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In Need of a Bye Bye Bye - Post Smackin' 4 Chief!

2011-10-30T13:22:00.000-07:00

Well, this will be quick post. Not much has gone well or right for the Chief over the past three weeks, dating back to that lousy home loss to Ohio State. Let me be clear, we should be 9-0 heading into this bye week. Instead, we find ourselves at 6-3 after three straight weeks of under-performance.

What I've seen and read over the past month hasn't been good. Most of the issues right now are on offense (not getting the rushing attack going) and in special teams. We have the worst punt-return game in the league. And, after watching two botched field-goal attempts yesterday in Happy Valley, our kicking game has turned into a liability instead of an asset. Kicking game is killing us right now in every facet. We probably need to hire a special teams coach. Wait, we have one. Ugh! Not getting any points before halftime against Penn State cost us the game in Happy Valley.

Let me also be clear. These issue are totally correctable, and not signs of a complete breakdown. Our defense remains one of the best in the BIG-10 if not the nation. We have more talent on both sides of the ball than most teams we have faced this year. With playmakers and schemes, it comes down to execution instead of excuses. Basically, what I'm saying is that our issues come down to fundamentals and the little things we should be working on in practice each and every day: snaps, holds, blocks, reads, catches, tackles, and playing mistake-free football.

When I look at the tape and into the final stats, we should be 9-0 at this point in the season. Case in point, Penn State fame final numbers:

1) Chief had more first downs than Penn State (16-14)
2) Chief out-rushed Penn State (192 to 111)
3) Chief had more total yards than Penn State (286 to 209)
4) Chief had more time of possession (33 to 27).

For the season, Chief is 26th in the nation in total rushing and 15th in the nation in total rush defense, giving up just 2.7 YPC. In terms of scoring defense, it's hard to complain since we're also 15th in the nation at a tick over 17 ppg (only 18 TD's allowed in 9 games). On offense, we're #23 in the nation with total scoring at 26 PPG on 400 total yards, on average.

So, where does he go from here? Chief needs to get back to basics with more discipline and better execution if we expect to beat Michigan, Wisky, and Minnesota. Starting 6-0 with the soft schedule and home-cooking, we need to get to 8 wins in my opinion for this to be a successful season. Anything less would mean losing 5 or 6 of our last conference games, and trouble for Zooker. That means one of those two wins will have to come against Michigan and/or SCONI. Of course, with 2 of the last 3 at home, we also have the schedule to get to 9 wins and a better bowl game. Going 6-6 this year might be it for Ron. But, first things first. Let's do this. Get the hell out of our own way on offense and play like a champion once again.

Bucked in Champaign

2011-10-16T09:51:00.000-07:00

Ugh, not a good showing today in front of the blue and orange stripes as the Buckeyes win their tenth in a row at our house. Oye - time to regroup.

What drives me nuts about this loss is the way it happened. We knew Ohio State would come into Zupke Field and force the ball down our throats with their ground game. Heck, Braxton only completed pass for a TD, nonetheless. Ugh!

The ILLINI defense really played well. We shut them down most of the day. However, the offense really laid an egg with three costly drive-killing turnovers that gave the Buckeyes exactly what they needed, short field possessions. And that really was the difference in the 17-7 home loss.

Don't get me wrong. This Buckeye team is getting better each week with more and more players coming off suspension. It's not the same team that last week blew a 21-point lead in Lincoln. And, it's not the same team that lost on the road to Miami a month ago. This team is one of the best in the nation on defense and in the run game. We knew it. And we under-performed in the loss.

AT times, the offense looked dazed and confused. Nate couldn't get his feet under his throws all afternoon. Jenkins looked average, getting shutdown by Roby (DB). And when they blew the final whistle, it was another tough Zooker-style loss that leaves more questions than answers.

Done. We led the nation in forcing at least one turnover on defense for 21-straight games. Over. They wont he turnover battle 3-0. Done. We averaged 35 points / game this year. Today, we posted 7. Over. Nate had gone 14 games w/o multiple turnovers. Today, he had two costly picks. Over.

So, where do we go from here? We get Purdue next on the road in West Lafayette. Boilers played the Lions tight today at University Park. So, that's not a gimmie for sure. We really need the offense to step up and out of each other's way. We need our play-makers to make plays and not turnovers. And while we still control our own destiny in the LEADERS division, we have a tough slate of games remaining on the back-loaded schedule with three of our last five on the road including a tough one in Happy Valley (Penn State). If I put on the forecasting hat, I see us going 8-4 this year, best 10-2. We'll get whacked by Wisky. And, I no longer think the Penn State game will be easy at their place. Michigan always plays us tough, especially inside Memorial Stadium. We better beat Purdue and Minnesota. But, this is ILLINI football we're chatting about. Going 0-6 is also a distinct possibility and might cost the Zooker more than an winning season.

Basketball season is under-way. And let's hope Weber's wonders are ready for another deep run into March.

Zooker Comeback against the Fighting Pat Fitzgerald's

2011-10-01T12:50:00.000-07:00

In year's past, this would have been another tale of paper champions and tee-shirt all-Americans. If you told me before kick-off that we would have three turnovers, 8 penalties, and only 82 yards rushing today against the CATS with less time of possesion, I would have guaranteed a Northwestern victory. And, it would have been a story of letdown, under-achievement, another disappointment, heartache, and coming up short yet again. Not this year. Not this time. For the first time in what seems like forever (1951 our last national championship), the Fighting Zookers are now 5-0 heading into week #2 of conference play. Yes, this was truly a historic victory, winning our BIG-10 opener for the first time since 2k7, our Rose Bowl Season. Heck, it was just our 2nd BIG-10 victory in a conference opener in our last 18 games. Wow!

What else can I say? Twas our 3rd-straight 4th-quarter comeback this year for the cardiac kids. And every one of these you pull out makes you better now and going forward. Trailing late in the in the 3rd quarter 28-10, it was a gutty comeback at home on homecoming to pull of the victory. Jenkins and Scheelhaase led the way, both having career afternoons. The battery carried is to four late touchdowns and the 38-35 victory. Nate threw for 391 on 21 of 32 with 3 TD's, all to A.J. Jenkins. The senior stud wide-out from Jacksonville, FL totaled 268 receiving yards on 12 receptions, proving he is one of the best in the conference if not the nation.

It was an up and down afternoon. There were moments in the 2nd and 3rd quarters where I was thinking, as we all were, here we go again. Maybe it is time to end the Zooker experiment and start fresh in 2012? Just when you want to give up on the guy. Just when you think he's down and out. His team rises up and finds a way to get it done.

There are some serious issues we need to address on both sides of the ball if we plan to make a deep run in the LEADERS division. We are a flawed team that makes too many penalties and too many untimely turnovers. If we expect to beat the better teams in the division and conference, we'll have to clean those up. Starting with defense, we have to eliminate the stupid (Zooker) penalties like freak personal fouls and getting late off the field of play. Ugh! The secondary needs to get better fast. Persa had way too many easy big plays for touchdowns because of blown coverages and confusion in the secondary. At times it was keytone cops.

On offense, we need to asses our schemes. Are we a spread-option attack or not? I would argue the latter. For most of the game we fooled nobody with one botched delayed hand-off after another. Jason Ford may be a senior, but he shows me more and more that he is not a go-to back in this offense. We need to start giving the rock more and more to Donovan Young, freshmen from Houston. At times, the offense still plays out of sync. Our play-calling was suspect, especially when you have an all-American at wide-out in #8, A.J. Jenkins. The college game shouldn't be that complicated: get your ball to your play-makers in space and let the recruiting take over from there. We have athletes and it's OK to showcase their talents.

Going forward, maybe a win like this will lead to something special. We travel to Bloomington next weekend to take on an up-and-coming Hoosier squad who gave Penn State all they wanted today and then some. Still, I expect us to be significant favorites in that match-up. I think we have more athletes than they do at just about every position. But, in conference play, especially on the road, you can taking nothing for granted. Would it be nice to get to 6-0 in early October? Sure, we haven't done that in a while. And yes, the schedule is favorable this year with both Ohio State and Wisconsin at home in the friendly confines of venerable Memorial Stadium.

Onward young ILLINI! On know the coaching staff reads this blog on a regular basis, so here are my latest insights on how to improve. One game at at time. That November 19th showdown in Champaign is starting to look more and more important. Both teams have a decent shot at being un-defeated when Wisconsin comes to town.

1) Hey Petrino, the spread option shit isn't working. 2.2 YPC, really? Find out who we are. What is our identify? Are we a running team? A passing team? A spread attack? An option team? Or a pro-style set on offense? I think the answer is starting to emerge. Let's move away from the cloudy / muddy spread attack for a while. The passing game is too good to ignore right now.

2) Speed up the tempo on offense. The slow and predictable snap counts and play selections aren't getting us out in front. And we can't expect to comeback from 18 points in 2nd half every game this year.

3) Get the ball in the hands of our play-makers more often. On offense, that is Nate, Donovan, and A.J. Mr. Harris is also starting to emerge as another wide-out threat.

4) Stiffen - up on defense, especially in the secondary. We got burned several times today on deep balls against our backs who were out of position time and time again. Against the better QB's in the league and around the nation, we will get torched for big plays unless some scheme changes and/or improvements are made.

And,my updated TOP-10:

Who'd you play? Where did you play them? And, who'd you beat?

1) Alabama / LSU - two programs that are clearly above the rest.
2) LSU / ALABAMA - left hand and right hand of same body.
3) Wisconsin - perhaps the only team out there who can beat #1 or #2.
4) OKLAHOMA - good program for Stoops. But not his best.
5) Boise State - just keep winning and will just keep falling here and in BCS.
6) Stanford - Cardinal is all about one man, and he's really good.
7) Clemson - Anybody have three better wins this year than the TIGERS?
8) Oregon - Off week, but still mighty explosive.
9) Texas - Welcome back Longhorns after beating a really good Iowa State team in Ames.
10) Michigan - Yes, the Wolverines break into the Top-10 aftter this weekend's insanity.

Off and Running - Respect the MAC

2011-09-24T19:48:00.000-07:00

I've been saying all week that we need to respect Western Michigian. This MAC representative goes bowling just about every year. And, they beat us in Detroit a few years back on Ford Field, knocking us out of a bowl game. Huge.

Not this year. The Broncos high-speed passing offense was stopped when it mattered most. Down 13-10 at halftime, the Chief came out after the break and shoved the rock down their collective little throats. Broncos couldn't stop our stable of runningbacks: Young, Pollard, Ford, and company. You just can have too many good backs in an offense like this. With a line like we have.

It wasn't pretty. We still put the ball on the ground too often. And, too many drives have fizzled in the red-zone, having to settle for field goals. Running game sputters at times. I don't like to see my guys dancing through holes and running East / West. Man up Zookers! The passing game isn't quite in sync either. The defense allowed 306 yards passing, but most of that came in the first half. When it mattered most, when we needed stops, we showed up and turned them down. On offense, we were efficient if not flashy - winning the time of possession battle 35 to 25. Nate went 14-20 and 133 yards with a TD. O'Toole had a few key pass completions in the second stanza as well.

But, it was all about Young and Pollard who combined for 233 yards on the ground on 26 carries. Donovan Young is turning into a real machine at halfback. And when the final whistle blew, we moved to 4-0 for the first time since 1951. Wow! No other BCS / AQ team has had a longer drought to 4-0 in the history of the game. Yes! And the last time we swept the non-conference schedule was 2001. This was a seminole win for the program any way you slice it.

Up next is Northwestern at home inside the friendly confines of Memorial Stadium. That will be our fifth straight home game. With Persa back in the line-up for the CATS, that is going to be a strong test. Fitzgerald's clubs are always physical, disciplined, smart, and effective.

Over the course of the season, I'll post a few thoughts of my own regarding conference re-alignment, the circus which it has become in 2011. Honestly, my first real impression right now is to take a deep breathe and let reason prevail. We need to avoid scenarios like TCU in the BIG EAST, WV in the B12, and Notre Dame in the ACC. Really, is that good for CFB? It can't all just be about the Benjamins. If that is the primary driver, the effort, the games, the teams, the fans, and the conferneces are doomed. Going forward, we should be looking to build meaningful confernces on solid bedrock considering geography, academic expectations, other sports, culture, and revenue sharing relative to TV networks / contracts. For now, I'm grateful the PAC-12 stands at 12, and not 14 or 16. It looks like the BIG-12 dodged a bullet for now, and may just survive in the years to come.

My TOP-10
1) LSU - TIGERS have played and beaten three TOP-25 foes arleady this year.
2) Alabama- Tide / Tigers, two arms of the same body.
3) Oklahoma - good victory tonight over a Mizzou squad who beat them in Columbia last year.
4) Boise State - Clearly not on the same level as 1-3 above, but they consistently win and are fun to watch. Kellen Moore is fantastic.
5) Wisconsin - Badgers round out my top-5 and should only move up this year. Might be the only team who can beat either Alabama or LSU in a title game.
6) Stanford - Cardinals probably the cream of the PAC-12.
7) Oklahoma State - how they canme back on the road in College Station still amazes me. Aggies were up 20-3 at the break. Ugh!
8) Oregon - back in the TOP-10 after destroying Arizona tonight.
9) Nebraska - just now sure how good or bad this team really is. We shall learn next week when they travel to Madison.
10) South Carolina - ripped through an undefeated Vandy team tongiht.

Chief - a Devil Killer!

2011-09-18T08:04:00.000-07:00

Well, look who's back? It's been a while since I've penned my last blog, and for good reason. Sure, there was the TEXAS BOWL victory over Baylor (38-14). That was the announcement. But yesterday's win over #18 ASU on Zupke Field inside majestic Memorial Stadium was something bigger. It signified a change in culture for the Fighting Zookers. It changed how we view and play on the BIG STAGE and under the bright ligts in front of a national audience. We got a small taste of what it means to be on top, even for a week. And for the first time in a long time, the Chief is RANKED AGAIN #24.

Don't get me wrong, we're still a young team that makes a lot of mistakes. At times, the offense sputtered - especially on short yardages. Heck, we only had 246 total yards. We had almost 400 rushing yards last week alone against SDSU. Going forward, we will need to shore-up the short yardage conversions. 5 for 13 on 3rd down won't cut it. But, the Sun-Devils are not the Jack-Rabbits. Burfict is a beast. And that ASU defense can make plays at every positionl. In the end, we proved we can win a defensive battle. We showed that deep inside, there is a will to win.

The Illini defensive effort was amazing. I haven't seen an ILLINOIS squad play with as much determination and acumen in some 15 years. You have to go back tot he mid to early 90's when we had guys like Kevin Hardy and Simeon Rice. "They brought a lot of pressure tonight," Osweiler said. "Shoot, it seemed like almost every snap." For the night, we had six sacks of the ASU QB and 12 TFL's. Zook later remarked that we really did sell-out on the pash rush, forcing them to beat us with their running game which never happened. We may have the best 'D' in conference. Snap to whistle, not sure there is a better unit in the LEADERS division. We've only given up 32 points in our first three games. Holding an explosive ASU squad to just 14 points is showing up. The Devils will light-up opponents in the PAC-12 this year.

Yes, a momentum builder for sure. It was also our 4th win in a row and our first over a ranked PAC-10/12 opponent since 1995 (#16 Arizona). And with two more home games this month (Western Michigan is next), we have a chance to open at 5-0 before travelling to Bloomington to play Indiana. I'm not sure where this leaves us. The BIG-10 is looking somewhat soft to me at this point in 2011, save for Wisconsin who is looking more and more like a national-title contender under Russell Wilson. But, for now, we're 2nd best in the Leaders and maybe in the conference. And, that's not all bad.

My TOP-10:
1) Oklahoma - one of the best wins on the young season in Tallahassee last night.
2) Alabama - Tide continues to roll.
3) LSU - May be underrated at #3 after that defensive performance over the Bulldogs.
4) Boise State - for now, I respect the blue turf. It may not last.
5) Stanford - I have to put the Luckers at #5. Is this team deep enough?
6) Wisconsin - Badgers look scary good to the Chief under Wilson.
7) A&M - Balanced on both sides of the ball. Looking more like an SEC team each week.
8) Oklahoma State - Cowboys can score points. Can they play team defense?
9) South Carolina - Yes, I saw the Navy game. Letdown. Gamecocks are good. I think.
10) Virginia Tech - Hokies pull-down my last spot this week. Many teams worthy.

Putting out an APB:
a) What happened to BYU in the Holy War? Ouch!
b) Where was the vaulted Sparty rushing attack (29 yards on 23 attempts vs. ND).
c) And how bad is the QB situation in Columbus? Bauserman / Miller oh my!

Finally - a good win and bowl eligibility ...

2010-11-20T16:30:00.000-08:00

I know Persa was out, but the 48-27 victory today over Northwestern in the Friendly Confines of Wrigley was just what the doctor ordered in what had to be the spectacle of the day. And for all of the chatter and criticism of the old ball park and its layout for football, she held up pretty well as center stage in what hopefully won't be the last time these two teams battle for the Land of Lincoln Trophy. Tihs game was the talk of the town all week in the Windy City. It's good for college football. We need more events like this. That was fun! Every game should have all of its possessions heading towards the west endzone.

As for the contest itself, it was the Mikel LeShoure show, literally. Big guy amassed an Illini high 330 yards of 33 carries. It was the best rushing performance in CFB this year; and one that would make Red Grange very very happy. Mikel literally carried the Zooker, the team, and our bowl chances on his broad shoulders and thick quads. It was an epic performance, worthy of comparison to other Illini greats like Red Grange and Howard Griffith. Clearly tihs will go down as one of our greatest grid-iron exhibitions. He's averaging 197yards / game in his last three outings. That's a great sign as we get ready to board the charter for Fresno and bowl season. It's time for a road trip. We need to bowl upgrade.

And after two dismal weeks with losses against Michigan and Minnesota, the defense actually played more aggressively and made plays today against a very crafty and disciplined Pat Fitzgerald squad. Without Persa, they are NOT the same team for sure. That kid may be the 2nd best QB in America behind Luck. Still, they remain one of the most disciplined and efficient clubs in the nation. Today's win was no small victory. With the win, we move to 2-0 at Wrigley all time.

Inside the numbers today, we amassed 519 rushing yards - the most since 1944 against Illinois State during the WAR. 24 of our 26 first downs were on the ground. Very impressive running of the rock. And this year's team continues to score points in bunches, posting 40+ now in four of our last five games. Opposing offenses will have to score to keep up with us going forward. And the stat of the day, 42 minutes of ball possession time to their 18 minutes. Total trench domination.

Yes, the defense played better today, but not great. They did force three ealry turnovers that led to a quick 21-7 lead. In our last five games, we've forced a total of 16 turnovers for 69 points while just turning it over five times. Another good sign is to be +11 in the turnover margin in late November.

On the national scene, very impressive performances today by Wisky and Stanford, both on the road in hostile rivalry games. How about Andrew Luck, best QB in the nation? The Badgers just too the wood to Michigan's 'defense' all day long. And while I didn't actually see Stanford smack CAL in the BIG GAME, I'm sure the same can be said there. Mixing up the standings this week, based on what I've seen on the field against scheduled opposition. I've seen a lot of football this year and believe these are pretty close to being what should be. So, wihtout further delay, here is my revised top-ten list as we head into Thanksgiving:

My Latest TOP-10:

1) Oregon - on the bye week this week and getting ready to host Arizona.
2) Auburn - Ditto for the tigers, and it all comes down to the Iron Bowl.
3) Wisconson - Badgers are almost playing perfect football in all three phases.
4) Stanford - The Cardinal is on fire. En Fuego! No identity crisis here.
5) Boise State - I know how good they can be. Not sure how bad they are.
6) TCU - Ditto, same as #5. The schedule provides little examination.
7) Oklahoma State - Yes Ted, I as right about your Huskers not being worthy.
8) Ohio State - Buckeyes with another solid road performance in Iowa City.
9) Alabama - Tide will get a shot to stop Cam Newton and Auburn this week.
10) Arkansas - Great road win in Starkville against and improved Bulldog club.

And a special feature this week, the best teams in each conference right now:

BIG TEN = easy one here, Wisconsin. No style points. They are just that good.
PAC TEN = tough call here, but the Chief is going with Stanford. En Fuego!
SEC = I'll go with Auburn, for now. May be S. Carolina or Alabama eventually.
ACC = Va. Tech. Hokies are rollin' and doing Boise a favor with every win.
BIG 12 = Down to Bedlam. Chief likes the Cowboys from Stillwater.
BIG EAST = Who cares?

Games on the horizon during Feast Week (looking forward to these):

1) Michigan State / Penn State
2) S. Carolina / Clemson
3) Florida / Florida State
4) LSU / Arkansas
5) Miss State / Ole Miss
6) Oklahoma / Oklahoma State
7) Notre Dame / USC

Finally, bowl games we should see / deserve but may not get:

Rose = Stanford / Wisconsin
Sugar= Arkansas / Boise State
Orange = Va. Tech / Oklahoma State
Fiesta = TCU / Ohio State
Title = Auburn / Oregon

Week #10 - Fight 'Em Until Hell Freezes Over ...

2010-11-07T19:13:00.001-08:00

And then fight 'em on the ice! I mean, wow - what a weekend of CFB. So many TOP-25 teams lost today (FSU, Mizzou, Utah, Alabama, Oklahoma, etc ...). It's never the same game twice.

As for the Chief, he bit the painful bullet today up in Ann Arbor. What a deflating 3OT loss on the road, in a game we should have won. Not too much that can be said when you lose 65-67 in the conference's highest-scoring contest of all-time. I swear I saw Fisher and Henson on the sidelines during the 2nd half. No defense, like we normally see from the PAC-10 week in and out. Ugh!

As for the national scene, it couldn't get more chaotic now that Alabama has two losses. I'm not convinced just yet that Oregon AND Auburn run the table. Who would have thought that Florida, Texas, USC, and Alabama would have NO shot at the BCS this year. Ohio State is virtually in the same boat. Winds of change in college football - and they feel refreshing. Here's my new TOP-10:

My Revised TOP-10:

1) Oregon - Another week, the same story. But can the scoring continue forever?
2) Auburn - Distractions, no matter. Feels like a team of destiny to me.
3) TCU - Great road win in Salt Lake. But was Utah overrated?
4) Boise State - Doing what they do best and still not good enough.
5) Stanford - Fear the Fighting Harbaugh's from Palo Alto.
6) LSU - I have no idea how they won. But they just keep winning.
7) Wisconsin - Road graters, giving new meaning to shovel-ready.
8) Ohio State - Fundamentally sound and well coached. Red vests for everyone.
9) Nebraska - They own the tie-breaker with Oklahoma State.
10) Oklahoma State - Cowboys are peaking at the right time.

So, where does that leave us? I will tell you. Ponder these round one play-off match-ups as we get ready for those always exciting conference championship games:

Oregon Hosts Ohio State in Eugene. Rematch of the 2010 Rose Bowl.
Auburn Hosts Wisconsin on the Plains. North versus South.
TCU Hosts LSU in Ft. Worth. Miles versus Patterson. Chess match.
Boise State Hosts Stanford on the blue turf.

It just doesn't get any better than this. Of course we can find a way to make an eight-team playoff work. All we would need is one more game in early January to get from 8 to 4, from 4 to 2, and from 2 to 1.

Chief Keeps Rollin'

2010-10-31T08:11:00.001-07:00

Another good home win for the Chief, this time over a dangerous and struggling Boiler club, 44-10. Offense is efficient and improving, but the defense is setting the table allowing just 200 total yards against Purdue. Despite one of the nation's most difficult schedules to date (Missouri, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Penn State), the Illini defense ranks 12th in the nation for points against (16.8 average), giving up a season high of just 26 points on the road in East Lansing to a high-powered and balanced Sparty attack. We've held half the competition to 13 or fewer points.

Scheelhaase is gaining confidence under center in his first full year as QB, 18-24 for 205 yards and 4TDs and no interceptions. And I know the passing game (111th in teh country) is a work in progress as we try to become more than a rushing attack. Paul Petrino's offensive schemes really seem to be working well most of the time. Players are buying in and delivering on the field. And, it won't be long before this Petrino gets serious consideration for some head coaching positions. And that's what we learned on this Saturday.

What most impresses me this year compared to the last few losing campaigns is the determination to make plays and to finish strong. I see guys putting out that extra effort to make the tough catch, break that extra tackle, make the first down, or reach for the endzone. That energy is translating into results at just about every position.

So where does that leave us? 5-3 with four to play, including one more home game with Minnesota and next week's road trip to Ann Arbor. Despite Michigan's recent struggles, that should be another tough test against one of the most dynamic players in the game. Still, I like our chances as we finish the year at Wrigley with Northwestern and in California with Fresno State. There is some unfinished business to settle with those Bulldogs.

My Latest Top-10: - three from BIG-10!

1) Oregon - there is no stopping that Duck offense.
2) Auburn - seemingly on a collision course with #1. No stopping Cam.
3) Boise State - just keep doing what they are supposed to with their schedule.
4) TCU - ditto, see #3.
5) Alabama - Tide keep rolling. May control their BCS destiny on 11/26 at home.
6) Wisconsin - Badgers are road-graters. Off this week, and in charge in BIG10.
7) Oklahoma - Sooners bounce back this week. Another solid club
8) Ohio State - Buckeyes need some help to win the conference.
9) LSU - Tigers are still a good football club but have a tough stretch coming.
10) Iowa - Hawkeyes are the best two-loss team in the nation. Could be 8-0.

Finally, what should happen with the BCS? Ideally, I would favor an eight-team playoff starting on the first Saturday of December (1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, etc...) with the higher seed hosting. How about an Iowa / Oregon game in Eugene? Or a Boise State / Ohio State playoff in Boise? Or a Badger / Tide showdown in Tuscaloosa? End the conference title games and figure out the $$$. Second, use the BCS games on January 1st at the 2nd round to get from four to two teams. Finally, add the plus-one game after that, and you have a worthy national champion.

But, that ain't gonna happen anytime soon. So, the more I think about it, the more I like how the BCS is shaping up this year. First, if Oregon and Auburn keep winning they should and will collide in Glendale come January. If either one loses, then you have to consider TCU, Boise, Bama, Oklahoma, Wisky, and Ohio State. What will happen? Chief predicts the Oregon Ducks will be in Title Game against either Auburn or Alabama. Here's what the remaining schedule of bowl games is shaping up to be with only one month left in the season: Bowl Outlook.

Efficient & Stout in Victory on Homecoming ...

2010-10-23T20:34:00.000-07:00

Just what the doctor ordered on our 100th homecoming at the University of Illinois. 43-13, Illinois over Indiana. Chief is now 4-3 on the not so young season (2-2 in the BIG-10).

And it was the defense who led the way, with two pick 6's totalling 134 yards of coverage in return. Wow! We held Chappel to only 279 yards on 26/48 passing with 3 INTS and only 1TD. Wow! Ben usually throws for 10 million yards / game (actually 310 / game). The guy never gets sacked either. We put the big fella on his tush side a few times in this one.

As for the offense, Nathan was efficient throwing for 123 yards on just 13/21 passing with 2 TDs and no INTS. Wow! Mikel toted the rock for 77 more yards on just 16 carries. We get Purdue at home next Saturday with a chance to get to three conference wins on the young season.

On a personal note, Zook is saving his job each and every week we take the field. Sure, we're not done rebuilding the program. And no, we're not satsified losing big games. But given where we've been, what we've endured, and where we are today, the Chief is on the comeback trail. I like what I'm seeing on both sides of the ball, but especially on defense this year. We're efficient, opportunistic, and grateful to take advantage of what we're given. These are signs of a mature squad.

As I parouse the remaining five games on the schedule, we should be in position to compete for victories in all of them. I'm not saying we'll finish the season at 9-3, but 8-4 or 7-5 is very realistic this year as long as we keep improving each week.

Finally, a few comments on the state of the game. There is none better. Every week is a playoff weekend. Every play matters. Just ask Alabama, Ohio State, and now Oklahoma. Beware the curse of a #1 ranking these days. I can't recall a time when there's been this much parity in CFB. Florida, Texsas, LSU, Ohio State, and USC are all down a bit from their glory days and national titles. And say what you want about the post-season, the bowl system, the BCS, and your mother-in-law. When it comes to the regular season, there is none better.

My new TOP-10:
1) Oregon - offensively, it just doesn't get any better than this.
2) Auburn - Cam Newton is the Heisman frontrunner. Can't wait for the Iron Bowl.
3) Boise State - great team. Soft schedule. They don't own their own destiny.
4) TCU - see #3 above. This team is physical, gritty, and never quits.
5) Michigan State - Sparty is for real this year. They go to Iowa City next.
6) Alabama - Waxed Tennessee. And not out of the title game race, yet.
7) Wisconsin - Name two better wins? Beat #1 Ohio State and beat #15 Iowa at home.
8) Missouri - Beat BCS #1 this week. No longer a fluke. This team is legit.
9) Ohio State - Lingering inside the top-10. But not the same Buckeyes we know.
10) Nebraska - good bounceback win on the road. Host Mizzou next.

Loss at Sparty ...

2010-10-17T08:19:00.000-07:00

First off, this was predictable and totally expected. After all, Sparty is one of the hottest teams in the land and totally underrated at #13 heading into this Homecoming showdown with the Chief. Michigan State is easily a top-10 team and perhaps even a top-5 squad, one of the most balanced in the nation.

Still, we played Dantonio's crew well for 2.5 quarters, leading 6-3 at the break. The defense was stout most of the afternoon. And at times, the offense was able to move the ball effectively through the air and on the ground. But, the inability to convert drives into TD's in the first half and four turnovers (3 INTs) for the game was our undoing in East Lansing.

Final Illini analysis - not a bad loss, but a setback for sure. We had a chance today to follow-up a good road win in Happy Valley with another against Sparty; didn't happen. Time to regroup, study the tape, and move on to week #8 where we get Indiana as the BIG-10 schedule softens. All in all, being 3-3 at this point in the season isn't bad (all three losses to ranked top-20 schools in Mizzou, Ohio State, and Michigan State). This year's Illinois team is getting better each week. And that trend needs to continue where you have to prove it time and time again.

My Top-10:
1) Oregon
2) Oklamoma
3) Auburn
4) Boise State
5) TCU
6) Michigan State
8) Alabama
9) Oklahoma State
10) Iowa

BCS Standings

3-2 (1-1) Penn State and Beyond ...

2010-10-11T18:43:00.000-07:00

Yes, a good road win for sure in Happy Valley this weekend. We did it with the strong running game, 150 yards of passing, no turnovers, and stifling defense. Usually those win every time out. It also doesn't hurt to the have the RIVALS.COM BIG-10 player of the week (Scheelhaase QB). He was also the BIG-10 freshmen of the week. Dimke (PK) took home the special teams player of the week honor. Not shabby.

It was a complete / balanced effort against Penn State in one of the biggest upsets of the day. Until Saturday, the Chief was 0-6 in Happy Valley. It's not an easy place to play as the road underdog.

Nate was spectacular in throwing for 150 yards on 15-19 with 1TD. The ground game was unstoppable in amassng 282 yards. The defense was stout all afternoon in allowing just 7 first downs and 235 total yards (65 on the ground). Again, that will get it done most weeks in the BIG-10 and anywhere else. I also recommend holding the ball for 38 minutes and forcing your opponent to go 2-14 on third down.

Going forward, we have another tough test this weekend against one of the hottest teams in the land right now, Sparty. The schedule softens significantly after that with home games against Indian, Purdue, Minnesota, and Northwestern before heading West to play Fresno State in a pay-back game. We do have a road game at Ann Arbor mixed in there as well. So, getting to six or even seven wins is quite doable. And would make us bowl eligibile (Dallas Football Classic or the Texas Bowl against some team from the BIG-12).

Reminder the first BCS rankings of the year come out next Sunday. Expect Boise State to top the list assuming they keep winning. They'll also be pulling for Oregon State (without James Rodgers now) and Va. Tech. Also, check out Schlabach's mid-season awards. And speaking of rankings, here is my latest top-10. I don't know much, but I do know the Iron Bowl will be really good this year. Tell me what you think:

1) Ohio State
2) Oregon
3) Boise State
4) TCU
5) Nebraska
6) Auburn
7) Alabama
8) Oklahoma
9) LSU
10) Michigan State

Two in a Row of Directional Illinois

2010-09-18T12:30:00.001-07:00

Quality win today at honme over a game NIU Husky squad from DeKalb. These guys always seem to find a way to go bowling in December. But not today: Good Guys 28 / NIU 22. And the final score was representative of the game itself. It was a defensive struggle until late in the contest.

What impressed me most was the way we got up early, then fell behind, then seized the lead for good and pulled away late. In prior campaigns, this would have been over in the 2nd quarter. And wow, 319 yards on the ground to go along with 70 through the air, and no interceptions. With LeShoure and Ford, we pounded NIU for 6.5 yards / carry with those 470 pounds of rushing mass. We also won the time of possession. I see a formula for success going forward.

On the downside, we have to get a handle on penalties, 8 for 85 yards. Many of these were drive killers. Going forward, we'll need to clean those up if we want to beat the best in the conference and make a serious for a bowl game. Additionally, the defense was effective but ended up yielding 390 yards to a balanced HUSKY attack. And the passing game needs to be more efficient / productive. I don't expect it to win too many games in 2010, but we have to do better than 50% and 70 yards.

Next week is our bye before we open-up confernce play in November against Ohio State.

Natural Ability - Week 2

2010-09-11T18:15:00.000-07:00

Well, that's why they play the games. Spring camps, summer camps, and the first week mean little if you don't back it up with your play in WEEK 2. And while my Fighting Illini let one get away last week in St. Louis against Mizzou, we took it to the #2 team in the FCS (SIU) today in the house of paign - Memorial Stadium. You can't keep a good man down for long, or the CHIEF.

Natural ability is what I'm talking about. When you play smart football with speed and strength, doing what comes naturally instead of only thinking or reacting to the action on the field. We did a lot of things well tonight against SIU, but still have room for improvement heading into week 3 next week at home against NIU. Turnovers in the passing game (INTS) need to go away. Good win yes, but are we done? No.

As for the good, the running game under Mikel LeShoure continues to look really good. Year in and year out under Zook, we're one of the strongest running programs in the nation, averaging more than 5 ypc behind one of the biggest offensive lines in the country (averaging 309 lbs. and 6'6"). That will need to remain our bread and butter this year if we're going to have success. The passing game will be useful, but the rushing attack will need to lead the way - especially in conference when the weathe turns cooler and wetter.

As for more good, the defense continues to play hard and fast. Violent hands. SIU put up 70 points last week against Quincy. This team went 11-2 last year in the MVC. We challenge everything on this side of the ball. We are physical at every layer, up front, in the middle, and deep back. When you understand the system and schemes, it's amazing how fast you can play. I haven't seen this intensity from the boys in several years under Zook. We only gave up 112 yards in the first half to the Salukis, #2 FCS team in the land. Nurse, Thomas, Leguit, Henry, Bellamy, Bussey, Wilson, and company came up huge all night, especially in the red zone when it matters most. I like the mentality this year on that side of the ball. Good things happen when you swarm to the ball. We have been doing that well so far this year.

And how about the battery of Scheelhaase (QB) and Jenkings (WR) this year? Nathan looks more comfortable with each and every snap. Nate reminds me of a smaller Pryor, very elusive and crafty on his feet. And Ford / Leshoure (465 pounds combined) will continue to batter defenses all season in the running game. Mikel is our bell-cow, feed your meat. And welcome to the show Mr. Evan Wilson and Justin Lattimore in the passing game. Huge.

But the most important thing offensively is to recognize who we are, what are strengths are, and where we want to be as a football squad. Petrino screwed up the second half against the TIGERS last weekend with the play calling, but he made amends tonight against a pretty game SIU club from Carbondale. Road-grating. Laying the rock. Pounding it and throwing when needed. That is the recipe for success for this 2010 club.

Week 2 Suprises and letdowns?
1) Michigan, specifically Denard Robinson, and his ability to lead that young Wolverine club with his legs and arm. Heisman front-runner right now.
2) Va. Tech losing to James Madison. Looks like Boise State beat the Hokies twice, and perhaps once too many. Broncos didn't need VA TECH losing today and hurting their BCS chances. In addition to the Hokies, you can add Miami, FSU, and Penn State to this list of under-achievers in WEEK 2. All were disappointing to me.
3) Illinois - a slightly biased pick perhaps. But nonetheless, we steam-rolled #2 FCS SIU at home, 35-3. And it wasn't really that close. Up next Norther Illinois.
4) Random observations - BYU is struggling with its 2QB system. Notre Dame can't win without Crist at the helm. Iowa, Wisconsin, and Sparty all look strong. And the Ducks are on the verge of something special unless it blows up.
5) And what about the ACC? Four ranked teams fell this Saturday in Va. Tech, FSU, Miami, and Georgia Tech. Ugh - not a good day for the that conference.

Updated Top-10 (Week 2) -

1) Alabama - Continue to roll and barely broke a sweat against Penn State.
2) Ohio State - Very impressive on both sides of the ball against the CANES.
3) Boise State - Off this week, but they deserve a rest and no travel.
4) Oklahoma - Big bounceback win at home over FSU.
5) TCU - Two impressive wins in a row. This team is so physical and determined.
6) Oregon - On the verge of a special season including a shot at the national title.
7) Nebraska - Defense looks really good. Offense is efficient. Good combo.
8) Iowa - Best D in the conference. Strong running game. Vet QB. All good things.
9) Texas - Two easy wins so far at home. 10/2 with OU around the corner.
10) Wisconsin - Will pound you and your mom to death all night long.

Week 1 - New Year / New Hope!

2010-09-04T18:47:00.000-07:00

So, let me start off by saying we don't play Samford, Arkansas State, Western Kentucky, or New Mexico to open the season. We are Illinois football; we play winners! Really, 72-0 Oregon? I mean come on already. Respect the game. Schedule some competition. The Ducks could have easily scored 100 today. Ugh!

That being said, a loss is a loss, or is it? Sure, we only played 30 minutes today and lost 23-13 to those hapless Missouri Tigers. Yes, we gave away another game with 3 INTS and 1 fumble, all by the QB. But, there were signs for optimism and the rest of the 2010 football season, especially with the defense.

For starters, we won the first half (13-3). Yes, we held one of the nation's most prolific offenses to just 3 points in the opening 30 minutes. And, our place kicker made his first 50-yard attempt of the season (1-1) at 52 yards. And the running game is in great shape. Mikel posted 112 yards on 20 carries. We should average 200 yards / game to lead the conference again in 2010 just like we have for the past four years under Zook. As matter of fact, we're annually ove of the leading rushing teams in the nation (a good thing).

As for the bad, yes - there is some of that. Take away the four turnovers by red-shirt freshmen Nathan Scheelhaase, and we win this game today. He has to do a better job of protecting the rock. Run it. And stop the run. And you win 95% of the time in CFB. It's that simple. With the hawgs up front, we can run it. Our secondary has to get better on defense both in the run support and in the passing game to see some improvement.

I expect these things to happen in the next two to three weeks before we host Ohio State and travel to Happy Valley. Zooker has to get the next two at home against Northern and Southern. The schedule gets a lot tougher later this month for sure.

But, back to the positive. This is a different ILLINI squad. We have discipline. We have speed from sideline to sideline. And we are in shape as a football team. Three weeks in Rantoul have really paid off this summer. The 17-play opening drive that resulted in 3 points is a great example of pounding the rock and ball control. But, we need to convert them into TD's and NOT FG's. Paul Petrino's offense is much better / more disciplined this year when compared to the past few seasons. Execution is better. Schemes are better. We are more physical on that side of the ball for sure.

As for the defense, it was side to sideline all afternoon chasing after the football. I saw much more aggressive and swarming play. We held the high-powered Mizzou offense to under 300 yards passing and 100 yards total rushing. The Tigers are going to put up points and win games this year, for sure. But this was our best defensive effort in quite some time. I only expect it to get better each week going forward. And that could pay dividends later in the season against the best teams and and out of conference. We have a score to settle with Fresno later this year.

Who Surprised the Chief this week?

1) MWC - yes the Mountain West continues its excellent early-season play. BYU, TCU, and UTAH all beat BCS / AQ teams this weekend.
2) Michigan - yes BIG BLUE rolled UCONN today in a game most experts had going the other way. Robinson seems to have control of this Rich-Rod offense. Side note, 113K folks at the game Saturday, largest attendance ever for a football game.
3) Notre Dame - Big win for the Irish over Purdue at home. They made big plays all day when they were needed. Attention to details.

Who Disappointed the Chief today?

1) Ole Miss / Masoli - Only 5 rushing yards in an opening home-loss to Jacksonville State. Ouch!
2) LSU - playing a depleted UNC squad in the Georgia Dome, the Bayou Bengals nearly blew a 20-point advantage late in the game. Where has the LSU defense gone?
3) Florida / Oklahoma - take your pick. Both struggled and looked inept at times against inferior talent. Just ask Stoops. Sooners were fortunate to survive against Utah State. Ouch!

My First Top-10 of 2010:

1) Alabama - the cream of the SEC this year.
2) Ohio State - ditto for the BIG-10.
3) Boise State - Wow! I am a Bronco Believer after last nite. Bronco-UP!
4) Nebraska - this might just be Nebraska's greatest BIG-12 moment.
5) Iowa - Yes, the Hawkeyes look for real this year. Nobody has a better defense.
6) TCU - Kudos for playing a tough Beaver squad in its opener. BCS buster!
7) Texas- Still too early for me to really ride the longhorn bandwagon.
8) Florida - ditto for Urban's boys. Lots of questions on offense.
9) Oregon - 72 to zip? What? 720 total yards. Could have been worse for NM.
10) Virginia Tech - close loss to a BCS worthy Bronco-Team. Great start.

Chief on the Chief - 2k10 Football Preview

2010-08-24T08:18:00.000-07:00

Every year the Chief opines about Illini football. I know what you're thinking, and yes, the therapy is expenseive. My butt has been logging serious couch time this decade, the exception of the 2007 season and 2008 Rose Bowl where we took USC to the limit.

Yep, I did watch that game schmuck. But this is August, and optimism is rampant. If not running wild. And the Chief has seen some good things come out of spring ball and Camp Rantoul this summer. It's the end of the Juice Era (experiment) in Champaign; time for the new blood to step in and step it up.

For starters, the defense should be a lot better this year simply for the fact that we get Mr. Wilson back at LB / DE / S / C / EVERYTHING. He's a stud ball hunter when he's healthy. And, from what I've read and seen this offseason, he's healthy. Mr. Luiget and Mr. Nurse also enter this campaign with high expectations and need to have monster years on the DL. Chief also looks for Mr. Frierson (6-2 / 230) to make some big plays at LB. In the secondary, the DB's and SAFETY's need to step it up and keep the plays in front of them. Yep, I'm calling out Bellamy, Henry, and Tavon Wilson in particular. They say defense wins titles. This year's squad needs to play championship football in holding the line, especially in the red-zone. We can't give up 30 points / game again and expect to win anything.

On offense, Nate will probably get the starting nod (RS FR) to replace Mr. Williams. Juice is gone. Eddie has moved over to WR, but could take a few interesting snaps this year. Scheelhasse will need lots of help and should get it from the RB's and WR's. LeShoure, Ford, Pollard, and Green have to carry the rock and the load in the running game. I expect big things from Mikel (including a 1500-yard season). And we have a bunch of tall wide-outs who need to catch the ball and roll up the RAC (run after catch).

Keys for the year:

1) Stop the run and run the ball.
2) Minimize three and outs on offense.
3) No big plays on defense. Minimize long drives. Man-up in the red-zone.
4) Don't force the ball. Eliminate unforced turnovers.
5) Have Fun and WIN!

So, where does that leave us? Here's my August prediction in what could be Zooker's last season if he doesn't reach a bowl game. It wouldn't hurt to beat Mizzou in the last opener with the TIGERS until they eventually join the BIG-10. They've onwed us under the arch in recent years. The remaining NC schedule is really tough with games against Southern, Northern, and Fresno State in Cali. If we can win the opener, you just never know. 10-2? Yeah, I'm dreaming. Somehow, this young team will find ways to lose games against Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State, and likely Mizzou. You can essentially pencil in four losses right away. 8-4? Not out of the question if we get rollin'. Remember, defense wins games and may just do that once or twice this season.

Realistically, we haven't been strong against Northwestern of late. So, how does 7-5sound? Great to me if we can end the year with a win in Fresno against the Bulldogs. We owe them some love after last year's 53-52 home loss. The CHIEF knows 6-6 is about the best we can hope for with a Pizza Bowl game in our future. Unfortunately, I'm not sure we won't stumble at least once or twice against Southern, Northern, Indiana, Purdue, Michigan, and Minnesota. And that results in 5-7 or worse which won't get it done for the Zooker in Champaign. Still, I expect a suprise or two is possible this year. We do get Ohio State at Memorial and play the CATS in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field. And, like I said, Zook is on the hot seat; you just never know - it's CFB!!! As always, thanks for reading. I know you can get your daily entertainment elsewhere.

Chief Beat Stony ...

2010-03-19T19:30:00.000-07:00

You just don't travel to Long Island to face the SeaWolves of Stonybrook and expect to walk away whole. It's a tough gym to play in with 4500 rabid SeaWolves in teh back-drop. You bet, it's always tough to win basket ball games in March, period. Add the frenzy of tourney - time and being on the road in another time zone on short notice - BAM! That smells like upset. Like dust in your beer. It just isn't pleasant. But you'll stick suck it up and drink it down.

Illinois isn't your average snubbed NCAA tourney team. Nobody should close the door on the Chief and expect him to walk away quietly. He's likely to open - up a can of tomahawk on your pasty little ass. The CHIEF isn't bitter about missing out on March Madness. He's a #1 seed in the NIT looking to make it to the ELITE 8 with a win on Monday over Kent State at home.

This is a great opportunity for the diapered Illini. We bring everybody back in 2010/2011. The young ones (Paul / Richardson) are starting to walk. By next year I expect them to be in full gallup come BIG-10 regular season. McCamey, Davis, and Tisdale will all be seniors. Yes, the Chief is looking for big things in 2010/2011. And it all starts with NIT tourney experience we're getting right now.

Selection Sunday 2k10

2010-03-14T15:09:00.000-07:00

Well it's here. Finally, Selection Sunday. After a tough finish to the regular season, the CHIEF put together a few nice games at the Big TEN Tourney in beating a stout Wisconsin crew and giving one of the best teams in the country (Ohio State) all it could hand in a 2OT loss on Saturday. It took the best game of the year from the best player in the country (ET) to down Illinois in a back and forth affair where we had our chances to close the deal. So, we finish the 2k9/2k10 campaign at 19-14 with some great wins (Michigan State, Wisky 2x, Vandy, & Clemson) and some unexplainable losses (UTAH and Bradley the most obvious). Oh, and on the outside and looking in on the BIG DANCE. Ugh! Go to the NIT and win it. We're now building for 2k10/11.

Bad Day / Great Week - No Time to Stall

2010-02-14T11:42:00.000-08:00

Well, it wasn't a good showing today on National TV against Bucky who pretty-much three-bombed us to death all afternoon. Actually, they dominated us on both sides of the ball, especially with that shutdown zone defense. We hit a buzz-saw today in the form of Ohio State who proved they are amongst the best in the conference this year with Sparty and Purdue. The Buckeyes probably shot the ball as well as they have all season today. We had one of our worst shooting performances of the year. Not good.

It was just one of those days. You could say we just ran out of gas on this latest 5-game winning streak. All good things must come to an end. No shame in losing to a great team like Ohio State. Blah blah blah; one cliche after another. The final score was totally lopsided and indicative of the performnace. Ohio State shot almost 60% from beyond the arc to our 10%. That was your difference. No doubt, Ohio State signaled today they are the team to beat this year in conference.

Still, it was a great week with a stunning victory over Wisky in Madison last Tuesday night. We proved we can play with the best when we play our best. But, to fool nobody, we're still a year or two away from being an elite team again.

We'll need the time off this week to regroup after this blowout loss. We get Purdue in West Lafayette next Saturday. Obviously, we have some things work on down the stretch of conference play. While we've had some great games this year we've also had some puzzling outings - consistent with an inexperienced team.

Going forward, we have five games remaining in conference this season - including a rematch in Columbus and another at home with Wisconsin. So, we still have opportunities to differentiate the resume. Obviously, 17-9 (9-4) is still on the outside looking in on the Tourney. I don't subscribe to the theory that we've done enough to 'get in' the big dance just yet. We'll need at least two and maybe three wins to ensure our spot.

Chief Trumps Sparty in the House of 'Paign

2010-02-07T08:02:00.000-08:00

I disagree. Last night's 78-73 victory inside the Hall against Michigan State wasn't a must-win game of any sort. That phrase is highly over-used and over-valued in today's sport's lexicon. It's not like our entire season or our NCAA Tourney hopes hinged on that single outcome. Headed into the contest at 15-8, a loss to 15-9 wouldn't have put the final stake in our casket.

But, it was a nice one to get! 16-8 sounds so much better this morning. GAMEDAY was there to set the national scene. We still have seven more tough conference games before the BIG-10 Tourney in Indianapolis, which starts on 3/11. Special night. And with the conference race now a legitimate five-way affair, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Purdue, Michigan State, and Illinois all have their sites set on bigger things than just making the tournament. All are 7-3 in conference or better. It's go time. It's mid-February. Seasons are made or broken by what happens down the stretch in the last ten games of conference play. It's what most 'experts' and tournament officials look at when deciding those final at-large bids. Who's you play? Who'd you beat? And how many quality wins? So far, the Chief is 3-0 with a brutal schedule down the stretch that includes road games at Ohio State, Purdue, and Wisconsin. Ugh!

For the moment, let's celebrate Saturday night. Richardson and Paul stepped - up BIG TIME in that contest posting 14 and 8 points, respectively. But it was when they scored that meant as much if not more than how much. Richardson continues to develop nicely and has proven himself the better player so far this season. He plays more like a seasoned Junior than a freshmen. He's an all-around contributor who brings shutdown defense (at times) to the table with his ability to hit the 3-bomb from outside. I'd like to see him improve his shot-selection, especially near the basket and in transition, but he's a hooper, a go-to player, and somebody I want on the charity stripe when the game is on the line. Paul is still trying to understand where he fits in right now. No doubt about his physical ability and his 'hops'; this bunny has some serious legs. He needs to get better in all facets, esepcially on defense and from the free-throw line.

No doubt, this is McCamey's team right now. Actually, it has been all year. It will go as far as Demetri's heart and will to win. I could make the point there's no better player in conference right now than DM. He's definitely our MVP, leading the team in scoring and assists with a 5-1 ratio to turnovers. Wow! Nobody has a better cross-over in this league. He can break both of your ankles in blink of an eye.

As for the game, we held Sparty in check much of the night without Lucas. No doubt, the Spartans were playing with one hand behind their back all game. I'm not sure we would have won had he started. But, I'm not sure we would have lost either. Never under-estimate the power of the Orange Krush inside the House of 'Paign. Fewer student bodies mean more and do more for their team. A few nights ago against Iowa, almost 200 of them made the bus trip to Iowa City making Carver feel more like the Assembly Hall down the stretch. Nobody does it like the Orange Krush. They do it wtih class. Here's what else we learned about Illinois Hoops and the BIG-10.

I need to see more from Davis and Tisdale right now. Both need to step up physically in their floor presence, especially on defense. Neither is playing up to his full potential. Davis seems to be falling in love with his jump shot. Tisdale topples over with the slightest of winter winds. At 7-1, Tizzy needs to be a more dominant post player instead of a euro-style phenom. In general, defense needs improvement, especially in the transition game and down low. We defend the perimeter well, allowing < 30% from beyond the arc. Step up men. We can't celebrate this one for too long. Next one is in Madison, against Wisky, inside the Kohl Center. Ouch - tough place to beat a Bo Ryan - coached team.

Take 'em one at a time this time of year. This team is improving, for sure, after beign left for dead after the NW loss a few weeks back in Evanston. Looking back for a quick second, it's entirely possible we should be sitting on two or three more wins after blowing 2nd-half leads against Utah, Bradley, NW, Purdue, Mizzou, and Gonzaga. Ugh! There's always next year. But we can't play like that right now.

State of the Chief - Hoops Style...

2010-01-30T16:28:00.000-08:00

Well, we're deep into conference play across the nation and in the BIG-10. The calendar still says January, but it feels more like early February. Lots has happened with Illinois basketball since posted last in 2009. We won some games and lost a few others, mostly on buzzer beaters or close calls.

Today, we posted our 14th win to go along with 8 losses (5-3 in the BIG-10). Finally, a shot fell for us as time ran off the clock. Illinois 72 / Indiana 70. A thriller in Champaign. And when it mattered most, McCamey did it again with a little floater (19 points and 8 assists). Gut check! We needed it. We got it.

But it's about to get a lot more difficult with four of our next five against Ohio State, Sparty, Wisky, and Boiler Nation. With nine games left, and only four at home, it's going to be hard to get to 20 regular-season wins. But, if we can hunker down and dig deep, we could get to 18 or 19 heading into the conference tourney where we'll need to do some more work if we expect to get into the BIG DANCE. Resume is a work in progress with good wins over Vandy and Clemson (inside Little John). But, we've also had too many close losses to Bradely, Utah, Gonzaga, Northwestern, and Purdue.

All in all, it's been a tough year for my Illini Hoopers. The wins have been hard and the losses have been close. You expect this kind of up and down play with youngsters. Paul and Richardson have progressed nicely, but both are just freshmen. We really don't have much senior leadership on the floor this year. I do like Cole and Griffey in terms of their energy and decsion-making. This team should only get better over the next month, but will it be enough? We shall see ... I did like the pink JoJo's today (Coaches for Cancer).

Playing with Authority in ACC Country ...

2009-12-02T19:07:00.000-08:00

Quality Win. That's what I'm talking about. Have been waiting for this energy and authority all year from the young hoopin' Illini. Finally got it tonight at Clemson of all places in the ACC / BIG-10 Challenge. This win will go a long way for the program, recruiting, resume-building, and team confidence.

Down 23 on the road in Little John to an pretty senior CLEMSON squad, the Fightin' Webbers went on a 35-10 run to get back into the game after trailing by 20 at the break and 23 early in the 2nd half. It was actually Richardson and Paul who led the way until Davis and Tisdale heated up down low. And for the first time on the young season, I saw us play with intensity and authority. We played with some organized desperation, especially on defense holding them to just 27 points in the 2nd half to our 49. Wow! Ball game for the Illini. A seminole / signature win early in the month of December when few teams typically go on the road and win a big game. Oh, and it was our biggest comeback in school history.

For the night on the road we shot it at 52%, not bad - 43% from beyond the arc on 6-14. Richardson had 14 and Paul exploded for 20 more. Mike Davis was solid down low on 9-11 shooting in posting his 22 points. Tisdale compiled all 12 of his points in the 2nd half. All of this while McCamey was in foul trouble, adding just 2 points on 1 for 5 shooting.

We still have a lot of work to do on both sides of the ball. Coach Webber said before tonight's tip that he wanted 4 or 5 good practices back home to get this team to where he wants it to be in early December. However, the road schedule of late hasn't allowed for much quality time. That should change with the next three at home in the friendly confines of Assembly Hall.

As for the BIG-10 / ACC Challenge implications, this was the swing game that delivered the Challenge to the BIG-10 this year. If the conference really is the best in the land this year, it had to prove it by winning this challenge after losing the first eleven. It was good to see Purdue, Northwestern, and Penn State all step up against quality foes from arguably the best b-ball conference in the land for most of this decade. There's depth in the conference this year. Good bounce-back week for the BIG-10. And it's shaping up to be a special season with 8 or maybe 9 tourney teams from a true power conference.

So, to put this game in perspective, it had to be one of the biggest road comebacks in modern history. I'm proud of my team's never-say-die attitude on the road. We were underdogs to the #19 ranked Clemson Tigers in an arena where they rarely lose to non-conference foes (77 for their last 78 or some insane number like that). And after two heartbreak losses in Vegas last weekend to Utah and Bradley, this victory could NOT have come at a better time. We grew up tonight as a basketball team under the leadership of Bruce Webber, one of the best in the business for sure. Coming back on the road will prove to be a valuable experience when conference time rolls around in January. And while I don't recommend going down by 23 as a consistent winning strategy, after tonight, this Weber team knows it's never out of a basketball game. Energy, determination, defense, clutch shooting in half-court sets, and taking care of the basketball to close out a game = Priceless. All of these are traits of teams who make deep runs in March.

Misery is Over ... Prep for 2010

2009-11-14T14:04:00.000-08:00

Well, it's official - we're not bowl inelgibile for 2009/2010. Ugh! Actually, it's a relief to be hoonest. What will likely go down as one of the most disappointing seasons in Illinois foot ball history is just about over. We should use the next two weeks against quality opponents as intense schrimaages to develop the squad in all aspects of the game. Forget about winning. That doesn't matter anymore. Instead, let's get Charest some quality snaps and time in down and distance situations. Sure, he'll continue to make mistakes but hopefully he learn as he develops into our QB of the future.

Give credit to the WILDCATS for winning the inaugural Land of Linoln Trophy on the heels of the last Tomahawk Trophy. Right now, NW is a more complete football team - especially in the mental game. They're just tougher than we are, and smarter. Kafka had another great game post 305 yards on 23 of 37 passing and no mistakes. Our defense played well today for the third week in a row, especially in the first half until giving up a late TD right before intermission. That turned out to be a huge game-changing play. We trailed all game after that.

As for the Zooker, I mean what can I say? He's only a man. He can't rebuild Rome in 7 days. No doubt, he's not the greatest collection of football acumen in today's modern game. I mean, what the hell was that? Why were we throwing the ball right before halftime? Pick, short field, TD NW heading into the break. Ugh! Still, palyers have to play and coaches have to coach. And the Zooker can recruit wtih the best of them. Getting all of that talen to play together as a team has been another story. Assuming he comes back for a 6th season, what should the expectations be? How many years can we keep blaming the 'young team'? Sooner or later somebody within the University needs to start asking the tough questions. Nevermind, we haven't been competitive in over 60 years. Why start now.

Changing gears, it's now basketball season where hopes are much higher for the Illini hoopsters. Sure, we took care of business last night against SIEU, 96-69. Our freshmen class is top-10 quality in the nation with Brandon Paul and DJ Richardson leading the way THIS YEAR. Yes, excitement and expectations are high for ILLINOIS BASKETBALL in 2009/2010. It didn't take long for Paul to get into the record books with his 22 freshmen points, breaking Deon Thomas' 21-point effort back in 1990. Wow! As freshmen, Richardson and Paul are starters for the first time since 2002 when Williams, Brown, and Augustine took the floor as freshmen starters for Bruce Weber. We have three more tune-up games at home against cupcakes until we face UTAH in VEGAS on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

It's only November, but the Chief is into some early-season predictions for Illinois Basetball, 2009-2010:

1) 20 wins and an NCAA tourney appearance are a lock.
2) We will win our first two tourney games en route to the SWEET 16.

My top 10 heading into the beginning of rivalry season:

1) Florida - nobody's beaten them yet.
2) Texas - Horns are playing their best ball of the year right now.
3) Bama - good win against MSU. Essentially a tie with #1 and #2 for now.
4) TCU - did you see what happened in Ft. Worth tonight against Utah? Close at top.
5) Georgia Tech - they look better and better to me each week with each win.
6) Cincinnati - slipping a bit this week after a battle at home with WV.
7) Boise State - poor Broncos, just nobody on their schedule to showcase their skills.
8) LSU - Tigers only two losses are against Bama and Florida. Not bad.
9) Oregon - Tough loss last week. Good recovery this week. Off to Tucson.
10) Ohio State - I mean you have to stick the BIG-10 champs in here somewhere.

Oops, We Did it Again! We Played with Your Hearts ...

2009-11-08T08:03:00.000-08:00

To steal a line from that great musical thespian of our Age, Brittany Spears - Oops, he did it again. He played with your hearts. The Chief won another ball game this week in Minneapolis over those dreaded Golden Gophers from the northland. And I was wrong, it happened before universal health-care passed the senate. Wow, just goes to show you that when it comes to college football, you just never know what will happen in the greatest show on earth.

Seriously though, how about those ever-improving Illini Gridders? That's now two in a row form over the M-schools (Michigan and Minnesota, bowl likely going to bowl games this year). And the way we played yesterday on TCF Bank Field was very encouraging to me. It's like we're actually getting better with the passing weeks of what has to be some of the best practice sessions in the country right now. You can see the team grow in confidence and skill with the passing of each minute.

As for yesterday's performace, digest these numbers:

1) Charest and Juice combined on 15-25 for 238 and 2 TD's, no INTS. Wow!
2) We were 9 for 17 on third downs, and 1 for 1 on fourth downs (3/4 in red zone).
3) Where has this defense been all year? Chief registered seven (7) sacks on Sat.
4) We dominated the line of schrimmage, with 8 more tackles for loss.
5) Hawthorne remains a game-changer with his pick-6 yesterday. Nurse had 4 sacks.
6) We held Weber to just 221 yards on 14-31 passing, down from his 416 last week.
7) The win makes two in a row over Minnestoa in Minnesota (44-17 in 2007).

More importantly than the final numbers, the win is another watermark that this team, still not very good, is improving each and every week. We'll need to if we want to become bowl-eligible this year with games against Northwestern (home), Cincy (road), and Fresno State (home) to close out the 2009 campaign.

And what another crazy Saturday of CFB it was yesterday. In the BIG-10, Iowa and Penn State were both upset at home, nonetheless. Wow! Nationally, USC had to hang on against lowly ASU. Oregon lost a barn-burner in Palo Alto. Oklahoma lost a defense struggle in Lincoln. And the Beavs took down CAL in Strawberry Canyon. Wacky stuff for sure.

For the Heisman race, it's really heating up between Gerheart (Stanford), Spiller (Clemson), Keenum (Houston), McCoy (Texas), and Ingram (Bama) - that's it. I don't want to hear any more talk about Tebow, for now. He's clearly off the list and on the radar with his lackluster performance this season (so far). You can't throw 2 pick-6's and against Mississippi State and expect to be taken seriously. His numbers are down and the team is winning ugly. I view this individual award as an MVP of sorts, going to the most outstanding player in the nation and not necessarily to the perceived pop-culture star of an undefeated and overrated media darling.

Now, for my TOP-10:

1) Gators - until they're beaten. Winning ugly never looked so unimpressive.
2) Horns - the true inside track to Pasadena is theirs to lose over the next month.
3) Tide - good win yesterday against a gutty LSU club. Bama keeps rollin'.
4) Cincy - only because they keep winning even without Pike. Kelly can coach.
5) TCU - right on the Bearcats' heals. May be most-balanced/dangerous team in country?
6) Georgia Tech - the Ramblin' Wreck is fun to watch these days. And playing well.
7) Boise State - not their fault, but the Broncos just aren't getting tested anymore.
8) Pittsburgh - I know, hard to believe. Panthers sneak into the TOP-10.
9) Houston - last second win ears the Cougars a slot this week.
10) Arizona / Oregon / Miami / Ohio State - take your pick here. I can't separate them.

Week 9 - Back in the Winner's Column, Finally!

2009-10-31T21:19:00.000-07:00

You know, I woke up this morning feeling a bit odd. Sure, it's Halloween and that would have been an easy explanation. Perhaps it was because the Stink Bugs had their last soccer game of the season. Or perhaps I had a feeling. The smell of upset was in the air. Today felt like the day we would get our first 'real' win of the year at the hands of an opponent we hadn't beaten in Champaign since 1983, 26 years ago not counting the 3-3 tie result in 1985. As they say, all bad things must come to an end - including this nightmare of a season. Although, I was beginning to have my doubts. No more! For the first time since '57/'58, we have back to back wins over BIG BLUE and the EVIL EMPIRE. That's how big today's win was for this year's team!

And while a bowl game still seems like a pipe dream, especially with the toughtest schedule in the BIG-10 and 10th most difficult nationally, today's victory in Champaign over Mighty BIG BLUE was a good first step in reconstructing the program. I still stand by the motto that nobody does less with more than Illinois football. By any account, this season has been a total disaster, so far. But, with four games left we have the opportunity to improve in all facets of the game as we essentially begin preparations for the 2010 campaign. Next week we're off to Minnesota with a difficult trip to Cincinnati on the schedule in late November, sandwiched in between Northwestern and Fresno State at home. Oye!

But for tonight, we're back in the winners column with a decent win against an upstart Michigan program (FCS competition). Hence, the blog is back up and running. We dominated teh TOP at just over 35 minutes to their 25. Same thing with turnovers, going +3 on the day. Additionally, we got after it on both sides of the line totalling four sacks on the day compared to just 7 for the season. Impressively, we had almost 400 yards on the ground today (377 to be exact) on just 56 attempts. You do the math (6.7 ypc). The passing attack was effective, although limited going just 8 for 11 and 1TD to amass 123 yards through the air. Still, the combined 500 yards of total offense to their 377 total yards translated into the comfy 38-13 victory at home.

LeShoure was a horse toting the rock 21 times for 160 yards, but Hawthorne's TD-saving tackle inside the 1 yard-line was the single play that changed the outcome of the game, and perhaps the season. Actually, we had three rushers break 100 yards on the afternoon with Juice and Jason Ford each posting robust rushing stats. But after Hawthorne's never-die tackle the subesquent goal-line stand, we couldn't be stopped. Before that defensive effort, Michigan had our offense in check and seemed to be in route to another road win in Champaign. As they say, not so fast my friend. We'll see where that play and this win takes us down the stretch with four to go. Could be a season - changer, or not.

So I ask, where has this been all year? Honestly, I think the new offense this year has been a significant distraction, to say the least. Anytime you get rid of the old for the new you run the high risk of taking a few steps back. No doubt, we have more raw football talent on offense than 90% of all FBS school's in America! Don't take this the wrong way; today's win doesn't mean all is right with Illinois football. Far from it. At this point in the season, I would have expected to be 6-2 instead of 2-6 had you asked me back in August. We still made a ton of mistakes today on both sides of the ball (gave up 4 sacks, missed a bunch of easy tackles, dropped too many balls, had a bunch of 3 and outs, etc....). We'll need to clean all of this up by next week if we have any chance on the road against Minnesota. As they say, one game at a time. 2-6 is a lot better than 1-7. I know we have the raw skills got accomplish the task in front of us. That's college football - a different game every week. And it's one reason why I love it. There are few sports anymore where players and teams compete with more un-adulterated effort. And absolutely, one play can change a game and a season. Question is, have we learned to put that all together week in and out to mold a team that's capable of winning each and every time it takes the field?

And finally, a little West-Coast love tonight to the Ducks of Oregon for taking down the Mighty Trojans in Eugene, quite impressively. It looks to me that the USC domination of the PAC-10 is over, ast least for 2009. Oregon controls their own PAC-10 destiny, and maybe more with the BCS. And thank you Wake Forest for first blowing a 17-0 and then a 27-14 lead at home against Miami. Ugh! But the muffed punt on your own 2 yard-line was the coup de gras! Oye!

My Top-10:

Florida - I've been saying it all year that until somebody beats the Gators.

Texas - Nobody is playing better football right now, except for maybe Oregon.

Alabama - winning ugly isn't pretty but gets the job done with the computers.

Oregon - big move up this week after beating one of the best this decade.

Cincy - this team is well-balanced all around. Not sure they lose another game this year.

TCU - who has a more impressive resume this year? Horned Frogs are legit busters!

Georgia Tech - Ramblin' Wreck just gets it done week in and out. Can they be stopped?

Boise State - Sorry Broncos, you are 2nd-fiddle to #6 right now. Keep winning a soft schedule.

LSU - Bayou Bengals rolled today against Tulane on SEC speed on defense.

Iowa -A good team that is living on borrowed time. Destiny?

My Final Illini Football Blog?

2009-10-04T20:53:00.000-07:00

I said last week would be it for the Chief after what had to be one of our worst defeats in football history at the hands of Ohio State on that cold and rainy fall afternoon in Columbus (30-0). No, I haven't forgotten. I just can't go out on a negative note.

To start out, the problem with Illinois football in its current state is a committment to winning; and I don't necessarily mean just by the coaching staff and players. Defend your house. Become bowl eligible. Win your conference, and compete for a national championship. At this level, competitive football is about executing the little things well on a consistent basis. Sure, that means running, tackling, catching, and getting into postion.

It also means a true committment to building a winning program by the President, Chancellor, Board of Directors, AD, and the general administration. While there are few Universities in this great nation equal to the academic excellence of the University of Illinois, I question the institution's committment to excelling in amateur athletics. When was the last time Illinois really lived up to its true potential much less closed the deal by securing a major national title? To cut to the chase, I find it utterly amazing as an alumnus that with all of the resources at our disposal (monetary, recruting hot-beds, and mind-power), we can't furnish a more competitive product year over year.

There's no reason why we're not ranked in the TOP-25 each and every year in both basketball and football, for example. But that shouldn't be our ideal state. No, major college athetics are about winning championships. To do that even every now and then, you have to construct programs by establishing milestones and meeting them regularly. When we fall short, an after-action review is in order to determine possible reasons why - not to punish, but to continuously improve by making the little changes over time that add up to victory, on and off the field. Instead, I see satisfaction with the status quo. A perilous position to take in today's highly competitive landscape where you're either moving forward or falling back.

As for the rest of this year, I know we still went to Pasadena in 2008 after losing two league games and one non-conference game in 2007, but losing like this in 2009 really pains me. Afterall, there was a time not too long ago (58 years ago plus or minus), when Illinois football meant something in the BIG-10 and on the national scene. Much in the same way dinosaurs once roamed the earth, the BIG-10 and the Illinois beat-up on the opposition regularly, especially from the PAC-10 (current self-proclaimed conference of champions). To go along with five national football titles (yes, I'm counting all of them pre-dating WWII), we have sixteen conference championships or co-championships (latest being 2007).

Sure, our bowl record isn't great (6-9 overall in fifteen appearances), but we own a winning record in the Grand-Daddy (3-2) with unforgettable Rose-Bowl victories over UCLA in 1946 (45-14), Stanford in 1951 (40-7), and Washington in 1963 (17-7). That 1951 squad was something special. Yes, there was a time when men were men, we drank our coffee black, only dated women, and Illinois football meant something. Oh, how I urn for a return to those glory days. Caution, video content at this link has been known to evoke a salty tear or two, with just a tint of orange & blue. Until next time, travel safely my friends (and foes), take care, and Oskee Wa Wa Illinois!

Oye - Crushed in Columbus

2009-09-26T15:16:00.000-07:00

We are not a good football team. We aren't tough and we aren't disciplined. More of the same from the struggling Zookers today as we got blasted by an un-tested Buckeye bunch. Ugh! Very frustrating. New year, but same ole tune. This Illini team in its 5th year under Zook is lost ship in a stormy sea with no compass and a hole in the hull.

You name it and we did it wrong today against Ohio State, making it way too easy for them to win the game. They didn't even break a sweat. That's what's most disturbing to me. I'm sure the Buckeyes faced more competition just crossing the street from their hotel to the stadium. Might as well just save the travel costs next time if can't play any better than this. Penalties, turnovers, miscues, hesitation, sloppy tackling, bad decision making, and poor coaching pretty much loses every time. As for the game, our defense made Pryor look like Joe Montana out there today. He could do no wrong. We simply were not competitive. I just don't see any discipline from this year's Illini edition. We can't get out of our own way to save our football lives. You expect 'progress' year over year when program-building. And quite the opposite has happened since we stumbled our way into the Rose Bowl a few years back. Ugh!

As for the rest of the season, go figure. At least we don't face the Sherwood Bowmen (Sherwood, OR HSFB). It's a different game every week so we'll probably crush Penn State at home next weekend. Not, we stink. In today's uncertain times, you can take that to the bank. I see no path to a bowl game this year. Honestly, I'm not sure we win another game. Yes, you heard it here first (1-11). And that will be the end of the Zook era in Champaign.

Around the nation, a week of upsets for sure. It started Thursday night when the other USC upset #4 Ole Miss in Columbia, SC. And it continued on Saturday with four top-10 teams losing this weekend. You just never know. It's a different game every week. Win and move on. It's about surviving your schedule, including the upset - minded challengers. Just ask Notre Dame, at 3-1. This team could easily be 1-3 or 4-0. I do know one thing, they're glad the BIG-10 part of their schedule is behind them after surviving the last three weeks going 2-1. Looking back, it's not always how you win but did you win? Repeat, there's nothing bad about any WIN in CFB these days. There' s just too much talent and too many good programs around the nation. Gone are the days when the BIG-TIME conferences dominated every game. So Kudos to Notre Dame this evening. For now, they're getting it done during crunch time.

On a side note, this will likely be my last entry for a while. Chief won't be commenting on his Illini until they win a ball game, against a worthy opponent (someone in DIV1-A with a winning record). So, my September - ending TOP 10:

Florida, as Tebow was hospitalized after an 'easy' win.
Texas, rolled UTEP and could have posted 100 if they wanted to.
Bama, speaking of rolling - so are the TIDE.
Boise State - they just keep in winning impressively the games they should.
VT - is this team for real? They won the slosh-fest yesterday in Blacksburg over MyAma.
Cincinnati - Tony Pike continues to impress with another 300+ yard day. Heisman?
Houston - that makes two BIG12 wins this year on the road to the BCS.
TCU - and speaking of BCS, another buster in the Horned Frogs after downing Clemson.
LSU - who hung on at the goal line against MSU on 4th and one.
Georgia - creeping back into the TOP10 because others are falling back.

Week #3 - Oh My Goodness!

2009-09-19T19:48:00.001-07:00

And let me be the first to say on this Separation / Revenge Saturday, that SPITE never wins in the long run. It's an inside point.

What a weekend of close games and memorable performances. A day where two top-10's went down to unranked opponents. This was an EPIC weekend of see-saw games, comebacks, and down to the wire finishes. If you missed the span of football around 4pm Pacific time today, you missed some of the best finishes of the year. As good as it gets. OK, perhaps this is better - laughter yoga everyone!

Briefly on USC, no big surprise there. They've been losing one unexplainable conference game for years now. Or maybe, just maybe, they're not that good. Maybe, Washington is back or darn close? And to think they just ended a 15-game losing streak last weekend! You don't just show-up and win at Husky Stadium anymore. Statement game in Seattle. And a power shift in the conference for the first time in what seems like a decade; the road to the PAC-10 Title goes through Berkley and Strawberry Canyon. Will USC get to the BCS this year? Hmmm...... 7 years of dominating the PAC-10 may be over; proving once again how important QB play really is.

And speaking of impressive performances, how about Miami and what they did Thursday night against Georgia Tech? Wow, it looks like the CANES are back and poised to make life difficult in the ACC and the national picture. Jacory Harris might just be the best QB in the nation. How long will they keep Whipple as offensive coordinator? CANES are scary good right now half-way through a gauntlet of a schedule. Good weekend for the ACC with key wins over BYU and Nebraska. You just never know anymore. It's a different game every week. Survive, and move on. Or shut up!

Another obsersvation this Saturday has to do with the SPEED of the PAC-10, or lack thereof today. The conference only went 1 for 3 today against the 'slow' schools from BACK EAST (BIG-10 / BIG EAST). Iowa beat a young Arizona squad with speed and execution in all facets of the game, but especially on defense. The CATS just couldn't move the ball today against the Hawkeyes. And Cincy downed Oregon State with the same combination and a splash of some serious athletes. Tony Pike might have entered the Heisman race tonight with that performance in Corvallis. But the Bearcats just looked faster and more physical tonight against OSU who gave it a good run, but came up a bit short.

As for Illinois, we didn't lose tonight; we didn't play either. But the performance and injury news of late hasn't been good. This week we lost one of the best linebackers in the country to a season-ending neck injury. As if we needed that. The defense was already suspect before this. Ugh! Looking at the schedule, I'm not sure we get another win this year. We can't stop anybody and offense is hit or miss at best. Just getting bowl eligible would be a monumental accomplishment at this point.

Stock Up - new section of the blog which will feature programs on the rise.

Georgia, after a bad showing in Stillwater the Dawgs are 2-1 with life on offense.
Washington, easy one sure. But Sark has the put the woof back in the Huskies.
Miami, prolific offense and tenacious defense. Sounds like a good combo to me.
Oregon, well looky there. Ducks are 2-1 after a good win at home over UTAH today.
CAL, I mean Javed Best. 5TD's will get you some notice.
Ohio State, good bounce-back win against a good Toldedo squad. Up next, Illinois.
Michigan, it looks like BIG BLUE is back too. Ugh!
Washington State, they beat the mighty mustangs from SMU tonight in OT. Yes!

Stock Down - just the opposite of above. You don't want your team featured here.

USC, end of an era? Perhaps, but the PAC-10 doesn't seem so 1 dimensional this year.
BYU, what was that? FSU put the smack down in Provo 54-28, ouch. Shocking!
UTAH and MWC. 16-game winning streak is over for the Utes (thanks to Oregon).

My TOP 10:

Florida - now with the nation's longest winning streak at 13.
Texas - but I think the gap to #1 is closing. Horns are looking better and better.
Bama - Tide keeps rollin'.
Penn State - Temple? Just how good is this team? Ugh!
Ole Miss - Again, can't wait for some conference games here.
CAL - I meand Javed Best! 5TDs in a Heisman-worthy showing.
LSU - But they did beat Husky in Seattle which is more than USC could do.
Boise State - Impressive win on the road in Fresno Friday night. BCS?
Cincinnati - Perhaps the best win of the weekend. BIG EAST speed and execution.
Miami - The CANES look back to me, with the swagger.

Week 2 - Same Ole Game ... Not!

2009-09-12T22:07:00.000-07:00

Week 2 brought some interesting storylines. Biggest upset of the day was Houston over Oklahoma State (#5) in Stillwater. You don't see that everyday. But the Pokes have had a hard time preserving their position when ranked in the top 5. And the Cougars from Houston showed that the upset can happen, even on the road, on any given Saturday. Wow!

The two marquee match-ups lived up their billings as Michigan pulled out the win with just seconds on the clock over Notre Dame, and USC squeaked passed Ohio State in what likely might be a preview of the 2010 Rose Bowl. Looking back in December, Michigan and Notre Dame will probably be one of the best games of the year (38-34, Wolverines). Hail to the Victors valient. Today, a star was born in Ann Arbon in the name of Tate Forcier. And give credit to Claussen who had a great game. BIG BLUE was just a little better. But make no mistake about it, Michigan is back, maybe not all the way back to national contender status, but they are back in terms of being competitive at least in the BIG-10. Rodriguez is a genius for getting players who can execute his brand of football. And it always seems to happen in year 2 of his program-building. Suddenly, my Halloween just got a lot more interesting.

And in Columbus, the outcome was the same as USC downed Ohio State, but it was a day of biblical proportions as the children led the way (Barkley over Pryor). Barkley was only 15-31 for ~ 200 yards with a pick, but the game-winning drive he engineered in the 4th quarter was epic. As if the Trojans needed any more confidence. USC now extends its winning streak over the BIG0-10 to 10 wins. Joe McKnight is a true stud in a stable of thoroughbreds. But give credit to Ohio State for making a game of it tonight in the BIG HORSESHOE. I have a feeling this won't be the last time we talk about Ohio State and USC this year.

As for Illinois, we rolled today over Illinois State 45-17, as expected. Eddie McGee looked good tonight in relief of Juice. The team dominated in many facets, but we're still a work in progress. We had almost 400 yards rushing averaging 8.3 ypc. Defensively, we still have issues. You just can't give up 400 yards to Illinois State and expect to win too many games in conference later in the year. Up next, we get a dejected Buckeye squad who will be playing its 3rd straight game at home next Saturday when they host the Chief. That could be interesting, especially if we're healthy. Message to Zook, tighten it up! We're still playing too loose with the rock. We need to be more consistent in matriculating the football and ending drives with 6 instead of 3.

And how about the PAC-10? Two huge road wins today at Rocky Top (Tennessee) and inside the HORSESHOE. Wow, very impressive. Even Washington won today (sorry John, the Cougars got whacked by Hawaii at home). Stanford gave WAKE all they bargained for in a close loss.

Now for my top-10:

Florida - until somebody beats 'em.

Texas- slow start today in Laramie, but then they rolled.

USC - a little win today on the road won't hurt their rank.

Alabama - Tide are rollin'.

Penn State - It's September, so they won't play anybody until we host them.

Ole Miss - SEC school that can move the ball and play defense. Dangerous.

BYU - continues to impress this year. Title worthy?

Boise State - looks like they're BCS bound.

LSU - we won't know about this team until 10/10 when Florida shows up.

CAL - Another big win tonight. Should be undefeated when they host USC.

Bonus Feature. I've been asked so many times of the years, what does it all mean? Trust me, we're all looking for answers. So here are a few of mine on the world of CFB and the race the championship. I'll be updating this section of the blog weekly after each Saturday of games. So check back often for my latest insight into the world of CFB.

Winning still matters. The great thing about CFB is that every week is a playoff, a popularity contest, a scientified poll, and a bunch of hype rolled into one awesome package. Whether it's the raw competition, pure drama of developing players achieving and failing, or the passion of the fans in every region of the country; it's still the best thing going.
Let's judge the quality of football and not the quality of the conference. Teams win and lose games, not conferences. I know it's only September with a lot of ball to play, but consider the potential options we could be faced with come early December: un-defeated teams in Florida, Texas, BYU, and Penn State. Wow, and only two get to the for the title? We need a play-off system. I propose an 8-team version that would elevate the game to new heights. And we'll only have at most 1 unbeaten come bowl season. Take it to the bank.
And speaking of the BCS, it looks like a Florida / Texas affair right now. Here are the rest of the projections (which will change a bit or so over the coming months).

Very Disappointing Opener 2k9 ...

2009-09-05T19:24:00.001-07:00

Forget the fact that we were the only BIG-10 team to lose on Saturday (conference went 10-1). I know, we were the only team in conference to play anybody (Mizzou isn't shabby). But still yet, not the way I was hoping we would start the 2009 campaign; much like we ended 2008. It was our worst home opening loss since 1993. Ugh! Not much went right for the Chief in St. Louis today against those dreaded Tigers from Mizzou. In retrospect, it's probably a good thing we end this series next year. We haven't beaten Missouri in St. Louis since 1896 when the republicans last won a great election over the democrats (McKinley over Jennings Bryan). Ugh!

We continue to get in our own way. So much for all the hype around having a great fall camp. We have to figure it out and figure it out fast. The only thing that went right for Illinois today was that the buses started up and left town on time. We lost Benn to an ankle injury. Juice didn't even look that sharp and had some questionable decisions with the rock. Our defense had more holes in it than the finest aged Swiss. In truth, I see more of the same from the Zookers who continue to underachieve in Ronnie's 5th season. Honestly, I don't see how we beat the Redbirds next weekend much less get to 8 wins.

On the bright side was the offensive line and the play of LeShoure. He knows how to handle the rock. The receivers made some good plays, and Juice made some good throws. And Benn just has a low ankle sprain (not broken). But that's about it for the Fighting Zookers. Not much fight today. We have a lot to work on between now and next week. I hope there's enough time. I can't remember a team with so much potential not living up to any of it.

Let's hoop the Zooker succeeds in his red-button reset because that's needed after a loss like that. I don't think you rack your brain with a bunch of bad game film on this one; just get the memory out of your head as fast as you can and move on. Show me the potential coach. Show me that this team is still a good football team like you thought 4 weeks ago. Show me that the Mizzouri game was an aberration. Convince me that by the end of the year I'll be scratching my head asking how did we lose by 28 points to Mizzou?

It's been said that teams improve the most between weeks 1 and 2. God, I hope that's true. We need to send a message against Illinois State this weekend by dominating in all three phases of the game. Leave no doubt. Run it up. Because in WEEK 3 we travel to Columbus where we'll need more improvement between weeks 3 and 2 than 1 and 2 if we have any business showing up at all. Ugh!

Now to my top ten. I've said it before that pre-season polls make as much sense as a public option. And how about those Cougars from BYU? Probably the most impressive win of the day on a neutral field. So, without further delay, ponder these:

Florida - until they are beaten.

Texas - looking to close the gap with #1.

USC - a good start against San Jose. Ohio State next.

Alabama - may be the best win of the weekend over VT.

Penn State - the zips? Come on, step up!

Ole Miss - assuming they win on Sunday.

LSU - a 2000 mile victory does the trick.

Ohio State - a win is a win. Navy is a legit DIV 1A test.

CAL - Maryland isn't a good barometer.

Boise State - thank you LeGarette Blount. 10b. BYU.

And Kudos to BYU and the entire Mt. West Conference this weekend. League went 6-2 overall including the wins over Oklahoma and Colorado. But give most of the credit to BYU this week who took a major step forward in claiming its reservation not only in the BCS, but quite possibly in the title game. And wouldn't that be intriguing? What to do wtih an undefeated Cougar Club assuming they get by FSU, TCU, and Utah? I know there's a lot of football to be played this year, but ponder this even if just for a moment: BYU at 12-0. It's shaping up to be a special season in Provolone this year. That's a nice problem to have for the good of the game.

Finally, you know we lost last weekend when I talk about dead things. But today, we raised Red Grange from the dead and positioned him nicely in front of Memorial Stadium. Some things in life are really that good. Red was one of those players, a legend, and a true hero on and off the field. For his career, he totalled some pretty staggering numbers: over 4000 carries, 34000 yards, 8.4 ypc, and 2400 points in only 245 games in high-school, college, and the pros.

2009 NCAA Predictions...

2009-08-29T09:11:00.000-07:00

I know, too many experts make too many bad predictions this time of year. Heck, everyone and his brother's mother seems to be the business of shooting form the hip. Not the Chief, a true student of the game. His prediction models are at least as good as your best guess.

So without further delay, here are some pre-season projections and predictions for the upcoming year:

USC will win at least 7 games. However, I'm not sure they will have less than 5 losses. With games @ CAL, @ Oregon, @ Arizona State, @ Notre Dame, and @ Ohio State, it's going to be a tough road to travel - and did I mention they start a true freshmen at QB for the first time ever. It will be interesting to see how this team responds to adversity and loss when they start to face it this yeear. Can they keep it together under the Hollywood lights? I've said it before and will say it again, this is the year to get Pete's squad in the PAC-10. Two predictions: they lose in September to Ohio State and in October to Notre Dame. BIG 10 and MIDWEST starts to get some credibility restored; and it all starts this year. However, the Trojans could still win the PAC-10.

Notre Dame should get to 9 wins this year, especially with the 'soft' schedule. I know they still have USC on the schedule, but they should be favored in most games to win. However, they better beat Michigan in Ann Arbor or watch-out Charlie - it will get ugly. They probably make the BCS, but I don't agree with Lou Holtz that they'll be upset by Florida in Pasadena for the National Title.

BIG-10 comes down to Penn State and Ohio State this year. And since Lions host the Buckeyes in early November (at night), the Chief likes Paterno over Tressel this time.

TEXAS should win the BIG-12. Oklahoma will be a close 2nd (too much uncertainty on the offensive line this year). Florida wins the SEC, again - no surprise here. Rutgers may just find a way to win the BIG EAST this season. And it should come down to Georgia Tech and Va Tech in the ACC. That's a coin toss in my mind - conference is always hard to predict.

National title will likely go to Florida for only the 3rd time in the last 31 years, as back-to- back Nationial Champs. They will likely play the BIG-12 South Champion, either Texas or Oklahoma.

As for the Chief, it all depends on the QB play this year. Can Juice and/or Eddie lead us to another 8, 9, or 10-win campaign? It's going to be tough with schedule we have this year. But, I'm not sure too many teams can hang with our offense when it fires on all cylinders. Defense should be OK, especially as the season progresses. As long as we start out at least 2-2 (with the first 4 being Mizzou, ISU, Ohio State, and Penn State) things will be OK. Obviously, getting out to that crutial win over Mizzou is key. Same for the home game with Penn State. We need consistent play from September through November to avoid another 5-7 or 4-8 type disappointment. I think we get it done in 2009 and post 8-4 by when it's all said and done.

There you go. You heard it all here first. Or 2nd. Anyway, it's all in good fun. Check back early and often to see how these come to fruition over the next 13 weeks or so. No matter how it turns out, I'm sure we all agree it will be more fun than we deserve. Take care ....

How They'll Finish - Find your team!

2009-08-19T19:03:00.000-07:00

Gotta love those pre-season polls and projections. They mean about as much as a wet diaper in a rainstorm to a soccer mom who's running late to practice. Do soccer kids wear diapers? Anywaway, CNN/SI took it's best shot at the link above. See how your team is projected to fare in 2009 with these conference reports. They have the Chief going 8-4, with 5-3 in conference which might just be good enough for a bowl game in early 2010.

BIG-12, BIG-10, ACC, PAC-10, Mountain West, and with more to come over the next few days. The predicted order of finish hasn't changed much in the PAC-10 of late. And if you care about these things, here are the season's first power rankings, courtesy of FOXSPORTs. Chief comes in at #19. Mizzou @ #20, interesting. Domers are at #17 with Oregon at #15.

Chief on the Chief - Ilini Gridder Preview 2k9

2009-08-13T08:42:00.000-07:00

There are high expectations in Champaign - Urbana this year for Illinois football, no doubt. This is Zook's team and talent pool. Everyone remembers what he assembled in Gainesville enabling Meyer to win his first national title. And while a championship may not be in the cards this year, hopes are high that we'll return to the form of 2007/8 when we went 9-3 with Rose Bowl appearance.

First off, nobody should stop the offense this year. Led by 4th-year man, Juice Williams, the offense should amass 450 yards and 33 points / game, easily. I look for Benn, Fayson, Uh Oh!, Cumberland, and other youngins to step it up in the passing game. AB is a leading candidate on many pre-season watch lists. This part of our game is due for a quantum leap in performance over last year's disappointing output. The running game will likely be just as strong with LeShoure, DuFrene, and Ford leading the way. And Juice isn't shabby and matriculating the rock up and down the field either. I look for the rushing Zookers to average ~ 200 yards / game on the ground and ~ 250 yards / game through the air. By air, land, and sea (not sure how yet), the Chief will move the sticks and burn-up scoreboards all over the BIG-10 in 2009.

Defense is my only real concern (besides special teams). We lost a lot last year wtih Miller and Davis moving on and out. But those voids should be filled by hungry under-classmen looking to claim their slice of the glory pie. Brent, Pilcher, Liuget, and Wilson should lead the way as defensive stoppers. All are big-time hitters and playerss. As a squad, we need to improve from 10th in the league last year if we're going to improve on the 5-7 record. The offense will consistently post 30-40 points / game, but the defense can't give up 40-50.

CNN / SI (link above) has us going to the Outback Bowl on Jan.1 to face Georgia. That would be a good year with an 8-4 or 9-3 record mostly likely. Most pre-season polls have the Chief ranked in the high 20's or low 30's heading into the Battle under the Arch with Mizzou. Whatever, pre-season polls are about as useful as more rain in February. Personally, I think we're a bit underrated going into the season, but it only matters where you finish. It is, however, the Zooker's fifth season in CU. And the numbers don't lie, 18-30 in his first four years. That's not quite getting the job done. And coach knows it. He'll be the first to tell you it's not where he wants this team to be.

With a tough non-conference schedule and games against Mizzou, Fresno State, and Cincy it's going to be a tough road. Good news is that we get Penn State, Wisconsin, and Michigan (Halloween night) at home this year. We do have to travel to Columbus, Bloomington, St. Paul, and West LaFayette. So a quick start will be key to success this year. Getting out 2-1 is essential, and that likely includes winning the opener against the Tigers. If that happens, then 9-3 or even 10-2 is possible. Anything less than 8-4 will be a disappointment in my mind.

Hang 'Em High - Good Try Illini Hoopers ...

2009-03-19T21:45:00.001-07:00

Finally, the season is over and the re-building can continue right up until we tip-off again next November. The best thing about a young team of sophomores and freshmen, is that they become an older team of juniors and sophomores. We actually got worse as a team as the season went on, especially in the month of March, culiminating with the loss of CF.

We looked dazed and confused in all aspects of our game tonight with the Hilltoppers of WKU. A good anaology would be like a powerful fuel-injected V-8 down at least four cylinders, misfiring through the entire power and torque bands. It was as if a few plug wires were disconnected - or missing altogether. Seriously, no team in the country has had to deal with what we've gone through over the past week, losing our best player and floor coach just days before the BIG-10 Tourney (Chester Frazier). Few players in the land meant as much to their teams as Frazier did for Illinois. And when you're best player is a guard, plays shut-down defense, hits clutch shots, is the pivot-point of your offense, and otherwise acts as an on-floor coach; it can't be good. Yep, when Chester went down and out last week our chances for any kind of post-season run went right along with him. You could see it in the eyes of the players. That was obvious tonight. No mojo. No fire. No life. Easy 12-5 upset to call this year. Give credit to WKU; they're a good little team, but Gonzaga should pull away from them mid-way in the 2nd half on Saturday.

Already looking ahead to 2009/10. We bring back as much raw talent and skill as anybody. Question will be can we put it all together and find that chemistry of 2004/5? I expect Tisdale and Davis to be studs in the post. McCamey, Jordan, and Legion will need to step up their scoring from the outside. But most importantly, we need to find that on-floor leader who sets the table and gets us good looks in the half court. I'm not sure that's McCamey. Far too often this year we settled for the outside jumper with no time on the shot-clock. Too many empty possesions and scoring droughts of four minutes or longer (12mins against Purdue), especially in the second-half of the season. We need to drastically improve our scoring, especially go-to scoring, to eliminate long dry spells where absolutely no semblance of offense is present. I think we shot the fewest free-throws in conference this year (another good indicator of Euro-ball and NOT getting to the tin). The NCAA tourney isn't about mediocrity at any level. If you don't play your best each not you can't expect to win. Weaknesses get exposed and purged quickly. There's nowhere to hide in the field of sixty-five. As it should be.

All in all, it was a good bounceback year for the tribe, finishing 24-10 despite losing three of our last four. That's 50% better than our 16-19 campaign last year in Champaign. I have high expectations for next season. We should contend for the BIG-10 regular-season crown, make a deep run for the BIG-10 tourney championship, and advance at least to the round of 16 in the NCAA. With a little luck (something we haven't had in 4 years) and a lot of hard work, it could even be more.

BIG-10 Tourney Wrap ...

2009-03-14T16:37:00.000-07:00

It was a good start Friday night against Michigan at least. We had the Wolverines on the ropes at the start of the 2nd half. The 10-point margin wasn't indicative of the performance, up 20 at one one with ~ 10 minutes to go.

Saturday was a different story against the Boilermakers (not a bad club). They got up big after an Illinois drought spanning two halves and 12 minutes w/o any field goals. Ugh!. Nothing kills a deep tourney run faster than empty possessions (turnovers, bad shot-selection, missed field goals, etc..). Purdue came out early hot, especially from behind the arc, and didn't let up the rest of the way. Not having Frazier wasn't really a factor. We never got into our rhythem on offense all night. Davis, Meachem, McCamey, and Tisdale were mostly non-factors until too late.

Sure, the officiating was atrocious - skewed in strong favor of Purdue. But make no mistake about it, they were the better team tonight. We simply don't have any reliable scoring we can count on night in and out. Teams that make deep tourney runs not only play strong defense but tend to average 80 points / game or more. It's quite simply not enough to be physical. You have to have scoring to complement the defense. By far, the biggest tourney indicator of success is margin of victory.

So, I stand by my original prediction for Illinois basketball this year. We'll be fortunate to win one game next week. Anything more than that has to be considered a pleasant surprise. Reaching the SWEET 16 is highly unlikely. Factor in a huge loss in leadership with Frazier out (broken hand in practice this week) and you have a recipe for disappointment.

What needs to happen going forward? Here's how I see it:

Mike Davis - my man, take charge next year. You are by far the most prolific and consistent scorer we have on offense. Take the game over when you're feeling it and ride the wave. We need you to average ~ 20 points / game next season and you're capable.
Tisdale - man- up my friend. You need to get much stronger and more aggressive. Seems like every night you get man-handled in the post, or at least give up more inside than you should in terms of rebounds and points.
Legion - work harder. You're not that good. Atheletic ability may have carried you at Oak Hill in high school, but you have a long way to go to reach your full collegiate potential. Start with patience. Learn to position yourself better on both ends of the court. Basketball is more than jacking - up empty 3-pointers. Ugh! What you expect and what you're capable of producing couldn't be a larger gap.
McCamey - if this is going to be your team to lead next year, you have to learn patience, the meaning of a good possession (no empty results), and clock management. Cut down on the turnovers. You make too many of them. And keep your head in the game for at least 40 minutes. Your missing-in -action moments are far to many and frequent.

State of the Illinois Union - Pre BIG10 Tourney

2009-03-07T08:26:00.000-08:00

Well, the tribe didn't exactly end the year as I would have liked with two consecutive losses to Sparty and Penn State (two tourney teams), at home and away. We gave Sparty a battle at home last Sunday before they pulled away with a bit more talent, especially on offense and in transition. We had the Lions on the ropes with 5 minutes to go (down 10) before we let them crawl and slap their way to victory on a last second scoop and score drive. Ugh!

Still, the big picture says we're 23-8 (11-7). Not bad after a 16-win campaign in 2007-8. I'll take 50% more wins YoY anytime. Weber did a good job from the bench this year with a young squad that should only get better in 2009/10 with McCamey, Tisdale, Davis, and Legion all coming back as Juniors. We should also have a good freshmen class as we continue to build the positive team chemistry. Sure, we'll miss Meachem, Frazier, and Brock.

So, where does the state of the Illini nation stand as we head into BIG-10 tourney week? The short answer is we have more work to do. The improvement never stops if you expect to make a deep run in the BIG DANCE. Here are the pros / cons starting with the positives:

Nobody does a better job of scoring off assists than the chief. We're a selfless team which at times has hurt us late in games when we need a clutch score. It's true that the pass is quicker than the bounce, but when it's all said and done does the rock go through the tin?

Euro-ball is alive and well in Champaign. Our big men (especially Davis and Tisdale) would rather turn and face-up than take it to the hole. Don't get me wrong, both have outstanding range from 15-feet. Davis is especially silky smooth.

Defense is our hallmark. We don't give up too many easy baskets.

In other words, it's old-school basketball that Weber is teaching at Illinois. He stresses execution in the half court more than a speedy transition game. Making the extra crisp pass usually leads to the easier open shot.

Now, for the negatives:

We're not a physical team, just look at how our biggies play in the post. As a consequence, we don't get to the charity stripe often. When we do get there, it's still somewhat of an excursion. With the game on the line, the tribe will most likely under-perform at the line. We're last in the conference again in 2008/9 in free-throw attempts.

We don't have a reliable go-to scorer. Sure, several guys have stepped up this year from time to time, but we don't have the consistent striker a la Ben Griffen, or Jodie Meeks, or Tyler Hansbrough, or even a Taylor Battle.

Consistency. We've had some bad losses this year (Wisconsin in Madison, Minnesota in St. Paul, and Penn State inside Assembly Hall). We've had some good wins: at Purdue and at home, over Ohio State (twice), at Vandy, and over Mizzou. Just what you would expect from a young team on the rise.

A killer instinct. We're a good little club that tries hard sometimes. We get what give. Problem is we don't bring it each and every night we take the floor. I still haven't seen us play a game all year up to our full potential (perhaps on the road at Columbus over Ohio State). Best example I can think of recently is our failure to put away Penn State in Happy Valley this week. We were the better team most of the night except at the final buzzer.

My post-season predictions for Illinois:

We earned a 1st-round bye in Indianapolis next week. That's the good news. I expect us to win at least 1 game next week but not to win it all with the depth in conference this year, except for Iowa and Indiana who are both down.

I'd like to think we can win a game or two in the BIG DANCE. But, the tourney has taught me over and over that there are no sure things. I expect this year's field of 64 to be one of the most - balanced (parity) we've seen in years. Don't expect the four #1's to advance to Detroit this time.

Illinois probably wins just 1 game in the NCAA tourney and goes down in the 2nd round to a better team from a power conference (ACC / BIG EAST). A trip to the SWEET-16 would be exceptional and unexpected. Anything more than that is too much to ask for right now.

Sparty Got Us at Home - They're that good!

2009-03-01T20:24:00.000-08:00

Give most of the credit to Sparty today after the 74-66 win inside Assembly Hall. Actually, the game was much closer throughout and was probably one of the most competitive affairs in conference this season. Both teams came to play and left it all out on the court at the final horn.

Michigan State was just too strong at both ends of the court, but especially on defense; which really surprised me some. I expected them to get some easy transition baskets since they like to run, but they really held our half-court offense in check most of the game. I'm not sure we had a bucket in the last eight minutes of the game. Most of our points came from the charity stripe where we went 16 for 19 this afternoon (not bad).

Davis and Tisdale both played well at times, but neither was able to assert his will down the stretch with 8 minutes to go. Michigan State recognized that stopping Tisdale was going to be key; it was; they did. Give credit to Izzo who always seems to get the most out of his players at this time of year. They are looking like a strong 2 seed in the Tourney and the odds-on fave to take the BIG-10 Tourney again.

But, we had our chances. Sure we gave up a few too many easy baskets, especially in transition. Turnovers didn't help us either (we had 17 to their 11, ouch!). Our deep shot disappeared today on just 4-14 at home. Hopefully we'll learn NOT to live and die on the 3-ball come tourney time from today's lesson. You have to be able to execute in the half-court without depleting the shot-clock and being forced to jack-up 3's all day. Of course, take what you're given and let the defense generate 'easy' fast-break opportunities.

Up next, the final regular-season game on the road in Happy Valley. That won't be easy. None are in conference this time of year. Still, at 23-7 (11-6 in conference) I like the direction the team is heading. We didn't lie down and rollover against Sparty today who's poised for another deep run to Detroit and the FINAL 4.

Needed It - Got It!

2009-02-22T12:12:00.000-08:00

I mean, how do you explain the turnaround? Wednesday night we lost at home to Penn State in one of the worst basketball games every played, at least since that Monmouth / Princeton thriller from 2005. Today, we travelled to Columbus and took care of business (70-68 win) against Ohio State (now 17-7), desperate to assemble a tourney-worthy resume. Not an easy task. Mission accomplished / hot shooting.

To answer the proposed questions, you need look no further than the box score:

Chief went 58% from the floor on 28/48 shooting
From behind the arc, he went 9/17 (53%).
From the charity stripe, just 55.6% on 5/9 attempts.
On those 28 field goals, he had 23 assissts (82%), which continues to lead the nation.
11 turnovers. Pretty decent on the road in the BIG-10 in late February.

We also held the Buckeyes to 47% shooting (+11%), and only 36% from behind the arc. But make no mistake about it, we needed this win. Davis (22 points) and Meachem (17) both went off to lead the charge. You can't put up 33 points at home and lay a consecutive egg on the road. We didn't. Building a tourney resume is about bouncing back on the road in a hostile environment after a pathetic home loss. At 22-6 (10-5) we're back to +3 in conference - always good to be in the black by winning on the road and not losing at home.

We wrap up BIG-10 play with our next two at home against Minnesota and Michigan State before closing on the road in Happy Valley (Penn State). Momentum is back in our corner. But is there a more fickle pickle than men's CBB mojo this time of year? It's hard to find and even harder to keep. Just ask UCONN, UNC, and Oklahoma. Check out the latest Weekly Bubble Watch.

But back to today's winning result. The road-win gave Weber his 150th at Illinois in just six short years (53 losses). We started off much better today hitting our first 8 of 9 shots. That will be a key to continue going forward in tourney play next month. Teams that lose usually don't get off to strong starts. Rarely do you see a team get down big and claw its way back for the victory. It takes no energy to dig a big hole and almost all you have to climb back to square. Today's win was our first 3-game road - winning streak since 2004, illustrating just how hard it is to win away from home in the BIG-10.

Hail to the Chief - Now it's GO TIME!

2009-02-12T20:34:00.001-08:00

Wow, we needed tonight's buzzer-beating victory over the CATS like A-rod needs a lawyer. No doubt, it wasn't pretty most of the way. I think we were down 14 points or so with under 10 mins to go in regulation. That's OK, we only needed 9:58 down the stretch to put NW away, 60-59 - on their home court. Although, to be fair, it was a 50/50 crowd up there on the shores of Lake Michigan. Tough teams never quit. Good ones close down the stretch when the game is on the line. Great ones finish by winning games their 'supposed' to win.

I've been telling you these two things all year. But, they're so true right now they merit repitition when it comes to conference play: 1) DON'T LOSE AT HOME. 2) WIN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ON THE ROAD.

At first glance, and perhaps even at 5th glance, you may be asking yourself if the Chief is off his rocker. Never fear, I don't own a rocking chair. But when you do the math (-1 for home losses and +1 for road wins), it's better to be be above PAR in this game - like modified Stableford scoring at the International. And at 8-4 in the conference (20-5 overall), the tribe is +2 heading into Bloomington on Sunday for another tough road test with Indiana, 2 back in the win column behind SPARTY. We're #14 in the RPI with an SOS of 27 nationally, 3rd-toughest in conference. We're also 5-4 against the RPI top 50. More importantly, all 5 of our losses came against teams in the top-52 or better. There are no nights off in the BIG-10 this year, especially on the road.

As for the action itself, we gutted this one out despite going 2-12 from the charity stripe (imagine how I would feel if we lost this game). McCamey was the undisputed leader again tonight scoring 19 points, including the game-winner with 3 seconds remaining. But Meachem may have bridged the scoring gap down the stretch, scoring 12 of his 15 with less than 5 minutes to go.

Keys to victory:

With the game on the line, we dictated 'tempo' with the full-court pressure late in the game. NW had NO ANSWER comitting one turnover after another on their own floor.
No empty possesions. Take advantage of easy scoring opportunities and manufacture other efficiently by working your 'tail' off in the half-court. You don't getting any points for just burning the 35-second clock down.
Shutdown defense (see tempo). We held NW to just 42% from the floor while shooting 48% ourselves. And while they jacked-up 22 threes, they only made 8 (6 in the first stanza).
It's crunch time in CBB. Don't crack under pressure. Finsh strong!

Up and Down and Up Yet Again: 66-48 over Boilers

2009-02-08T12:47:00.000-08:00

There aren't too many teams out there right now who are as 'Jeckyl' and 'Hyde' as the Illini hoopsters. We've looked bad the last four times out on the road against Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Wisconsin - losing all four games thanks to empty possessions in the half court and poor floor efficiency (spacing, running, cutting, and passing). But, during the same stretch of hoops we've looked good most nights at home against Michigan, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio State, and today against Purdue (#13). In the end, I think it comes down to confidence and 'comfort zone', having both at home and neither on the road. One clear example of this is our poor shooting percentages away from the friendly confines of Assembly Hall (low 30%s compared to mid 40's at home).

Today, it was more of the same from one othe most efficient offenses in the country, in terms of assist rates where we lead the nation around 70%. At one stretch tonight, we had 20 assists on 24 scoring possessions (nasty). We looked good on offense and defense in taking care of the Boilermakers. I like the way we shared the rockl, defended the 3-point line, and played lock-down on defense by denying the quick transitions. Coupled with good floor spacing, timely cutting in offensive sets, and overall 'presence' at both ends of the court, things are starting to come together as we head deeper into February. The next step is to achieve consistency night in and out. We're can't afford empty possessions and defensive breakdowns.

As for the positive, Mike Davis had another great game and continues his stellar play as one of the dominating big men in conference. He might just have the 'softest' baby jumper in the league, but can finish with authority as well as anybody else. However, his rebounding efficiency and intensity were too much for Purdue tonight with 14 points and 16 boards (awesome display of basketball fundamentals).

Our scoring balance was also good tonight. And we're going to need to continue that trend especially as we move deeper and deeper into conference play. Meachem, Tisdale, and Keller will have to find ways to share the scoring riches each and every time we take the floor, no matter the environment. It can't always be about McCamey and Davis. Back to balance - we'll need to sustain the balanced inside / outside play. One dimensional teams of either variety don't last long when the screws of tourney pressure are applied.

Realistically, today's game probably highlighted that there aren't any dominant teams in conference this season (trend I see around the nation as well). Even Michigan State has had its rough stretches of play a few weeks back when they lost at home to NW. Teams seem to play on a different level (higher) at home than they do on the road (lower). But I for one believe that enduring the hostility of road enviornments builds tourney toughness and team chemistry (or at least provides for those opportunities). Both of these traits will get exposed when March Madness arrives. There's no hiding from the bright light of pressure circumstances of tournament baketball (single elimination). Teams that have endured, lhave improved, and have evolved throughout the conference campaings are those who make deep runs in the field of 64.

At 19-5 (7-4 in conference and 2 games behind Sparty), the tribe is in good shape with 7 games in BIG-10 league play. This week we travel to Evanston and Bloomington for road games against the Wildcats and Hoosiers, two games we'll be expected to win as both programs continue their rebuilding processes.

I've said it before and will say it again: you don't earn any points by winning at home in conference play. Conversely, you can separate yourself from pretenders and in the national polls by winning on the road this time of year. Really, there are no magic secrets to CBB success this time of year. Go on runs and stop the other guy from running. If he does, answer right back even larger. Guard and play your butts off. It's all in the fundamentals of the game. Get stops and capitalize in the transition game opportunistically. And absolutely no, nunca, zippo, nada, nien empty possessions (or back to back empty possessions). Building an NCAA Tourney resume is as much an art as it is science (RPI, rankings, ratings, etc...). Style points do matter; as they do in CFB. But unlike CFB, CBB hardwood play will determine who's worthy and who's not. In the end, you want to be playing your best ball in March where winning is everything and losing provides an early opportunity to uncover what went wrong.

Bounce-back against Iowa ...

2009-02-01T15:09:00.001-08:00

It wasn't pretty (like swimming without getting wet), but it was a BIG-10 win at home in the friendly confines of the Assembly Hall as the tribe defeated an upstart and pesky Hawkeye club, 62-54. There is no such thing as a bad win this time of year. You do what you have to each and every night out to earn the W. And this just in, losing on the road inside the 'Barn' isn't a bad loss either. Mark these words; the Gophers will make a little noise come mid-March.

Well, we started flat in the first half and actually trailed at the break against Iowa today. Not much was going right with several empty possessions, turnovers, and settling the outside shot. Things started to change in the 2nd half with McCamey (7 assists) and Tisdale (18 points) leading the charge. I hope we lost the funk of the Gopher collapse, scoring just 36 point - lowest in 24 years. Ugh!

Defense continues to be impressive this year. We held the Hawkeyes to just 21 of 51 shooting or 41% while going 23-48 for 48% ourselves. Another key was the rebounding differential, 35-22 for the game. Nice work on the glass men.

We now stand at 18-4 (6-3) on the season with upcoming games against Wisconsin (Madison) and Purdue (home) this next week. The ninth consecutive home win is now the longest stretch in conference. We're tied for third in the conference behind Purdue and Sparty wtih Minnesota, Penn State, and Ohio State. But, there's quite a bit of work to do as we prepare for March and tourney time (BIG-10 should get six if not seven bids this year). I like the overall direction we're headed with a young team and a great recruiting class next year (15th nationally right now according to SCOUTS.COM), including 3 in the TOP-100.

Where do we go from here? Obviously, to Madison seeking another road - conference win. Wtih ten games to go before the conference tourney in Indianapolis this year, we have to answer some tough questions and earn at least six wins in the process.

Get back to playing fundamentally sound basketball ON THE ROAD. What happened to the team that took it to Purdue to start conference play? With recent road losses to Michigan, Michigan State, and Minnesota, we have to find that winning formula again. It really comes down to executing your offense in the COMFORT ZONE.
Play every contest like it could be your last. What the three aforementioned lossess all have in common is a lack of execution and leadership down the stretch. Every person has a role to play; play it with urgency.
Execute in the half court with accurate passing, crisp cuts to the basket, and kick-outs for open threes. Don't fall into the shot-clock trap of burning it down to 5 seconds left with nothing but a bailout three and a prayer as your only options.
Step-up guys! Step-up Dmitri! Step-up Frazier! Step-up Trent! Step-up Mr. Davis! And Step-up Mr. Tisdale! You guys are the heart and soul of this team right now. Shouldn't matter if the game is played at home or away.

Disappointment in East Lansing ...

2009-01-17T19:00:00.000-08:00

I mean come on already. For the second time this year we let one get away in Michigan - this time to Sparty. Ugh! We owned this game all night but gave them the win down the stretch thanks to empty possessions (turnovers and bad shots). Nobody turns victory into loss better than Illinois. Nobody.

We played a decent but not great first half to earn the 34-27 lead at the break on 48% shooting, making the most of turnovers with 18 points including 18 off the bench. Somehow we posted 9 second-chance points even though they killed us on the glass all day. But the second half was another story after putting their backs up against a 27-game home-winning streak.

A. Legion was huge for us off the bench with 15 points, and were it not for some easy misses he would have had more. He's only shooting 32% from the field after joining the team in late December. That should and needs to improve over the next few weeks. McCamey (0-9) was shaving ice all night and was a non-factor on offense most of the game. Same for Meachem (1-7). It was good to see Brock and Davis contribute with Alex.

I see three areas we need to improve in going forward: running the court, offensive boards (playing larger than we are), and a go-to scorer down the stretch when the game is in doubt. Right now we have several guys looking around for someone like McCamey, Tisdale, Davis, Meachem, or Legion to step-up and fill that role.

Sparty closed the game on a 12-3 run. It was a night of runs for them that got them back in and then over the top to earn the victory tonight in one of the strongest home-court advantages in CBB. And it doesn't get any easier this week as we head back to Champaign to host Ohio State and Wisconsin before a road trip to Minneapolis next week. Such is the life in the BIG-10.

For now, we're plus one (+1) in conference after earning the road win in West Lafayette earlier in conference play. I fear that we should be at least +2 or +3 at this point in the season. January is all about building the March resume. And for mid-pack teams like Illinois it's important to be positive in conference if you expect to earn a bid and do damage in the big dance. We have quality wins against Vandy, Mizzou, Purdue, and Michigan. Quality losses against Clemson, Sparty, and Michigan won't hurt. But, we're still in seach of that break-out / season-defining victory to launch us into the top-25 and the national debate of legitimate title-contenders this year. Losing 10 of our last 13 conference road games, we're on the outside of that discussion looking in at the big-boys.

HNY - Chief Does the Bowls!

2009-01-01T16:36:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year to all (HNY 2k9)! Here's hoping for a better year all the way around than 2008. As the bowl games wind down and the serious depression sets in knowing that pitchers and catchers report shortly, the Chief has decided to offer up a few words on the 2008/9 grid-iron season.

First of all, there is no better team game than CFB. Pro sports have nothing on CFB. Yeah CFB! Every game matters. Every outcome is an ending and a new beginning. I know the game has its detractors, especially during bowl season. And while the game would benefit from a proposed 8-team BCS playoff, it's still the best thing going. To those who say CFB has the worst post-season I say hogwash. Bowl season was never designed to be anything more than an exhibition display, a reward for regular-season excellence, a consolation for work well done. What modern advertising, corporate sponshorships, and media have made it is another story for another time.

The BCS is the BCS, nothing more or less. It was designed to give us #1 verus #2 in a 'championship' game. That's it. And, unlike our government or corporate partners, it succeeds in doing just that more than 50% of the time. Don't get me wrong, a playoff system in CFB would be a great thing and take the game to another higher level of achievement. But, we all know that won't happen quickly. Hopefully it will happen in my lifetime. Dont' hold your breath.

CFB needs to do two things, and the sooner the better, to improve the state of the game - taking it to the next level. #1, reclaim New Year's Day. That used to be the best day in all of sport with at least 8 or 10 great bowl games. No reason to have so many games before or after. Actually, I would like to see only BCS games after January 1. Come on, the International Bowl? Really... those games should all be played in December or on January first. #2, implement the 8-team playoff system. Three rounds of DIV1-A playoff action would generate billions for the economy and make for some of the most exciting spectacles in sport. Finally, we could say with some measure of integrity, that we have a true national champion. Make every game count. And settle it on the field instead of some cache memory.

As for the bowl games this year, here are my highlight and lowlight moments of this season. I'll go with the good, the bad, and the ugly format:

The Good -

Notre Dame won a bowl game. Notre Dame won a bowl game. Notre Dame won a bowl game, ending a 9-game slide. 89 teams have won bowl games since the Irish beat A&M in the Cotton Bowl. The Warriors from Hawaii were no match for the disciplined Irish attack.
How about the very good? Let's give it up for the Hokie 'D' and Beamer Ball. How many coaches have a type of play coined after their personality? VT plays defense as a unit, the total being much greater than the sum of its parts. Coach Zook should take note.
Pat White of WV - only player in modern times that I know of to win all four of his bowl games as QB. Very impressive. He'll go down as one of the game's best - ever!
Iowa for the BIG-10. At least we won't go winless in bowl games. Heck of a game.
PAC-10, Gulp! - I know, it's hard for me to admit it, but the PAC-10 may just be the 3rd or 4th best conference in the land this year behind the BIG-12, SEC, and ACC. Hard to argue with 5-0 in bowl season. Although, the conference usually matches-up quite well with equal or lesser bowl competition - almost always on the west coast or in a true home environment. Most impressive to me were the Ducks who beat a game Poke squad from Stillwater in the Holliday Bowl - always a great game.
And how 'bout those Utes? The biggest disappointment in bowl season has to be GT. But the biggest shocker in terms of results was Utah over Bama in New Orleans. Wow! And the way Utah did it was impressive - with speed. Utah took it to Bama from the beginning to end. Speed on the defensive line and speed on offensive play execution. Utah played more like an SEC team tonight than Bama did. 13-0 this season with 8 bowl wins in a row. Congratulations on a job well done.

The Bad -

Central Michigan losing the Motor City Bowl to FAU. For CMU playing at Ford Field, that was a tough loss to an upstart Owls club coached by Schnellenberger who remains undefeated in bowl games.
What is with ABC / Comcast? The Rose Bowl shifted in and out of HD all afternoon, much like the Penn State offense. Very disappointing.
The Badger nation - what a terrible season. Things started off well in September with a good road inw over Fresno State, but quickly went down hilll after a bad loss at Michigan. Team hasn't been the same since. Champ's Bowl effort with FSU was more proof.
BIG-10 just 1-5 in its first six attempts this year. Although, losing to USC in Pasadena is no crime. NW and Sparty gave Mizzou and Georgia a run for the money. Still, no excuses. Conference is down this year again.....Wisconsin being the latest example.

The Ugly -

Did you see the Sun Bowl this year? Had to be one of the worst games ever played. I guess you can say the Beavers won it. Or did Pitt just not win it? Deep thought ....
GT losing in Atlanta to a mediocre LSU club. Ugh! The Ramblin' Wreck of GT lived down to their namesake. I think they opened up the champagne a few hours early.
Anybody playing USC in the Rose Bowl besides a Vince Young - led Longhorn club. I mean really. Come on. USC should be forced to play either Florida, LSU, Bama, OU, or Texas next year in a BCS game no matter what. Let's just go ahead and schedule something now.
WR DeAndre Brown of So. Miss who broke his leg on an extremely freaky pass-play early in the 1st half of the game with Troy. Here's to a speedy recovery young man.

Chief is on Fire (Illinois over Purdue)

2008-12-30T22:18:00.000-08:00

Tell me another team on the country that is closing 2008 playing better basketball? Answer, there isn't one. First, we whacked, and I mean whacked Mizzou in a tourney setting under the arch. We followed that HUGE win up by defending the home turf against a very gamey Eastern Michigan club. And tonight, on the Deuce, in front of the world, we scrapped, we crawled, we battled, and defended our way to a monster resume-building victory over #11 Purdue in Mackey Arena (on Keady Court) in West LaFayette. All - in balls -out huge! 13-1 on the young season (1-0 in the mighty BIG-10 with five in the TOP-25).

To be totally unbiased, we take so much pride in our defense it's not funny. I honestly don't think there's a better (intensity) defensive squad in the nation. We take each point we give up personally. It hurts. We hate to see it. But don't trust me, look at the figures - each team we play has its worst offensive output of the season. No exceptions! This team has the soul, the spirit, the cajones of its head coach, Bruce Weber.

For those of you unfamilar with BIG-10 arenas, Mackey Arena is as hostile a home environment as they come. They hate us. We hate them. And it only gets worse from there. Trust me, I've been there it's a miserable place to be a road team. It's a snake pit, a hornest nest, a gladiator's den. The Boilers play hard each time out for Coach Painter. If you enjoy old-school, hard-nosed, physical basketball, where every possession matters, then this was your game. At times it wasn't pretty, but it was always intense. And if you plan to go deep in March, you have to execute efficiently in the half-court game and play stout defense.

With 10 minutes to go in the game, the Tribe only had 4 turnovers (averaging 14 / game). Thank you Chester Frazier. Frazier and Meachem are senior difference makers that 99% of teams only wish they had. We went 16 minutes spanning two halves between #4 and #5. We had 21 assists on our 30 field goals and committed just six total turnovers on the night. What a way to open BIG-10 play in 2008/9, on the road.

Tisdale continues to impress me: another 18 points tonight.
We ended Purdue's 16-game home winning streak with tonight's win (39-4 since 2006).
Purdue was just 15-27 from the charity stripe, 38% from the field.
And with the W (# seven in a row), we're the first BIG-10 club to thirteen victories (13-1).

Chief is on Fire - 11 and 1, top 25?

2008-12-23T21:56:00.000-08:00

I know it's only December, the heart of bowl season. But don't look now, the basketball tribe is 11 and 1 on the young season, just a few seconds and one shot away from being undefeated. It was a great Busch-Braggin' Rights performance tonight in the Scottrade Center (St. Louis). Anytime you can make an athleteic team like Mizzou look average, slow, and confused you've done your job. Until tonight, the TIGER's lowest point total was 71. They were in the top-5 in the nation in several categories coming into this one. Mizzou had their worst game of the season tonight at the hands of the CHIEF, by far!

And how about the big 10 this year, combined 96-22 versus the other BCS conferences this year. No question in my mind that the conference is marching in the right direction, with the possible exception of Indiana. Purdue, Michigan State, and Wisconsin are clearly at the head of the class. But Minnesota, Ohio State, and Illinois are right there. With the BIG EAST, we're one of the two top conferences in the land this year followed by the ACC and BIG-12. The SEC and PAC-10 are down this year.

McCamey is a controlled beast for us this year. He can do it all with the rock from shooting, passing, and coming up with the tough rebound. Frazier has become a field general in his senior year. I hope he becomes a head coach some day. When he's on the floor, it's like having Coach Weber right there with us. Davis can score with the best in the nation, down low or from the outside. Meachem and Tisdale round - out a good starting five. We're shooting and distributing the rock well these days, while minimizing turnovers. It hasn't always been easy for us this year, but I like the direction of the 2008/9 edition.

What I see / what I like. We're making teams play our game each night out. The opposition is playing outside of its comfort level on most occasions. As in most things, that's the key to winning consistently in college basketball. Make them do things they don't do well or do very often. On the flipside, we're executing well on offense in the following ways:

We're organized against the press (able to break it down most times).
We're executing to tempo, stop and pop or pulling it back out for the offensive reset.
We're making free throws these days, all starters at least 70%.
We're making precision interior passes.
We're knocking down three-pointers in rhythem, opportunistically.

Until the next set of AP / Coaches' polls are released next week, I'll have to be satisfied with #25 in the ESPN Power Rankings. We open up at Purdue and at Michigan in BIG-10 play next week, brutal. But, that's five BIG-10 squads in the TOP-25. Clearly, this is one of the best conferences in the land this year. We'll see how league play unfolds starting next week.

Week #15 - BCS is set

2008-12-06T22:46:00.000-08:00

Short one this week after the championship games made it clear who should play whom in Miami come January 8th. Going into this weekend, I had little doubt as to what they match-up would look like. And after their performances ON THE FIELD tonight in their respective games, both Florida and Oklahoma left no doubt. So, without further delay, here is my latest top-10 pitting the GATORS and the SOONERS for all the marbles. Whichever team bows up on defense first with a few key stops is going to win that game.

And kudos to Army. I know they lost 34-0 today to Navy, but that game is about one thing: tradition. I've never been to an Army/Navy game, but I know I should go someday. All give some. Some give all. Some matter more. How about the camouflage unis? Nice touch. Support our troops.

My New TOP-10:

Florida - Tebow is on fire. His legacy is confirmed as one of the best ever in Gator history. Love him or not, the guy knows how to lead the troops. Under his guide, they owned the 4th quarter tonight against Bama. Juice can learn a lot about leadership from Tebow. Kid is special. Kid is legend. Maybe he should win it back to back? One hell of a 4th quarter.
Oklahoma - I mean come on. 5th straight game with 60+ points. That's never happened before in FBS competition. This team is loaded with talent all over the place. Championship game is going to be something special.
Texas - Left out of the BIG-12 Championship wasn't right. But, it's hard to argue with #2 right now. OU is a worthy BIG-12 rep. BIG-12 is expected to fix its tiebreaker rule for next year, but that does little right now to help Mac's club. Never fear, they'll take out their frustration on Ohio State.
USC - One of the fabulous four (see 1-3 above). But over the past 5 years, these four teams have dominated the CFB landscape. It's arguable, but year in and year out these four programs are the best in the business. And while the offense may be down a bit this year, the men of Troy are probably the best defensive squad in the nation. And defense wins championships. What would we have if they had beat the BEAVS? Never fear, they'll go to their 4th Rose Bowl under Carroll and put the smack down on JoePa's Lions.
Alabama - It's never good to loose. But it's worse to loose late. Another example of a conference championship costing a great football team a shot at something more. The Tide should be proud after last year's 6-6 performance. They were the only FBS team to go 12-0 in the regular season. Their reward, Utah in New Orleans. Never fear, they'll take out their frustration on the Utes. Just too much of everthing.
Penn State - Just one little blemish on the schedule this year in Iowa City. Enjoy the trip to SoCal next month. Disneyland and Lawry's will be fun. Good luck against USC.
Texas Tech - Great year for Leach. He's coming back to Lubbock. Even better for TT. They'll get a chance to impress the nation again in the Cotton Bowl.
Utah - Only non-BCS team to really earn it this year (beat OS, beat TCU, beat BYU, and beat Michigan early). 12-0 is deserving of the chance to get whacked in the Sugar Bowl.
Oklahoma State - 4th team in the mighty BIG-12 South this year. 3 tough losses against the BIG-3 is no reason to hang your head.
Ohio State - Down this year, but the future looks bright with Pryor. Defense will always be a strength here. Now, they add offense for 2009. Uh oh!

Chief on the Tribe - Tough loss a few nights ago at home to Clemson in the BIG-10 / ACC challenge. But, good teams learn from their mistakes. Illinois 76 - Georgia 42. We held them to 19 points in the 2nd half inside the friendly confines of the UNITED CENTER (Chicago). McCamey and Davis continue to do most of the scoring on the young season. This one was no different. What was different was the defensive intensity. 42 points in 40 minutes. That's what I'm talking about. At 7-1 we have no bad losses to date this year. And with 4 of our next 5 at home in Champaign, I like our chances at starting off 11-2 or 12-1 before conference play opens on the road with Purdue. In there is the border-War game with Mizzou on 12/23.

Week #14 - We need a playoff!

2008-11-29T19:49:00.001-08:00

I solved the whole playoff thing a few weeks ago; go with the top-8 and ditch the conference championship games in the BIG-12, ACC, and SEC. Top-4 in the BCS would host the games. Now that's theater.

How about that Bedlam game tonight? Best game of the weekend - perhaps. They just wouldn't go away, those Pokes from Stillwater. Wow! Football at its best. Bedlam had it all this year. Pistol Pete would be proud. Sooners have posted 254 in the past 3 games! Four in a row with 60 or more. Wow...can anybody stop OU?

As an aside, the TRIBE are 6-0 on the hardwood in 2k8. After tonight's 48-44 win over Tulsa in South Padre. Up next, Clemson at home in the ACC/BIG-10 challenge. Oskee Wa Wa Illinois!

As for my new top-10, go figure - it's tight at the top, I could go any number of ways with my 1-4:

Florida - is there a team playing better football over the past 6 weeks?

Texas - I'm convinced, the best of the BIG-12 South.

Oklahoma - good win in Stillwater. Body of work and head to head with Texas. 45-35.

Alabama - undefeated I know. They'll lose next weekend to Florida - big! Counted.

USC - beating Notre Dame used to mean something. Not anymore. Is Charlie done?

Texas Tech - struggled with Baylor. The Bears are better. Enjoy the Cotton Bowl.

Penn State - I was cheering for Oregon State. Lions will get whacked by USC in Rose.

Utah - Most likely to the Sugar Bowl this year. But are they BCS worthy?

Ohio State - With two losses, it could be BCS or Cap-1.

Missouri - Nice win against KU today. Up next Texas in the BIG-12 Title game.

As for the BCS, the latest rankings have Oklahoma over Texas meaning they'll face Mizzou next Saturday night in Kansas City for the BIG-12 Title. Barring major upsets of biblical proportions, that means an Oklahoma / Florida Final in Miami - which is OK by me. I think Texas gets screwed in this entire deal as do a few other teams. It looks like Ohio State will get the BCS nod to face either Texas or Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. Saban will most likely play Utah in the Sugar Bowl assuming they lose to Meyer in Atlanta. All of this is fuel for playoff fire in CFB DIV1-A. I mean come on already. It's time. Instead of some lame conference finals next Saturday, how about these proposed quarterfinal match-ups with the four winners moving on to the national semis:

Bama hosting Penn State in Tuscaloosa.
OU hosting Texas Tech in Norman for a rematch.
Texas hosting Utah in Austin.
Florida hosting USC in the SWAMP.

Of course, if you screw the BCS system and its computers altogether and go with my current top-10, the quarterfinals look so much juicier:

Florida hosting Utah - yes, come on, you know you want this one.
Texas hosting Penn State -this one also has interesting undertones.
Oklahoma hosting TT - most likely another blowout for the Sooners, I know.
Alabama hosting USC - in Tuscaloosa, makes up for OU / TT above.

Week #13 - Sammy Stroughter or Bust!

2008-11-22T21:55:00.000-08:00

I mean come on, how are we going to live without CFB? I know there's one more week to go, but I for one will miss the CFB regular season. It's the best thing going. Unfortunately, that means the CFB post-season is next; one of the worst post-seasons in all of sport. Ugh! Thank God for 34 games in 19 days.

And how about Sammy Stroughter for the Beavs tonight? Are the BEAVS a team of destiny this year? Pretty amazing stuff in the desert tonight. He saved Kahut and early desert burial in Tucson with huge catches down the stretch. Wow, go BEAVS - beat Oregon. Next week's Civil War should be epic. The Road to the rose Bowl goes through Corvallis. And the Chief for one is cheering for a Beaver / Nittany Lion Rose-Bowl rematch. "It was just another game dealing with adversity. It's the Beaver way", Sammy Stroughter. OS now has 7 conference wins this year. They've never posted 8 PAC-10 wins in one season before.

How great is rivalry week in CFB? Nothing beats it, period. Where else will you get Tennessee over Vandy? Otherwise, the games were chalk. Next weekend should be spectacular. We need 14 weeks of Pick-Em. I'll work on that for 2009.

Speaking of Pick-Em, it was another awesome year for Ronler Pick-Em 2k8. Congratulations to the Amazing Kreskin (Mr. Chet Lee @99.8% nationally). Wow, and the trend continues of no repeat winners. Very impressive campaign in probably our most competitive year ever. Our top-20 was 90% or better. Our top-6 was 99% or better. Nice job everyone. Thanks again for playing. It wouldn't be the same without you.

Kudos to the Cougar Nation (16-13 over Washington today in the Crapple Cup). To the victor go the spoils, a rotten apple core. Yes John, your Cougars did it. To Washington, ugh - I'm not sure there's been a longer off-season in CFB history. But with the end of one season comes the hope of a new beginning next year. You can take that to the bank of your choice.

Chief on the Tribe - In case you didn't notice yet, it's basketball season so get with the program. From here on out until I say so we will no longer refer to that other sport by any other name than 'that other' sport, even if it pays most of the bills. Yes, the tribe are 4-0 on the young 2008/9 season after beating Jackson State (pre-season SWAC fave) handily today inside the Hall. We're also the only BCS conference basketball team to win a road game this year against another BCS conference (Vandy on Thursday night 69-63). Sure, we don't play stiffer competition until the ACC/BIG-10 challenge after Thanksgiving (Clemson this year), but 13-0 or 12-1 out of the blocks isn't out of the question. Of coure, league play will be bruising in the BIG-10. I'd take .500 ball in conference this year (9-9). And that would get our ticket punched to the BIG SHOW this year.

This year's club looks a lot different than the last few years. Gone are Pruitt and Randle, so we'll be rebuilding the front-line this year with Tisdale, Davis, and Semrau. In many ways we're like the Blazers looking to find that new chemistry with a lot of young talent. Frazier and Meachem need to lead the way as senior ball handlers. Davis and McCamey each have the potential to hang 25-30 points on you on any given night. I also like the JUCO transfer sensation Dominique Keller coming in off the bench with 17 big points tonight. And I still haven't mentioned Alex Legion yet. Wow! There's a lot to be thankful for this year if you're an Illini hoops fan. And of course we play defense since we're a Weber-coached BIG-10 team.

This could be a dangerious Illini edition come March and NCAA tourney time. I like our prospects this year as we look to improve on a disappointing 2007/8 campaign in Champaign. Free-throw shooting is up big this year over the past two years (10 for 13 tonight). Part of that is not having Pruitt and Randle on the stripe. And it was good to see us shoot 62% from the field at home tonight against a pretty swanky and talented JSU club without falling in love with the outside shot. We have more work to do as we build the resume and look to get better each time out, especially on defense. But as we prepare to head down to South Padre next week to win another early-season tourney we won in 2005, I like the chemistry of this year's club. Oskee Wa Wa B-ball Illini!

My New Top-10 (body of work):

Oklahoma - I saw the beat down in Norman. Oklahoma is the best team in the country right now. Remember that Tech was #2 heading into this one. Boomer Sooner!

Florida - Florida with the one home loss to the Right Revrend (Ole Miss). Otherwise, there just as good as #1. Gators are worthy. Just beat Bama.

Alabama - Undefeated for now. Body of work not as impressive as once thought. Beat Florida and you play for the title. Otherwise, enjoy the Sugar Bowl and shut - up.

Texas - I know you beat #1, but that was over a month ago on a neutral field in a close game. You also lost to #8. #1 didn't have the same problem. Good year. Enjoy your BCS berth.

USC - May not be a better defense in the country. Offense is sputtering a bit. Win the next two and you'll go to the BCS yet again. Rose or Fiesta are in your future.

Penn State - Congrats to JoePa on his first BIG-10 Title. Enjoy the Rose Bowl against either OS or USC. 800 wins for the Penn-State program. Wow!

Utah - BCS bound no doubt. Great win today in teh Holy War.

Texas Tech - Tough loss tonight. Take comfort in knowing nobody in the nation could have beaten OU tonight in Norman.

Ohio State - 5th straight over Michigan today. BCS or Cap1 Bowl? Hmmm......

Boise State - Good win today against Nevada. Body of work. No BCS for you!

What about bowl season and beyond, you might ask? Here's an interesting scenario developing out West. Right now it's hard to see the PAC-10 with more than 5 bowl-eligible teams even though they have 7 bowl alliances. ASU and UCLA are battling for the sixth spot, both needing to run the table over their next two games to join USC, Oregon State, Oregon, Arizona, and CAL. And it could get worse, since USC and OS are both in the picture right now for BCS bids. That likely means teams from other conferences, including non-BCS conferences, will probably snatch up a few extra bids this year. How about Hawaii vs. Buffalo in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl instead of ASU or UCLA? Not a good year, top to bottom, for the conference of champions.

And despite another down year in the BIG-10 (top to bottom not including Penn State / Ohio State), the conference has 7 bowl-eligible teams leaving Illinois, Purdue, Michigan, and Indiana on the outside looking in.

Week 12 - The Great Giveaway Continues in Champaign

2008-11-15T14:15:00.000-08:00

CHIEF on the TRIBE - More of the same against Ohio State today. I haven't seen anything quite like what's going on in Champaign this year in quite some time. And if you hurry, you're likely to partake in the great gift giveaway of 2008, just in time for the holidays. The Fighting Zookers are surely in the giving mode after exchanging another win for a loss. Ugh! And basketball doesn't look to be any respite this year. The Illibuck returns to Columbus for another year, at least.

I'll spare you the details, but for the 6th time this year we snatched defeat from the grasp of victory. I think our offense, defense, and special teams had more to do with Ohio State's 30 points than the Buckeyes did. We dominated statistically only to lose on the scoreboard yet again. Our mistakes in just about every facet of the game also accounted for all of their scoring. Ugh! It's like Holtz and May said at halftime, we should have been leading 20-16 instead of trailing 23-13.

For the game, we outgained them 455 to 354, with 200 more passing yards. They did dominate the time of possession but that's only because Tressel hates to pass (49 yards on just 10 attempts with Pryor). And when you have Chris Wells in your backfield, why not? On defense, we didn't force them to go 80 yards all day. Seems like all of their points came from the short field, blocked punts, or key penalties - all gamebreakers. And when you play the Senator, you can't expect to win that way. We made it way too easy for Ohio State today to get the win. It's a comedy with just about every snap.

I'll say it again, I don't think there's another team in conference (and few in the land) who have more raw football talent week in and out at every position. And while that may be debateable, it's not very hard to argue that there isn't a more self-destructive team in the country. We beat ourselves more than we get beat by the opposition. Instead of being 9-2, 10-1, or 11-0 we're just 5-6 and not likely to make a bowl game this year unless we pull off a miracel road-win in Evanston and get some help from a desperate bowl game.

And, it's hard to believe that Williams was once on the ESPNU Heisman list. Ugh! Juice is simply not the same QB as he was back in September. It's obvious to me he's pressing or injured, perhaps psychologically. There probably isn't a QB in the land with more raw skill or athletcism. His problems are mostly between the ears.

Around the nation - Things are bad in Champaign - no doubt. But things are worse in Ann Arbor these days after Michigan dropped its 5th home game of the year (3-8 on the season). Not only is this its first losing season since 1967, but Saturday's loss to NW ensures the Wolverines can't win two games in a row for the first time since 1962. And for the first time ever in its 129-year history, BIG BLUE has 8 losses. Ouch!

I have so say that I'm somewhat surprised to see that FSU lost to BC, Vandy beat KY, and UNC lost to Maryland. There were other really close games; just ask Wisconsin and LSU. But let's give some love to the Commodores (Vandy) after becoming bowl eligible for the first time in 26 long years. They've fallen short so many times lately in big games against KY and TN. And if they beat the VOLS next weekend, VANDY would tie its SEC record for wins with 3 (record dating back to 1935).

Other winners and losers today include Bama, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and USC - all revenging devasting losses last year in respective games against MSU, NAVY, ILLINOIS, and STANFORD. And how about Rutgers; is there a better 2nd-half story this year? Scarlet Knights have won four in a row after dropping their first five of six. And dont' look now, but NW is 8-3 this year and has a chance to get to 10 wins for the first time since 1995 when it went to the Rose Bowl. Wow, I would not have expected the better BIG-10 team from the Land of Obama this year would have been the Evanston Pussies.

And how about the losers? Michigan, Tulsa, FSU, Illinois, and Minnesota top this weekend's list of dissappointing performances. How do the Golden Hurricances lose to Houston? And with their win over UNC, Maryland now has 7 wins in a row over ranked teams. As for the tribe, we're on the verge of becoming the 2nd team in 43 years to have a losing season after going to the Rose Bowl the prior year. Ugh!

My New Top - 10:

Bama - exorcised some demons yesterday by blowing out State and holding them to just 35 rushing yards for the game (1.6 average).
Texas Tech - bye week this week before travelling to Norman next Saturday where just about everything, including the Heisman trophy, hinges on the outcome.
Texas - ensured their 8th-straight 10-win season last night in defeating KU.
Florida - much like #3, the Gators are lurking and surging. But unlike Texas, they control their BCS championship aspirations by simply winning out. Today, they dominated Carolina in the swamp. Spurrier Cocks took a beating today, worst loss ever.
Oklahoma - see #2 above. If the Sooners can beat Tech next weekend that the BCS chaos will reach new levels. Somewhere in Austin Mac Brown is hoping for a 3-2 Boomer Sooner outcome.
USC - surprised to see they gave up 23 to Stanford, but really weren't challenged all night. Although, the defense did give up a hundred - yard rusher tonight. Hmmm.....
Georgia - I know the Busters (UTAH / Boise State) won't like this. But does anybody honestly believe that a WAC or MWC team can beat the Bulldogs in the BCS? Remember last year?
Utah - remain undefeated. BYU is up next.
Penn State - Joe Pa's boys finally showed up in the 2nd half against Indiana.
Boise State - see #8. I'm just not too sure how good this team really is right.

Final Notes- And what's with all the hurdling going on in CFB these days? I mean, what happened to lowering the shoulder and steam-rolling defensive backs and linebackers. Mark my words, that sooner or later defensive personnel will be coached-up to stand up and the result of a hurdle won't be pretty. You can piece together that Minolta moment. Ouch!

How about Notre Dame? The Irish squeaked out a win in Baltimore yesterday afternoon over Navy. Clearly, the Irish had a gameplan to just pound the rock, then pound it more. But talk of Weis' demise in South Bend are premature. To quote Lou Holtz, "every time you turn one corner there's always another corner. " Clearly, they're not back yet - more work to do in SB. But for now, the Irish are bowl eligible (meaning they're guaranteed to play somewhere in the post-season).

Week #11 Wrap - Chaos in Champaign?

2008-11-08T10:26:00.000-08:00

CHIEF ON THE TRIBE - OMG... WTF....OMG .... WTF! Even I didn't think it would be quite this bad. From Rose Bowl to NO BOWL? Ugh! I've been saying all year it would be a tough road for us in 2008 after going 9-3 in 2007. We have a history of underperforming after Rose-Bowl appearances and winning seasons. I said in August we would likely go 7-5 this year and that 2009 would be the year of the CHIEF. Now, I'm not so sure about either.

I mean seriously, what the heck is going on behind closed doors in Champaign these days? Does Ron have control of this team? I've been questioning the discipline of this year's edition all season. After last year's 9-3 run, we now have to be one of the most disappointing clubs in the country. And there is good reason for concern going forward. We are little more than an over-hyped, under-achieving, inconsistent gang of drunken sailors in a stormy sea without a moral compass, searching for some religion. At 5-5, we should be 8-2 or better. It's not a leap to say that three of our losses to Wisconsin, Minnesota, and now WM were mostly self-inflicted. Taking nothing away from those teams, they didn't beat us so much as we beat ourselves. And if we played with any discipline and fortitutde against Mizzou and Penn State (games we lead at one point), it's not altogether unreasonable to envision different results. Oye ... ugh! I bet the $300K guarantee for playing on Ford Field against WM doesn't feel so good right now.

Message to Coaches - I know you guys are trying. No lack of effort. The 12% rule is a good one (and I'm sure we exceeded it against the Broncos). Actually, that's what concerns me most. We are one of if not they most talented teams in conference so you can see why these results don't meet expectations. So between you and me, what's going on? Does Coach Zook have control of this team? I'm mean what the hell is going on behind closed doors; I want to know? It's a fair question based on what we see. More of the same, not good. Last week's off - field issue centered around a potential squabble between Cumberland and LeShore. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but in-fighting is never good especially when one player ends up with a broken jaw. And that's just one event in a series of off-field problems this year. On the field, my team has been plagued with penalties, turnovers, and a lack of consistent execution on both sides of the ball. We need to become more than just a collection of physical specimens. Great teams become much more than the sum of their parts. Yes, the wheels appear to be coming off the wagon as we start the downhill decline. Oh do we miss Rashard Mendenhall. Juice is trying to do too much for this team right now with his legs and arm. He's clearly pressing with the absence of a sound rushing attack.

Today's first-half effort in Detroit against Western Michigan is more proof. Juice had 2 first-half picks that led to 14 points on short fields. Senseless personal-foul penalties killed drives. I just don't see the chemistry and consistency we should be seeing this year wiht a junior QB and plenty of skilled players to go around. Benn went just 1 for 3 yards while juice was just 3 for 9, 69 yards, and 2 INTS. Ugh! The Broncos outgained us 239 to 125 in yardage, 14 to 6 in first downs, and executed 12 more plays on offense. Yikes! We have to figure out how to execute better in the red zone.

More of the same in the 2nd half even though we outscored them 10-3. Just wasn't enough to overcome our own damn mistakes on the road. Juice ended up with another 3INTs, including one in the red-zone as we were trying to convert a 4th down to win the game late. He ended up going just 20/44 for 328 and a TD to tighten things up a bit. Benn had 7 catches for 111 (nice average), but no win. The running game was non-effective once again amassing just 125 yards on 30 attempts. We clearly need more balance from the rushing attack. When juice throws for 60% or more and no INTs; we win - period.

When we play best we play balanced. Instead of 200 yards on the ground and perhaps 250 yards passing, our recent box scores read more like my frequent flier mileage with United, skewed to the air. Dufrene, Ford, LeShore, Pollard, Benn, and company need to find a way to accumulate 150 yards on the ground. It can't all be on Williams. He's good, but only human. And while we all know he can set stadium records, he can't be relied on for 450 yards of offense very time he takes the field. When Juice is 80%+ of the total offense you know we're in trouble, usually playing desperation football from behind. It's never good to see four 4-th down attempts in the box score even through we did execute on two of them. The 1 for 13 on 3rd down was painful. WM also owned TOP, especially in the first half.

Up next, a surging Buckeye club that demolished a decent NW team today. We should take a chapter out of Tressel's playbook on playing patient disciplined football. Ohio State was solid in all aspects of the game this afternoon up in Evanston. We're in deep trouble next week at home. And what kills me is that we have the raw talent to hang with anybody in conference. But we lack the discipline, the execution, and team play that makes the other teams better. It could get ugly and at home. Ugh! At 5-5, we're on the outside of the bowl picture looking in. And with just two games left, it would be in our best interest to win both of them to secure a spot. I'm not sure we'll get a bid at 6-6. Rose Bowl / no bowl? In their latest bowl projects, Schlabach feels confident enough in 6th win over Ohio State or NW to put us in the Insight Bowl against Kansas. Feldman is probably more realistic with a trip back to Detroit to face Ball State (of the MAC conference) in the Motor City bowl since I don't see us getting seven wins this year at this point. God help us.

“It’s going to be a challenge,” Zook said. “We’ve kind of slipped back a little bit. We can be a good team, but we’re going to have to put a lot of things aside and put the team first and see if we’re the type of people we think we are.”

My New Top-10:

1) Bama - it took OT, but Saban has the TIDE undefeated in the SEC West. Yep, #1 - for now.
2) Texas Tech- Guns up Red Raiders. Nobody can stop this offense right now. 10-0 since '38.
3) Florida- Romped over Vandy, now 17 in a row. This team controls its own destiny in the SEC.
4) Texas- Good win today coming back after Tech. Still in the title hunt. Needs help.
5) Oklahoma - Another 40-point victory. Only loss is to #4 in the Red River Classic.
6) USC- May be the best defense in the country. Offense is good. Title hopes are slim to nill.
7) Utah- Should have lost to TCU Thursday night. Gutty win. Gutty team. Holy War remains.
8) Boise State - Too much blue for my liking. Why not go with blue shoes too? Ugh!
9) Penn State - Tough loss. Kinnick is a hard place to win on the road. Pink lockers win again!
10) Georgia - Tough win today at KY. But an SEC team with just two losses. Hmm....

Final Notes around the Nation -

Tough loss today for Penn State and Paterno. The Lions are done. And make that three straight losses to Iowa coming off a bye week. I should have known better. Give credit to Iowa for beating a top-5 team for the first time in nearly 20 years. The Rose Bowl isn't a bad gig. Penn State was the sentimental favorite, but looking back on the season and the performance today, it was probably the best thing to happen today for CFB. And how about Michigan retaining the Lil' brown jug with a surprising win over slumping Minnesota. The BIG 12 South continues to dominate with Texas, Oklahoma, and TT all rolling tonight. And keep your eye on Florida, the best team in the country right now. GAMEDAY FINAL has you covered in case you missed any of this week's heart-pounding action. And here's how I see bowl season shaping up with a few more weeks to go:

My Projected Championship Game = Florida versus Texas Tech or Texas (BCS #1 and #2). Yes, I know that may mean that Texas could sneak into the BIG GAME without a conference championship. But they are the most deserving one-loss team outside of Florida. I don't see things working out for Oklahoma or USC this year. All depends on the Red Raiders right now and that showdown in Norman in a few weeks. My money is on Texas, 11 straight 9-win seasons under Coach Mac Brown leads the nation.

Likely Rose Bowl = USC and Penn State. I guess there's an outside shot of Michigan State sneaking into the Grand Daddy. But it's not likely since that would mean a road win in Happy Valley.

Maybe Sugar Bowl = Alabama versus FSU, or the ACC champion. I expect Bama to lose to Florida in the SEC Championship game. Not exactly what is going to happen in the ACC between WAKE, FSU, VA. Tech and Carolina. Say what you want about Bowden, but that's 32 consecutive winning seasons in Tallahassee. Dawg Gamut!

Probable Orange Bowl = Oklahoma versus BIG EAST (WV, Pitt, or Cincy). Wow, Texas Tech could win the BIG-12 and end up not playing in a BCS game this year. Even more motivation for a play-off in CFB. With 3 one-loss BIG-12 teams in the TOP-10 right now, and deservingly so, how do we reconcile the two best?

Buster Fiesta = Boise State versus Ohio State. Not a bad match -up in the desert. I dont' see either one of these teams losing in the month of November.

Obama is right ... deal with it!

2008-11-06T20:44:00.000-08:00

I mean when a man is right he's right. Change is here. Sure, we have some serious problems to solve in front of us: the economy, health care, and wars in Iraq / Afghanistan. But if our president - elect says its time for a college playoff in DIV1-A football, who am I to stand in his way? Yes, Barack is right. We need to settle this on the field and not in the polls or by computers.

You may remember that I first proposed a BCS solution a few years ago calling for a 12-team play-off. Since then, I've gone back and forth with the current system versus what could be the best thing in all of sport: a true playoff in DIV1-A football. Yes, the time has come, and here's how it should work.

Start with the top-8 teams in the final regular-season BCS rankings, minus the conference championships. That could be the toughest roadblock, but trust me it will be worth it in every way down the stretch. The regular season should end with the rivalry action of Thanksgiving weekend.

It would be 1 versus 8, 2 verus 7, etc.... with the TOP-4 in the BCS playing on their home fields in round-one quarterfinal matchups. As of tonight, picture Bama hosting Utah in Tuscaloosa, Texas Tech hosting USC in Lubbock, Penn State hosting Oklahoma in Happy Valley, and Texas at Florida. Wow, and that's just the first round. Now that's television.

Keep the bowls, all of 'em. Use the bowl system that we know and love to host the round-two semi-final matchups, rotating through two of the four existing BCS games: Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl, and Sugar Bowl. These two games (remaining 4 teams from #2 above) would be played on New Year's Day. In this example you could easily imagine Bama versus Florida in the Orange Bowl while Oklahoma travels to Pasadena to play USC in the Rose.

Finally, it all concludes a week later in the BCS Title Game under the lights in Glendale, AZ with Florida winning it all over USC.

Week #10 Wrap - The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly ...

2008-11-01T19:13:00.000-07:00

Well, you have to love the game of CFB. They say they remember November. It's never the same game twice. Each week is an opportunity to change your fortune and direction. The highs can be high; and the lows can be low. And remember the wisdon of Coach Mike Leach. When considering a ham and eggs breakfast, never forget that while the hen may be involved, the PIG is comitted. And TEXAS needs a bye week and playing Oklahoma, Mizzou, Okie State, and Texas Tech. Up next Baylor, at home. But what a special treat tonight on Halloween weekend in Lubbock. Wow, if you missed Texas / Texas Tech tonight, then you missed one of the best games of the year.

Theater at its best, no doubt. Good versus evil. Black hats verus white ones. The law versus the lawless. And tonight, the bad guys won (first win over #1 ever). This game had all of the drama, senseless violence, and true grit of a clasic American spaghetti western. Sergio Leone would be proud. I can still hear the bands battling in my head. What a soundtrack. Guns-up Red Raiders! Now, a few words as we enter the month of November:

1) I'd like to give thanks to Virgina after blowing a 7-point lead over Miami today with 55 seconds to go in the game after allowing a 95-yard TD drive to force OT where they lost on a turnover. Yes, Thomas Jefferson would be proud.

2) I'd like to give thanks to Notre Dame after blowing a 14-point 2nd-half lead to a one-dimensional Wannstedt - coached Pitt squad at home. Ugh! Slim Shady definitely got the better of the ND rush defense. And TD Jesus agrees with me, SINFUL! It was almost as if the sprinklers which came on early in the first OT session were symbolic of the tears we all had swelling up in our eyes.

3) Finally, I'd like to give thanks to FSU who fumbled on the 2-yard line while trying to punch-in the game-winning TD. No, it wasn't good enough to kick the FG and force OT. You had to fumble the game away to a GT club who had never beat a ranked Nole team. Yes!

Here's what else we learned this weekend from around the nation. Remember pre-season #1 Georgia and #2Ohio State? That was supposed to be our title game this year. Now both clubs have two losses and have no chance to play in Miami come January. Historic, since the inception of the BCS ten year's ago either pre-season #1 and/or pre-season #2 in the AP have reached the title game. Good stuff Stewart.

And what of Washington / Washington State? Whoa - these teams lost to USC and Stanford this weekend by a combined total of 114-0 (Wazzu by 58 and the Huskies by 56, ouch!). I agree with Borst of FoxSports.Com, we should call it the Pacific Northworst. Let's start calling it the Crapple Cup (November 22nd showdown in Pullman). Combined, they're 0-16 this year when you look at FBS competition. On average, the Cougs play to 48-8 losses while Washington is only slightly better, losing something like 40-16 each time out.

And what are some of the most likely BCS showdowns? Check back early and often. But, for this week, these seem as plasible as anything else I've heard:

BCS Championship: Penn State (12-0) vs. Texas Tech (13-0)
Rose Bowl: Oregon State (9-3) vs. Ohio State (10-2)
Sugar Bowl: Florida (12-1) vs. Big East champion
Fiesta Bowl: Texas (11-1) vs. Utah (12-0)
Orange Bowl: ACC champion vs. Alabama (12-1)

CHIEF on the TRIBE - well, it wasn't pretty but very effective nonetheless. We needed a quality victory like AIG needed a bailout. And while we had 3 turnovers, more penalties, and less total time of possesion, it was a victory to keep our season alive and our bowl aspirations in place (Insight Bowl against Nebraska or Champs Bowl against FSU?). At 5-4, we finally have a win in conference over a team with a winning record. Let's just take care of bidness over the next three weeks. I expect us to go at least 2-1 in that stretch with games @ Western Michigan (Detroit), at home against Ohio State, and at Northwestern in Evanston. 7-5 would be a successful campaign this year after going 9-3 in 2007. It's what I said back in August.

What did I like? The effort was better this week. We played with more urgency and better execution, especially on defense. I like the six sacks and scoop/score. Stanzi went just 10 for 30 against an improving defensive secondary. The kicking game seems to be improving, both kick-offs and field goals. Obviously, Eller was the hero tonight with his 46-yard game-winning effort. Juice did go 22/37 for 272 yards but did have two costly INTs.

What did I not like? Ugh! We have to stop turning the rock over. I like the 12% rule by Coach Locksley (no more that 12% bad plays including INTS, fumbles, penalties, drops, etc...). We were up around 17% for the day. Time of possession was low and so were the number of first downs (21 to 14, Iowa). We only had one first down on the ground - YIKES! Like I said, it wasn't a pretty win. But it was a win.

My New Top-10:

1) Alabama - Arkansas Sate is one thing. Up next, LSU in the bayou....
2) Penn State - Stage is set for Joe Pa. Just don't lose. Up next, @ Iowa.
3) Texas Tech - Guns up! Don't celebrate too long. You get Okie State next.
4) Florida - 1st of the one-loss teams. Fair enough, you won the Cocktail Party.
5) Texas - Tough loss in Lubbock. Grueling schedule. Beware Baylor.
6) Oklahoma - Poised to move up. Better hope Texas loses again. Aggies next.
7) USC - Cal visits next. Won't be quite as easy next week.
8) Oklahoma State - What happens if OSU wins out? Yikes. Bedlam! TT next.
9) UTAH - First BCS buster. Just keep winning.
10) Boise State - 2nd BCS buster. See above.

Conference Rankings -

1) BIG 12 - rather, the BIG12 South. TT, UT, OSU, and OU. Fear the firepower.
2) SEC - mostly Florida and Alabama this year. Rest of the teams are all down this year.
3) BIG10/ACC - take your pick here. Penn State is the cream of the crop.
4) BIG EAST - I guess WV is your frontrunner, for now.
5) PAC1 - it's all about one team and one team only this year, USC.

Looking ahead, WEEK #11 should be another thriller. Can't wait for Penn State @ Iowa, Okie State @ Tech, Bama @ LSU, CAL @ USC, and ND @ BC.

Final Thought - THE BIG 12 Mess: If you're like me, you wonder to yourself what are the various scenarios in the BIG12 with a bunch of teams staring at 1 loss, especially in the South. Trust me, it gets complicated - but I have you covered. Directly from the BIG12 Media guide, here is the official tiebreaker protocol. Pay particular attention to clause (b), three or more teams are tied. Step 7 of clause (b) has the winner chosen by a 'draw', yes - you heard this right. But based on their remaining schedules and projections as either favorites or dogs in each of the remaining games, things are looking good for Texas Tech - assuming they finish no worse than 7-1 in conference (losing at Oklahoma). Yes, check back with the rules early and often over the next month or so.

Week #9 - Meltdown in Madison ...

2008-10-25T16:16:00.000-07:00

CHIEF on the TRIBE - It's like I said last week, it's the little things that matter most. More of the bad same this week from the tribe: senseless penalties, turnovers, blown coverages, and missed tackles. It's almost as if we find new ways to beat ourselves. And against Wisconsin for Pete's sake, ugh! Not good. No my friends, Wisky didn't beat us today. We gave that win away. This year's team is a work in progress to be kind. We're not very good week to week; consisteny is the word of the year. And with four games to go, 2-2 seems reasonable, but maybe not good enough for a bowl game. We still don't have a good win on the year. But after today's defeat in Madison, we now have two bad losses in conference. Yuck! And Zooker has still yet to win in Madision. I don't like Camp Randall at all.

I knew this was a bad match-up for us this week coming off a blowout win at home against Indiana. We're just a middle of the pack FBS club, nothing more or less. We don't know what it takes to play championship football. Wisky had nothing to lose at home today after losing four straight in conference. It was a game we should have won going away in the 2nd half. Yikes ...

Williams had a terrible day on just 17/32 for 223 and 3 INTS (with 2 TDs). Yuck! And the Illinois running game was held in check all day, posting just 77 yards on the ground. Regis was a blip on the radar at best on just two catches. What the hell guys! And learn how to line up to take a snap. WTF! Discipline, respect, honor, pride - go look those up in the dictionary this week in between classes. Or don't come out to play next weekend. Nobody will want to watch. Up next, Iowa. Get ready to play guys. Nobody will give it to you. You have to earn it. When does basketball season start?

Message to Coaches - Well, and 4-4 we're on the outside of the bowl picture looking in. And with four tough games ahead of us against bowl-eligible or winning programs, it's not going to be easy. Needless to say, six wins gets you eligible to play in the post-season. But, we'll likely need 7 wins this year, especially when considering we don't have ANY quality victories. Sorry, beating Michigan and Indiana don't cut it this year. We'll have our chances against good Iowa and Ohio State programs, but we can't falter against Western Michigan or Northwestern. But it all starts next weekend at home on Dad's Day against the Hawkeyes. If we address the little things and play with some passion and discipline we should win all four of them. I don't think anybody has near our talent, save for perhaps Ohio State. But we've proven time and time again that our own worst enemy out there at times is ourselves. Ugh! Oye .... ouch.

I need to see more urgency and heightened awareness of distance and down. I need to see more confidence that we will score on every possession and stop them from scoring when they have the ball. Just watch what Tulsa did in the 2nd half this weekend against UCF. Do it like you've done it before; and again. Don't take any play for granted.

“We can be a good team but they’re going to be held accountable, especially the older guys,” Zook said. “It’s not the way it was before we got here. If we want to be the kind of program we want to be, guys have got to bow up.”

“If we’re going to be a winning team and beat this curse of not having two winning seasons in a row, we have to be smart,” linebacker Brit Miller said. “If we do our jobs, we win.”

Elsewhere around the Nation -

Every week matters. Every week is a championship in the balance. Every week is a play-off. Every week is an opportunity. There is no static state. You're either moving up or down.

Penn State / Ohio State - a defensive battle for sure. And the playcalling was very conesrvative for long stretches of this game. But give credit to Ohio State and that defense. The offense needs more work in the passing game. The pathway is clear for Penn State's run to the national - title game. Unlike my Illini, this team just doesn't beat themselves. I don't think the Nittany Lions even had a penalty tonight in Columbus. It's shaping up for JoePa's 3rd championship. 381 for Mr. Paterno. 1 for 7 in Columbus, first since 1978. Nice job. Yeah, you're worthy..... for now.

Texas / Okie State - How much longer can the Horns continue to run the gauntlet? Colt McCoy is amazing. I think he went 25-28 tonight against a pretty good Poke squad. First it was Oklahoma, then Mizzou, and now the Cowboys from Oklahoma. Up next in Lubbock on Halloween weekend is Texas Tech; who whacked a good Kansas club at home in Lawrence today. Wow, that should be fun. Can Texas possibly do it again, four in a row? It's Colt's world, and we're just living in it. As of today, McCoy is your Heisman winner. Unless they lose.

Alabama / Tennessee - What happens if both Texas and Alabama run the table? It's going to be tough, but the TIDE look for real this year. Just ask Tennessee who was man-handled tonight at home in front of 102K.

My New Top-10, BIG -12 Love!:

1) Texas - three monster wins in a row, unparalleled. Up next the Red Raiders in Lubbock.
2) Alabama - good road win in Knoxville. Perhaps the best team in the SEC.
3) Penn State - no doubt the BIG-10 front-runner. It might just be JoePa's year.
4) Oklahoma - keeping pace with the top-3 if one should stumble. Tough club.
5) Florida - starting to peak at the right time of the year. Up next, the cocktail party.
6) USC - still lurking. Great individual talent. Not sure this is a great team yet.
7) Georgia - impressive in Baton Rouge. Up next, the GATORS! Make mine a double.
8) Texas Tech - may not be a better offense in the country. But can they stop anybody good?
9) Oklahoma State -no shame in today's loss to Texas. Almost pulled it off.
10) Utah - undefeated likely into the Holy War with BYU.

FINAL NOTES - The game is changing. If you can't score, and score often, you aren't ranked in the TOP-10. Just ask Ohio State. Everybody at the top in FBS football can light it up like chain smoker in a tobacco shoppe. Sure, defense is important. And it's even been said that defense wins championships. Maybe so. But, you can't win if you don't score. And, let's be honest. You can't ask your defense to stop the opposition and score in the same sentence. At least not week in and out. A great offense can hide the mistakes of a marginal defense (Texas Tech). Of course, it doesn't hurt when you team doesn't make many mistakes. The best teams tend to not beat themselves.

Week #8 - It's the Little Things ...

2008-10-18T18:59:00.000-07:00

CHIEF on THE TRIBE - I ask myself, self - how are we 3-3? Self answers, "It's the little things." Were it not for key defensive breakdowns and disasters in the kicking game we'd be 7-0 at this point. Ugh! It's the little things. They turn into big things in close games. Tighten it up and you dominate. Execute the little things all the time. And be strong in the kicking game. Sure, we whipped - up on Indiana tonight to bring the record to 4-3. Not bad. Not great. That's about how I would summarize my season. At this point in the year, I'd expect us to be 5-2 instead of 4-3. Up next, a road trip to Madison to play a reeling Badger squad who's now lost four in a row, and maybe more.

Quick thoughts on the Indiana game tonight:

Offense executed in all facets. I'm not sure there's a defense in conference that can stop us right now. We'll put up 30 points / game and nearly 500 yards per effort and are at the top of most statistical offensive BIG-10 categories, right behind Penn State.

Defense / Special Teams - need more work. Too many blown coverages, missed tackles, and questionable plays on special teams including kick-off coverage and field goals / extra points. If we expect to contend for the crown this year then we'll need to tighten up these facets of the game.

Juice continues his domination in conference and across the nation. There may not be a more prolific offensive player in the land right now. He's averaging over 400 total yards / game this season. Wow!

Good to see Jason Ford arrive on the scene in the rushing game. We'll need his power and speed in the 2nd half of the season to complement Dufrene. I must say we're not missing Mendenhall this year. Daniel and Jason provide us a nice 1-2 puch! Bammmm.....

And give credit to OC Mike Locksley. Balance on offense. 300+ passing yards and 250+ rushing yards tonight. Wow! We can run it or throw it whenever we want to on offense. As long as we don't turn it over, we can name the final score right now. But, it's one thing to do it against Indiana. It's quite something different to do it against the powerhouse in conference. We'll have our chances.

How 'bout the 'D' tonight? We held them to 10 points and 200 yards total offense most of the night, at least until it didn't matter anymore. They average almost 200 yards / game. We kept them under 100 for most of the game.

Keep getting AJ (Jenkins) as many touches as possible. I like him returning kicks and punts. The true freshmen from Jacksonville is special.

I knew this would be an interesting year of football in Champaign. Let's face it; 2003 was ahead of schedule. And, it's always hard to follow - up a great season with a good one. We seem to be back on track tonight after Indiana. But, we have more work ahead of us. Juice Williams has arrived as a big-time QB in CFB. He may be the best in the game right now in terms of balanced rushing and passing. Nobody is putting up numbers like he is right now back to back to back. Wow! It's not just the X's and the O's but the Jimmies and the Joes! Go get it boys; it's right there to be taken! Do it like you've done it before. We should be favored in our next three games (Wisconsin, Western Michigan, and Iowa). But they won't be gimmies.

Inside the STATS -

Almost 600 yards in total offense tonight. Williams with another 300 yards and 4TDs.
Welcome Jason Ford - 171 on 19 carries and 3TDs including a 41 - yard gallop. 2nd-best rushing effort in school history for a true freshmen. Yes, the future is bright in the backfield.
Benn, 7 for 130 and 1 TD on 37 yards. A.J. Jenkins - 2 kickoffs for 116 yards and 1TD.
Defense gave up just 13 points tonight, mostly when they didn't matter. We're now 8th in the conference in terms of points allowed (27/game on 354 yards / game).
As a team, we're 2nd in BIG-10 scoring at 36.1 points / game on 485 yards / game with good passing/rushing balance (205 yards / game on the ground).

My Top-10:

Texas - nobody has two better wins in Oklahoma and Mizzou.

Alabama - struggled with Ole Miss tonight. Many more teams will as well.

Penn State - slow start against Michigan. Ran away with it down the stretch.

Oklahoma - good win over a solid KU squad under Reesing.

Florida - off this week hosting KY next.

USC - 69 points better than WAZZU. Yep, they covered

Oklahoma State - beating Baylor is one thing. At Texas next week is another.

Texas Tech - good road win over A&M.

Ohio State - who had Bucky 38 better than SPARTY?

Utah - we'll learn more in two week against TCU, unless they lose next week at NM.

FINAL NOTES - So, now that we've crossed into the 2nd half of the season and the heart of conference play, what did we learn this weekend? The TOP-half of the TOP-25 stabilized this weekend, for the most part. The bottom-half of the same group had more Ls than Ws. Expect more shake-ups in the polls this week as the BCS debuts. Here are this week's winners and losers. Sorry John, the 280-game WAZZU scoring streak came to an end in Pullman last night at the hands of the Trojans.

TEXAS and OHIO STATE really imprssed me this weekend, but for different reasons. The Horns cambe back to blow-out a mighty good TIGER TEAM at home after an emotional victory in the Red River game. And Ohio State went on the road in conference to dismantle Michigan State (yes, another sign it's October). Ohio State has themselves a QB. Penn State beat Michigan for the first time in 9 tries, but didn't look all that convincing in the 1st half. Their defense has some work to do in order to contain that powerful Buckeye offense next weekend in the Big Horseshoe. That is shaping up to be another great showdown of powers.

Here are your current bowl projections as of WEEK 8. Right now, it looks like a trip for the CHIEF to the CHAMPS SPORTS bowl against BC or VT. Most have TEXAS playing either Penn State or Florida for the national title with a rematch in the Rose Bowl between Ohio State and USC. On the slate for next Saturday, I'll be looking forward to the following matchups:

Texas Tech @ Kansas - are the Red Raiders for real?
Illinois @ Wisconsin - can the chief sustain the momentum?
Georgia @ LSU - another inter-divisional SEC clash with national implications.
Okie State @ Texas - promising to be another classic BIG-12 showdown.
VT @ FSU - somebody has to win this one. Two teams looking to get back on top.
Penn State @ Ohio State - will the real BIG-10 champion please stand up?

And my final thoughts on the BCS; rumor has it that the first ranking of the 2008 campaign was unveiled today. What to make of it? What to hope for? What, in this crazy world does it all mean? I don't know. But I do know this: in the 10 years of the BCS system, 20 teams have played for the nation title. 19 of them have come from the initial ranking of the top-6. So, take a close look at the list today and you'll likely find the National Champ in there somewhere.

Week #7 - Utter Calamity in Champaign - Ugh!

2008-10-11T16:37:00.000-07:00

At least Sherwood beat Hillsboro Friday night (34-13). Yes. Go Bowmen! Not totally sure where this is going to go or how deep into the depths of despair I'll plunge this week. So, before I pen this column in all of its tragedy, think of me in your thoughts and prayers this week. I'm a damaged man right now. Hopefully, we'll find a way to right the ship after today's meltdown. We better if we have any chance at making a marginal bowl - game this year.

Chief on the Tribe - What is very clear to me right now is we're a long way from last year's success in so many subtle ways. Looking back, maybe it was too much / too fast. After all, it's hard to follow a 9-3 season which earned us a Rose Bowl opportunity. And I did say this would be a step back year, before we arrive on the national scene in a big way next season. But today's performance was totally unexpected. and extremely disappointing. Just when you think things are going well ... a big whack of reality like a sack of frozen potatoes in a ragged burlap sack.

Sure, Benn and Williams are putting up huge numbers early this year. The defense is looking better to me each and every week. And don't think that it's all doom and gloom. My team is doing many things right on both sides of the ball (special teams excluded). But, when it's all said and done we're just 3-3 (1-2 in conference) and reeling after today's homecoming loss to a surprisingly good and extremely well-coached Minnesta Gopher squad in front of a capacity crowd, who went home very dissatisfied today (27-20 defeat). Ugh! Did I mention it was homecoming? What's with that?

WHAT HAPPENED? Maybe we lost focus with all of the distractions associated with Homecoming? Maybe it was the distraction of mid-terms? We all know preparing for exams and papers in GENERAL STUDIES is a tall order. Maybe the guys didn't get enough sleep last night? I'm sure the water is at least partially to blame. Or maybe we just didn't bring IT today, expecting to win instead of executing to win? It's like I've been saying all year and forever, it's a different game each week. You have to come to the show prepared and motivated. Every week matters. It's a 3-month playoff in order to determine the grid-iron pecking order. Good teams win games they're expected to win. Great teams always get it done. This just in, we're neither. Actually, after today's crushing home loss, I would put us in the bottom-half of the BIG-10 right now (bottom - dweller territory).

3 key turnovers and mistakes in the kicking game will ALWAYS get you beat. Playing 3.5 quarters of lethargic football will ALWAYS get you beat. I didn't see any urgency on the offensive side of the ball until we were down 20-6. Granted, we moved the ball well all day long up and down the field OUTSIDE of the red zone. But when we broke into that place, we were denied almost every time by a gutty Gopher defense and/or our own crutial mistakes.

Instead of leading 28-14 or 31-14 in the 4th quarter, we trailed most of the game - as much as by 14 points until a sense of urgency finally set in. But in the end it was too little too late. There were so many problems I'm not sure I'll be able to expose them all. The biggest of them all is that this year's team lacks discipline and respect: respect for the team, respect for protecting the rock, respect for the fans, and respect for the game. How else do you explain 3 turnovers, 5 key penalties, missed field goals, kick-offs out of bounds, muffed punts, and blown coverages in the secondary at key moments in the game? Sure, we're loaded with young talent to burn at most positions. But that comes with a prices of foolish mistakes and inconsist performance game to game, quarter to quarter, and drive to drive.

MESSAGE TO COACHES -

With winning comes higher expectations. It's been several years since we've had that winning spirit in Champaign which arrived with last-year's club. It's no longer good enough to win one or two big games each year. We need to put a string of consistent performances together and take care of bidness. Until I see more of that, this year's team will remain a bunch of one-hit wonders and more disappointments. I agree coach, we have a long way to go.

Starting with our 'special teams' play today, grade = F-. I've already alluded to the missed field goal, the kick-offs out of bounds, muffed punts, and terrible kick coverage. The 'kicking game' has now significantly contributed to our three losses this year. In each of them, the kicking game has had major meltdowns allowing either outstanding field position or points. Ugh! We have to have the worst special teams' play in the nation. Ugh! And with so many other parts of our play today, this group failed to play with intensity and urgency.

A quick look t the box score shows that we dominated most statistical categories, except for the final score. You might ask yourself how we lost this game and just scored 20 points. Ugh!

We had 25 first downs to their 16.

Our 550 total yards on offense exceeded theirs by more than 200.

Juice had another monster day throwing the ball for over 460 with 2TDs, and one killer pick late in the game.

Time of possession was about equal, 30 minutes per team.

3 costly turnovers (2 fumbles and 1 pick). Ugh!

5 sacks allowed, including the forced fumble leading to their scoop and score.

Only 88 rushing yards, down from our season average of 210.

FINAL NOTES - It's time to get back to the fundamentals like 'kicking', 'tackling', 'blocking', 'catching', and 'holding onto the ball'. While it's true we have too good losses against Penn State and Mizzou, we now have our first 'bad' loss against a decent Gopher club. And with Michigan spiraling downward faster than the stock market these days, we are still in search of our first 'good win' of the season. It's now mid-October. We only have a few more opportunities against quality conferenece opponents. It may take beating Ohio State to set the record straight. It's put up or shut up in my opinion. So, let's get going guys. Let'ts get back to the fundamentals which have cost us our three losses. The time for whining about our problems is over. 90% of the country could care less about our deficiencies. And the other 10% is glad we have them.

We actually 'gave' them 13 points today on offense. The defense didn't give up 27 points today. Good news there at least. The defense is improving each week, I think. But give credit to a very good Minnesota squad. They've turned the corner from last year's campaign and are now 6-0 (bowl eligible). This is going to be a good team with Decker, Eskridge, and Weber. That trio gives them the offense they need to compete in this conference and beyond.

There wasn't much good news, but I did take some comfort in the following:

Our receiving core is young, but talented. Bunch of studs in Benn, Duvalt, Judson, Jenkins, Sykes, and Cumberland. They're going to develop even more as the season progresses. A.J. announced his arrival on the scene today as a true freshmen with 3 receptions for a whopping 117 yards and 2 monster TDs. Benn is a true stud (one of the best in the land) who ended up wtih 12 receptions for 181 yards. Nice.

Williams had another awesome showing, at least statistically. I already alluded to his 460 passing yards on 26 of 42. He also had 18 rushes, but for just 41 yards. Minnesota bottled him up for most of the afternoon.

The DEFENSE played well again today, and forced 1 key fumble late in the game. Sure, they gave up 312 on 61 plays, but only 14 points in all honesty.

Up next, Indiana at home. Then we travel to Madison before getting Iowa at home. All games we can win if we play like we did in Ann Arbor. All games we will lose if we play like we did today against the Gophers. Ugh!

MY NEW 10 -

Alabama - didn't play this week. Probably would have lost otherwise. Inherit #1.

Texas - after doing what most thought was unlikely, horns are #2 for now and face a brutal schedule in conference. They get MIZZOU next at home. For now, 6-0.

Penn State - scary team. Dismantled a marginal Wisconsin club. What's happening in Madison.

Oklahoma - no shame in losing to an awesome TEXAS club this year in the Cotton Bowl.

Florida - when you beat LSU that's news. When you lay 51 on that defense, that's special.

USC - defense is stout even if the offense sputters at times. No problems today with ASU.

BYU - only an 18 point win over New Mexico at home. Not overly impressive, but still unblemished on the card. We learn more this Thursday at TCU (nation's best defense). Until then at least, make it 16 in a row, nation's longest.

Oklahoma State - beating Mizzou in Columbia is impressive. Holding them under 50 is amazing. And that's 2 straight against the TIGERS in Columbia. First time the COWBOYS beat a top-10 club since 2001, under Les Miles.

Texas Tech - Red Raiders struggled with Nebraska. Their defense is suspect. Their offense isn't.

Ohio State - don't look now. The Buckeyes are 6-1 (bowl eligible yet again).

And what else did we learn this weekend? Maybe, just maybe, the BIG-12 is the BEST in the LAND. I've been saying all year the the SEC is the best CFB conference in America. Last weekend I had them in a dead sprint with the BIG-12. But, as I think more deeply about this question, I'm leaning more and more towards the BIG-12, at least for now. There's no question they possess the most potent offenses in the country. So, w/o further hesitation, I give you my latest BCS conference rankings:

BIG-12

BIG-10

BIG EAST / PAC-10

The Bottomline - Welcome back Alabama, Texas, and Penn State to national prominence. At least for a week, I won't be talking about Florida, Oklahoma, Georgia, LSU, or USC. It's like the 1960's all over again. Rece Davis of ESPN had a good observation in that for the 2nd time in three weeks 3 of the TOP-5 all went down. It's just another crazy season of CFB. I do know this; you better bring it each and every week. Not that preparation alone is good enough to win. Not that desire can always overcome mistakes. Not that perfecting your skills is any guarantee of the outcome. But more and more across the landscape of college football, if you expect to win each and every time you take the field you better execute to win. Intentions aren't good enough. There is no room for excuses. The harsh reality (and probably in part what makes it so great) is that when the new rankings come out on Sunday the picture could not be more black and white. Each game is a play-off game. Every week matters.

Week #6 - Here Comes the Chief!

2008-10-04T18:24:00.000-07:00

Around the Nation -

Welcome to October and WEEK #6 already of 2008; amazing how time flies. And as I look around the nation this week, I'm starting to see some themes emerge as teams begin to claim their slice of the pie. CAL, Penn State, Alabama, and all took care of business today as well. Auburn went down @ VANDY today for the first time in forever. I had a feeling about that outcome. It's hard to watch that club try to move the ball on offense. And how about Miami / FSU - crazy game. Missouri, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and UNC all rolled with the TRIBE. And looks who's back - Ohio State with a quality road win in Madison tonight. Ugh! And for the first time ever at 4-1, the Irish are unranked (Wow, how times have changed). It's happened 27 other times, to put this story in perspective. A win this coming weekend in Chapel Hill will ensure they're ranked at 5-1. Of course, a loss will justify this week's story. Here's what else we learned.

Chief on the Tribe -

I know, I know - before you even say it. Sure, this wasn't the Michigan of old, of Schembechler, Moler, or Carr. Yes, these Wolverines are a young bunch searching for an identity under 1st-year coach, Rich Rodgriguez. Still yet, today's ILLINI performance in Ann Arbor was historic (45-20 final score). Yes, on Saturday we broke an 84-year old mark with our 45 points in the BIG HOUSE. The old record was set by Red Grange's 1924 club. And finally, we have a 'quality' win to move us to 3-2 (1-1 in conference). And when you look at the two losses, they don't look so bad at this point do they? At least we played Mizzou and Penn State competitively for most of those games.

Give credit to the coaching staff this week. The tribe was ready to play in front of our second 100K road audience in as many weeks. And this time, we came through in a BIG WAY (45-20). What was impressive to me about this win wasn't the W but the way we did it. Down 14-3 early, it could have been a long day in Ann Arbor. But, when Juice took charge in the 2nd quarter with a quick 10-yard TD scamper you knew it was game on. From there, he put his stamp on this team and would not be denied. Yes indeed, put it down. On 10/4/2008 Isiah Williams announced to the league and nation that this is his team going forward.

And kudos to my much-maligned defense for finally stepping up in the 2nd quarter. Michigan really didn't have an answer the rest of the game. At times, we made them look bad - really bad. It was a slow start and more of the same in the 1st quarter: missed tackles, blown coverages, and poor positioning. I guess it helps when your offense reals - off 42 points to their 7. Still yet, the defense came to play today for most of the game. Miller was amazing, make big play after big play all day. The D-line grew up today in front of our eyes. And the secondary made a few nice plays as well.

Yes, it was the 108th homecoming for the EVIL EMPIRE today. What a glorious victory in the BIG HOUSE. Benn, Dufrene, and Williams (the terrific trio) had monster days. Williams rushed for 120 and passed for 310, accounting for 4 TDs and no turnovers. It's probably too early to mention him and Heisman in the same sentence, but if he keeps putting up numbers like this it won't be much of a decision. Next year. Next year. Enjoy the helmet sticker Isiah. Benn had 6 catches for 122 yds. And while Daniel only had 46 tough yards on the ground, he had 77 in the air including a monster TD in the 1st half. Yes, it was a good day in most areas of the game.

On the downside, our special teams needs work, especially on PUNT and KICK-OFF coverage. With the offense finally starting to click, they should have plenty of chances to improve. We gave up far too many return yards today (243 yds), especially in that 1st half. And while Juice did have a big day, he only hit 50% of his 26 pass attempts. There's room for improvement there. Other stats to consider: 11th in BIG - 10 in points allowed (94th nationally) and just 10th in total defense (75th in nation). We give up 29.6 points per game and 371 total yards. Yuck! It's a good thing we put up 35.6 ppg and 455.6 ypg, respectively.

Looking ahead, always dangerous, we finally get back home for our next two games where we should be heavy faves (Minnesota and Indiana). Then we hit the road again play Wisconsin in Madison before closing with Iowa and Ohio State at home, Western Michigan and NW on the road. 10-2 isn't impossible, but 9-3 or 8-4 is more likely given the schedule. At this point, 7-5 would be a bit of a disappointment. Anything less than 7 wins would be a letdown, especially after last year. Keep in mind, we were expected to take a step back this year from 9-3 as we re-load for next year and a possible BIG10 / Championship run. At 3-2 (1-1) we're in good shape. We needed a 'quality' win; which this was by all accounts. After last week's road loss, Penn State is clearly the cream of the conference. But, we're right there should they slip up. Check out the latest bowl picture.

Message to coaches - Do it like you've done it before. And play up to the level of the competition, and beyond. Stop the run and you'll have more fun! We need to get the next two as we continue to improve, especially on defense and special teams. We'll need those skills up in Madison. I'm hoping this was our 'get off' game of the year, propelling us on our way. So, enjoy this one for 24 hours, a truly historic - our biggest win over BIG BLUE. The last time Michigan gave up 45 points at home was 1991 against Florida State (51). I expect these winning results to help us on the recruiting trail where our 2009 team is 34th nationally, and only 6th in conference right now behind the big boys like Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Michigan State.

My Top 10 -

Oklahoma - Taking care of business in Baylor today. Next week is HUGE! Bradford and McCoy will finally get to duke it out against each other. Who has the better 'D'?

Missouri - Simply amazing offensive machine. Another beatdown in Lincoln tonight. It's OK Ted, they do this to just about everybody. Scary team!

Alabama - Scratchy win over Kentucky in a trap road game for the TIDE. They move on in the SEC. A bit surprising they didn't dominate more here.

LSU - Off this week. Holding steady. Off to Gainesville next week. Oh my! Could easily swap them with #3 above. Let's see what they do agains the GATORS first. Bama has better wins right now.

Texas - Blew out the Buffs in Boulder. Red River Shootout at the Cotton Bowl next. Colt and Company are rollin'. I'd be a little worried about the pass 'D' if I were a UT fan.

Penn State - Good but not great road win today in West Lafayette. I've been saying it all year, fear Joe Pa this year. Where's the first loss in the schedule? Lot of football to be played.

USC - Back on track tonight against a disillusioned duck squad. Injuries starting to pile up. Too much for Oregon tonight. Far and away the BEST compilation of players in PAC-10.

Texas Tech - Yep, they're for real this year - at least on offense. Ask Kansas State.

BYU - Beating UTAH STATE to extend the nation's longest winning streak to 15 was the good news. Bad news, AF lost to NAVY.

Ohio State - Gutty back and forth comeback win on the road. Watchout for the Buckeyes. This just in, they have a QB.

Conference Ratings - not that conferences win Championships; teams do. That being said, there's a lot riding on how conferneces are perceived internally and externally across the nation. From recruiting to pride, it matters.

SEC / BIG 12 - I just don't see much of a difference between the two anymore. BIG-12 obviously has the better offenses. SEC plays stout defense. You pick 'em.

BIG 10 - Penn State, Illinois, Ohio State, NW, and Michigan State lead the way in a very deep conference. It's going to get interesting in early November.

ACC - UNC, Va Tech, FSU, Ga Tech, BC, and Duke all have winning records right now.

BIG EAST / PAC 10 - UCONN gets blown out by UNC. OS loses to UTAH. I'm still not sure how the PAC-10 will have 7 bowl-eligible teams to fill those slots.

Looking Ahead - Week 7 promises to be awesome. Here are some of the games I'll be looking forward to next week:

LSU @ Florida - another SEC clash that will shape the national championship picture.
Texas & Oklahoma - in the Cotton Bowl. Probably another classic Red-River Showdown.
Penn State @ Wisconsin - I know, but winning in Camp Randall is tough!
Notre Dame @ UNC - Hmmmm .....
Poker Night in Woodhaven - always a game to look forward to.
World's largest basketball practice on 10/11 after Minnesota and Illini gridders.

Week #5 - That's Why They Play the GAMES!

2008-09-27T18:00:00.000-07:00

If you had any doubts. Perhaps a bit of indecision. A smidge of ambiguity. I'm here to tell you with the utmost clarity that there is no better game in the LAND than FCS (DIV 1-A) CFB. It's the reason why men buy obscenely - gigantic flat-panel HDTVs. Weeks like this make men, men. Go grill some steaks. The coals are red hot.

Down goes #1 (USC). Down goes #3 (Georgia). Down goes #4 (Florida). Down goes #8 (Wisconsin). I told you that misery loves company. And thank the Beavers for getting the insanity started Thursday night in Corvallis.

CHIEF on the TRIBE -

Well, the passion may be back in Champaign. Tonight, for the first time really this year, I saw my team (at least on offense) play closer to its real potential. Juice and Rejis both stepped - up to the WHITE OUT challenge in Happy Valley. Sure, it was a loss, but the final score wasn't indicative of the effort (38-24, Penn State). Dufrene continues to impress me at tailback this year (96 yards on just 14 attemps). Williams went just 13/24 for 183 but with 2 TDS and only 1 INT, in the first half. We put up nearly 400 yards of offense in a balanced attack with 196 yards on the ground.

But, the defense just struggled throughout the game to really get in front of Penn State's 'HD' offense. And their special teams beat ours (1 kick-off return after we drew within 7 points in the 3rd). Derrick Williams was fantastic, scoring 3 TDs 3 different ways for 241 total yards.

And how about the 'WHITE HOUSE' Saturday night? Happy Valley has to be the most initmidating road destination in CFB these days, especially at night in front of 108k rabid fans. That crowd reminded me of a soccer crowd in Europe. There was all kind of action taking place in the stands. It's a special place to play the game, especially on a Saturday night. We have yet to win there in six tries now.

Still, I saw enough against Penn State Saturday night (now one of the best teams in the nation) to give me hope for this year's campaign. We can learn and build on this effort, especially on the defensive and special-team's breakdowns. We'll have to, and quick. Up next is BIG BLUE in Ann Arbor (which now looks like a real contest), followed by Minnesota and Indiana at home. We should head into Madison at 4-3 or 5-2 come Ocotober 25th.

Message to Coaches (since I know you read these) - Good job this week in getting the team ready to play. It showed. Having the bye last week worked well. That being said, there's more work to do on special teams and defense. It's true that the 'D' is young, but we need to tighten up our pass coverage in space. I think our tackling is getting better, more physical, but there's still work to do on the fundamentals and positioning. Obviously, we can't allow kick-off returns in close games. I'd also like to see us do more with Dufrene and the rushing attack. We should have a goal of 250 yards / game on the ground with the stable we have including Williams and Benn. Coupled with 200 yards /air, that would be a formiddable attack.

Obviously, we'll need to get things in order quickly for next week against Michigan. No shame in losing to Missouri or Penn State (good losses). Who knows, they might play in Miami come January for all the marbles; they're that good. Looking back, we were competitive in both games for large stretches of each. But, to be honest, we now need some good 'wins' to sprinkle over the resume'. We'll have hour chances now that conference play is here. It's time for a few quality wins folks. Go get 'em! Make a statement. We need more nights like Saturday. I agree coach. Not sure it's a 'peace of mind' with our gameplay yet, but Saturday's performance showed me that things are moving in the right direction. We are making small progress. The key is to sustain the momentum no matter the location, our competition, or adversity we have yet to face. Lets hope Michael Phelps won't be in attendance again next Saturday.

AROUND THE NATION -

I mean, there was no wayUSC would go down to the BEAVERS. The Trojans were so confident they only brought half the band and the b-squad cheerleaders. Some 2000 seats went unclaimed by the men from Troy. It was supposed to be a 25-point rout. But the BLACK and ORANGE had another thing coming. Sure USC looked flat. They missed tackles and dropped balls. It didn't look like Sanchez was a full speed all night. But give most of the credit to Oregon State and Coach Mike. He had the Beavers ready to play. And they simply took it straight at USC all night behind the hard running of the QUIZZ, J. Rodgers. Great job men. You earned that one and shocked the CFB landscape in so doing. Given the relative weakness in the conference this year, a Rose Bowl may not be out of the question (but take care of business first).

And how does Florida lose at home to Ole Miss? How does Georgia get blown out between the hedges in a BLACK OUT? Wow, the SEC is a loaded / well-balanced league. Nick Saban seems to be worth every penny in Tuscaloosa thisyear. Poor Wisconsin, Bielema's boys found another way to blow a 19-point halftime lead on the road against Michigan who scored 27 un-answered points. Like I've been saying all year, it's never the same game each week. Ah yes, misery does love company.

The ACC continues to confound me. Clemson, Miami, and Wake Forest all lost on Saturday. VT and FSU found ways to win. Ugh - what a mess. But DUKE has to be one of the biggest stories of the year that conference. Cutcliffe has them going in the right direction (31-3 over Virginia).

Gap is closing between the BIG-12 and SEC. I'd give the slight edge to the SEC conference in terms of power rankings, mainly because of defense. Offense is a bit of a concern. I see a shift in power within that conference from EAST to WEST. To me, the WEST is stronger right now with LSU, Alabama, Auburn, and Ole Miss playing some good ball. Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee seem to have taken a few steps backwards - for now. Otherwise, my conference rankings remain largely unchanged from last week: 1) SEC, 2) BIG-12, 3) BIG-10, 4) ACC, 5) PAC-10, 6) BIG-10.

Heartbreak moment of the week. Many to chose from with the upsets galore. But the blog is here for you, working overtime to get the inside scoop. Where did Michigan get the motivation for a second - half 27-point comeback against Wisconsin? Answer = Michael Phelps. He was at the BIG HOUSE on Saturday wearing a #8 jersey. Result, biggest comeback at home for Michigan in school history.

And speaking of heartbreaks, there is the case study of Washington State. Losing to Oregon is nothing new. It happens just about every year, no matter the venue. But the alumni won't be scurrying to contribute heaping sums anytime soon after this weekend's 63-14 home loss; yes, it was homecoming too. Ugh! Sorry John. And I'm sure the ride back on Sunday from Pullman with Chris wasn't a lot of fun either.

My NEW TOP-10 - Featuring 3 BIG-12 schools in your TOP-5:

Oklahoma - Good win over TCU. Looking more and more likely like a trip to Miami.

Missouri - Didn't play. Defense still a concern. Should roll Nebraska next.

Alabama - I mean WOW! Didn't see tha coming. Fear the TIDE in the SEC.

LSU - Struggled with MSU last night. We'll learn more @ Florida shortly.

Texas - Continues to roll against weak competition. Colt's team. @ Colorado next.

Penn State - Scary team in HD. I've been saying this all year. BCS? Schedule is favorable.

USC - Uphill climb in the PAC-10. Where do the Trojans go from here?

BYU -How about some love for the MWC? @AF, @TCU, and @ UTAH. Win = BCS.

Texas Tech - Who knows? But, I have to rank somebody here.

Ohio State - Looks who's back in the top-10, for now. Buckeyes found themseles a QB.

FINAL NOTE - It's never the same game twice. And that's why we love the game. You can stink one week and knock-off #1 the next (Oregon State example this year). Every week matters. Every game has play-off implications. It's college football. It's the best thing going. At least we can agree it gives me something to chat about. And that's what we learned this weekend.

And if you're like me, looking ahead to the bowl action already this year, feast your eyes on these projections from MSNBC: DRIVE to the BCS. Right now, it's looking like a CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL matchup between the Fighting Zookers and North Carolina (BIG-10 / ACC showdown). That would be fun. They currently have LSU facing Oklahoma in Miami for the title. Your Rose Bowl is shaping up to be Joe Pa versus Pete(Penn State and USC - not bad). And, if both go undefeated, you're looking at two BCS busters in Boise State (Orange Bowl) and BYU (Fiesta).

Week 4 - No Tribe This Week ... Still GREAT!

2008-09-20T20:11:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a weekend of CFB! When the chill hits the air for the first time of the season. When the sun is a little lower in the late-summer sky. When it's Auburn / LSU. It's a SHOWDOWN SATURDAY. I love this game. There is none better. I'm spent tonight. Cupcakes are behind us. Conference play is here, in full swing.

No tribe update this week. Good news is we didn't lose. Bad news is that we will (@ Penn State next week). I mean, we have NO CHANGE in Happy Valley. Why even travel? Save the MATER some $$$ .... and some pride. We're going to get whacked like a dirty rug in my grandma's paws. It won't be pretty. Early prediction: 99-2 (Penn State will run like the wind).

AROUND THE NATION: But, as for WEEK 4 - wow, what a SATURDAY. How about those PANTERS from Pitt? That was a typical backyard- brawl. HAWKEYES just didn't have enough in the tank to take down Wannstedt's crew at home. As for AUBURN / LSU, it's the BAYOU BENGALS' conference to lose. Jarrett Lee emerged tonight as the clear LSU frontrunner for QB. As if this team needed another shining star. Firs time in 9 years the road team wins this battle.

LSU isn't good. To quote Tony, they're GRRRRRRRRRRREAT! More talent and depth than you will ever know. LES MILES might just have the best job in America. I'm sure Pete Carrol woul disagree. Same for Florida. Another SEC school that plays hammer-down on defense and runs you into the ground on offense and speical teams.

We also learned that Carolina and FSU are NOT for real, just yet. TARHEELS let this one get away today at home with VT (up 14 points mid-way through 3rd) And, it's one thing to beat 1-AA teams, but quite another in ACC play. Bobby, you can't turn it over 6 times. Ugh! 11 turnovers, 21 penalties, and just 3 points at home against WAKE in last two games. VERY bad. How about MIAMI (Fl)? Big road win in College Station tonight in front of the 12th man. And fear Mizzou, Daniel had 20 - straight completions in another rout today (Buffalo). And, oh those DUCKS - losing today at home to Boise State. PAC-9 (minus USC) isn't that good this year. Georgia showed us tonight just how great the gap is between the SEC and PAC-10. I'm not sure the DAWGS are even the best in the SEC right now.

Quick shout out to the BIG-10 today. Javon Ringer of SPARTY is a stud. He has 90% of the TDs this year for Michigan State. Penn State continues to look unbeatable to me. We'll learn more when they face Wisconsin later this year. As for the Badgers (off week), they're resting after a hard-fought victory against Fresno. Conference stock is on the rise. Folks, the tide is coming out. You've been warned.

My NEW TOP-10:

1) USC - Didn't play. Doesn't matter.
2) Oklahoma - See #1
3) Mizzou - Another offensive masterpiece. They lead the nation at 597 yds / game.
4) Georgia - BIG WIN in the desert against the DEVILS. Leave no doubt. Dawgs 4 real.
5) LSU - Huge. BIG WIN. Best of year so far? @ Jordan Hare. Nough said.
6) Florida - Dismantled, disrobed, destroyed, dissected; a mediocre VOLS team @ Rocky Top.
7) Bama - See #6. Same on the road at Arkansas. This just in. SEC is good.
8) Texas - 52 to 10 (RICE) isn't bad.
9) Penn State - 45 to 3 over TEMPLE. Expect more of the same against the CHIEF next week.
10) Auburn / WISC - Despite a home SEC loss to LSU in the final minute. Badgers are good.

BCS Conference Rankings:

1) Come on? Have to ask? SEC. Brutal conference from top to bottom.
2) BIG-12. Gap is closing with #1. But, they're not there - yet. Show some 'D'!
3) BIG-10. Up a spot this week. 6 for 8 today, despite an IOWA road loss - very close.
4) PAC-10. What's up here? Only 2 wins this weekend. Yes, COUGS over Vikings is one of 'em.
5) ACC. Getting better. WAKE is the class of the conference. VT and Miami are playing well.
6) BIG EAST. I can't say anything more here. More work to do guys.

FINAL NOTE: What impressed me today? So many things. SEC is frickin' stout, top to bottom. 8 of their teams are TOP-30 defensive clubs. 5 of their teams in the in the AP TOP-10. I love watching the caliber of their play, from top to bottom. I only wish I went to Auburn, or Bama, or Florida, or Tennessee, or LSU, or Georgia. These clubs are well - oiled machines. Even Vandy is 4-0 and likely to make a bowl appearance for the first time since 1982. Wow! The Commodores are 2-0 in the SEC.

Week 3 Wrap - Illinois Struggles ....

2008-09-13T12:36:00.000-07:00

Around the Nation - More success for the BIG10 this week and more struggles for the PAC-10 in non-conference play. I know, USC (shocker) and Oregon both won (barely, over a stout Purdue club in 2OT), but UCLA, WAZZU, Standford, CAL, Washington, and both AZ schools all went down today. UW and UCLA really took it on the chin against Oklahoma and BYU, respectively. And were the Sun Devils looking ahead to Georgia next week before losing at home to UNLV this week? The BIG-10 (minus Ohio State) continues to roll in the early part of the season. Illinois, Iowa, Northwestern, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Penn State, and SPARTY all winners today (7 wins in total). Indiana didn't play. And both Ohio State and BIG BLUE go down on the same night, yes ...

Elsewhere in the TOP-25 GRID, Mizzou continues to take its opponents out back yonder beyond the wood-shed (69-17 over Nevada today). This circus is fun to watch and worth the price of admisssion, especially on offense. And how about Auburn over Miss State (3-2) in 15 innings. Actually, their baseball teams scored more runs in some games this year. Needless to say that was a defensive struggle of monumental proportions. Finally, give it up to the Badgers from Madison. I mean when nobody, and I mean nobody, would take up Pat Hill's club out of conference in the Valley - here come the Badgers answering the call. Even though it wasn't pretty, they proved the power can on occasion still beat speed. Check out these conference breakdowns from this weekend's action, especially if you're looking for an inside scoop into future FANTASY picks: Lesson's Learned around the NATION. And I agree, for now, that the BIG-10 TITLE goes through Madison, WI.

CHIEF on the TRIBE - Today's ILLINI grade, D-. Not much good happened today on the field against the Ragin' Cajuns from Louisiana LaFayette. Yes, I know - ugh!

If there is a knock to be had against Coach Ron Zook it's his ability to coach talent. This might not be the best conclusion I've ever reach because the man can recruit. But, there's no question he's a better recruiter than coach based on his first four years in Champaign. It's one thing to get talent; but it's quite another to get the most out of it.

This should have been a blowout on the order of 51-17 instead of a squeaker, 20-17. Ugh! The tribe is struggling right now; make no mistake about it. Much like a person suffering from sever schizophrenia, we're a team without a clear identiy. I see that on both sides of the ball. We're so deliberate on offense and defense in part because we don't have a clear understanding of what we're trying to do and how to do it.

The trend continues of playing down to the level of our opposition. I've been seeing this for several years now dating back to the Turner days. We definitely don't play up to our full talent potential week in and week out. We also took a page out of the Ohio State handbook as we played dumb football at times, and w/o passion. Playing without focus and passion against an inferior opponent is always a recipe for disaster. Thank God that didn't happen today.

Another disturbing trend today was senseless penalties (9 for 96 yards), on offense and defense. The offensive holding penalties were numerous and drive killers. On defense, how many 15-yard personal fouls did we amass today? Ugh! Both are signs of undisciplined football. Coach Z has his hands full right now, struggling to get command of this team. This was an UGLY, UGLY, UGLY display of football today by my team. I'm embarrassed.

A case can be made that we're still putting the total package together, especially on defense as it recovers from some key losses because of injury. Wa Wa Wa ..... A case can be made that this isn't totallly unexpected either. Afterall - it's our first year having to deal with unexpected success in 2007. Sometimes you take a step or two backwards before you leap forward. I don't buy into the growing pains explanation. We have some junior and senior leadership on both sides of schrimmage. If there was a bright spot it had to be Dufrene (18 for a buck 25, 125 yards).

Next week is a bye. We had better use it to our advantage. Up next is Penn State. And if we don't learn to step it up in a big way soon (with focussed passion and emotion), it could be an ugly day in Happy Valley. Do it like you've done it before, one play at a time. Otherwise, all the recruiting in the world won't amount to more than a mediocre ranking in RIVALS.COM. This just in, Penn State is good. I have them in my TOP-10 right now based on what they've done on the field so far this year against a mixed - bag of competition.

My New Top-10: 1) USC, 2) Oklahoma, 3) Mizzou, 4) Georgia, 5) Florida, 6) LSU, 7) Texas, 8) Bama, 9) Wisconsin, 10) Penn State.

BONUS FEATURE (BCS Conference Rankings): New this week and going forward, my unique perspective on conference strength:

1) SEC - Still the cream of the crop for now. Would be nice to see more offense.
2) BIG-12 - Knocking on the door with all of that QB talent. Needs to win more big games first.
3) PAC-10 - For now, a distant 3rd behind #1 & #2. Lower w/o USC. BIG-10 is closing fast.
4) BIG-10 - Sure OSU and M are struggling. Rest of the conference is on the rebound fast.
5) ACC - No make that the BIG EAST. Duking it out with #6 for the basement position.
6) BIG EAST - No, make that the ACC. Oh, Rutgers. At least USF is competitive for now.

Final Note: And you heard it here first and often, Ohio State is overrated. I think there are at least three or four better BIG-10 teams right now in Penn State, Wisconsin, Illinois, and SPARTY. When every other ESPN/ABC expert was predicting another 'Collision in the Coleseum' this time around with the Trojans, the Chief was calling a spade a spade. OK, it wasn't quite 99-2, but 35-3 felt just about the same to me. Finally, hopefully - those on the EAST COAST and MIDWEST will accept what those of us on the LEFT COAST have known for years now, that OHIO STATE isn't all that. Pre-season polls and regular season results should not be used as the sole measures of BCS worthiness. You DO have to play somebody (and win occastionally) out of conference in September (other than directional Ohio at home) to make your case. The BUCKEYES under Tressel have employed the same conservative offensive scheme for years, with mixed results on the national stage - poor results in BIG BCS clashes. It may have worked in 2001 in beating MIAMI, but clearly Ohio State has fallen behind the rest of the nation and several teams in the BIG-10 who are moving towards some version of the spread offense which rewards athleticism, risk taking, and getting the rock in your playmakers hands - no matter who they are and what position they play. And here are FIVE OTHER THINGS we learned this weekend, courtesy Stewart Mandel.

Week 2 Wrap

2008-09-06T20:38:00.000-07:00

I mean, what good is the BTN anyway (BIG TEN NETWORK) when they don't even broadcast the best games in my market (PAC NW)? Who cares about Marshall / Wisconsin anyway? Chief was a bit peturbed this week as he had to GAMECAST the ILLINI game (versus Eastern) on CBS.SPORTTSLINE.COM. Such is life for a BIG-10 supporter the the Willamette Valley.

Chief on the Tribe - As for the game itself, by all accounts is was an OK win. Nothing special in any way. After all, the Panthers from Charleston, IL (DIV1-AA) aren't exactly a powerhouse anymore now that Romo plays for the Cowboys. For my liking, there were far too many turnovers (4 fumbles) and senseless penalties. Juice himself, a work in progress, accounted for 3TDs and 3 turnvers, including 2 picks. I think Zook said it best, "He threw some ducks, but we all know he can throw the football."

And the defense looked anything but stellar. Don't focus so much on the 21 garbage points in the 47-21 blowout, but be concerned about the another rusher getting big chunks of yardage against a defense that should be getting better and better. No doubt, we miss the senior leadership of Jay Leman. T. Bess had 183 yards on just 15 carries for EIU. Clearly coaches, we have some work to do on defense if we hope to contend in the BIG-10. Can't give up 200+ rushing yards in back to back games going forward.

On the plus side, Dufrene continues to look good (not great, but good enough) in replacing Rashard with another 100 yards on just 13 touches. At 201 pounds, he has enough power to get the tough yardage and good speed to bust a few for big yards. And when you look at the complete body of work, 53 rushes for 399 yards as a team, you have to conclude we're moving in the right direction. We did rack up 533 yards to their 278 total yardage; which is what you'd expect in a DIV1-A / DIV1-AA matchup. Up next, another cupcake in Louisiana Lafayette. There's more room for improvement.

Around the Nation - how about those ECU Pirates? Wow, back to back BCS busters in the past two weeks after downing WV today, and quite convincingly I might add. This is a dangerous team. They're doing it with amazing energy, determination, and execution at key moments in games. And speaking of execution, or lack thereof, there's Notre Dame who had to battle, claw, and survive that mighty Western powerhouse in SDSU. Ouch. The shine is definitley off the golden domers. With a few seasons under his big belt, Charlie Weiss' squad continues to struggle with turnvers, establishing the run, and poor tackling. There's little to no passion on the field these days if your an Irish fan. They actually gave up more yards to SDSU (345 to 342yds.). Sorry Jimmy, it's hard to belief you've come a long way since last year. Five other things we learned.

5 Disappointers -

Notre Dame - what more can be said? New year, but same struggles. I'm not sure there's another in on their schedule until Syracuse, at home. Oh, how bad is the offense? They're lucky they didn't play CAL POLY today.
PAC 10 Officials - first we had the Oklahoma / Oregon debacle a few years ago. And then today, the horrible 'unsportsmanlike' call against Locker in the Husky / BYU game. I feel for you Jake, I really do. I love the PAC-10. Conference of champions (SPCoC).
Michigan - They won, and that's about all you can say (beating Miami, OH). Oh how times have changed.
Arkansas - Barely beating Louisiana / Monroe isn't what I think of when I think of SEC domination.
Ohio State - With or without Beanie, this team is simply overrated. I'm not sure they're the 2nd or 3rd best team in the BIG-10 (behind Penn State, Illinois, and Wisonsin). Will USC even be motivated to show up next week?

5 Pleasures / Surprises -

ECU - and more ECU. 1st VA TECH. Today WVU. I'm a believer. Are they BCS bound? Back to back ranked-team victories over BCS teams. Wow!
BIG-10 - as a conference we went 11-0 today. Not a bad bounce-back after week 1. And there was that can of WHOOP ASS delivered to the BEAVERS (competition optional) courtesy of Penn State. It's amazing what $800K can buy. Here are the rest of your BIG-10 Lessons.
WF - finally some showup by an ACC team. Wake is clearly the class of the ACC this year, which isn't saying too much.
BYU special teams - seemed just like the UCLA bowl game from last year. A kick is a kick and a block is a block. 12 in a row now is the longest in the land.
I know they'll bounce back sooner than expected, but for now - I'm enjoying a respite from the usual Ohio State / Michigan 'hype' that usually dominates BIG-10 headlines. Clearly these two programs are down this year. The rest of us now have a chance to showcase our talents. And here's your GAMEDAY FINAL.

My NEW TOP-10:

USC - even with a week off the Trojans gained ground on the nation. I've said it before and will continue to say it for quite some time: AFC, USC, SEC, and NFC in that order.
Missouri - yeah, back to back 50-point weeks is good.
Oklahoma -
Florida - A win over Miami since 1985. Started slow. Then answered most questions. I have them ahead of Georgia just based on strength of schedule so far.
Georgia - A great team no doubt. Still not sure based on injuries and schedule. Play somebody already....
LSU - Only Hurricane Gustav could stop the TIGERS this week. See #5.
Auburn - Moving up a bit after a credible win against Southern Mississippi.
Penn State - Wow, down goes SPCoC. Who said Oregon State was an upset threat? This was an ugly game, no doubt. A long flight home for the Beaver Nation, for sure.
Wisconsin - Slow start at home versus Marshall before rattling off 51 straight points.
Texas / Tech - Take your pick here with TEXAS or TEXAS TECH.

Bonus coverage - early USC / BUCKEYE prediction for WEEK3: USC 99 - OSU 2. Seriously folks, this one won't be close.

Looking Forward to WEEK3 - Here are a few highlights on the schedule in WEEK3. I'll be curious to see how these turn out:

Oregon @ Purdue (another BIG-10 / PAC-10 clash in West LaFayette).
Michigan @ Notre Dame (somebody has to win this, right?).
Ohio State @ USC (I want to see just how large the gap is right now).

Welcome Back - Week One Wrap 2k8!

2008-08-30T16:45:00.000-07:00

It's amazing that the more things change the more they remain the same. Week one of each new CFB season is all about actualizing change. The hopes and aspirations of spring ball, summer camp, and pre-season polls are all exposed by the actions on the field. And unlike the Olympics, there is no hiding behind the judging of Eastern-block countries. Yes, that's why we play the games. Thank God it's football season.

Chief on the Tribe:

A new feature for the BLOG this year. Look forward to this section each week as I blog it up about ILLINOIS football. What can I say about the play under the arch tonight? At least we get kudos for playing a real opener unlike most (no cupcake in MIZZOU). This one felt more like a bowl game than an opening game. In some ways we're the most unlucky team in the nation after having played both USC in California and Mizzou in Missouri in consecutive contests. If both teams stay healthy, they will each make BCS games and could possibly face each other for the national title in Miami come January. That's how good the TIGERS are going to be this year, especially on offense. Right now, they're the only team that might make USC break into a sweat in head to head competition. Clearly, the men of Troy have a better defense and are the all-around best team in the land, by a long shot.

There is no question about Missouri's team speed; they're the fastest offense in the country whether through air or on the ground. Watching their offense execute is a thing of beauty, I must say. Everything is in sync. And their balance is amazing. WATCH-OUT BIG-12 Conference, you're in trouble if your schedule includes the TIGERS this year. They just gashed us all night long. We had no answers on how to stop them.

My squad came out of the tunnel too tight to play well. Juice finally started pitching completions instead of laser beams in the 2nd quarter, too little too late down the stretch. The offense made some big plays including Judson's great TD catch to keep it close early and then later in the 4th quarter. Juice had his best game passing ever: 25-41 for 453 yards and 5 TDs. But my defense really laid an egg tonight giving up 538 total yards- albeit against a team that is going to embarrass most clubs this year. We have to get more physical if we expect to stop anybody, much less a team like Missouri. Despite all that, we were within 2 or 3 plays of pulling off the upset. Seems like everytime we made a play Mizzou had an answer. At least we came back a bit in the 2nd half against the best team we'll face all year. And give credit to the Zooker; the recruiting is starting to pay off (now in 11 states).

But, what's up with falling behind early in big games only to trade points for the duration? It seems we only settle into games after we dig ourselves into deep holes. Great teams get up early on their foes and pound the rock all night long: USC, Florida, LSU, Georgia, and Mizzou come to mind. Unnecessary penalties, poor tackling, excessive deliberation on offense, and missed opportunities in most facets of the game remain hallmarks of Illinois football. We think we're better than we really are. You just can't play 3 quarters against teams like Mizzou. That's what makes it hard to watch at times. 119 years of grid-iron action and no national titltes. Ugh! Up next Eastern and Louisiana LaFayette, so we should be 2-1 before we hit the road to play Penn State in Happy Valley (ballgame). Best thing about week 1 is that it's over, and we move to week 2.

5 Teams that impressed today:

1) ECU - beating Beamer with Beamer ball. Not a total shock this year.
2) Penn State - 66 points against Coastal Carolina. Lions executed for Joe Pa.
3) Wisconsin - 3rd QB in 3 years. Continuity on offense remains the same.
4) Stanford - Made of the most of Beaver miscues at home. Won't be their last conference W.
5) South Carolina - Defense is very good. Offense is improving. Coach is a champion.

And how about the non-BCS? Not only did ECU beat VT, but kudos to Fresno State (Rutgers), Utah (Michigan), and Bowling Green (Pitt).

5 Teams that disappointed (besides the entire ACC):

1) Va Tech - Lots of inexperience and concerns on offense, and defense, and special teams.
2) Michigan- Rebuilding doesn't appear to be on the fast track in Ann Arbor.
3) Oregon State - A bad loss to Stanford. Not what the doctor ordered. Up next, Penn State.
4) Pitt - A great example of how meaningless pre-season polls can be.
5) Clemson - after all of that pre-season TOP-10 hype, I should have known better.

My Week One Top-10: who'd you play and who'd you beat?

USC - AFC, USC, SEC, and the NFC in that order. No team does it better. Same old song.

Missouri - Is there a faster squad in the country? This team is very very dangerous.

Oklahoma - Maybe the only team that can stop the TIGER express in the BIG-12.

Georgia - Are they for real? Hard to tell after a blowout of Georgia Southern.

LSU - Impressive over App. State. Then again, beating Michigan isn't what it used to be.

Florida - GATORS are getting healthy. Remain speedy and talented. Tough schedule.

Ohio State - Losing Wells today isn't good. Anyone can beat Youngstown State.

Auburn - Two words, Louisiana Monroe? King of cupcakes. Where are the sprinkles?

WV - Pat White by air? 3TDs with the pass today, all against Villanova.

Wisconsin - Flying a bit under the radar in my opinion. Evridge looked confident to start.

More Pre-Season Polls and Speculation ...

2008-08-16T17:11:00.000-07:00

AP came out with their pre-season poll today (link above). And yes, I have a few thoughts:

Yes, Georgia is too high at #1 - for now. Sure they're mighty talented on both sides of the ball returning 16 starters from 2007 (and speed to burn). But all of off - season strife this summer(injuries, arrests, academic violtaions, and dismissals) has to take its toll. Let's see what happens after ASU.
I don't have too many issues with the rest of the TOP-10 until we get to Clemson @ #9. I mean come on, it's Clemson. You know somewhere / somehow they'll find a way to lose two or even three games they're expected to win.
BIG-10 places four in the TOP-25, not bad. Illinois at #20 is fairly respectable. Our challenge in 2008 will be consistency. We need to demonstrate that the program is moving forward from last year's success. Let's face it, last year was somewhat of a surprise. But with huge games against Mizzou, @ Penn State, @ Michigan, and @Wisconsin we'll have our chances. Sometimes you have to take a step back before you can leap ahead. Look for a solid 2008 campaign (7 wins) but even bigger things in 2009.

So, without further fan-fare - I give you my first TOP-10 of the year (totally meaningless, I grant you that point):

USC - I actually watched the Rose Bowl for four quarters. Nobody has more depth.
Georgia - Show me more than beating Hawaii in New Orleans. Stay out of the papers.
Missouri - Scary team to me. Loaded w/ talent and more experienced than last year.
Oklahoma - Bobby is due for some luck in 2008. Oklahmoma wins its Bowl Game.
Florida - Just how long will Tebow stay healthy? Otherwise, talent/speed to burn.
LSU - Hard to demote the national champs. Shouldn't somebody have to beat them first?
Ohio State - Lots of returning talent. We'll know if they have enough on 09/13 @ USC.
West Virginia - New coach this year. But they still have Pat White.
Texas - Tough conference schedule. Two words - Mac Brown. Two more - 10 wins.
Wisconsin - Why not? PJ Hill and a favorable schedule. All tough games at home.

A Few Thoughts for 2008

2008-08-06T21:26:00.000-07:00

Welcome back folks. The chief has emerged from his long off-season slumber after taking it on the chin from USC in the Rose Bowl. How fun was that? Actually, the Rose Bowl was a lot closer affair than the average fan thinks. A few breaks here, a few turnovers there and BAM - it's a whole different ball game. It's a good thing I'm not average. And I did watch the same game on ABC as you did.

But, that was last year and this is this year. Much like you, I've read the articles, seen the pre-season polls, and paroused the power rankings over the past few weeks. Most experts have us finishing 2nd or worse in the BIG-10 this year behind the Ohio State University - great club BTW. Ohio State has a great chance of getting back to the title game in January. Looking forward to that 09/13 matchup with the men of Troy.

Back in Champaign - Urbana, Camp Rantoul is in full swing. It's the 4th year under the Zooker. Everybody and his brother admits that last year was a surprise (9-4). But I'll take it. Because of Zook and his staff, this program has been turned around and is clearly marching in the right direction. But can we match the intensity, performance, and results of last year? It's going to be very tough, especially with our conference schedule (road games @ Penn State, Wisconsin, and Michigan). Sometimes you have to take a step or two backwards before you can move forward. Look out for the Chief in 2009. That is going to be a special year for the Illini Gridders. Stuff that in your pipe and smoke it.

As for this year, 7 wins seem reasonable. It's clealry Juice's team heading into fall practice. Anything more will be another 'exceeds expectations' kind of season. Don't get me wrong, we should shoot for the stars and another BIG-10 Championship. And give Zook some credit. He can coach. Until next time - Oskee Wa Wa; hail to the Chief!

Slayed by the Trojans!

2008-01-01T18:04:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure there's a better image in all of sport than the SC cheerleaders jumping up and down on the sidelines at the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day. Pause, reflect, and move on..... you might be able to save a bundle on ILLINI ROSE-BOWL gear if you act fast.

Up until this game, I thought the biggest bowl 'no-show' was USF in the SUN BOWL against Oregon. Those guys really mailed it in. And while SC under Booty is a bit better than the Ducks under Roper, there is no doubt in my mind that we clearly possess that dubious honor by ourselves. Tonight's Rose Bowl will go down as one of our worst performances in recent history (and that includes some pretty nasty football showings). USC 49 - ILLINOIS 17, and it could have been much worse. Thanks for the mercy Pete! What a lousy ending to an otherwise spectacular season.

Where to start and what to say? I'll keep the negative to a minimum (hopefully 500 words or less, but I won't be counting). Sure, 4 turnovers and 28 points off turnovers isn't the recommended way to hang with the Trojans. Have you ever seen so many fortunate bounces go in favor of one team? Seemed like everything tumbled their way - they could do no wrong. That being said, I'm not sure they were just more than contributing factors in the outcome. This game was decided in early December right after the bowl pairings were announced.

Honestly, we never really got into any kind of rhythem today - especially on offense. That usually happens when teams play not to lose. We script the first 15 offensive plays of every game. Needless to say they were the wrong ones, and way too conservative even by Pat Buchanan standards. Zook confirmed this during the post-game by saying we didn't play 'our best football tonight'. Ya think? I just didn't see any positive energy, effort, or execution most of the night, especially on offense in the passing game. When the game was still relatively close, our play calls, set execution, and assignment blocking were completely MIA (missing in action). Clearly we were tight, as expected. You don't trot out in front of a hundred-thousand people at the Rose Bowl without a few butterflies. Problem was they really never left. We had the 'deer in the headlights' look most of the game. That was somewhat surprising, even for a young ILLINI team. It was as if we were convinced by the media hype that we didn't belong there. The atmosphere clearly owned us. For a team that had forty something days to prepare, a team that arrived in La La land on Christmas night, a team that visited Lawry's, the Improv, and Disneyland - there's really no excuse to be star-struck.

Not to take anything away from what I think is the best team in the country right now in USC, we made it way too easy for the Trojans to get this victory. They really didn't break a sweat in this one. And the real shame of it to me is that the Rose Bowl deserves better. It's the grand-daddy, the best bowl game going - always will be. And while college football has never had a true national champion (although in some years there's more alignment than in others), there's always been just one true RBC (Rose Bowl Champion).

Give most of the credit to the Trojans; they deserve it. I've been saying since November (right around the time Dixon went down with his knee injury) that USC is back to being the well-oiled football machine we've come to know and love over the past five seasons. Under Carroll, I think they have something like an 85% winning percentages, two national titles, and six straight PAC-10 championships. The dynasty is alive and very well - when will it end? Will it ever end? Note likely as long as Pete is in town. Not even goldeny -boy Rick will be able to do much about that. Watching the Trojans play football (rock stars who wear cleats) makes me think how good they would be in the NFL. I've been saying for weeks that the new pecking order is as follows: AFC, USC, SEC, and the NFC. What transpired tonight only further cements that belief. Note to others, stay the hell out of their way. They should be favored to win it all again next season.

USC is so loaded with so much football talent it's not even funny. No team in the country has more than they do. I think half of their defense are projected first-round picks in next season's NFL draft. One of my lasting quotes from this game was by Brent Musberger, "Oh baby, what a future on Sunday." It's as if they have 5-star talent at every position, including kicker, water boys, and mascots. Yep, there is nothing ordinary about Trojan football. They've clearly made a committment to winning championships, much like Tiger Woods and his quest for majors. No doubt in my mind that they should be playing in New Orleans next Monday against either Oklahoma or LSU. No doubt in my mind that they win convincingly against either. Yes indeed, it's good to be a Trojan right now. They're world; and the rest of us are just living under their rule.

It wasn't all bad news for ILLINI fans. I was able to take our Christmas tree down today in between turnovers, Trojan scoring drives, and references to Red Grange (the galloping ghost himself). Where was he today when we needed him? We missed his explosive onslaught of 4 TD's and 270 total yards in just twelve minutes of play against Michigan back in the 1920's by the Wheaton Iceman. Seriously, I think of it as a scouting trip for next year's return (hopefully not against the Trojans BTW). We now know where to eat and drink around town. I'm sure the locals will love to have us back for a repeat visit. The trible travels well and was well represented in SoCal this week. We spend money like a liberal congress with a budget surplus.

We did find a way to rack up over 400 yards of total offense against the mighty Trojan 'D', much of that coming late in the game I suppose. Problem was we gave up over 600 yards ouselves. Ouch! Rashard was our one bright spot most of the game (155 yards on just 17 carries for 9.1 yards / attempt). Of course, he had the big 79 yard TD romp to start the 3rd quarter. I've been singing his praises most of the year as one of the greatest backs in the land. I'm hoping he comes back for his senior season next year. But where do we go from here? Pete Fiutak does a good job of asking the same questions I have after this one in his five questions. I'm hoping we use tonight's hammering as the ultimate motivational tool for years to come. And will somebody please turn-off that damn trojan fight-song? I dont' think I'll ever get that dreadful crap out of my mind for the rest of my days.

No, this wasn't an unexpected outcome and we probably didn't belong there this year based on merit. But hey, we didn't make the BCS rules, and by them we were worthy of the opportunity. I wish we did more with it. Hopefully we'll learn from this one. There are many lessons embedded in the game footage. We are still one of the youngest teams in the nation in terms of first and second-year starters. And, with Zook firmly in place for a while after signing a lengthy and lucrative contract extension, we need to ask ourselves just how good do we want to be? Where do we go next? Are we satisfied with bowl trips or bowl wins? These are just some of the questions that will linger in the off-season, at least in my mind. Zook definitely needs to prove to his skeptics, the faithful, and the rest of the nation that he can coach and win the big games - consistently.

"Obviously, it's not good for us," Illinois coach Ron Zook said. "It hurts the Big Ten. I told our football team all along that we're representing the University of Illinois, but also representing the Big Ten Conference. That's why it's important that we play the way we're capable of playing. We didn't do that. So we let the Big Ten down as well. There's no doubt in my mind the Big Ten Conference can compete with anybody. I can say that, but we have to do it."

Fighting Illini coaches were determined to use this Rose Bowl loss as a stepping stone to a brighter future while honoring the seniors who did such a remarkable job leading the turnaround. "USC is a great team, but they're not that many points better than us," reminded Locksley. "It's a tribute to the seniors that they bought into everything we asked of them as a staff. They let us push them as a coaching staff.

"We're proud of our seniors, we're proud to represent the University of Illinois, and we're going to continue to work hard to build this thing up to where it's a solid foundation for the future."
Coach Zook set his jaw and looked doggedly to the future. He knows the Illini are better than this, and he is determined to use this loss as a motivational tool. "I'm going to tell them to remember this. It is important that we learn from it, and when we get back here we want to do a lot better than we did today."

It won't get any easier next season with high expectations for the conference and the national scene. The schedule isn't kind in 2008 with road games at Missouri, Penn State, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Northwestern to end the season. Although, the non-conference portion of the agenda looks fairly benign once we get by the Tigers (EIU and Louisiana Lafayette). How do you follow a 9-3 Rose Bowl season? When you play in the BIG-10, it just doesn't get any bigger than this game, title game included (my opinion). There's only one Grand-Daddy! The media-inspired BCS (FOXSPORTS creation) is not much more than a joke these days -> failing to give us the best match-ups and a clear champion year after year. Kudos to the Rose Bowl for bucking that system, kind of I guess. Tradition does matter. I expect the rest of this year's bowl season to be another huge disappointment. I've had enough of that. So, let me be the first to challenge the club with a return visit to Pasadena in January 2009. Let's make it two SoCal trips in a row, with one obvious exception in the outcome.

Beyond Worthiness - The Epic is Upon Us

2007-12-26T06:33:00.000-08:00

You've come to the right place at the right time. It's been said that timing is everything (by whom, I'm not quite sure deserves the original credit). Nonetheless, this saying grows deeper and truer as time itself goes by. In today's modern information age centered more and more around mobility and relativity when it comes to measuring time, there is little to no time for things like tradition. Make some, the Grand-Daddy is virtually upon us.

And, it what will likely be one of my last (if not the last) postings for 2007, how better than to expound upon one of the greatest traditions this country has - the Rose Bowl Game brought to you by Citi? First conceived at the same time the pilgrims landed at Plymouth (OK, shortly thereafater by Lewis and Clark in the early 1800's as part of the great expedition), this game has always been about tradition, bringing together two great cultures from distant lands. And I mean distant lands. The BIG-10 and PAC-10 couldn't be further apart in terms of cultures than the '60s were to the '50s. And some would have a strong argument that they don't even share a common language. One's rooted in the earth; the other rolls in the surf!

To the 'average' midwesterner, the left coast has always been a far-off destination -kind of like the land of OZ and the Emerald City, only further: the grandeur of mountains, valleys, rivers, golden rays ubiquitous SoCal sunshine, the promise of instant fortune, hot babes, cool cars, tofu, bean sprouts, fish tacos, and the Rose Bowl Game. Plain and simple, there is no greater end state. From the pageantry, the parade, the pomp, and the circumstance (with the coolest of all bowl - game symbols in the red rose), this game is all about tradition. And yes, Pat Forde, it's a good thing. You can have your Orange Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Sugar Bowl, or BCS Title Game conceived in a New York back-room by some schmucks from Fox Sports. No, to me and millions, yes perhaps even billions, the end of the rainbow has always been the promised land of Pasadena in early January (very early January). Being able to represent your conference and culture in one of the greatest sporting events (still played on natural grass BTW) ever known to man is a great honor.

As for this year's edition, expect the Chief to show up. He might even be ready to play. I do know the National Coach of the Year will have them ready. You see win, lose, or draw - partaking in this affair is glorious in and of itself: to have the opportunity to represent. At least we'll have Disneyland and Lawry's. And make no mistake about it, show up the Chief will!

I've long contemplated the what if scenarios of this football season. For a sampling of some random thoughts (some quite excellent for sure), go back through this blog over the past four months. At the end of the regular season, was there a hotter team? What if we started the season the way we ended it? Would we even be playing on New Year's Day or 6 nights layer in New Orleans at 12-0? I've convinced myself of several things over the years, but I do know this for sure: no way we lose to Iowa, Michigan, or Missouri with rebirth of Juice Williams after the BIG BLUE home loss in October. It's amazing how playing with confidence affects the outcome of a game differently than playing without. Maybe it was overcoming injury, gaining valuable experience, understanding a new system for the first time, or a combination of several factors that just came together after that home loss to the Wolverines on Zupke Field in front of millions who had a bird's-eye view of Orange Krush in all of its blazing brilliance. We grew up that night.

Are we worthy to represent the BIG-10 this year? Please, the real question should be who wants it more? Which team will be ready to lay it all out on the line? And aren't you glad it's not Georgia? Yes indeed, go west young men - and represent.

Desperate Drive Over the Tigers

2007-12-23T10:25:00.000-08:00

It's been a tough start to the basketball season for my struggling hoops squad this year. Things got off to an OK start out in Maui winning 3 of 4 (only loss to Duke, who doesn't?). However, ever since we returned to the mainland it's been nip and tuck with some tough losses against Maryland, Arizona, and Miami (OH) - yuck! We really could have and should have won all three games. Instead of 7-4, we might just be 10-1.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda - results speak for themselves. We're not a good shooting club this year, especially from the outside. This team is still trying to blend and fold into something, anything, that resembles a cohesive basketball unit. I'd say we're on the right track but that progress has been very slow. Hopefully that will change next season when we get Legion and Smith back in the lineup to join Meachem. If there is any good news so far this year it's that we landed a good one from Kentucky in Alex Legion (6'-4" 195 lb. shooting guard). In addition to one of the best pure outside shooters in the country (Jamar Smith), Alex should really help to bolster the outside game. He played his senior ball at Oak Hill Academy (not too shabby) and helped lead his team to the 2007 National Championship. While there, he set the season records in free-throw and three-point shooting percentages averaging 19.6 / game and 53% from the floor. Unfortunately, it won't be in time to join Pruitt and Randle who both leave at the end of this season.

As for this year's edition of the Busch Bragging Rights affair, it was sheer determination that willed us to victory down the stretch of a tightly contestted game. We really needed another quality win on the young season as we head into conference play next month. In front of 21,900 inside the Scottrade Center (St. Louis), we didn't disappoint - finally. That makes it 8 in a row over Missouri in this one. And looking ahead to March (I know, very dangerous), this could be a game that helps my 'on-the-bubble' ILLINI team make the BIG DANCE. We'll see. I'm not quite sure we'll reach 20 wins this year.

Painting Pasadena Orange

2007-12-08T09:25:00.000-08:00

Rose Bowl ticket requests ~ 23K before they go on sale to the general public. Final numbers won't be in until after those go on sale next Tuesday. Unfortunately, at ~ $400 / seat on sites like CRAIG's and STUBHUB, the Chief won't be going to SoCal for New Year's this time. That's OK, he'd prefer the 42" LCD for the same price after you throw in airfare and lodging.

Still yet, just more evidence that the tribe travels well and the Rose Bowl knew what it was doing in selecting ILLINOIS this year. We are more than WORTHY. I expect a big Orange section at the Rose Bowl on January 1 when we take on the Trojans. Look for at least 30K strong, probably ~ 40K ILLINI fans in some form or another, making up a big chunk of the ~100K seating capacity. Keep in mind that the Rose Bowl offers more than twice the ticket allottment to the PAC-10 Champion as the BIG-10 Champion.

Shut - Up Already, Chief is Worthy of the BCS ...

2007-12-04T20:38:00.000-08:00

I mean, enough is enough already. All I've been hearing about since Sunday night (with the announcement of this year's Rose Bowl between USC and ILL) is how ILLINOIS is not deserving of a BCS bid. And, in general - the BIG 10 is down this year and shouldn't be sending two programs to the BCS. Sure, I feel for Missouri and Arizona State - but the CHIEF didn't make the rules. He just plays by 'em. Hell yes, I'm calling out Stewart Mandel (CNN/SI), Pat Forde (ESPN), and Andy Gresh (sp? - ESPN). These guys are normally on the mark, but all missed it big time in their assessments of this year's BCS games, especially the Rose Bowl. Sure, we may get blown out by USC - it's been a crazy season afterall. But know this, we will compete for 60+ minutes in the upcoming remake of 'David Vs. Goliath'.

The worst of the worst has to be Pat Forde. I mean, based on his writings, you can't draw any other conclusion other than the fact he's an idiot. He shredded, I mean ripped, Ron Zook back in August and September - along with the rest of the ILLINI nation for rallying behind its coach. According to Pat at the time, Zooker was little more than an over-glorified recruiter. I'm still waiting for the apology - and now this of late:

Forde: I anticipate seeing USC pole-ax BCS interloper Illinois in the Rose Bowl the way UCLA once demolished an overrated Illini in the '84 Rose 45-9. And I hope it rains on the Rose Parade as well. The Rose deserves it for clinging to outdated ritual instead of trying to set up the best possible game.

Really, 'interloper'? To some in this great land tradition still means something. And just for the record, no team has a better winning percentage at the Rose Bowl (75%) than Illinois. USC (with far more appearances, is just at 66%). Honestly, it's the tradition in the game that helps to differentiate CFB from the entertainment version played on Sundays. I for one love the debates, the polls, the controversy, and the 'human-factor' of the game. The BCS is far from perfect, but it is the current state of the game. Deal with it. Pat, tone down your hatred for the BIG-10 my friend. Try to be an objective journalist at least now and then if you can. ESPN is paying you big dollars for your pie-hole. Use it wisely.

The Rose Bowl could be the best of the BCS games. Think of the many storylines: ILLINI spread-option versus the Trojan Defense, Juice versus the SC linebackers, line versus line, etc......It's not like we're talking ECU and Boise State or Cincy and Southern Miss. These are two great programs representing their conferences in front of the nation. Come on Pat, I'll give you another chance. Try to say something nice next time.

Now for the case (as if I need to lay it all out there for you). Seriously, and you've heard it here before, we played 12 games this year and won 9 of them against some pretty tough competition. Name another team with two top-5 wins (Wisconsin and Ohio State). Who else did that this year? And the three losses are all quality defeats in my book: to Mizzou (barely), at Iowa (barely again), and at home against a pretty good Michigan club at the time. With 9 wins and a 13 ranking in the BCS we qualify under the current system. Enough said, welcome to reality.

I know we're going up against the winningest program of late in USC. They're a dynasty from the left coast, men amongst boys in most cases. I know as well as you do that there's more NFL talent on this club than 50% of the teams that play on Sunday. There's the AFC, the SEC, USC, and the NFC - in that order. And nobody gets his program ready for the BIG GAME like Pete Carroll. Still yet, they lost two games this year (Stanford and Oregon) and are not the same dominant team as the 2003, 4, 5 squads. But for all their success / praise this year, the men from Troy have only beaten two teams with winning records (ASU / OS) with a #32 SOS while the Chief has amassed six such wins with #41 SOS. This just in, Zook can do more than just recruit. He's also a finalist for the LIBERTY MUTUAL COACH OF THE YEAR. Teams and programs win games, not individuals. Put that in your pipe and smoke it Pat. I hope Ronnie wins it for ya!

No other team is hotter in the BIG-10 right now (4Ws in a row leads the conference). And for all this crap I've been hearing all year about how 'great' the self-proclaimed 'conference of champions' (SPCoC) is this year, they only come in at #3 behind the SEC and BIG EAST (of all conferences) in the latest Sagarin conference rankings. And when you look at the bowl matchups this year, you can't help but notice that the BIG-10 has (8) clubs against just (6) from the SPCoC. Should be an interesting BIG-10 / PAC-10 challenge for total bowl wins this year.

Bowl Chaos Series - Don't Blame Me!

2007-12-02T08:55:00.000-08:00

Don't blame me for the mess we now have at our feet after PITT upset WV (one of the biggest of the with so much on line in the Backyard Brawl this year) and OU took care of MIZZOU - as predicted by the Chief. No, don't blame me - I've been calling for a playoff system for yeaars. Go back through my archives and see some of those discusssions and my ultimate bowl-playoff solution starting with the Top - 12 in the BCS. It's been a while myself, I may actually have some more tweaks to make. But, if it isn't clear to even the most casual fan that we need a true system for determining our national CFB champion, then keep reading. You're about to jump in head-first not knowing the depth of the pool. For the first time in the BCS, both #1 and #2 go down on the final weekend of the season. Wow!

So who plays whom? My NEW TOP-10 goes as follows: 1) LSU, 2) Oklahoma, 3) USC, 4) Georgia, 5) VT, 6) Ohio State, 7) Florida, 8) MIZZOU, 9) WV, 10) KU / ASU / ILLINOIS.

Sure, no surprise that I place the Chief in the TOP-10 at season's end - I suppose. All of these teams have proved to us that they can lose, at least one game if not two or three. At some point we have to consider strength of schedule (who'd you play, where, and who'd you beat?). And who in this list is playing their best ball late in the year? Yes, no two wins or losses are created equal. It does matter when you win and lose.

Wtih that in mind, I put LSU #1 for one simple reason - they didn't lose a regulation game all year (and they play in the SEC - toughest conference in America). Doesn't hurt when you win your conference either. Same logic mostly holds true for Oklahoma, who won their conference by beating MIZZOU at the Alamo last night (and Santa Anna)? The Sooners are one of the most physical teams in the land on both sides of the ball and may feature the best defense when it's all said and done. They held a high-powered MIZZOU offense in check, twice this year. Clearly #1 an d#2 are a bit above the rest in the field. Both won their divisions. Both won their conferences. Enough said.

I have USC #3 followed by Georgia, VT, OSU, and Florida. USC may be the best team in the nation right now. But, that early upset at home to Stanford should keep them out of the title game. That had to be one of if not the greatest upsets in CFB history. Two losses in a relatively weak PAC-10 (victim of injury like no other conference) also help cement the Trojans as very good, perhaps great, but not worthy of a higher ranking. They only played two teams with winning records year (but did play Nebraska, Idaho, and ND).

Georgia is a solid football team that may have the best argument for playing in the BCS Title Game w/o having won their conference or division. But, they did take it on the chin to Tennessee earlier in the year who lost yesterday to guess who, LSU. VT is playing some great ball right now down the stretch now that they've found a rhythem on offense with Glennon calling the shots. This team looks scarrier and scarrier to me the more I see them. Ohio State and Florida, last year's BCS matchup, are both good clubs with some serious weaknesses. But snap for snap, they're better than the bottom three in my ranking.

MIZZOU, WV, KU, ASU, and ILLINOIS round it out. Here we have the Jeckyl and Hide Division of the list. How does WV lose the Backyard Brawl to 4-7 Pitt with so much on the line? And is Ohio State even worthy to be ranked this high with that soft conference and non-conference schedule (true, 1 loss to the Chief). Same for KU and its schedule. Both of these teams have been exposed against better competition. ASU is a typical PAC-10 team to me, great on offense at times but soft on 'D' against quality systems. And, they have this nasty habit of falling behind early in just about every game, costing them against Oregon and USC. Then there's the Chief!

There is not better three-loss program in the land. At 9-3 we're eligible for the BCS this year after 2-10 last season. What a turnaround. And when you look at the losses you have to be impressed: at MIZZOU, against Michigan when they were fairly good, and at Iowa on a crappy day for football at Kinnick. Granted, we should have and could have won all three games to be 12-0. Then there are the victories: over Wisconsin (#5), over Penn State, and over #1 Ohio State at Columbus (Beat the Best!). We closed the season on a four-game winning streak by taking care of business against a pesky NW club who has owned us of late.

So, w/o further fan-fare - here are my proposed BCS matchups:

BCS TITLE GAME should be LSU vs. OSU (yep, the BUCKEYS are back).
SUGAR BOWL GAME should be Georgia vs VT.
ORANGE BOWL GAME should be OU vs. WV.
FIESTA BOWL GAME should be MIZZOU vs. ASU
ROSE BOWL GAME should be USC vs. ILLINOIS (BIG-10 gets two).

Chief recognizes the voting in the HARRIS and COAHCES' polls will make all the difference. But based on last-week's voting and rankings along with the outcomes of the games on Championship Saturday, these are the most equitable matchups. And I tried to maintain a semblance of the bowl alliances with the Orange (BE/B12), Rose (B10/P10), and Sugar (ACC/SEC). In so doing, I leave out KU, FLORIDA, and yes - Hawaii. First HI no way, not with that schedule and yesterday's squeaker over UW. At 142nd or so in the nation, the Warriors are not worthy of a BCS bid. Stay in HI and give us another great Sheraton HAWAII BOWL shootout. As for Florida, they didn't even win their division in their conference. This isn't last year's TITLE team.

More Awards for ILLINOIS & More!

2007-11-29T21:26:00.000-08:00

It's that 'silly' time of year. Regular season is behind us. Coaches are being hired and fired left and right. Bowls are jockeying for position. BCS computers are over-heating. And the Chief is sizing up his bowl options. Isn't it great?

It's also that time of year for awards, rewards, and other accalades. RIVALS and SCOUT.COM announced their Freshmen All-Americans yesterday. No shockers here, both Benn and Wilson (honorable mention) made the list. Regis Benn has been racking 'em up all season (ESPN helmet sticker, BIG-10 special teams player of the week, freshmen of the week, and player of the week, etc...). In amassing 989 all-purpose yards this year, he broke freshmen records for receptions (49) and yards (596) while averaging 12.2 yards / catch. Martez Wilson made his presence on defense this year including 26 tackles and 12 solo tackles, three for a loss, and two sacks on a strong defense (meaning limited playing time). This guy can fly at outside linebacker and hit like a ton of bricks.

And today, Leman earned first-team All-American honors by the coaches, just one of three linebackers across the land (first time at Illinois since 1994, Simeon Rice). Jay posted 124 tackles this year in 12 games. He's first-team all-Big Ten this year and last. He's a semifinalist for the Butkus (Illinois grad), Lombardi, Ronnie Lott, and Bednarik Awards this year. Leman also hits like a ton of bricks. Jay's a leader. This year ILLINOIS ranks 21st in the land in rushing defense. Leman's 2007 award list reads like a never-ending wrap sheet.

And as we sleep tonight, ILLINOIS is preparing for its first bowl game since the 2002 Sugar. Actually, most of the coaching staff has been hitting the recruiting trail of late to help the strong get stronger. Like I said, it's that 'silly' season. These guys split duties between recruiting prospects and coaching the current talent. It's a tough job. The players are back in school after Thanksgiving. And we'll have eight to ten practices over the next few weeks before we get serious about our January bowl game, no matter which one.

Until then, enjoy the silly season and more awesome video like this - no, not my reception - thank God! But good stuff. The groom has a pair. Ah yes, 'silly' season in full swing, or whatever the kids call it.

Meltdown in Maryland - Down Goes the Chief!

2007-11-28T19:05:00.001-08:00

I know it's technically still November. Heck, I should be happy the football team still has another game to play - when was the last time that happened to Illinois Football? Certainly, the Chief has much to be grateful for in this season of thanks and peace on earth (relatively speaking). Still yet, when you let one get away (as opposed to getting outplayed in a loss) - it still hurts. The tribe went down to Maryland tonight at the Comcast Center: 69-61, on just 33% from the field, 31% from behind the arc, and 44% from the charity stripe. Ouch!

This will be a short one and cut to the chase. We are not a good shooting team. We are not a good offensive club. At times, we look out of sync - heaving desperation shots that have no business of going in. And I'm not sure why. Check that, I know exactly why. As Weber attempts to fold-in new talent with old, we don't have a scorer, a goto option, a THREAT on each and every position. The team is clearly not firing on every offensive cylinder.

So far this season Randle and Pruitt have been huge disappointments. Yes, I'm calling them out. Each is barely averaging ~ 10 points / game. For big guys in the post with that much 'skill' and 'athleticism' they each should be averaging ~ 15 / game. Instead, I see short-armed shots, a lack of committment to attack the rim, clumsy footwork, and tight play. Let it go my brothers. Let it go and FINISH! Do it like you've done it before and forget the 'style' points. You're not that good to worry about posters. On the outside, Meacham, Alexander, and Frazier have been mediocre at best. The lone bright spot on offense this year has been Calvin Brock - and only at times. Again, we lack consistency in scoring. These four guys need to average ~ 10 points / game. The team seems to be searching for some offensive leadership, a pivot point about which a scoring threat can be built. We have some good pieces, but right now the puzzle is far from completion.

Maybe I'm being too hard on the guys. Our only losses have come at the hands of the ACC (Duke and Maryland). Maybe we're still suffering jet-lag from the 'road odyssey' to start the season (5 road games in just 19 days and 10,170 total miles from Champaign to Maui to College Park). We're still 4-2 heading into December with a couple of home games against Weber State, Arizona, Miami, and Western Carolina before the border clash with Missouri. We should be 8-2 or 7-3 heading into that confrontation. I'd like to see us hit ten wins before BIG-10 play starts in January. Once conference play commences, the beatings will begin. I don't see us winning more than 10 games in conference this year, with as few as potentially 8 heading into the BIG-10 Tourney. Making the NCAA Tourney is no sure bet for a squad that went to the title game just three years ago against Carolina. It's been all downhill in Champaign after that. Unlike the elite programs who can get talent each and every year, we don't re-load. We re-build. And that takes time.

Message to Coaches - This year's team does not appear to have an identity. I don't see any spirit or moxy on or off the court. The energy is there at times, but usually misdirected. The team struggles to play a disciplined game for 40 minutes. I can appreciate the intensity and effort at times, but somehow and someway we need to channel our energies so we're all pulling in the same direction. Leadership would be great from Pruitt, Randall, or Frazier. But I wouldn't count on it. These guys are good but not great players. Their reputations for being outstanding in the post exceed actual performance. That being said, we shouldn't be afraid to experiment with the starting line-up. Right now, I'd go with Pruitt, Randle, Alexander, Brock, and Frazier. Meacham, McCamey, Davis, and Tisdale seem to be more comfortable coming off the bench, where we need the depth on both ends of the court. Take it or leave it.

BCS Looniness - ILLINOIS Rose Bowl?

2007-11-26T16:37:00.000-08:00

Don't laugh, in the year of the upset, this could happen too. It's been a crazy season - no shocker there. #2 has gone down 6 times this season, counting Saturday's Kansas demise at the hands of Missouri. #1 hasn't been immume either (USC, Ohio State, and LSU - twice). Seems like nobody wants to or is capable of holding onto the top BCS positions. So why not ILLINOIS in the BCS? And why not the Rose Bowl? Is there a hotter team in the country right now - or two weeks ago? Don't talk to me about the 'big-boys' being down this year or how great their talent pools are when compared to the 'lesser' schools like KU, MIZZOU, WV, and ILLINOIS. Recruiting classes don't win championships, programs do. And the Zooker & Company are building a great one at ILLINOIS. Worthy? Come on - we've been there four times in the past and have three victories (latest being 1984), 10th all-time. Let the debate rage, the arguments be made public, and the computers sort it out once and for all come next weekend, with a little bowl-game politicing in the backrooms of the BCS.

To start making the case for an ILLNI appearance in Pasadena come January 2008, one has to look back to last year. While it's true that the team was competitive in several losses; it's also true that we only amassed two victories against ten defeats. It's been said that you can't frame a house while the foundation is still wet (last season). If that's the case, the carpenters, plumbers, electricians, landscapers, and painters have all been busy in Champaign this year. The ILLINI turnaround in 2007 is one of the greatest in recent CFB history, by a long shot. Name another 2-10 / 9-3 team in recent memory? Great job by Coach Zook and his staff in getting the players to 'buy-in' this campaign in Champaign. They're on the MARK this year as a major surprise. With nine (9) wins and a top-18 ranking in the BCS (currently #15) we qualify as the rules exist today. Don't blame ILLINOIS - we didn't create the monster. But it is our current POR (process of record).

Then there are the wins and losses. Name another team with two top-5 BCS victories (#5 Wisconsin and #1 Ohio State - in Columbus). En route to nine victories, the CHIEF also dismantled Penn State, Northwestern, and a strong Ball-State club - who gave Nebraska all it could handle and then some. The three defeats weren't that bad either (to Michigan, at Iowa, and at #1 Missouri back in late August). Name a team other than Oklahoma who played the TIGERS better for 60 minutes, and almost won? You may have an argument in Kansas. No matter how you slice it, the SOS is there to lend credibility to the nine wins. In fact, this week Sagarin has our schedule strength at #36 in the land, ahead of other BCS prospects like Ohio State (#56), Kansas (#90), Oklahoma (#67), VT (#45), BC (#41), and Hawaii (#142).

Looking back a few weeks, I had no idea what the Oregon and Oklahoma losses meant at the time. Now it looks like both have opened the door somewhat for a BCS appearance by the Chief. Many scenarios remain and things have to go just right down the stretch. As been said, still a lot more football to be played next weekend with Championship games and classic rivalry showdowns, including the CIVIL WAR. Anything can and will likely happen in one or more of these upcoming match-ups. Until the final whistles blow, the CHIEF will be cheering loudly for teams like Oklahoma, Arizona, LSU, UW, and Virginia Tech to all win their big games this weekend. It's a great game.

WEEK #13 -Wrap; The END IS HERE!

2007-11-24T15:50:00.000-08:00

What a season of CFB and PICK EM. Al l that remains are the championship games and the CIVIL WAR in WEEK #14. It's been an amazing run of grid-iron action for the ages. Kudos to JUICE WILL PREVAIL, Orange and Black is Back, OSU_Beaver_Parent, and Mr. Planning on jobs well done this year in the fantasy league. Lunches, drinks, and dinners will be forthcoming. Don't forget about BOWL MANIA later in December. Should be a wild bowl season.

As I look back at the season as a whole, this could be the year we define as a new era of CFB. Let's be honest, we haven't seen anything like this ever - in my opinion. Every week has been full of upset action. How many times have #1 and #2 gone down this year? Look for more parity like this season in the years to come. 85 scholarships is part of it. Great coaching and better programs across the land are other factors. CFB is the greatest thing going for most regions of of the country. Nobody wants to be left out of the action. These programs are marketing machines for colleges and universities across the land. In many cases, they fund all other sports.

As for the action this week, USC put a stamp on the PAC-10 with the their total demolition of ASU on Thanksgiving. They will win the PAC-10 again and hang 50+ points on UCLA next weekend to earn another bid to the ROSE BOWL where they will dismantle Ohio State in the grand-daddy of them all. You heard it here first. The Trojans are not only back, but they are better than ever - at least for this year. That defense is devastating. And the offense isn't too shabby either.

How about those Ducks? They're not even close to the same team w/o Dixon at QB. By virtue of their performance over the past six quarters w/o him in the lineup, he should earn a seat at the Downtown Atheletic Club next month for the Heisman Ceremony. While I know he won't win it, show me a player that means more to his team? There isn't one. Oregon had a great run this year. It's a brutal game. It's not fair. It's football.

As for the Chief, he's on the outside of the BCS looking in. With wins by USC, VA TECH, and BC this weekend, it's rather unlikely that the BIG-10 will send two clubs to the BCS this year. I look for the following conferences to send two: SEC, ACC, BIG-12, and the PAC-10 (USC and ASU). This means that unless UW can beat Hawaii next weekend, West Virginia and the Warriors will make up the two remaining sptos - with WV possibly in the title game after the Kansas loss. I stil expect ILLINIOS (#15 AP) to be offered a CAPITOL ONE BOWL invite to play Florida, TN, or Georgia. I'm hoping for a Zooker / Meyer showdown. But if this year has taught us anything, you just never know. Bowl games are about money, matchups, and marketing. They want teams that will draw fans and viewers. Doesn't hurt if you're one of the hottest teams in the land, and fun to watch. And very few schools 'travel' better than ILLINOIS. Last time we went to the CITRUS BOWL (1990 under Jeff George), we set the all-time attendance record which still stands today. And we blew a wad of cash down in Florida as well.

Next year could be our year (2008). We may be picked to win the conference with the returning talent we have, even w/o Mendenhall if he decides to go PRO. We could have three Heisman candidates in Williams, Benn, and RMIII if he decides to stay in Champaign for his final season. I expect ILLNOIS to be ranked in the pre-season top-15 next August. Look for the Zooker to spend at least one more season on the sidelines of Zupke. But, if we have a big year next year (conference champs and more?) look for him to be highly coveted by other big-time programs (depending on who they are). I'll be disappointed if we don't have a spirited drive for the BIG-10 crown. You can't count on anything in this game, but we should be competitive in each home / away contest. Look for all of this young talent to come into its own on both sides of the ball. It will be interesting to see how we handle all of the success, especially a bowl game this year.

Like I said before, it's about the journey and not the outcome. We're all better for having travelled the road behind us. College football is one of the greatest things going - and this rivalry weekend we all give thanks. I'm not sure I know of a sport which evokes so much passion, energy, loyalty, and determination for greatness. Friendships have been made and lost, families divided, and co-workers silenced by what happens on the field each and every Saturday afternoon in the fall. It's a great thing. We all can relate, no matter where we may have matriculated. The ups and downs are what make it a thing of beauty which the NFL and other sports simply don't possess (but crave). And for all of its faults with scheduling, money, scandals, and the politics of rankings - CFB insiders know that the weekly controversy leads to endless debate that can linger for years, decades, and generations to come.

My New TOP-10 (based on 13 weeks and recent performance):
1) MIZZOU, 2) WV, 3) LSU, 4) USC, 5) Georgia, 6) KU, 7) Ohio State 8) FL / VT, 10) OK/BC.

Drop me a line and tell me what you think, especially if you disagree. On a personal note, I'll be hoping and praying that MIZZOU beats OU in the BIG-12 title game next weekend. A loss by the TIGERS could open the door to disaster (Ohio State). Nothing against the BUCKEYES and their weak schedule this year (both in and out of conference), but the nation would not be well served by a BUCKEYE return visit to the BCS Championship (Ugh! at the thought). I can think of five or ten more worthy clubs, with two and even three losses. WV / MIZZOU would be good. How about USC / WV or USC / MIZZOU? I think Georgia would make a worthy opponent (won't happen now) with their undefeated non-conference record under Richt. Heck, put KU, Florida, BC, or Hawaii in there first. Anything, anything, but a BUCKEYE BCS. You have to give them credit as being a great team. As long as they continue to schedule just 8 conference games and 4 cream-puffs each year, no way should any one-loss BIG-10 team play for the title (except ILLINOIS, who probably battled MIZZOU in its toughest victory of the year)!

Interesting stats and storylines from around the rivalry nation:

With their win over arch - enemy UTAH on Saturday, BYU extends its MW winning record to 15 regular-season games.
With their win over Kentucky, the Vols now own the longest active winning streak in an uninterrupted series (23 years).
Hawaii picked up just its first WAC title on Friday be beating Boise State.
BC ended a losing streak against Miami on Saturday (15) by earning its first win over the CANES since Flutie did it in 1984.
Urban Meyer starts 3-0 against FSU - first time any Florida coach has done that.
For the first time in 22 years, Oregon was shut-out (Nebraska 1985) and has no shot now of reaching Pasadena again this season.
Georgia under Richt is a perfect 25-0 in non-conference games, 7-0 versus Tech. You just don't beat him.
In losing to USC, ASU had 27 rushing attempts through three quarters for zero total yards.
Arkansas shredded LSU for 515 yards, 388 on the ground en route to their 3OT victory.

Illini Gridders Start to Reap the Awards....

2007-11-21T13:00:00.001-08:00

Look for this trend to continue for a long time coming as long as Zook is in town. It's been a long time since we had the Coach of The Year in the BIG-10, Offensive Player of The Year (Mendenhall), and Freshmen of The Year (Benn) - and all in the same season. I doubt that's ever happened before in Champaign. Combined, they're just another reminder just how special a year in was in 2007. Actually, Rashard is the first-ever offensive player of the year for Illinois. Benn follows in the footsteps of Simeon Rice (1992).

And look for Zook on the sidelines in the Hula Bowl College All-Star Game come January. He'll join Les Miles on the turf at Aloha Stadium. Just don't join him in the discussion for the Michigan opening. Les, it's all yours. Go get it!

Maui Madness

2007-11-20T21:17:00.000-08:00

Love those pre-season tourneys during 'Feast Week'. I know it's a bit early to fall in love with basketball before Thanksgiving, but these gatherings gives coaches and teams a chance to evaluate themelves out of conference - and that's priceless heading into league play come first of the year. If lucky, a little bit of March tourney madness may even sneak into the game.

This just in, it's never a bad loss when you lose to Duke, especially in Hawaii where they've never lost under Coach 'K'. Might as well send the EA SPORTS Invitational trophy to Durham right after they get invited. Henderson and Nelson will carry the Dukies deep into the ACC and NCAA tournaments come March. With Singler and a few other good looking freshmen, Duke will be a tough out for anyone and should contend for another championship. They may not be big, but they are very atheletic, skilled, and discipled - as are most teams under Coach 'K'.

As for my club, we're a work in progress right now - blending young talent and seasoned vets in different offensive and defensive schemes. We also have some atheletes and can go deep into the bench, but need to figure out how to score consistently for 40 minutes. Our depth and speed will keep us in many games we probably have no business of winning, but unless a few guys can step up and provide the scoring leadership needed to stay in and finish contests, it's going to be another disappointing season of hardwood action in Champaign. Clearly, we're not quite ready to shine - yet.

The way I see it, we need Randle and Pruitt to average 15 points / game and 10 boards each. Alexander should provide a nice spark and might be our 3rd option - a very prolfic scorer at times. Frazier needs to run the offense, with Meachem occasionally stepping in to fill the void. Neither one will light it up night after night, but each can stroke it for 15-20 points on occasion - especially bombing it away from behind the arc. Brock brings more athelticism and scrappiness to the attack, but needs to learn to play within himself, avoiding the highs and lows of a game. I also like some of the young talent we're folding into the lineup with Tisdale, Cole, and Holdren.

But with a New Year's Bowl appearance on tap for my club, basketball will have to take a back seat to the girdders for the next five or six weeks. The Chief hasn't had the opportunity to look forward to that in quite some time. Whether it's the Capital-One Bowl or a BCS game, we have more mountains to climb and one more game to win.

BCS Game This Year? It's Possible - Here's How ...

2007-11-19T17:03:00.000-08:00

And don't get me wrong, I was cheering just as loud as most for an Oregon win in Tucson last week. Hated to see Dennis go down like that. At the time, I had no idea what the DUCK loss would mean to the national picture, and the ILLINI. But this has been a crazy season of CFB. You've read about the upsets for the ages (Appy State and Stanford). The Heisman Race has been all over the map, with contenders and pretenders entering and exiting each week seemingly. It's been a season to remember for many reasons. And if you're an Illinois fan, you won't soon forget the BIG WIN over Ohio State - not to mention wins over Penn State and Wisconsin. What a turnaround in Champaign. It's good to be part of the ILLINI NATION right now - especially from the Beaver State. Oskee Wa Wa! Sing it with me, "Ole Princeton yells her tiger, Wisconsin her varsity. And they give the same old rah! rah! rah! at each university. But the yell that always thrills me, and fills my heart with joy, is the good ole Oskee Wa Wa they cheer at ILLINOIS." Hail to the chief! Tribe travels well.

I must say I first heard those three little letters (BCS) on Saturday during the battle for the SWEET SIOUX TOMAHAWK (Northwestern). And, like you, my first reaction was 'are you kidding me'? No way we have a pathway to the BCS - much less do we deserve one. After all, we did lose three games this year, including two conference losses to Iowa and Michigan, respectively. Technically, we finished 3rd in the conference behind Michigan who owns the tiebreaker after their win at Zupke, which seems like so long ago at this point in the season. But then I started to think about it more deeply. Could it be true? Is there a way? Have the BCS gurus created such a perfectly flawed system whereby a 9-3 lowly BIG-10 school could snake its way through the desert grass en route to the Fiesta Bowl? Nah, no way! And then this came across my desk: Oregon's Tumble Could Mean an ILLINI RUMBLE with potentially a Hawaii or Boise State in the BCS (most likely the Fiesta Bowl - but who cares?) Wow! Talk about excitement in a bowl game for once. I knew there had to be a reason to love the BCS; and I found it. You can always count on Stewart to un-earth the good stuff.

Here's my understanding of what would need to happen (all of them):

1) Oregon would need to lose one of its next two games against either UCLA or Oregon State, not totally unlikely with DIXON out of the picture and Brady Leaf large and in charge of the low-powered / injury-plagued quack attack. I'm still not convinced they'll win another game this season. And to think that just 5 days ago this was the #2 team in the nation with a clear path to Bourbon Street. Wow, how fast things change in the world of CFB. Go Bruins! Go BEAVS! Go Bruins! Go BEAVS! Bring just one home for the chief.

2) Arizona State would need to knock-off USC on Thanksgiving, again - quite possible. Actually, I'm not convinced the PAC-10 would send two teams to the BCS even if the Sun Devils lose one of their remaining two games. USC still would have to beat UCLA in my opinion to get to 10-2 on the season. Three losses in the conference for either club would not equal an at-large BCS bid in my book. Bowl games like teams who are hot heading into prime-time TV slot. It's just good for business. Who's hotter than the chief, I ask?

3) VA TECH would need to lose one of its remaining two games, either Virginia or the ACC title game. Again - quite possible. As Mandel mentions, I guess it would be possible for a 10-3 Hokie squad to finish ahead of the CHIEF in the final BCS rankings. But, do BCS bowls want a team fresh off a loss? I think NOT.....It would be better for them to lose to Virginia and beat BC in the ACC Championship, I think. But who wants that?

And now for some background. In order to be eligible for a BCS at-large invite, you need nine wins (done) and have to finish in the top-14 in the ranking system (currently #17). Remember, no conference can send more than two teams to the BCS in a given year. I love rules! Since we don't play another game this year, we can't lose one and will surely only move up as teams above us continue to knock each other off. As Stew mentions, it's rather unlikely that the ACC or the BIG EAST will have two teams qualify for the BCS. The SEC and BIG-12 will each get two (take your pick at this point). So, of the eight total spots in the four BIG GAMES (Rose, Sugar, Orange, and Fiesta - no particular order implied), only 7 slots are currently filled with only one coming from the BIG-10 (Ohio State).

How ironic would that be? Talk about your twist of fait for the ages. Could be one of the best examples of I'll scratch your back if you'll scratch mine. Not yet two weeks after un-ranked ILLINOIS beats #1 Ohio State at home in Columbus, thereby opening the door for an Oregon run to New Orleans (you're welcome BTW), do the DUCKS return the favor by losing in the desert to Arizona - possibly eliminating one of two assumed BCS berths for the PAC-10 (thank you very much). Suddenly, that doesn't seem like a sure bet anymore. What a crazy year. What a crazy system.

Keep in mind that we're talking about a young ILLINI team that went 2-10 last year, 8-38 over the past four years. Ugh! Yes indeed, the turnaround is in full swing in Champaign under Coach Ron Zook, who has had his doubters even just a few weeks ago after the Michigan loss at home. Oh, and chew on this; the last time we went to a bowl game (2002) we got whacked by a team you might have heard of (LSU) in the SUGAR BOWL - BCS baby! That's our style! Lot of football to be played. But, as we head into one of if not the best holiday of them all, the Chief will be cheering for teams like ASU, UCLA, Boise State, and Virginia. The future is now. And the tribe travels well.

Illini Train Keeps Rollin' - Week #12 Wrap

2007-11-17T11:16:00.000-08:00

No hangover in Champaign this afternoon as ILLINI reclaims the SWEET SIOUX TOMAHAWK from the WILDCATS in a blowout victory at home to close the BIG-10 season. When things go right; they go RIGHT! The REVENGE TOUR is amp'd up and rockin'. There was some talk of letdown after one of the biggest victories in school history. Not to be. There is no denying the ILLINI in 2007. This is as statement game, taking our record to 9-3 on the season with perhaps one more W to be earned early next year.

CAP One BOWL? Hmmm..... never hurts when you set an all-time attendance record the last time you were there (1990). And, who wouldn't want to see a Zook / Meyer showdown in Orlando? the ILLINI nation is large and in charge these days, willing to travel and spend all kinds of money after a 6-year drought in bowl activity. Plus, we're one of the best travelling schools in the country right behind Nebraska and a few others. At 9-3, we're certainly qualified to represent the BIG-10 after the Michigan loss to Ohio State today. No way a BIG-TIME bowl will want a bleeding Wolverine club coming off two straight losses (poor showings, at that).

OK, back to the present and things we can control. Yes, it was a coming - out party for Jeff Cumberland (#17). He's our other tall, strong, speedy, and skilled converted TE (now wideout). And the offense put together two 90+ scoring drives to drain the will and life out of the WILDCAT defense. For the day, we had another 300-yard rushing effort amassing more than 30 first-downs yet again. Mendenhall also looked strong rushing the ball for 2TDs. But the undeniable leader of this team, his team, is Juice Williams. With over 300 total yeards (200+ passing and 100+ rushing), this has become Isiah's squad over the last month. There was some doubt, especially after the Michigan loss last month. But, after the last four performances including the BIG BUCKEYE win last week, there is no doubt. And, he's just a sophomore. Lookout BIG-10. We'll be locked and loaded for a title run next season.

It's amazing what a little talent and a year will do. No doubt, the Zooker has orchestrated one of the biggest turnarounds in BIG - 10 / CFB history. Keep in mind that we had just two wins last year, going 8-38 over the past five seasons. Yep, nine wins surpasses the total from the past four years combined. We couldn't find a bowl if you opened up all the cupboards in the kitchen. Those days are gone - a distant memory. Give the real credit to two sources: the players who execute and the coaches who lead (both on and off the field). Yes, big-time kudos to Zook (coach of the year?) and Locksley - the two masterminds of the great turnaround. I hope both stay in Champaign for a long time to come. There is un-finished business to close still in the BIG-10 and on the national scene.

Goals for next season - I know it's still November 2007, but after a strong season this year I can't help but start thinking about next season. With a culture of winning being established each week, next year is shaping up to be a big one. Let's continue to turn the talent into treasure. We have great coaching staff, great facilities, an awesome campus 'homestyle' atmosphere, the ORANGE KRUSH, and a desire to win. It's all about family in Champaign. So, here are some realistic goals for this young club:

1) Win the day - don't take any snap, practice, or game for granted. If this year has taught the astute football scholar anything, it's a different game every week. Leave it all on the field. And most importantly, do it like you've done it before.

2) Win the non-conference schedule - taking one at a time, and defend ZUPKE FIELD. This is our NEW house.

3) Win the conference. You aren't going to the BCS in any shape or form without finishing ahead of our arch rivals: Ohio State, Michigan, Wisonsin, and Penn State. It's going to be a competitive / wide-open race next season.

4) Be a player on the national scene each week. Obviously, if you take care of 1-3 above this will happen. Don't get the priorities mixed up - #1 is the most important. But, don't waste any opportunity to move this program back to greatness. With 118 years of history behind us, we still haven't won a national title in football. Remember, beating Ohio State once in a while is nice, but doing it consistently when it matters most is something altogether different. Do it like you've done it before!

Looking Back - Oblige me a bit. What a season! I had us pegged for six wins last January and bowl eligibility. Who'd have thought we'd beat Penn State, Wisconsin, and Ohio State all in the same year? And, if you look our our losses this year (at Iowa, at Missouri, and at home against Michigan), there isn't a bad one in the bunch. We were competitive in all three defeats with real chances to win each game. Oh, what could have been (12-0?)! I know, a bit dreamy - but the two that stick in my crotch the most are the conference losses to Iowa (heartbreaker) and Michigan (where we really beat ourselves with penalties and specials teams breakdowns). Still yet, I think we're the only team with two top-5 wins on the year. No shame in losing to two other strong top-20 squads.

I think Adam Rittenberg's features sums it all up pretty well- the $116M stadium facelift is a work in progress as two large cranes tower over the west balcony, but the rebuilding process on the field is almost complete. "These guys are going to have to learn that New Year's Eve, they don't get to go out," third-year coach Ron Zook said. "But that's a good thing."

My New TOP-10 - The picture gets clearer with each passing loss. Enjoy this season, there hasn't been one like it in recent memory:

1) LSU, 2) Kansas, 3) Mizzou, 4) WV, 5) Georgia, 6) Ohio State, 7) ASU, 8) USC, 9) Va Tech, 10) Texas.

The regular season wraps up with rivalry weekend starting on Thanksgiving night with USC @ ASU and ending Saturday night with Bama @ Auburn. In between those three days turkey, shopping, and the mad-dash in and out of parking lots will be some of the best grid-iron season of the year. It's probably my favorite slate of games year in and out. You can see the entire list here. I'm sure of only one thing. The 'upsets' aren't over just yet.

"Recruiting is like shaving: You've got to do it every day or you don't look too good." - Ron Zook.

Devastation in the Desert ... Down Goes #2 Again!

2007-11-15T19:08:00.000-08:00

It's a totally different game very week. And how fast can things change - bam, just like a pick six. I've been saying it all year. Gone are the days where teams can expect to dominate simply by showing up. You just never know anymore. That's why they play the games. Chief usually doesn't opine about things non-ILLINI (why waste the electrons?), but he felt obliged to post a few thoughts and comments about the Duck demise in the desert tonight at the hands of the notorious WILDCATS. Another win in November to remember for Arizona.

For starters, football is a brutal game. There isn't a more physical game in the land. What it demands of an athelete's body is at times super-human. Let's face it, the corpus humanus wasn't designed to take such a brutal beating week in and week out. It's not a fair game. You hate to see any player go down like that, much less a legitimate Heisman candidate. But, injury is part of the deal. All teams have been there. In the end, it's really black and white - do or die (figuratively). And for what seems like a weekly phenomenon (fifth time in reality), down goes #2 BCS. What a season. And the upsets, surprises, letdowns, and otherwise unforgettable moments are not behind us yet. Mark those words.

Had Derrick Jones made the catch early in the 1st, Oregon goes up 15-0 and the rout is on. Instead, after some pong action and some great hands by Cason, Arizona puts together 31 unanswered points - doing it every which way possible. After Dixon's departure, the game took on a whole new tone. I was somewhat surprised to see how the entire team collapsed like Dennis' knee (exposing the team's character to some degree). That is not a sign of a champion. You have to be deeper than one player to win in big-time football. Nothing came easy for Oregon on offense or defense (key turnovers, etc..). And there there is Brady Leaf; he's no Doug Flutie much less a Dennis Dixon. OK, to be honest, having Leaf in the game instead of Dixon is like having an ass run in the Derby. It's just not quite the same performance. Watching leaf in the pocket attempting a completion was almost as painful as the Dixon injury.

So where do the Ducks go from here? I don't know of another team as decimated by injury at key positions as Oregon. Ride the back and legs of J. Stewart is my advice. He's a total stud - one of the best in the country. And the defense is something to be proud of after a rough start in the first half. They gave up nothing in the last 30 minutes. Surely, they'll take a beating in the AP/BCS polls next week. I don't see how they remain in the TOP-10 anymore. Their national-title hopes are gone like Willamette - valley sunshine in November.

The big winners tonight reside in the BIG-12: Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri. Suddenly the national picture is much clearer (and less controversial). If the Jayhawks win out they go to New Orleans. If the Sooners win out, we could be looking at an LSU / Oklahoma rematch. But, the Ducks are done - they have no chance at the title this year. It was a great run with Dixon in charge - a great year overall. They do have an outside chance to make it to Pasadena provided they take care of business in LA and Eugene to close the season. Suddenly for the Ducks, nothing is guaranteed including two more wins (with one against Oregon State). Seems par for the course in 2007.

And a final note - is their a worse conference in the nation when it comes to officiating? Most of the blown calls weren't even close. It hasn't been a good couple of years for the men in PAC-10 stripes.