Illini RB Pollard runs for career-high 133 yards

CHAMPAIGN — There’s just one eligible player on Illinois’ roster who saw action for the 2007 team that went to the Rose Bowl.

“They call me the ‘Old Guy’ around here,” said fifth-year senior running back Troy Pollard.

Better known as “Bucket of Hair,” the nickname pinned on him as a freshman by Ron Zook, Pollard made an impact in his second game as a true freshman in 2007 when the Florida native rushed 13 times for 92 yards against Syracuse.

Just when he earned a role as Rashard Mendenhall’s primary backup, Pollard wrecked his right knee the following week at Indiana and sat the rest of the season.

From 2008 through 2010, Pollard rushed a grand total of 41 times for 213 yards as he didn’t have his old burst.

“(In years past) I felt like sometimes I don’t have it and sometimes I do,” Pollard said. “This year I’ve been feeling like I have it all the time. I feel as healthy as I’ve ever been.”

With senior Jason Ford the only other experienced running back entering the season, Pollard had a chance to play more but made sure to mentor freshmen Donovonn Young and Josh Ferguson, too.

Pollard had the fewest carries of the four entering Saturday’s game, but he came through with career-highs for carries (14) and yards (133) in the 23-20 win over Western Michigan.

“It was exciting to see him,” said quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase. “He’s one of my favorite guys to be around in the locker room. A guy that gets you pumped up, amped up, each day. Not just on the game day.”

Allen booted:

Illinois senior offensive tackle Jeff Allen was ejected from Saturday’s game after the final play of the first half.

According to head coach Ron Zook, Allen was assessed a personal foul and the ejection because “when he buried (the Western Michigan defensive pass-rusher), he put his head down.”

With Illinois’ best lineman out, redshirt freshman Simon Cvijanovic saw his first action in a non-mopup situation.

“I didn’t want it to happen this way,” Zook said. “But in the meeting last night, I told (line coach) Joe (Gilbert) I wanted Simon in there. We needed to get him some playing time.”

Rotating quarterbacks:

With Nathan Scheelhaase’s throwing shoulder still sore and true freshman Reilly O’Toole needing work, Illinois platooned its top two quarterbacks in the third quarter.

O’Toole opened the second half with a 20-yard pass to tight end Evan Wilson as the quarterbacks swapped the first four snaps.

Late in the third quarter, the 2011 Wheaton Warrenville South graduate played four out of five snaps leading up to Derek Dimke’s 35-yard field goal.

O’Toole finished 3 of 6 for 34 yards as he dropped back on all six of his snaps.

“It was OK,” O’Toole said. “I almost threw a pick-6 the second play I was in there. I think each week, I’m getting more and more confident.”

He said it:

Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase responding to Ron Zook’s assertion that Illinois’ players acted depressed after Saturday’s win:

“I wouldn’t say depressed. I mean (if you’re) depressed you get Zoloft. Nobody’s looking for anti-depression medicine or anything like that ... we’re not depressed at all.”