Illini vs. WIU a first
When Illinois charges on to the Memorial Stadium turf for today's home opener against Western Illinois, the players will run through a gantlet of peers screaming from the new north end-zone stands.
Touching the "Grange Rock" as they go, it will be the first time the players experience what promises to be an additional homefield advantage for the Illini.
The Marching Illini and the "Block I" are among the fabled institutions moving to the permanent 5,000-seat stands in the north end zone. The students lucky enough to be in the front row will find themselves just 10 yards beyond the goal posts.
"I'm pumped," said Illinois junior linebacker Brit Miller. "It's going to make the atmosphere so much better. Nobody's going to want to be coming out there and pinned deep, or even going in there.
"I think they'll be so loud that there won't be any audible options or anything like that."
The new north structure, framed by bricks that match Illinois' 84-year-old landmark of a stadium, represents the most tangible progress of the two-year, $120 million Renaissance project that concludes next August.
While other parts of the stadium are a work-in-progress -- particularly the hollowed-out West Balcony where luxury suites are being built -- none of the players on the field will mind the mess.
Especially those clad in the visiting uniforms.
Although the Leathernecks, an FCS team, and the Illini have been playing football for more than a century, this marks their first meeting.
"I'm pretty excited," said WIU fifth-year junior linebacker Travis Cherry, a Glenbard North graduate who received moderate recruiting interest from the Illini. "I've always wanted to play Illinois."
Cherry, who led the Leathernecks with 12 tackles when they upset nationally ranked South Dakota State in last week's opener, would love the chance to bang helmets with Illini senior fullback Russ Weil.
When both were high school seniors, they entered the IHSA's individual state wrestling tournament undefeated. But when the 215-pound competition concluded, Weil owned the title and Cherry settled for third.
"I owe him one," Cherry said, half-jokingly.
Illinois coach Ron Zook expects every Western Illinois player to bring a similar attitude today. He noted how Wisconsin didn't dispatch WIU last year until the fourth quarter.
"We're going to get their very best game," Zook said. "There's a lot of guys on their roster that could very easily be on our roster."
It's probably fair to say that's not accurate, but it's definitely fair to say that Zook wants much more out of some of the guys on his roster.
"I think there's certain times that certain sides or certain people are not playing up to their capability - and that probably upsets me a lot more than anything else," Zook said. "Once again, it's that mindset of accepting. And we will not accept anything other than wins. We're here to win football games. Period. And we have not done that yet."
Western Illinois (1-0) at Illinois (0-1)
When: 6 p.m. at Memorial Stadium
TV: Big Ten Network
Radio: WIND 560-AM
Series: First game
Coaches: Don Patterson (56-37, 9th year at WIU); Ron Zook (4-20, third year at Illinois; 27-34 overall)
Players to watch: WIU redshirt freshman quarterback Matt Barr makes his first start today after a stellar relief job in the Leathernecks' 29-26 four-overtime win over South Dakota State. He hit 18 of 24 passes for 128 yards and 1 TD, while rushing for a team-high 114 yards and another score. Junior LB Travis Cherry, who received a second redshirt last year after wrecking his left ankle, posted a team-high 12 stops last week. Center Dan Zeller (Conant), DL Buddy Dudczak (Fremd), LB Tim Walker (Glenbard East) and LB Anthony D'Astice (Addison Trail) also contributed in the opener.
For Illinois, Juice Williams keeps his starting QB job despite missing two-thirds of the Missouri loss because of an eye injury. Look for the Illini to focus on getting his passing eye sharp, as well as working hard to get junior RB Rashard Mendenhall. He carried just 11 times in the opener. Zook will keep a close eye on a defensive line that apparently underachieved against Mizzou.
The skinny: In the wake of the Appalachian State-Michigan result, every FBS-FCS matchup takes on additional relevance. Zook has the Illini on high alert, while WIU's Patterson laments losing the element of surprise. "We realize it's going to be difficult to sneak up on our opponent at this point in time," he said. "I just wish we had the speed and quickness of Appalachian State. I'd feel a lot better about going in to play Illinois." For Western Illinois to pull off this upset, it will need an appearance by the same Fumblin' Illini that lost 5 turnovers against Missouri.
-- Lindsey Willhite