Continuing our ridiculously early previews of Big Ten teams, I proudly bring you Illinois:
One Word Season Recap: Roller-Coaster. Two words you say? Screw off. Illinois came into the season knowing that they had a good Running Back in Mendenhall, and a QB with tons of potential in Juice Williams. Mendenhall didn't disappoint, rushing for 1681 yards on 262 carries. That's a staggering 6.4 YPC. Killer. In games Illinois lost, Mendenhall averaged 61.6 yards (excluding bowl game). In games they won? 149 yards. It is safe to say that as Mendenhall went, so too went the Illini. He will be playing on Sunday next year as a first round draft choice of the Steelers. Illinois went from losing to Missouri to ripping off 5 straight wins, to dropping two in a row to Iowa and Michigan, to beating #1 Ohio State in the Shoe, to getting bitch-made by USC in the Rose Bowl. Seriously, Space Mountain has nothing on that season - and Space Mountain is epic.
No Longer a Zooker
The Zooker's finished last season ranked #20 in the AP, and #18 in the coaches poll.
2008 Tangibles:
Schedule
8/30 @ Missouri
9/06 Eastern Illinois
9/13 Louisiana-Lafayette
9/27 @ Penn State
10/04 @ Michigan
10/11 Minnesota
10/18 Indiana
10/25 @ Wisconsin
11/01 Iowa
11/08 @ Western Michigan
11/15 Ohio State
11/22 @ Northwestern
Coach
They don't call them the fighting Zooker's for nothing. And no - I will not be using [Name Redacted].
Returning Playmakers
Juice Williams is a good quarterback until you make him throw. Then he's a bad quarterback. That could change.
Bad Quarterback!
Arrelious Benn is 100% uncut blue magic.
Champ?
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