Wednesday Multimedia:
- Head Coach Ron Zook
- TE Jeff Cumberland
Transcript of Wednesday afternoon's chat with Decatur, Illinois product Brit Miller, sophomore outside linebacker.
Miller had an interception and three tackles in last Saturday's 42-17 season-opening victory over Eastern Illinois at Memorial Stadium.
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| Moderator: Good afternoon...we'll be getting started with Brit in just a few minutes... |
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Brit Miller: Well, George, I think the chemistry is great when we have young players on the field. Everyone is playing hard, and the chemistry just comes when we're out there having fun, young or not. I don't think age matters with the chemistry. |
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| George Mills Alexandria, VA: Brit, I noticed that the linebackers are fairly young. How is the chemistry on the field when atleast 2 of the linebackers are young,For Example, Take yourself and Sophmore Rodney Pittman, who would step up and lead? |
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| Mark (Casper, Wyoming): Hi Brit, I've been a huge Illini fan my entire life. Given the current coaching staff and philosophy along with the great recruiting efforts, how soon do you give our Fighting Illini a realistic chance to outright win the Big Ten and return to the Rose Bowl. What are this years expectations - I'm counting six wins and a bowl. Hope I am not selling you guys short. Thanks. |
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Brit Miller: Glad to have you on board, Mark. Being around these guys each day, I can tell you we have a realistic shot at a bowl game this year and a Big Ten title in the near future. Our recruits are phenomenal and athletic enough to make these goals realistic. |
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| 1st Grade Mrs. Webb's class: Hi Britt, Do you know Mrs. Tapscott? She teaches 2nd grade at our school? Way to go with the interception. |
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Brit Miller: Hey, everyone in Miss Webb's class. I definitely know Mrs. Tapscott, and I dedicate that interception to you guys. Thanks for supporting us. Hope to see you at one of our games this season. |
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| Justin (Denver): What will you guys attempt to do this year to shore up the run defense? Is their a change in the scheme or will a year in the system be the main difference.
Thanks, and good luck on the season. GO Illini!! |
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Brit Miller: What's going on, Justin?
The first thing we did--all of the linebackers have gained 20 pounds (of muscle) that needed it. There has not really been any change in scheme, but the experience of a year really helps in stopping the offenses in the Big Ten, and everywhere else, for that matter...Big East included. |
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| Rick Leach - Decatur: Who was last Illini player from Decatur before you?
(Tim lives in NJ now, will be at Rutgers to see you win next week)
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Brit Miller: Bill Henkel went to St. Teresa in Decatur, then came here as a linebacker from 1987-90. Did you know I am a history major...I started studying when I was a year old...obviously.
Tell Tim I'll be looking for him in that sea of Red on Saturday. |
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| Marc (Chicago): Brit, Thanks for answering some questions. My biggest concern with the defense this year is the line. Do we have any guys up front that can consistently put pressure on the QB? Also, have you seen any improvement there over last year? |
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Brit Miller: We have two potential All-Big Ten defensive linemen this year in Chris Norwell and Derek Walker, with the rest of the D-line not far behind. We have a lot of speed rushers coming off the edge this year, so you should see the answer in the next couple of games. I've seen improvement on both sides of the ball, and I think that depth will be one of our major assets as we get into the Big Ten season. |
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| Andrea from Decatur: How did it feel to see your family and friends going nuts after you got your interception Saturday? |
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Brit Miller: Well, Andrea, I'm glad to see that you skipped the ISU game to come and see the "Men in Orange." It was an awesome feeling to see my family in the front row and see my mom going crazy when I got that interception. Have a nice day. |
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| Jake Parrillo (Frankfort): U of I has been know as "Linebacker U" in the past. With you and others including J Leman emerging as stars, do you think we'll begin to earn that moniker again? |
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Brit Miller: First of all, I love the word "moniker." One of the main reasons I came here was the strong linebacker tradition. I'm a firm believer that we have the linebackers here that can continue that tradiiton. |
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| Justin, St. Louis: Brit, its Lovelace tell your bro to call me |
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Brit Miller: J-Love, my brother rarely answers his phone, now that he sleeps all day (in his seventh year of college). I'll definitely tell him to call you. |
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| Jake Parrillo (Frankfort): What do you think of the new uniforms? |
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Brit Miller: Well, Jake, Coach Zook tells me blue makes me look slimmer and that blue is a good color for me. I love the new look. I think it signifies the beginning of the real Zook era. |
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| Bill Ruddy BSCE '51 Saratoga, CA: Who are Rutger's best offensive weapons? How will the defense stop them? |
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Brit Miller: Rutgers' best offensive weapons are Brian Leonard and Ray Rice. They also have a great tight end in Clark Harris and a special teamer in Willie Foster. We know all about them, and we're going to do everything we can to stop them. |
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| Kayla - Mattoon: Will you marry me????????? |
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Brit Miller: Well, Kayla, I have a few commitment issues right now. Just knowing I have practice five days a week scares me. But ask me again in a couple of years, and you'll probably get an enthusiastic "yes!" |
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| Moderator: We have time for one more question before Brit heads to his pre-practice meetings... |
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| Daniel Ridge farm,IL: Congradulations on the win against Eastern Illinois. What happened to the throwing part of the game?? You guys threw two passes but then began to run the ball more. will you guys work on that part of the game? |
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Brit Miller: Daniel--we ran the ball so well--for over 300 yards. In a game, you stick with what works. Not to say that we don't like the pass, but we like to keep our feet on the ground. We have a lot of confidence in both our receivers and our ball carriers, but as a defensive player, we like it when our offense runs the ball, because it limits the number of plays we have to be on the field. |
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| Moderator: Thanks for being with us. We'll have another chat with one of the Illini players next Wednesday. |
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Brit Miller: Thanks for all of the great questions...it's been a blast. Hi, Mom! |
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