Yardbarker: Illinois Fighting Illini

ABC NCAA Football Odds: Illinois vs Cincinnati

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:21:00 -0500

Courtesy of OddsShark.com The Illinois Fighting Illini and the Cincinnati Bearcats will both be gunning for a victory on Friday when they meet at Nippert Stadium. Oddsmakers currently have the Bearcats listed as 21-point favorites versus the Fighting Illini, while the game's total is sitting at 57. Jacob Charest threw for 146 yards, one TD and two interceptions for Illinois in a 21-16 loss to Northwestern in Week 11. The Illini did not cover the 6.5-point spread, while the final score ...

Illinois' problems weren't limited to controversial interception

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:34:40 -0500

Jacob Charest comes on strong in 2nd half after poor start CHAMPAIGN -- This time Illinois fans seemed to be booing officials rather than their team, but there were plenty of reasons for them to voice their displeasure yet again.

Upon Further Review: Offense vs Illinois

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:51:04 -0500

Personnel notes: Odoms did not play and was replaced by Roundtree. Patrick Omameh got a series late in the first half, probably because Dorrestein was injured. It sounds like Dorrestein might miss the Purdue game, with Patrick Omameh his likely replacement at RG. Robinson did not play until the game was over. Ln Dn Ds O Form RB TE WR D Form Type Play Player Yards M30 1 10 Shotgun 3-wide 1 1 3 Nickel Pass Long handoff Mathews 5 Illinois walks a safety d...

Illini still undecided at quarterback

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:43:17 -0500

Anyone looking for Illinois' secret quarterback decoder won't find answers by scanning the list of this week's captains. Juice Williams and Eddie McGee are both captains for Saturday's game at Indiana, but coach Ron Zook hasn't decided which one will start. The staff has discussed implementing redshirt Jacob Charest the ...

In case you hadn't already, go ahead and stick a fork in Illinois

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:10:37 -0500

Join the Doc's game day live blog, covering every game all day long. Michigan State 24, Illinois 7. For all the negativity surrounding their 1-3 start, the Illini still had a chance to begin bailing out their sinking ship today: Michigan State, in Champagne, offered a realistic opportunity to break the Big Ten slide begun against powerhouses Ohio State and Penn State, to find some kind of spark on offense with Eddie McGee in place of longtime starter Juice Williams and set a course for ....

Malicious Internet Interrogation With Hail To The Orange

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:01:05 -0500

This week Penn State goes on the road for the first time this season to meet the Illinois Fighting Illini. So we sat down with Joe from Hail To The Orange to get his perspective on Penn State and the game. BSD: Penn State fans can sympathize with Illinois fans this week. We know what it's like to see your team not live up to your expectations. How are you coping with it? HTTO: I suppose I have become numb to Illini football failure, seeing as how there hasn't ever really been ...

Illinois Fighting Illini Preview By The Numbers

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:00:35 -0500

Penn State Value (Nat'l Rank) Value (Nat'l Rank) Illinois Fighting Illini Advantage Rushing Offense (ypg) 127.3 (80) 132.3 (59) Rushing Defense (ypg) Push Passing Offense (ypg) 247.5 (40) 253.7 (100) Passing Defense (ypg) Pass Efficiency 133.8 (52) 144.7 (102) Pass Efficiency Defense Total Offense (ypg) 373.8 (56) 386.0 (90) Total Defense (ypg) Scoring Offense (ppg) 25.0 (75) 280 (88) Sco...

Illinois is wasting Arrelious Benn

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:59:00 -0500

In junior Arrelious Benn, the Illinois Fighting Illini houses one of the most talented receivers in college football. Of course, you wouldn’t know that based on the way Ron Zook and quarterback Juice Williams waste Benn’s talent every week. Zook said this summer that the Illini needed to find more ways to get the ball into Benn’s [...]

Illini's Leshoure suspended for Illinois St. game

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:14:24 -0500

Illinois will be without one of its leading rushers Saturday when it tries for its first win of the season. Illinois coach Ron Zook says Mikel Leshoure has been suspended for an unspecified violation of team rules. The sophomore running back won't play in Illinois' home opener against Illinois State. Leshoure and fellow back Troy Pollard led Illinois with 38 yards each in last weekend's 37-9 loss to Missouri. Zook says Leshoure is suspended for a week.

Preseason Countdown: No. 20 Illinois

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:12:00 -0500

Where The Illini Have Been: A year after Illinois' return to prominence was largely forgettable for Ron Zook and Co. They were 0-3 vs. ranked teams and lost their last three games, including a road game at Western Michigan in ending up 5-7. Quarterback Juice Williams had a monster year, passing for 3,173 yards and running for 719, but his judgment proved costly as he threw 16 interceptions. Also, the Illini lost two major pieces in their rejuvenation in offensive coordinator Mike Locksley...

It's Signing Day

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:55:49 -0500

Here's a subject we don't get into that much on NQTC: NCAA football recruiting. Today is like Christmas for those of us who spend way too much time paying attention to where a 17 or 18 year old kid is going to college. Hey, at least Chris Hansen isn't paying us a visit. Anyway, today is National Signing Day for high school seniors to officially decide where they are playing college football next season. I could spend a lot of time rambling about recruiting classes, but I'...

Coming Soon: Zook TV

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 09:57:58 -0500

Zooker is getting his shot on cable tv.

"Runnin' Down a Dream"

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:38:33 -0500

All throughout high school, Frank Lenti, Jr. earned respect both on and off the field. At Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, he starred as captain of both the Caravan varsity football and baseball teams. Lenti was labeled a multi-sport all-conference athlete by the Chicago Sun-Times and set almost every school receiving record. After a stellar senior campaign on the gridiron and an eventual graduation with honors in 2003, the South Holland, Ill., native embarked on a new challenge: walking on to the University of Illinois Fighting Illini football team..

LIVE BLOG: ROSE BOWL USC vs ILLINOIS

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 21:42:36 -0500

We're here to have a good time and make fun of the roses on the sweaters of the USC cheerleaders.

Recruiting Updates-Devoe Torrence Rumors

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 01:07:47 -0500

Keith Wells, Devoe Torrence, Shayne Hale, Terrelle Pryor, Cordale Scott and much more!

MATCH.COM MONDAYS: RON ZOOK

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:48:45 -0500

This Week's Featured Profile: Ron Zook ... Display Name: HERE_COMES_THE_KNEE ... Status: Online now!

The way Ohio State lost should at least be analyzed correctly, by people who know what they're talking about.

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 20:27:23 -0500

Seriously, there are times when I wish sports announcers took live phone calls on the air... :-)

2007 Football Recruiting Roundup: Illinois Fighting Illini (Big 10)

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 12:12:35 -0500

There are few times in life you will want to follow the trends of Ron Zook, but when it comes to getting new players for your college fantasy football team, watching out for Zook's recruits at the University of Illinois is probably a wise thing to do. Here's a look at the 2007 Illini recruits by Pre Pro Sports.