Nov. 14, 2005

Complete release in PDF format

For Starters

• As just a sophomore, kicker Jason Reda has 22 career field goals, which ranks eighth on the Illinois all-time list.

• Seven opponents on Illinois' schedule are now bowl eligible, including Rutgers who Illinois defeated, 33-30, in the season opener. The others are California, Iowa, Penn State, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Northwestern.

• Illinois punter Steve Weatherford will cap a successful, record-breaking career at Illinois this weekend against Northwestern. He already holds the single-season school record for punting average and actually holds the No. 1 and No. 2 spot with his 45.4 average in 2004 and 44.5 in 2003. This season Weatherford is averaging 42.8, which would be good enough for the No. 4 slot on that list. He was also the career average record holder at Illinois after last season and should hold onto that claim with his 43.8 yard average.

  Seniors Jason Davis and Ryan Matha will be starting their final game as Illini Saturday when Northwestern comes to town.

• This Saturday, Illinois will honor 13 seniors in their last game in an Illini uniform. Those seniors are: Brian Brosnan (S, Chicago), James Cooper (CB, South Holland), Jason Davis (FB, St. Louis, Mo.), Kendrick Jones (WR, East St. Louis), Kyle Kleckner (S, Downers Grove), Ryan Matha (DT, Dixon), Scott Moss (DE, Minooka), Kyle Schnettgoecke (OL, St. Louis, Mo.), Dominic Shafer (K, Centralia), Josh Tischer (LB, Morris), Morris Virgil (S, Urbana), Steve Weatherford (P, Terre Haute, Ind.) and Travis Williams (CB, East Alton)

The Tomahawk

• This week Illinois and Northwestern will play for the "Tomahawk." The Illini lead the traditional trophy series by a 31-25-2 mark.

• The story of the Illinois-Northwestern trophy dates back to 1945 when the staff members of the two student newspapers conceived the idea of a wooden Indian trophy, "Sweet Sioux." In September, 1946, "Sweet Sioux" was stolen from a showcase at Northwestern. A Tomahawk Trophy was inaugurated in 1947 to replace the wooden Indian and has been used since. "Sweet Sioux" was found in 1948, but was discarded because of its bulk. The trophy has had a two-year residence in Evanston after back-to-back wins in 2003 and 2004.

Northwestern Series History

• Saturday's game marks 99th meeting between these two teams, dating back to 1892.

• Illinois leads the series, 51-42-5 overall, and in Champaign, 24-18-2. The Wildcats have won the last two meetings, 28-21 in Evanston in overtime in 2004 and 37-20 in Champaign in 2003.

• This will be Ron Zook's first head-to-head contest against Northwestern. Purdue coach Randy Walker is 3-3 vs. the Illini.

• Walker and Zook's history goes back to their college days as the two played for Bill Mallory at Miami of Ohio. Both graduated in 1976, Walker the running back and Zook the defensive back. During their time at Miami, their teams went 32-1-1 and took three trips to the Tangerine Bowl.

• Northwestern defensive coordinator Greg Colby was a linebacker at Illinois from 1972-74, graduating in 1975. He began his coaching career at Illinois as a graduate assistant in 1977-78, but then returned for another stint with the Illini as the outside linebackers/special teams coordinator from 1988-95.

Current Illini vs. the Wildcats

• In 2003, Illinois took a 10-0 early lead after a Travis Williams interception, which he returned 32 yards for a touchdown. The Illini lost 37-20, however the then-freshman running back E.B. Halsey had a one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to get within one touchdown of the Wildcats. Chris Pazan entered the game in relief of Dustin Ward to throw for 188 yards on 18-of-28 passing.

• In 2004, then-sophomore Pierre Thomas rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns on 37 carries. Northwestern won in overtime, but the Illini led late into the fourth quarter, following a Steve Weatherford two-yard touchdown run on a fake field goal attempt. Safety Justin Harrison led the team in tackles with 10, linebacker J Leman had eight.

Records to Watch

• Junior Pierre Thomas needs just 124 kickoff return yards to break the school career record.

• Wide receiver Kyle Hudson needs 50 yards to break the freshman receiving record, held currently by former Illini and current San Francisco 49er Brandon Lloyd.

• Brasic is 149 yards away from the career record for quarterback rushing yards at Illinois in just his first season as a starter.

• Thomas ranks 15th on the all-time rushing list with 1,665 yards and needs 3 yards to move to 14th.

Youthful Illini

• With 13 freshmen (6) and sophomores (7) in the starting lineup, the Illini are the youngest team in the country. Illini have only two senior starters, which is the lowest in college football. Illinois' two senior starters are: fullback Jason Davis and defensive tackle Ryan Matha.

• The Illini have started four true freshmen this season in WR Kyle Hudson, WR Derrick McPhearson, LB Brit Miller and DE Sirod Williams. Only seven teams across the country have had four or more true-freshmen starters. They are Cincinnati and Duke with six, Oklahoma and Northwestern with five and Illinois, Arkansas and Virginia have four.

• Only 14 teams in the nation have played 11 or more true-freshmen this season and the Illini are among those with 11 true-freshman getting valuable playing time. They are OL Eric Block, WR Will Davis, WR Kyle Hudson, TE Greg McClendon, WR Derrick McPhearson, RB Rashard Mendenhall, LB Brit Miller, TE Michael Nabolotny, LB Rodney Pittman, DT Tremayne Walker, DE Sirod Williams.

      Team           True-Freshmen                Team           True-Freshmen
      Arkansas            16	                     Illinois            11
      Kent State          15	                     Oklahoma State      11
      Duke                14	                     Nebraska            11
      Kentucky            14	                     Northwestern        11
      Oklahoma            12	                     Pittsburgh          11
      Rutgers             12	                     Temple              11
      USC                 11	                     Virginia            11

• In addition to starters, nearly 60 percent of Illinois participation is coming from the freshman and sophomore classes. At key positions the youth of the team is being asked to take on most of the work, especially in the offensive and defensive lines. Sixty percent of the offensive line play comes from underclassmen, while the defensive line is 65 percent. Over 99 percent of the production at linebacker are from underclassmen and seven of Illinois' 10 wide receivers are youngsters. See the chart below:

  Position    Fr.-Plays    So.-Plays   Jr.-Plays    Sr.-Plays    Pct. Under    Pct. Upper
  Overall      23-4134      19-5966     17-4823      12-2619     59.4-57.6     40.6-42.4
  QB          ---------    ---------     2-673      ---------     0.0-0.0     100.0-100.0
  RB            1-109        1-157       2-779        1-323      40.0-19.4     60.0-80.6
  WR            5-1031       2-670       2-60         1-348      70.0-77.0     30.0-23.0
  TE            4-58       ---------     1-484      ---------    80.0-10.7     20.0-89.3
  OL            2-715        4-1425      5-1417       1-29       50.0-59.7     50.0-40.3
  DL            5-906        3-925       3-276        2-710      68.7-65.1     31.3-34.9
  LB            5-1315       3-1090    ---------      1-2        88.9-99.9     11.1-0.1
  DB          ---------      4-1559      2-1034       5-1116     36.4-41.2     63.6-58.8
  KPS         ---------      2-130     ---------      1-80       67.0-61.9     33.0-38.1

• Twelve players on Illinois' roster are first-year starters -- RG James Ryan (So.), RT Ryan McDonald (r-Fr.), QB Tim Brasic (Jr.), WR Jody Ellis (r-Fr.), DE Derek Walker (r-Fr.), LB Remond Willis (r-Fr.), SS Kevin Mitchell (So.), WR Kyle Hudson (Fr.), WR Derrick McPhearson (Fr.), DE Sirod Williams (Fr.), LB Brit Miller (Fr.) and LB Sam Carson (r-Fr.).

• The Illini have started more underclassmen of any Big Ten team this season.

      Illinois      15      Michigan State   4
      Northwestern   8      Ohio State       4
      Minnesota      6      Michigan         3
      Iowa           6      Purdue           3
      Wisconsin      5      Penn State       2
      Indiana        5

• Twelve players on Illinois' roster are first-year starters -- RG James Ryan (So.), RT Ryan McDonald (r-Fr.), QB Tim Brasic (Jr.), WR Jody Ellis (r-Fr.), DE Derek Walker (r-Fr.), LB Remond Willis (r-Fr.), SS Kevin Mitchell (So.), WR Kyle Hudson (Fr.), WR Derrick McPhearson (Fr.), DE Sirod Williams (Fr.), LB Brit Miller (Fr.) and LB Sam Carson (r-Fr.).

• The Illini have started more underclassmen of any Big Ten team this season.

Illini Pose Triple Tailback Threat

• The strength of the 2005 Illinois football team is in its running back corps. Not only do the Illini have a pair of three-year co-starters in E.B. Halsey and Pierre Thomas, but a true-freshman in Rashard Mendenhall.

• For years, the Illinois running game has consisted of the two-headed monster tailback philosophy. Dating back to 1998 (and with the exception of the 2002 season), two running backs have split time in the backfield, but this season the two heads have turned to three with Halsey, Thomas and Mendenhall. The following is a list of Illinois' tailback tandems:

  1998	Rocky Harvey (634) & Steve Havard (584)                             1,218 (110.7 ypg)
  1999	Rocky Harvey (774) & Steve Havard (806)                             1,580 (131.7 ypg)
  2000	Rocky Harvey (683) & Antoineo Harris (772)                          1,455 (132.3 ypg)
  2001	Rocky Harvey (620) & Antoineo Harris (629)                          1,249 (104.1 ypg)
  2002*	Antoineo Harris (1,330)                                             1,330 (110.8 ypg)
  2003	E.B. Halsey (525) & Pierre Thomas (233)                               758 (62.2 ypg)
  2004	E.B. Halsey (461) & Pierre Thomas (893)                             1,354 (123.1 ypg)
  2005	E.B. Halsey (308), Pierre Thomas (567) & Rashard Mendenhall (211)   1,086 (108.6 ypg)

  * only season since 1998 Illinois has had one featured back

• In addition to the three tailbacks, Illinois has two other running threats in fullback Jason Davis and quarterback Tim Brasic. Davis has the ability to block, run and catch passes has 327 career rushing yards (and 602 yards receiving), while Brasic has 367 rushing yards in nine games this season.

1,000-Yard Rushing Duos

Illinois is one of just three teams in the Big Ten to have a pair of career 1,000-yard rushers on its current roster in juniors Pierre Thomas (1,693 career yards) and E.B. Halsey (1,294 career yards). The other two teams in the league making the same claim are Purdue, with senior Jerod Void (2,375 career yards) and senior Brandon Jones (1,653 career yards), and Wisconsin with junior Brian Calhoun (2,404) and junior Booker Stanley (1,135). In all, there are 13 1,000-yard career rushers currently listed on Big Ten rosters.

Weatherford, One of the Nation's Best Punters

• In the first 10 games, Weatherford has punted 64 times for a 42.8 average. Sixteen have been for plus-50 yards, six for over 60 yards and 16 have been downed inside the 20 yardline.

• He ranks second in the Big Ten in punting and 20th nationally.

• Only nine of Weatherford's 31 kickoffs have been returned this season, with 20 being booted into the endzone (two have been on-sides kick).

• Rated by Mel Kiper as the No. 1 NFL-rated punter.

• Last season, he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the conferences coaches.

• In 2004, Weatherford ranked fourth in the nation in punting average (45.4) and team ranked 12th in the NCAA in net punting (39.0) in 2004. He also booted 20 punts over 50 yards and five over 60 yards.

• He also broke the Illinois single-season punting average record in 2004 (which he set in 2003) with a 45.4 average and is also set to top the school's career average with 43.8.

• Was a 2004 Ray Guy semifinalist

• Is a member of the Illinois track team, scoring at the 2003, 2004 and 2005 Big Ten Indoor Track Championships in the heptathlon. He recorded his highest finish of third-place last season after placing 6th in 2003 and 5th in 2004. He holds the school record for the heptathlon.

Team Notes

• Ron Zook began his tenure at Illinois with a 33-30 come-from-behind, overtime victory over Rutgers, marking the first win for a first-year Illinois coach since Mike White, who guided the Illini to a 35-9 win over Northwestern on Sept. 6, 1980. Among current Big Ten coaches, Zook is one of only six to win the first game of their head coaching careers at their respective schools. He was also the first Illinois coach since White to win their first two games.

• The Illini won the turnover battle against Iowa 2-1 (forced fumble and an interception) and Ohio State 1-0 (fumble) and had the most turnovers forced on the season with three against Indiana.

• The Illini outgained the San Jose State Spartans 492-231 in total offense, the most dominant performance since posting 600 yards to Arkansas State's 313 in 2002.

• Illinois' 20-point comeback against Rutgers tied the mark for the biggest come-from-behind win in school history. Illinois came back from the same score (27-7) at Michigan in 1999, defeating the Wolverines 35-29.

• Following Illinois' 33-30 overtime win over Rutgers, E.B. Halsey's 13-yard touchdown catch was nominated as a Pontiac/ESPN Game-Changing Moment.

• Illinois has been named among the Top-50 college football programs of all time, by Street and Smith Magazine. In the recent publication, the Illini rank 37th.

• Illinois' Memorial Stadium is one of 40 college football venues featured in the latest Sporting News' Book "Saturday's Shrines," which celebrates the pagentry of college football.

Offensive Notes

• The Illini posted 538 yards of total offense against Wisconsin, the most this season and the most since Illinois' season opening win over Florida A&M in 2004. The team outrushed and outpassed the 15th-ranked Badgers in the 24-41 loss.

• Three times this season, quarterback Tim Brasic has led the team in rushing (MSU, Rutgers, Wisconsin). For the year, Brasic has compiled 367 net rushing yards, which is the most for an Illinois quarterback in a single season. With Brasic's quarterback sack numbers removed from the equation, he would have 108 rushes for 552 yards, 5.1 yards per carry. He has also rushed for 34 first downs.

• Quarterbacks have gone to freshman wide receiver Kyle Hudson 10 different times on third down, all of which he has converted for first downs. In all, Hudson has 20 first-down catches in 30 receptions.

• Pierre Thomas rushed for a season-high 100 yards vs. Iowa on 15 carries, averaging 6.7 yards per carry. That marked the fifth 100-yard rushing game of his career. Thomas is averaging 5.2 yards per carry on the season, and has had only five rushes for negative yardage out of 109 carries on the year.

• Hudson had a career-high 114 yards receiving vs. Wisconsin, catching 10 passes. That is also the highest single-game receiving yardage total by an Illini player this season. Hudson has six 30+-yard catchs this season. He leads the team in receiving yards with 461.

• Fourteen different players have caught passes for the Illini this season.

• The Illini set a record for the longest drive in school history vs. Iowa with an impressive 20-play drive in the second quarter. That drive covered 90 yards and took 7:59. On the year, Illinois has had 21 drives that have lasted 10 or more plays.

• Twice this season, Illini players have posted 10 or more receptions in a game. E.B. Halsey had 11 catches vs. Iowa and freshman Kyle Hudson had a career day with 10 catches for 114 yards.

• With Illinois trailing Rutgers 27-7, quarterback Tim Brasic led the Illini to four scores in the final 25:49 of the game, completing 19-of-25 passes (76%) for 195 yards and two touchdowns during that time. Brasic also completed his first eight passes against San Jose State and finished the game connecting on 77 percent of his passes (17-for-22).

• Illinois has rushed for over 200 yards in three games this season (204 vs. RU, 243 vs. SJSU, 261 vs. Wisconsin).

Defensive Notes

• The Illini held Purdue to no points through the first quarter, the first scoreless first quarter of the season for Illinois.

• In the third quarter of play vs. Indiana, Illinois held the Hoosiers scoreless with only 51 yards gained. Indiana punted in each of its three drives that quarter.

• Illinois forced a season-high three turnovers against Indiana. Junior cornerback Alan Ball gt his first career interception and linebackers J Leman and Remond Willis each forced fumbles. The Illinois offense scored on two of the three drives following the turnovers.

• During Illinois' first half run against No. 15 California, the defense forced three three-and-outs, held quarterback Joe Ayoob to only one completion in nine attempts and just seven points. The defense only spent 3:12 on the field in the first quarter and 8:25 for the half.

• After California scored a touchdown on its opening possession, Illinois held the Bears scoreless over the next 36:05, to midway through the third quarter. Cal had four consecutive scoreless drives in between its first two touchdowns, in which the Illini defense limited Cal to 44 yards and just one first down during that time.

• Illinois' defense held Rutgers to no points in the final 25:49 of regulation. From the time Rutgers went ahead 27-7 with 10:49 left in the 3rd quarter, Illinois' defense held Rutgers to just 143 total yards (37 rushing and 106 passing) and one overtime field goal for the remainder of the game.

• In the first half of play against San Jose State, the Illini held the Spartans to just two first downs and negative three yards rushing. SJSU went into the locker room at the half with only 62 total yards, averaging 2.5 yards a play.

Special Teams Notes

• Sophomore kicker Jason Reda nailed a career-long 52-yard field goal against Indiana, marking the longest since the season finale of the 2001 season when John Gockman made a 52-yarder vs. Northwestern. It also was the seventh-longest field goal in school history.

• Steve Weatherford had the sixth best single-game punting performance in school history vs. Penn State, averaging 50.2 yards per punt. Five of his nine punts went for over 50 yards, and all nine were over 40 yards.

• Weatherford has kicked off 31 times (two have been on-sides kicks), 21 of which reached the endzone. Twenty have resulted in touchbacks, while only nine have been returned.

• Weatherford has punted 64 times for a 42.8 average, which ranks second in the Big Ten.

• Reda is a perfect 17-for-17 in extra point attempts this season, making him 42-for-43 (.977) for his career.

• The Illini have blocked three kicks this season through 10 games. Defensive tackle Ryan Matha blocked a field goal against Rutgers, defensive tackle Chris Norwell got the field goal block against Cal and Xavier Fulton knocked down an extra point attempt vs. Indiana. The most blocked kicks for an Illini team in recent years was six by the 2001 and 1997 squads.

• Against SJSU, sophomore kicker Jason Reda hit a career-best four field goals including a 45-yarder. It was the most field goals by an Illini kicker since Neil Rackers hit four against Ohio State in 1999.