and redshirt-freshmen TE
Anthony McClellan, DE Mike Maloney, WR Ade Adeyemo, LB Mike Gawelek, LB
Lamont Holden, TE Estus Hood, OL Duke Preston, OL Dave Hilderbrand and S
Kevin Anderson.
PUTTING ON THE PRESSURE
One year after the Illini were criticized for its lack of run support and
pressure on the quarterback, the Illinois defense came out blazing with six
sacks, 10 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, eight
quarterback hurries and seven pass deflections. The defensive line looked
like a mirror opposite of the 2000 season as it rotated no fewer than 11
players in during the game (the Illini lost five defensive lineman between
spring ball and the start of the 2000 season).
KITTNER EARNING NATIONAL RECOGNITION
For the second straight year, Illini quarterback Kurt Kittner has been named
to the 30-man watch list for the Davey O'Brien Award, given to the nation's
top collegiate quarterback. He also appears on the 20-player list as a
Johnny Unitas Award Candidate, given to the top senior quarterback. ESPN's
Mel Kiper, Jr., lists Kittner as the No. 21 player on his "Big Board" of the
top-25 senior prospects in the 2002 NFL Draft. He is rated the No. 1
quarterback and the third-highest Big Ten athlete. Kittner, with 29 starts
under his belt, has amassed over 5,700 yards passing and 45 touchdowns. He
is 10 touchdown passes shy of the Illinois career record, currently held by
Jack Trudeau. With his 297 yards passing against Cal, he recorded his
seventh career game with over 250 yards. He was an honorable mention
Football News All-American in 2000 and was named the ESPN Player of the Game
with his 352-yard performance against Michigan last season. In 1999, he led
the Illini's record-breaking offense and engineered road wins at Ohio State
and Michigan.
BUTKUS NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
Illinois senior center Luke Butkus was named to the Scripps Howard preseason
All-American team. Butkus started his 24th consecutive game for the Illini
and has helped the Illini become one of the most explosive offenses in the
Big Ten. The Illini totaled 373 yards total offense and the offensive line
held the Cal defense without a sack. He also aided in the Illini's three
rushing touchdowns and a perfect 4-of-4 on fourth down conversions. He
earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors last season in leading Illinois
to a second straight 2,000-yard passing, 1,700-yard rushing season.
TURNING THE TIDE
The Illini's five forced turnovers (three fumbles and two interceptions)
puts them atop the nation's turnover margin category. Not only did the
Illini defense force the big plays, but the stingy Illinois offense once
again protected the ball allowing no turnovers. In 1999, the Illini ranked
second in the nation in turnover margin with 25 takeaways and only 13
fumbles and interceptions.
COACHING STAFF CHANGES
Four new coaches joined the Illini staff for the 2001 season, including
three on the defensive side of the ball. New defensive coordinator Mike
Cassity came to Illinois after two seasons at Oklahoma State, where the
Cowboy's held the national champion, Oklahoma Sooners, to a season-low 12
points last season. He has 18 years experience as a coordinator and shares
the defensive backfield with new secondary coach Mike Mallory. Mallory, the
son of legendary coach Bill Mallory and an All-American linebacker at
Michigan in 1985, works primarily with the safeties. Donnie Thompson, a
26-year veteran defensive line coach, came to Illinois after 12 seasons with
the North Carolina Tar Heels. During his time with the Tar Heels, Thompson
tutored 13 defensive linemen to pro careers, including three first-round
draft picks. He also developed current Tar Heel, Julius Peppers, who is the
top-rated defensive end in the country. Cassity and Thompson served as
co-coordinators together at Western Kentucky in 1985-86. Dan O'Dell is the
lone change on the offensive side of the ball, in his first season with the
Illini quarterbacks. He spent the last two seasons at Illinois as the
offensive graduate assistant.
TWO-HEADED TAILBACK
Illinois may not have had a 1,000-yard rusher the last three seasons, but
the running game has been more productive in the dual running back system
than it was with the school's all-time leading rusher Robert Holcombe from
1994-97. In each of the last three seasons, the running game has topped
1,500 yards, including 2,000 in 1999. The team reached a high of 1,468 yards
in 1996, the best during Holcombe's three 1,000-yard seasons. The Illini's
"Thunder and Lightning" running back tandem of senior Rocky Harvey and
junior Antoineo Harris returned after a combined 1,400 yard performance in
2000. Both Illini running backs rushed for over 100-yards in each of the
team's first two contests in 2000, for the first time in school history. In
the season opener, the Cal Bears defense crowded the box forcing the Illini
into an air attack. The two tailbacks only combined for 76 yards, but Harris
recorded his second three-touchdown game of his career and leads the team in
scoring. Harvey needs only 785 yards to become the school's second all-time
leading rusher behind Holcombe.
ILLINI IN THE RANKINGS
Although the Fighting Illini didn't appear in either the ESPN/Coaches or the
Associated Press' Preseason Top-25, the team got recognition in other
reputable polls. The Football Writers Association ranked Illinois 22nd,
while ESPN The Magazine picked the Illini 24th to begin the 2001 season.
Following the Illini's 44-17 win over California, the team moved up the
rankings to 33rd in the coaches poll (AP poll not updated as of Sun. 9/3).
The squad opened the 2000 season ranked 24th and jumped as high as No. 17
following a three straight wins in non-conference play.
FITTS ON RAY GUY WATCH LIST
With a 41.5 career average, senior punter Steve Fitts has been named to the
Ray Guy Award watch list for the second straight year. The Ray Guy Award is
in its second season and is given to the nation's best collegiate punter.
Fitts, who has been the team's regular punter for the last three seasons,
has been an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection for the last two. He has
landed 40 career punts inside the 20 yardline and has a net punting average
of 36.2 yards. He will become the school's all-time punting yardage leader
with 959 yards this season. With a 40.3 punting average against Cal, Fitts
has averaged over 40 yards a punt in career 24 games.
TURNER TO COACH EAST-WEST SHRINE GAME
Illinois head coach Ron Turner has been named the East Coach for the 2002
East-West Shrine All-Star Game, along with Oregon coach Mike Bellotti, who
will lead the West. The 77th annual game, which is scheduled for Jan. 12 at
12:30 CT on espn2, features the best senior collegiate all-stars. This is
the second straight year Turner has been chosen to coach a senior all-star
game. He coached in the Blue-Gray Game in 2000.
IT'S IN THE BLOOD
Here is a list of current Illinois football players with NFL lineage:
Luke Butkus, Sr., C - nephew of Hall of Famer Dick Butkus, Father, Ron,
played for the Chicago Cardinals ... Lamont Holden, Fr., LB - father, Renwick
Atkins played one year with Detroit Lions ... Estus Hood, Fr., TE - Father,
Estus Hood, played for Green Bay.
Aaron Moorehead, Jr., WR - Father, Emory Moorehead, played 12 years in NFL
with Giants, Broncos and Bears ... Duke Preston, Fr., OL - Father, Raymond
Preston, played nine years with San Diego Chargers ... Matt Dlugolecki, Fr.,
QB - Cousin of QB Ron Powles, Uncle, Bobby Glazebrock, was DB for the
Atlanta Falcons ... Mario Ivy, Jr., LB - Cousin of Dallas Cowboy DE Leroy "Too
Tall" Jones ...Taman Jordan, Fr., DB - Uncle, Jim Moore, played for Baltimore
Colts.
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
Softball-playing football players. That's what the Illini were this summer
when the senior class formed a six-team softball league made up solely of
football players. The seven-week league began in an effort to give the team
a bonding activity off the football field. The Huff City Riders team, made
up of players such as linebacker Jerry Schumacher and running back Rocky
Harvey, won the league in the championship game played during training camp.
MEMORIAL STADIUM FACELIFT
During the offseason, Illinois' Memorial Stadium got a facelift replacing
the 15-year old Astroturf with the state-of-the-art AstroPlay? surface. The
artificial turf has the look and feel of natural grass and is the same
surface that was installed in the Illini's indoor practice facility last
fall. AstroPlay? is a new concept in filled turf systems - a grass-like,
non-abrasive, polyethylene fiber matrix is filled with special rubber or
rubber granules. Memorial Stadium is one of only a few NCAA football venues
to switch to AstroPlay? along with schools such as Oklahoma State and
Kansas.
IT'S ALL RELATIVE
For the second straight year, the Illinois secondary will be full of
Jacksons. Senior strong safety Bobby Jackson is joined by his brother Marc,
who is a junior free safety. Their father is Robert Jackson, wide receivers
coach for the Illini ... Sophomore offensive lineman Aaron Hodges earned his
first letter in 2000, joining his brother, senior tight end Brian ... Junior,
wide receivers Walter Young and Greg Lewis are first cousins.
