From horror story to happy ending

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- As a whipsmart young man who graduated with majors in history and speech communication -- and has worked halfway to a master's degree -- Illinois senior guard Martin O'Donnell knows history books are written by the winners.

After enjoying just 7 wins in his first three seasons as a starter, the 2003 Downers Grove South High School graduate understood there was little time left to put pen to paper.

"I put a lot of pressure on myself coming into the year," O'Donnell said. "I basically told myself if we didn't go to a bowl game, I'd feel like the previous four or five years had been wasted.

"I mentioned that to a few (family members) and they told me that was ridiculous. But I was like, 'That's how I feel.'

"They told me you can't think like that, but to me, that's how you're going to be judged. That's the way you're going to be remembered.

"For us being able to go out playing in the Rose Bowl, I think our senior class has a pretty good name leaving here."

Don't underestimate how much more O'Donnell dedicated to his craft to make this season happen.

After coming out of high school as the nation's No. 11 prospect (per Rivals.com) and being named Parade's national lineman of the year, O'Donnell didn't live up to expectations in his first three seasons as Illinois' left guard.

Until this season, he had never received a single vote for any all-Big Ten team. His own coaches wondered if O'Donnell would blossom.

When Illinois strength and conditioning coach Lou Hernandez was asked which player unexpectedly "became a guy" this year, O'Donnell's name immediately spilled from his lips.

"He was just a guy in the pack," Hernandez said. "He'd show up every day and he would work. Then he went through some intensity swings where we needed more out of him.

"Then here toward this last year, he just went above and beyond. To being the leader of the offensive line. To hitting a 405 on the bench press. To working out with over 300 pounds on the power clean.

"And just his overall work ethic and excitement and leadership and enthusiasm, I couldn't be more pleased with what he has done for himself."

The 6-foot-5, 322-pound O'Donnell piled up 101 knockdown blocks in 750 snaps -- the highest ratio on the nation's No. 5 rushing offense -- to earn first-team All-America honors from the Associated Press.

O'Donnell became just the 13th Illini in 83 years to receive such recognition.

Befitting a true student-athlete, O'Donnell learned of his honor while in the midst of a 100-plus-page project for his master's degree in Human Resource Education.

"(Sports information director) Cassie (Arner) called me up and told me about it," O'Donnell said. "I was like, 'OK, cool.' "And she's like, 'That's all you have to say?' "

But that's a perfect example of O'Donnell's offhand nature.

Here's another: During the Lawry's prime rib dinner Friday night, a Los Angeles television dude interrupted O'Donnell's meal to ask for his eating strategy.

"I put my fork into the meat and then put it in my mouth," he replied deadpan. "That's my move."

What gets O'Donnell's Irish up? Whenever he sees somebody in the other jersey on the verge of making a play.

Illinois defensive tackle David Lindquist, who has gone against O'Donnell countless times in practice, has been victimized far too often for his taste.

"You think you're off the block and, all of a sudden, you feel someone pushing you," Lindquist said. "And you're like, 'Man.' All of a sudden you get hit and you wonder, 'Where did he come from?'

"He plays really hard. He's going to play to the whistle no matter what."

O'Donnell lights up upon hearing such description of his play. It dovetails nicely with his mature self-view, which includes planning to take 16 hours of scholarship-paid classes in the spring rather than wholly devoting himself to an uncertain NFL future.

"I think I excel at being crafty," he said. "That's something I've learned over the years. I know how to play like a veteran, I'll put it that way.

"I'm not the fastest guy. I'm not the strongest guy. But I'm the kind of guy who will do whatever it takes to get his guy blocked, to keep him off my ballcarrier or quarterback.

"I've got no problem with throwing my body around. That's what I do most of the time."