Will long layoff hurt Illini?

CHAMPAIGN -- When Illinois hits the Rose Bowl's manicured grass on New Year's Day, it will have been 45 days since its regular-season finale against Northwestern.

Meanwhile, Southern Cal will be dealing with a mere 31-day layoff.

Ohio State and Florida dealt with a similar layoff disparity prior to last year's BCS title game -- and the Buckeyes got smacked and gave the Big Ten a guilt-by-association black eye in the process.

Can Illinois do something to avoid Ohio State's troubles, if, in fact, the Buckeyes' extended stretch without a game contributed to their problems?

"I have tried to call around and talk to some people about what they've done," Illinois coach Ron Zook said.

His biggest conundrum, like many coaches who want their players to be healthy and fresh for a bowl, is determining how often to go "live."

Illinois has scrimmaged each of the last two Saturdays on the FieldTurf in its 100-yard indoor facility.

"It's something where you've got that quick whistle and you're very, very concerned about (injuries), but I think it's important that you do that," Zook said. "Southern Cal has played two games since we've played, so they've been in that hitting shape and hitting condition a little bit more.

"If you go back and you remember in the very first game (against Missouri), we probably didn't tackle as well as we needed to tackle.

"You try to take care of your guys in terms of hitting in the preseason. It's the same thing now. You've got to hit enough. How much is enough? How much is too much?"

"Locks" locked up: Though he has yet to sign the deal, offensive coordinator Mike Locksley has agreed to a four-year contract extension that takes him through 2012.

Now, nobody expects the fast-rising Locksley to stick around until the end of the contract. But his improved compensation package will allow him to be more picky about his next stop.

"He'll have his opportunity to be a head football coach, and he'll do a great job of it," head coach Ron Zook said. "He doesn't have to go take a job, maybe, to go prove himself. Obviously it helps us with recruiting."

"To me, it's just business as usual," said Locksley, who had been Florida's running backs coach and recruiting coordinator before earning a promotion when he came to Champaign with Zook.

"I've maintained all along that I'm going to work for the job I have and not for the one I want."

Benn OK: Freshman receiver Arrelious Benn will undergo surgery after the Rose Bowl to fix his right shoulder, which has been loose since it popped out of its socket after a hard preseason tackle.

Though Benn says there's no discomfort, the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year has begun wearing a shoulder brace during practice.

"I tell the doctor I forget I have (the injury)," Benn said. "He gets mad when I don't come out with my brace on to protect it.

"I practice with a red (noncontact) jersey and I ask them every day … there's not going to be a day when I don't ask them, 'Can I take the red jersey off so I can scrimmage?' "

Health update: Senior fullback Russ Weil didn't take part in Saturday's scrimmage, but Ron Zook continues to say Weil will be ready for the Rose Bowl.

If Weil's injured knee doesn't allow him to play, sophomore Rakheem Smith (Willowbrook) will be the No. 1 fullback. The converted middle linebacker handled Weil's duties against Ohio State and Northwestern and even caught his first career pass against the Wildcats.