Sept. 19, 2005
Complete Release in PDF Format
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Post-practice with Coach Ron Zook
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WR Kyle Hudson
For Openers
- Illinois is beginning its 110th season of Big Ten football this weekend as it plays host to Michigan State.
- Illinois opens Big Ten play at home for the fourth straight season. The Illini are 45-58-6 all-time in Big Ten openers, and 30-29-2 in conference openers in Champaign.
- Illinois faces its second ranked opponent of the season this week in No. 22/17 Michigan State, one of six ranked teams on the 2005 Illinois schedule. The last time Illinois defeated a ranked team was its 34-22 win at No. 25 Ohio State in 2001. Last week, the Illini dropped a 20-35 loss at No. 15 California.
- Illinois head coach Ron Zook posted six wins over Top-25 foes, during his time at Florida, including a 20-13 victory at No. 10 Florida State. He also put together a string of three straight wins over ranked opponents with victories over No. 6 LSU, No. 11 Arkansas and No. 4 Georgia in 2003.
- Illinois sophomore placekicker Jason Reda is 8-of-9 in field goals made this season, which ranks fifth in the NCAA. His 11.0 points per game ranks 24th nationally.
- Two Illinois players have been named to preseason award watch lists in Doak Walker candidate Pierre Thomas and 2004 Ray Guy semifinalist Steve Weatherford. Thomas led the team in rushing last season with 893 yards, which ranked fifth in the conference. He led the Big Ten in all-purpose yards, racking up over 1,600 yards in rushing, receiving and kickoff returns. Weatherford already holds the school record for career and single-season punting average. Last season, the Big Ten coaches voted him first-team All-Big Ten and he ranked fourth nationally.
Records to Watch
- Junior Pierre Thomas is looking to break the school record for career kickoff return yardage. Last season he averaged 27.1 yards per return, which ranked 10th in the NCAA. With 984 career yards, Thomas needs just 399 this season to set the school mark.
- Thomas ranks 20th on the all-time rushing list and needs 32 yards to move to 19th.
- Illini junior running back E.B. Halsey topped the 1,000-yard career rushing mark with his 50 yards vs. Rutgers, becoming the 32nd all-time 1,000-yard career rusher in school history. With 1,117 career yards, Halsey now ranks 26th on the all-time list. He needs 111 yards to break into the top-25.
Illinois & Michigan State Notes
- Saturday will mark the 41st meeting between Illinois and Michigan State. The Spartans lead the series, 22-16-2, and are 10-9-1 in Champaign. This will mark the first meeting with MSU for Illinois Head Coach Ron Zook and Spartan coach John L. Smith. Smith is 3-2 in games against Illinois, which includes a 2-1 record while at Louisville. Michigan State has won the last eight in the series, with Illinois last defeating the Spartans 14-10 in Champaign in 1992.
- The Illini have six players on its roster from the state of Michigan, four of which are starters. They are CB Sharriff Abdullah (Detroit/St. Martin DePorres), OT Ryan McDonald (Holland/ West Ottawa), LB Anthony Thornhill (Detroit/Central) and WR DaJuan Warren (Southfield/ Southfield). The other two are CB Alan Ball (Detroit/St. Martin DePorres) and WR Lonnie Hurst (Detroit/Univ. of Detroit Jesuit).
- Illinois assistant head coach and running backs coach Reggie Mitchell joined the staff this season after six seasons on the Michigan State staff. Mitchell spent one season under Nick Saban (1999), three with Bobby Williams (200-02) and two with current MSU head coach John L. Smith (2003-04).
Illini Pose Triple Tailback Threat
- The strength of the 2005 Illinois football team is undoubtedly the running back corps. Not only do the Illini have a pair of returning co-starters in E.B. Halsey and Pierre Thomas, but a true-freshman in Rashard Mendenhall. Halsey was the team's leading rusher in 2003 when he posted 525 yards, but spent most of the 2004 season nursing a nagging groin injury. With Halsey not at 100 percent, Thomas stepped up and had a breakout season with 893 yards and eight touchdowns in 2004. Mendenhall came to Illinois as the No. 1 recruit in the state, averaging 9.1 yards a carry as a senior at Niles West.
- Against San Jose State, Pierre Thomas led the team with 79 yards, followed by E.B. Halsey's 75 and Rashard Mendenhall's 64. If the carries were given to just one player, the back would have rushed for 218 yards (5.3 yards per carry). The attempts were also evenly distributed with Halsey rushing 16 times, Thomas 14 and Mendenhall 11. In the season opener against Rutgers, Halsey and Thomas handled the load with the pair combining for 129 yards (Thomas - 79, Halsey 50). Each scored a touchdown for the Illini vs. the Scarlet Knights.
- 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 Illionis' 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 (131), Pierre Thomas (199) & Rashard Mendenhall (65) 395 (131.7 ypg)
* only season since 1998 Illinois has had one featured back
- In addition to the three tailbacks, Illinois has two other potent running threats in fullback Jason Davis and quarterback Tim Brasic. Davis has the ability to block, run and catch passes has 296 career rushing yards (and 482 yards receiving), while Brasic has 126 rushing yards in three games this season.
1,000-Yard Rushing Duos
Illinois is one of just three teams in the Big Ten to have a pair of 1,000-yard rushers on its current roster in juniors Pierre Thomas (1,325 career yards) and E.B. Halsey (1,117 career yards). The other two teams in the league making the same claim are Purdue, with senior Jerod Void (1,942 career yards) and senior Brandon Jones (1,502 career yards), and Wisconsin with junior Brian Calhoun (1,595) and junior Booker Stanley (1,012). In all, there are only nine 1,000-yard career rushers currently listed on Big Ten rosters:
Laurence Maroney, Minnesota 2,950 yards
Jerod Void, Purdue 1,942 yards
Brian Calhoun, Wisconsin 1,595 yards
Mike Hart, Michigan 1,576 yards
Brandon Jones, Purdue 1,475 yards
Pierre Thomas, Illinois 1,325 yards
Chris Taylor, Indiana 1,278 yards
E.B. Halsey, Illinois 1,117 yards
Booker Stanley, Wisconsin 1,012 yards
Jehuu Caulcrick, So., Michigan State 858 yards
They Believe
Coach Zook's slogan for the 2005 football season is "I Believe". It became readily apparent during the come-from-behind win over Rutgers in the season opener that the Illini players have taken the theme to heart. Illinois faced a 20-point deficit, trailing 27-7 midway through the third quarter. But the squad refused to give up and staged a furious comeback, reeling off 20 unanswered points, including 17 in the fourth quarter, to force overtime. After Rutgers opened OT with a field goal, the Illini got a big play on 2nd and seven from the 22-yardline when junior E.B. Halsey changed directions on a screen pass and went for 20 yards, setting up first and goal at the two. Junior Pierre Thomas scored the game-winner on the following play. In the end, Illinois equaled its largest come-from-behind win in school history. Following the game, Halsey and senior Jason Davis presented Zook with the game ball on behalf of the team.
Youthful Illini
Weatherford, One of the Nation's Best Punters
- In the first two games, Weatherford has punted 17 times for a 40.5 average. Three have been for plus-50 yards and four have been downed inside the 20 yardline. Only seven of his 17 punts have been returnable (41 percent).
- 2004 Ray Guy semifinalist and has earned preseason All-America honors from nearly every publication.
- Only two of Weatherford's 11 kickoffs have been returned this season, with nine of 11 being booted into the endzone. After Weatherford kickoffs, Illinois' opponents' drives are beginning at an average of the 21.9 yardline.
- 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, topping league rival Brandon Fields of Michigan State.
- 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 44.5.
- 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. Illinois' 22 head football coaches have compiled an all-time record of 11-10-1 in their first games. 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 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.
Offensive Notes
- Illinois is an impressive 100 percent in the redzone, converting on all 16 trips inside the 20 yardline this season. The Illini have scored touchdowns on nine occasions (56 percent) and field goals seven times (44 percent). The offense has had 40 total drives this season and 40 percent (16-of-40) have resulted in redzone attempts. The Illini are first in the Big Ten in redzone offense.
- Illinois had its two most impressive drives of the season right off the bat against Cal. On its first drive, The Illini put together a 14-play, 80-yard TD drive, which lasted 6:01. The 80-yard march is Illinois' longest of the season.
- Of Illinois' four scoring drives against Cal, three drives went 12 plays or longer. For the game, the Illini ran 80 offensive plays compared to Cal's 53.
- Tim Brasic became the first Illinois quarterback since Kurt Kittner's 41-13 victory over Arkansas State in 1999, to win his first season opener as a starter, with Illinois' 33-30 overtime win over Rutgers.
- The Illini rattled off 40 unanswered points against San Jose State.
- Twelve different players have caught passes for the Illini this season.
- 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). For the season, Brasic has completed 73 percent of his throws.
- Illinois rushed for over 200 yards in the first two games of the season (204 vs. RU, 243 vs. SJSU), averaging 4.4 yards per carry.
- Along with throwing for 233 yards and three touchdowns against Rutgers, Tim Brasic also led the Illini in rushing with 77 yards. He became the first UI quarterback to lead the Illini in rushing in 18 years, since Brian Menkhausen had 31 yards vs. Michigan State on Oct. 24, 1987. Brasic's 77 yards against also ranks as the sixth-best rushing performance by quarterback in school history.
- 106 Rick Weiss vs. Wisconsin, 10/14/78
- 105 Mike Wells vs. Northwestern, 11/4/72
- 100 Fred Custardo at Ohio State, 10/9/65
- 95 John Easterbrook vs. Wisconsin, 11/12/60
- 91 Bob Naponic vs. Purdue, 10/29/66
- 77 Tim Brasic vs. Rutgers, 9/3/2005
- 76 Rich Weiss vs. Minnesota, 11/18/78
- 75 Michael McCray at Purdue, 10/15/77
- 74 Kurt Stegar vs. Syracuse, 10/1/77
74 John Easterbrook vs. Indiana, 9/24/60
Defensive Notes
- 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 3rd 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.
- Opponents have been in the red zone a total of 12 times this season, with the Illini defense allowing just five red zone touchdowns. That opponent red zone TD rate of 42 percent is the second lowest in the Big Ten (to Ohio State's 40 percent).
- Illinois' defense has forced 15 three-and-outs this season in 38 total drives (39 percent) and has forced 17 punts (45 percent).
- Illinois' opponents have converted on 3rd down just 12 times, the second fewest conversions in the Big Ten among teams that have played three games (trailing only Michigan).
- 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.
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- 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 is a near-perfect 8-for-9 in his field goal attempts this season, missing only a 52-yarder at the end of regulation against Rutgers. His eight field goals are the fourth-most in the NCAA and second in the Big Ten. His field goal percentage of .889 ranks fifth in the country. Reda is also a perfect 9-for-9 in extra point attempts this season, making him 34-for-35 (.971) for his career.
- The Illini have blocked to kicks this season through three games. Defensive tackle Ryan Matha blocked a field goal against Rutgers and defensive tackle Chris Norwell got the field goal block against Cal. The most blocked kicks for an Illini team in recent years was six by the 2001 and 1997 squads.
- Against San Jose State, sophomore kicker Jason Reda hit a career-best four field goals including the longest of his career in a 45-yarder. It was the most field goals by an Illini kicker since Neil Racker hit four against Ohio State in 1999.
- Weatherford has kicked off 11 times, nine of which reached the endzone. Eight resulted in touchbacks, while only two have been returned (18 percent).
- Weatherford punted 17 times for a 40.5 average and only seven of his 17 punts were returned (41 percent).
