Illini Football

This past Saturday, I put on my Illini jersey and got ready to watch the Illinois Fighting Illini take on the Indiana Hoosiers. Illinois was 1-4 on the season heading into the game, and 0-2 in conference play. It is without a doubt one of the most disappointing seasons, but what else is new from a state that produced the sad play of the Chicago Cubs and White Sox. The Illini are only 2 years removed from a 9-3 Rose Bowl birth that had the entire campus going wild and the entire Illini team making it rain at CO's, with powerhouse recruiting classes and Jarred Fayson, a Florida transfer, ready to be the difference maker that they desperately needed. Illinois was projected to be be a sleeper in the Big 10 conference, and heralded as having one of the most explosive offenses in all of college football.

I mean, with all that talent on the field it seemed like a pretty reasonable projection right? It didn't matter that we only finished 5-7 last year, but it was just a hiccup in the Ron Zook era. With all our returning starters with another season of experience under their belt, it was time for all that talent to materialize. Juice was bound for a breakout senior year, Rejus Benn was a first team all-american, Fayson was our new difference maker, and the rest of the Illini were bound to contend for the Big 10... or so it seemed.

However, after getting absolutely embarrassed by Missouri and then shut out by Ohio St, I figured it could only get better from there right? I mean, it was Illinois homecoming, which meant we could at least muster up enough adrenaline to beat Michigan St. right? No. Instead, we made Kurt Cousins look like Tom Brady on the field as he carved up the Illini defense, and yet another disappointing performance by our "high powered" offense. Sorry but last time I checked, dump downs and screen passes to our RBs don't exactly count as high powered.

So that brought me to this week.... reluctantly I had my Illini jersey on and watching the Illini-Indiana game. Indiana was the only team in the cellar of the Big 10 with us, and many people saying the ONLY team worse than the Illini. This was the game, I figured... our break out game that would get us out of this funk. Instead, we let Indiana QB Ben Chappell (who?!) throw for 333 yards and 3 TD's and Indiana took advantage of a bunch of Illinois miscues to win convincingly, 27-13. This made me question my loyalty to Illini football... so I had to dig deep to figure out why they suck so bad. This is what I came up with...

Juice Williams- You're supposed to be the leader of this football team, you're the engine that makes this machine run... yet you continue to disappoint us week in and week out. Seriously, how did you regress so much from year to year? Remember when you threw for close to 500 yds in last year's Missouri game? This year you got benched. Cool man. You no longer run with the same passion you used to and you have buttery hands worse than me. What's with the fumbles? Every time we have a glimmer of hope to get back into a game, you fumble the ball or throw a pick. I don't know what goes through your huge head, and I mean HUGE head - if you've ever seen Juice, his head is abnormally large- but turnovers are killer for any team, especially a struggling one like us. Time to get benched and look toward the future, but too bad Eddie McGhee looks like a crack addict so the future does not look much better anyway. Good luck living in Rantoul for the rest of your life and being an Illini legend that could have been but never was.

Rejus Benn- So much potential and I respect you so much for coming to an up and coming program instead of an already established one. You basically put Illini football on the map, and we thank you for that. It's not your fault that you have big head throwing you passes which have only amassed for 22 receptions for 222 yards and 0 TDs... yes 0 TDs. Hardly 1st team all-american numbers. You were projected to catch 10-12 TD passes this season, but now it looks like the only thing you're catching is Swine flu. Do yourself a favor and bolt for the NFL next year, just pray you don't get drafted by the Raiders or Rams or else you'll have another inept QB throwing you the ball.

Jarred Fayson- still unproven but after so much hype, you really seem like a bust. Again, doesn't help that big head is your QB, but I would just like to ask you what you were thinking leaving Tim Tebow for Juice? I mean, even if you didn't get playing time, it was Tim Tebow! He's like a God among men, you should have just stayed on the team to be in his presence. Good choice bro.

Illini Defense- You guys are so bad, I think the Champaign Centennial team could put up good numbers against you guys. Martez, I know you got stabbed and all in the off season... but cmon dude you were the #1 recruit coming out of high school and you were supposed to step into the MLB role this season to replace past Illini legends like J Leman, Dick Butkus, etc. The only thing that's clear to me though is that you will never have the toughness of Butkus, and obviously will NEVER have the sweet hair like J Leman. Our DB's wouldn't even be able to cover a receiver in a wheelchair, let alone contend in the Big 10. I mean, you're letting the no-name Indiana QB put up career numbers on you, what would Colt McCoy or other elite QBs do to you? It would look like a scrimmage. Pathetic.

Ron Zook- There's not doubt that you're a great recruiter, but if that's true then you must absolutely suck at coaching. You have so much talent, but have never taken them to their fullest potential. Maybe it's your raspy voice, but you just don't seem to be generating much response from your players. Your devotion to Juice has made me question whether or not there's more going on behind the scenes... it's only fitting that both of you will be out of a job together. Recently, you said that "5 years ago, nobody cared about Illini football." Not exactly a smart comment when you're job is already in question and you've lost the support of Illini nation. The fact is, however, programs create die-hard fans by being good, by winning games, something that you have not done with the exception of one season. That was an irrogant comment that will sure to piss off a lot of ppl, and with your most recent loss, it's evident that if this program wants to go to the next level, it will have to be with out you. There's no doubt that your days in Champaign are numbered. You're out like CO's... thanks for the memories!

You couldn't even pay me to go to an Illini game these days, and I would most certainly not pay money to see the sad team we put on the field every week. The schedule doesn't look like it's getting any easier with match ups with Michigan and non-conference Cincinnati coming up. I have a feeling it's gonna get even uglier for the Illini before it gets better... my prediction 3-9. The only thing the Illini faithfuls have to look forward to now is the powerhouse recruiting classes that should put the Illini basketball program back on top... but this is an all too familiar storyline that I've seen before.

I-L-L... I-N-I!!