Illini open spring football with more wins in mind

CHAMPAIGN - Head coach Tim Beckman says the priority at Illinois this fall will be simple: Winning more games than the four the Illini won last season.

Even with a fresh coat of snow on the ground the push to get there starts this week with spring football.

Beckman said Monday he hasn't decided on a starting quarterback between highly regarded transfer Wes Lunt, senior Reilly O'Toole and sophomore Aaron Bailey. But he expects to be close to a decision by the end of the April 12 spring game.

Beckman says the running back corps is thinner than he'd planned.

Dami Ayoola was being given a chance to win a spot after being dismissed for rules violations last fall. But Beckman said Monday that Ayoola was gone after he "didn't meet expectations."