|
|
 Illinois
Fighting Illini
Sep.
30. Noon.
Champaign, IL.
Record/Rank: 2-10/1-7
2006
Schedule
| 9/2 |
E.
ILLINOIS |
W,
42-17
|
| 9/9 |
at
Rutgers |
L,
0-33
|
| 9/16 |
SYRACUSE |
L,
21-31
|
| 9/23 |
IOWA* |
L,
7-24
|
| 9/30 |
at
MSU* |
W,
23-20
|
| 10/7 |
INDIANA* |
L,
32-34
|
| 10/14 |
OHIO |
L,
17-20
|
| 10/21 |
at
Penn St.* |
L,
12-26
|
| 10/28 |
at
Wisky* |
L,
24-30
|
| 11/4 |
OHIO
ST.* |
L,
10-17
|
| 11/11 |
PURDUE* |
L,
31-42
|
| 11/18 |
at
Nwstern* |
L,
16-27
|
HOME
GAMES IN BOLD CAPS
* Conference Game
ALL TIMES EASTERN |
2005
Schedule (2-9/0-8)
| 9/3 |
RUTGERS |
W,
33-30 ot
|
| 9/10 |
SAN
JOSE ST |
W,
40-19
|
| 9/17 |
at
Cal |
L,
20-35
|
| 9/24 |
MSU* |
L,
14-61
|
| 10/1 |
at
Iowa* |
L,
7-35
|
| 10/8 |
at
Indiana* |
L,
13-36
|
| 10/22 |
PENN
ST.* |
L,
10-63
|
| 10/29 |
WISKY* |
L,
24-41
|
| 11/5 |
at
Ohio St* |
L,
2-40
|
| 11/12 |
at
Purdue* |
L,
3-37
|
| 11/19 |
NWSTRN* |
L,
21-38
|
HOME
GAMES IN BOLD CAPS
* Conference Game
ALL TIMES EASTERN |
2004
Results (3-8/1-7)
| - |
FLA
A&M |
W,
52-13
|
| - |
UCLA |
L,
17-35
|
| - |
W
MICH |
W,
30-27
|
| - |
PURDUE* |
L,
30-38
|
| - |
at
Wisconsin* |
L,
7-24
|
| - |
at
MSU* |
L,
25-38
|
| - |
MICHIGAN* |
L,
19-30
|
| - |
at
Minny* |
L,
0-45
|
| - |
IOWA* |
L,
13-23
|
| - |
INDIANA* |
W,
26-22
|
| - |
at
N'wstrn* |
L,
21-28
(ot)
|
HOME
GAMES IN BOLD CAPS
ALL TIMES EASTERN |
Gamebreakers
QB - 15 - Tim Brasic (Sr)
RB - 30 - Pierre Thomas (Sr)
RB - 5 - Rasahrd Mendenhall (So)
WR - 8 - Dajuan Warren (Jr)
WR - 4 - Derrick McPherson (So)
OG - 67 - Matt Maddox (Sr)
PK - 13 - Jason Reda (Jr)
DE - 91 - Derek Walker (So)
DL - 96 - Chris Norwell (Jr)
back
to top
Strengths/Weaknesses
OFFENSE:
- returning starters
DEFENSE: - returning starters
Rating
Scale
(5 = strong, 1 = weak)
|
POSITION
|
RATING
|
|
OL
|
3
|
|
WR/TE
|
2
|
|
QB
|
2
|
|
RB
|
3
|
|
DL
|
2
|
|
LB
|
2
|
|
DB
|
2
|
|
K/P
|
3/2
|
|
K/P
RET
|
3/3
|
|
COACH
|
2
|
back
to top
History
vs. Illini
MSU
leads, 23-16-2 (.573)
|
Year
|
W/L
|
MSU
|
|
Opp
|
H/A
|
|
1955
|
W
|
21
|
Illinois
|
7
|
H
|
|
1956
|
L
|
13
|
Illinois
|
20
|
A
|
|
1957
|
W
|
19
|
Illinois
|
14
|
H
|
|
1958
|
L
|
0
|
Illinois
|
16
|
A
|
|
1961
|
W
|
34
|
Illinois
|
7
|
H
|
|
1962
|
L
|
6
|
Illinois
|
7
|
A
|
|
1963
|
L
|
0
|
Illinois
|
13
|
H
|
|
1964
|
L
|
0
|
Illinois
|
16
|
A
|
|
1965
|
W
|
22
|
Illinois
|
12
|
H
|
|
1966
|
W
|
26
|
Illinois
|
10
|
A
|
|
1971
|
W
|
10
|
Illinois
|
0
|
H
|
|
1972
|
W
|
24
|
Illinois
|
0
|
H
|
|
1973
|
L
|
3
|
Illinois
|
6
|
H
|
|
1974
|
T
|
21
|
Illinois
|
21
|
A
|
|
1975
|
L
|
19
|
Illinois
|
21
|
A
|
|
1976
|
W
|
31
|
Illinois
|
23
|
A
|
|
1977
|
W
|
49
|
Illinois
|
20
|
H
|
|
1978
|
W
|
59
|
Illinois
|
19
|
A
|
|
1979
|
W
|
33
|
Illinois
|
16
|
H
|
|
1980
|
L
|
17
|
Illinois
|
20
|
A
|
|
1981
|
L
|
17
|
Illinois
|
27
|
H
|
|
1982
|
L
|
16
|
Illinois
|
23
|
A
|
|
1983
|
L
|
10
|
Illinois
|
20
|
H
|
|
1984
|
L
|
7
|
Illinois
|
40
|
A
|
|
1985
|
L
|
17
|
Illinois
|
30
|
H
|
|
1986
|
W
|
29
|
Illinois
|
21
|
A
|
|
1987
|
T
|
14
|
Illinois
|
14
|
H
|
|
1988
|
W
|
28
|
Illinois
|
21
|
A
|
|
1989
|
L
|
10
|
Illinois
|
14
|
H
|
|
1990
|
L
|
13
|
Illinois
|
15
|
A
|
|
1991
|
W
|
27
|
Illinois
|
24
|
H
|
|
1992
|
L
|
10
|
Illinois
|
14
|
A
|
|
1995
|
W
|
27
|
Illinois
|
21
|
A
|
|
1996
|
W
|
42
|
Illinois
|
14
|
H
|
|
1997
|
W
|
27
|
Illinois
|
17
|
A
|
|
1998
|
W
|
41
|
Illinois
|
9
|
H
|
|
1999
|
W
|
27
|
Illinois
|
10
|
A
|
|
2000
|
W
|
14
|
Illinois
|
10
|
H
|
|
2003
|
W
|
49
|
Illinois
|
14
|
A
|
|
2004
|
W
|
38
|
Illinois
|
25
|
H
|
|
2005
|
W
|
61
|
Illinois
|
14
|
A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
back
to top
|
 The
Skinny on the Illini 2006:
Phil
Steele: 75th/10th Big Ten
Schedule Strength: 45th
Street & Smiths: 11th Big Ten
Sporting News: 10th Big Ten
Coach: Ron Zook - second year (2-9 at Ill/25-23 overall
)
Series: MSU leads 23-16-2
Homefield: Memorial Stadium (69,249)
Website: www.illinois.edu
Factoids: MSU has won nine in a row against the Illini
-- the most consecutive wins in the series. The 61 points last year were
the most ever scored by either team in the series, although MSU scored
59 back in 1978.
Best Player: OG Matt Maddox, or maybe backup RB Rashard
Mendenhall. Maddox is All Big Ten caliber. Mendenhall was a very highly
thought of recruit who may get his due early and often as a sophomore
in 2006.
Best 2005 win: The 33-30 ot win against Rutgers last
year in their season opener actually gave the Orange hope. Boy did that
end quick.
Worst 2005 loss: The 61-14 pasting by MSU last year,
witnessed by the ES. Anytime you give up over 60 points at home, in a
Big Ten game, and your alumni is Red Grange... well, there are thousands
of alumni turning in their graves.
2005 key game: The season finale at Northwestern is at
best .500 or bust.
2005 biggest pitfall: The Sept. 30 game at Michigan State's
homecoming looms as yet another whitewash. Time for a shellacking!
2006 biggest creampuff(s): Well, if you suck so bad you
can't beat D1 teams, it is time to schedule down to D1AA or D2. In comes
Eastern Illinois. The Illini alumni should be zookified... err, ashamed.
Biggest weakness: Coaching staff. If Ron Zook proved
anything last year, it is that he is worse than our clown, John L Smith.
Thanks, Zook. OK, maybe the inexperienced linebacking corps. Or, look
at the DBs. This is probably the weakest defensive backfield of all returning
starters you've ever seen. The Illini return 6-1 CBs Charles Bailey and
Allan Ball, 6-1 SS Justin Sanders, and 5-11 Justin Harrision. All were
badly out of position vs MSU last year, all were very WEAK with missed
tackles, and they just suck as a whole unit.
Biggest strength(s): The Illini offensive line returns
intact from a year ago, and you have to think that 5 guys each 300-lbs
or heavier with experience have to do something right as a unit. They'll
improve and give the overrated Brasic a little more time... to do what,
we don't knowi.
Road Trip to Champaign: Jesus, Champaign as a town, well
it sucks so bad. Just a shitty party town. But, you can hit the Double-M-Saloon
in Onarga on the way. The ES HIGHLY recomends the Double-M...
Illinois famous alums: Thank you to UI alum Jack S. Kilby,
who invented the mircrochip. Also, Abe Saperstein (former owner of Harlem
Globetrotters), Bob Novak (CNN), Steven Nagel (astronaut), James Brady
(press secretary for Regan, noted for Brady Law), George Halas, Jerry
Colangelo (owner, Phoenix Suns & AZ Diamondbacks)
Illinois interesting facts: The Illini have the nation's
largest Greek-letter community: 53 fraternities and 32 sororities; about
22% of all undergraduates participate.
Illinois humors the ES: You gotta read these regarding
Chief Illiniwek: "Foibles of an Indian Team Mascot." Link here:
http://www.indignantonline.com/humor/illini.htm
 Chance
to win: Rating scale. God, it
was a beauty travelling to Illinois for the game last year. The ES, his
bro, and Big Bob were all LAUGHING in tears in the 100-degree weather
as MSU obliterated Illinois. Yelling, "Lets Get Zookified,"
the ES was just drilling the Illini fans. But, amazingly, all the Illini
fans came up and said "hey, nice job, just go kick Michigan's ass
next week." We saw THOUSANDS of "Muck
Fichigan" t-shirts at the game, you'd have thought they were
playing scUM. The Illini HATE Michigan. It's hilarious. Anyhow, it was
the last hurrah of the year, but it was gorgeous. The best part was driving
back to Chicago, listening to all the Illini alums complain on the air
about how Ron Zook was an uninspiring idiot.
Now
to this year, Illinois have to travel to MSU. MSU is COUNTING on this
win this year, they need it to save JLS' job. Give me a goddam break.
Illinois won't lose by 50; maybe they can stay within 25 this year. MSU
will ROLL in this game. Not much else to write other than a complete mismatch,
a la 2005. Make it MSU 42, Illinois 20.
Projection:
Christ, where are the W's? E Illinois, Rutgers, Syracuse, Indiana, and
Ohio all give Illinois hope. Rutgers and Syracuse are IFFY, but UI should
win at least one of the two. The season ending matchup in Chicago against
Northwestern is the swing game to see if they can get to the .500 hump.
The ES sez NO, but it's a shot. Give 'em 5-7 for 2006, thanks to a WEAK
schedule. Illinois should schedule more D2 schools, or maybe the University
of Chicago. If Illinois were D2, they still wouldn't be good enough to
host the football playoffs... and they wouldn't be allowed to because
of their insensitive mascot. Put it bluntly: Illinois Football SUCKS.
Real bad. Let's get Zookified!
back
to top
2006
Statistics
| MSU |
OFFENSE |
ILLINI |
| 154 |
Points |
70 |
| 38.5 |
Points/Game |
17.5 |
| |
|
|
| 1907 |
Total
Yards |
1358 |
| 476.8 |
Total
Yards/Game |
339.5 |
| |
|
|
| 1022 |
Rush
Yards |
642 |
| 255.5 |
Rush
Yds/Game |
160.5 |
| 167-6.1 |
Attempts
- Avg. |
143-4.5 |
| |
|
|
| 885 |
Pass
Yards |
716 |
| 221.2 |
Pass
Yds/Game |
179.0 |
| 110-72-4 |
Att-Comp-Int |
114-51-7 |
| 65.5% |
Comp
% |
44.7% |
| |
|
|
| 0 |
Turnover
Ratio |
-5 |
| |
|
|
| 26-211 |
Penalties
- Yds |
28-209 |
| |
|
|
| 90 |
1st
Downs |
70 |
| 22.5 |
1st
Downs/Game |
17.5 |
| |
|
|
| 28-53 |
3rd
Down Conv. |
24-54 |
| 53% |
3rd
Down % |
44% |
| |
|
|
| 5-6 |
FG
- FGA |
0-2 |
| MSU |
DEFENSE |
ILLINI |
| 100 |
Points |
105 |
| 25.0 |
Points/Game |
26.2 |
| |
|
|
| 1264 |
Total
Yards |
1316 |
| 316,0 |
Total
Yards/Game |
329.0 |
| |
|
|
| 283 |
Rush
Yards |
627 |
| 70.8 |
Rush
Yds/Game |
156.8 |
| 101-2.8 |
Attempts
- Avg. |
159-3.9 |
| |
|
|
| 981 |
Pass
Yards |
689 |
| 245.2 |
Pass
Yds/Game |
172.2 |
| 145-84-4 |
Att-Comp-Int |
92-52-5 |
| 57.9% |
Comp
% |
56.5% |
| |
|
|
| 26-211 |
Penalties
- Yds |
22-178 |
| |
|
|
| 63 |
1st
Downs |
71 |
| 15.6 |
1st
Downs/Game |
17.8 |
| |
|
|
| 17-55 |
3rd
Down Conv. |
23-55 |
| 31% |
3rd
Down % |
42% |
| |
|
|
| 4-5 |
FG
- FGA |
5-5 |
Score
by Quarters
| Team |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
OT |
Total |
| ILL |
14 |
21 |
7 |
28 |
0 |
70 |
| Opp |
27 |
52 |
20 |
6 |
0 |
105 |
| MSU |
34 |
48 |
34 |
38 |
0 |
154 |
| Opp |
16 |
28 |
17 |
39 |
0 |
100 |
|
