Illini open with bowl aspirations
On the surface, using only common sense as a guide, it appears Illinois has its sights set on the impossible in 2007.
After five straight seasons of sitting at home for the holidays, including the last four when they were eliminated from bowl consideration before Halloween, the Illini want a bowl game.
Badly.
To achieve their goal, they must improve by at least four full games during the regular season. They must jump from 2-10 to at least 6-6, though they can't ensure a bowl berth without 7 wins.
Does such an improvement ever happen in the Big Ten?
Yes, as it turns out. And far more frequently than one might imagine.
In the last 10 years, nine different teams have improved during the regular season by at least four full games. In fact, Illinois twice has accomplished the feat.
Everyone will get a good idea today if this year's Illini are capable of joining the 1999 and 2001 editions as fast-risers.
Illinois takes on Missouri, the nation's No. 26 team in the Associated Press preseason poll, in today's opener at St. Louis' Edward Jones Dome.
The Tigers retain 15 starters from last year's Sun Bowl team, including almost all of their skill players.
"You probably wouldn't pick this as the opener," Illinois coach Ron Zook said. "But I still think it's great for us because it's forced us to have a little better camp. We're going to find out right now what kind of team we are -- and how much further we have to go."
The Illini proved they could hang with ranked opponents late last fall, when they took Wisconsin and Ohio State to the wire on back-to-back Saturdays.
But Illinois hasn't actually beaten a team ranked as high as Missouri since Nov. 17, 2001, so clearly there's another step or two to be made.
This has been mentioned a time or 20, but Illinois probably can't take steps unless true sophomore quarterback Juice Williams puts a better foot forward.
"I want to be one of the guys who helped Illinois get back to the tradition of the past," Williams said. "Going back to being a consistent winner. Becoming bowl-eligible every single year."
The Illinois camp seems unanimous: Williams took the necessary strides in the off-season to be good.
"(He's) much more confident, relaxed," Zook said. "The thing I've really been happy with Juice about is the fact he knows he's not there. He knows he's got a long, long way to go. He's still a sponge.
"But when you're saying stuff to him, or Coach (Mike) Locksley is saying stuff to him, he understands a lot more."
If you're searching for proof during today's game, simply track Williams' completion percentage.
In his nine starts last fall, Williams clicked on at least 50 percent of his passes in just one game.
The Michigan State game.
His lone win.
Missouri vs. Illinois
When: 2:30 p.m. at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis
TV: ESPN2 Radio: WIND 560-AM
Series: Missouri leads 13-7
Coaches: Gary Pinkel (37-35, seventh year at Missouri; 110-72-3 overall); Ron Zook (4-19, third year at Illinois; 27-33 overall)
Players to watch: Missouri junior QB Chase Daniel finished No. 5 nationally in total offense last year -- and almost all of his weapons are back with him. TB Tony Temple is a 1,000-yard rusher, while tight ends Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman figure to combine for at least 10 catches and 100 yards. Illinois figures to trot out its most explosive offense since 2002. Sophomore QB Juice Williams, TB Rashard Mendenhall and WR Arrelious Benn are a five-star trio, while four-year starter Martin O'Donnell anchors the line at left guard. The Illini defense retains nine starters, including all-Big Ten candidates in MLB J Leman, CB Vontae Davis, DT Chris Norwell and DE Derek Walker.
The skinny: This game represents the start of a four-game series for this "Arch Rivalry" -- and this should only be the tip of the competitive iceberg. Missouri has already pulled itself up from the Big 12 North basement, while Illinois has big plans to get out of the Big Ten's basement after four straight seasons there. In years past, this border war has been decided in favor of Missouri thanks to turnovers and special teams play. Considering the Illini stunk in both of those aspects all of last year, this would be an important time to prove they've improved.
-- Lindsey Willhite