Ron Turner, Chicago , Illinois: How far behind Juice & Eddie McGee is Jacob Charest? I thought he should have seen some playing time in the ISU game. Do you think Nathan Sheelhouse has a chance of starting next year? He sure looked good in the Rantoul scrimmage.

Moderator: Ron, who knows how a quarterback will turn out. If you look back on the last 25 who were recruited, you'll find 5 or 6 who became good players, and one of those is Juice. Scheelhaase should be redshirted, PERIOD. As for Charest, everyone wants to see the quarterback who hasn't played, and you saw how that worked out with McGee Saturday. Loren

Mike, Champaign, IL: Jim,

You said in your blog: "There once was a time when David Williams never worried about his upcoming professional career and went about grabbing 101 passes one year and 92 the next."

Do you really think Benn is dogging it?

I blame the play-calling (where are the runs, the screens?) and the quarterbacks who can't get him the ball more than him being worried about the NFL draft.

Moderator: Mike: Benn was dazed on the opening kickoff but continued to play. I don't think Benn is dogging it, but there's no question he'll be leaving at the end of this year, and perhaps his mind is on that. His draft situation may be affected by the way he is playing. He needs to catch some passes. Jim

Danimal, Champaign, Il: Loren,

Did you see the fly over Saturday? The vultures where circling over coach Zooks office.

Moderator: Danimal: The flyover was the last exciting thing that happened Saturday. It apparently did not have the effect of firing up the Illini team. The tone of the game was set in the first two MSU possessions. Jim and Loren

TK, Tampa, FL: Clearly, the offense is not responding to the new coaching staff and it is no longer realistic to look for excuses exclusively at the QB position. Most people that would know, agree that Illinois has enough talent offensively to be productive and compete in the Big Ten which is devoid of defense in many games. What's the solution?

Moderator: TK, the solution might be to play against Indiana and Purdue. If that doesn't work, there is always hari kari. People a lot smarter than us can't figure out what happened to the highly productive Illini offense after mid-season a year ago. Jim and Loren

Chris, Monticello, IL: Which of the following people should take the most blame for this year's debacle:

-The players for getting manhandled week in and week out?

-The coaches for recruiting these players and not putting them in the proper position to win?

-The athletic director for hiring these coaches and putting together a brutal non-conference schedule?

-The national and regional media for talking in the preseason about how much talent was on the roster?

-The recruiting services for spending so much time covering and hyping 17 and 18 year old kids that don't ultimately pan out?

Moderator: Chris: All of the above. As for recruiting, all schools overrate and overhype their players. There is no indication that the coaches aren't putting the players in the right positions. The schedule contributed, but that's not an excuse. We don't have the answers you want. Jim and Loren

Jake, Shelbyville, Il: Loren,

Now that the dust has settled from the weekend fiasco, do you really think the Illini can win any of their remaining games. I would think the morale would start to wane after so many disappointments. Thanks for the chats.

Moderator: Jake, morale is a concern, but it can't be great at Indiana where the Hoosiers just lost by 40 at Virginia. Illinois is a 3-point favorite. So, yes, Illini CAN win games. Let's watch and see what happens. Jim and LOren

Michael, Chicago, Illinois: Is it me or is the possibly of Jeffrey Jordan returning to the hoops team huge for the Illini success over the next two seasons. With Jeffrey filling the back up point guard slot and possibly top defender on the team (also see DJ Richardson), I think Bruce Webers game plan for the season changes dramatically. Not only would Jeffrey most likely receive much more playing time than in past seasons but he would play a major role for an Illini team ranked by most in the top 25 this year and forcasting in the top 15 next year. I know Jeffrey will most likely not play professionally after his college years are over but how many chances does a student athlete get to make a big difference on a team fighting for a possible Sweet 16 birth this year and the sky's the limit next season. As a former professional athlete myself, I suggest playing sports as long as your body and the people hiring you allow you to play. College graduates will work for 40 years once their out of college, why not enjoy the ride of playing college hoops and maybe becoming a legend in this state by bringing home a national championship in hoops next season. Seems worth it to me. Thoughts?

Moderator: Michael, we agree that athletes should play as long as they can. But it is an open question how much playing time Jordan will get compared to the three freshman guards, all of whom are bigger and more talented offensively ... and Weber likes Richardson's defensive talent. Weber likes Jordan, but we don't know whether Jordan will play more than last year. Be careful about building such high expectations this year. Ohio State and Minnesota think they'll be better, and none of them are close to Purdue and Michigan State. Jim and Loren

Dave C., Champaign, IL: Guys,

I'm tired of all the complaining even though it's deserved and I've been guilty of it too.I want to take the positive route and point out some good things:

1. The schedule now provides much better matchups. There are 2 very winnable games ahead of us.We could be 3-4 going into a home game against Michigan. Find a way to win that and bowl talk will be revived.

2. They still have some steller players. Benn is due to have a difference making game (couple of td's) and Juice is capable. Inconsistent means sometimes you do it and all those stadium records attest to his ability.

3. The benching seeemed to rally the Team (and crowd) around Juice , and he responded. I think he wants his job back and may elevate his play. A couple inches on that 1st pass to Benn and everyone would be looking at things diferently today. One play.

4. We're finding some new contributors, Aikens came in and played well. Pocic is a beast. I saw him clears huge holes against ISU. He did it again on Leshoure's TD vs MSU. Stick that guy in the line up and keep him there.Leshoure looks good every game, he's earning more time amonmg some talented backs. Gress is making plays and is helping at a position in need of it.Ramsey is taking advantage of the reciever woes with speed and good hands.

5. The crowds haven't left yet. You don't think they'll come out for Michigan? Win a couple games and there will be a buzz in the air on Halloween.

Am I delusional or do you disagree with what I've said? I know the key is winning the next 2 weeks, but I think we can do it.

Moderator: Dave, you are not delusional. Your points are good. The Illini move into two winnable games and, yes, the attitudes would change if the Illini win. We agree that Juice lifted the team Saturday. We agree on Leshoure, and the others you mentioned. The opportunity is still there. Now we'll see what happens. Jim and Loren

George Roder, Saint Joseph, IL: Sports writer Rick Morrissey from the Chicago Tribune is quoted in today's Trib as saying this about Zook..."He knows he's not at Florida anymore by the fact he still has a job. Last year's and this year's performances would not be tolerated in Gainesville. The University of Illinois doesn't want to become a football school, with all the negative connotations that go with it. But it should want more than this. If helping young people grow is the school's goal, then it might want to look at what's happening with the football team."

Any thoughts from the two of you on this? As "fans" do you see any substance to this?

Moderator: George: Morrissey is right. Zook would be fired at Florida after the last season and a half. At Florida, they wouldn't even be satisfied with his 9-4 season, particularly the way the Rose Bowl turned out.

There is disappointment within Illini Nation, and Zook's rating would be very low if a poll was taken, but the pressure to fire him is not that strong here, and Guenther has supported him up to this point. Jim and Loren

Tom, Winnetka, IL: Loren,

How do you see Ron Guenther's status now? It has been reported that he would like to step aside and concentrate on fundraising but with a lame duck president to be followed by an interim president it might be hard to name a successor as AD. If the football team really crashes is Ron Guenther in a position to make a change after just recommending to the board a contract extension for the football coach? If recruiting falls off as it likely will, can RG just sit by and take another year of this type of play?

Moderator: Tom, the UI is in a state of flux. Everybody up and down the line is "lame duck." We should not hire a football coach until the AD is set (Guenther has a year left after Dec. 31; will he re-up?), and the AD shouldn't be named until the chancellor's position is clarified, and the chancellor shouldn't be named until the president is named. And the Board of Trustees is still learning where Champaign-Urbana is located.

HOW LONG, OH LORD, HOW LONG?

Jim and Loren

tom, bloomington, IL: I'm looking ahead to next year. Is there any reason to expect improvement next year? A young defense will be a year older as will the O-line. Juice will be gone but I'm excited about what Charest and Scheelhasse may offer. Is there reason for optimism?

Moderator: Tom, there is no reason that we know of to be optimistic about next year. If we knew a reason, we'd give it to you. Jim and Loren

tom, bloomington, IL: Is the reason for our decades long mediocrity in FB the result of a deeply ingrained institutional indifference if not down right apathy towards football by top Univeristy Administrators, trustees, etc.? What can change that perception?

Moderator: Tom, what makes you think the administration doesn't care? Guenther has given the football team every opportunity to succeed ... recruiting budget, facilities, new weightroom, the new press box and suites. We are not aware of institutional indifference. We have more resources than some, and less resources than others. The execution is up to the coaches and players, and they seemed to be on the upswing two years ago. What happened? We're not sure. Jim and Loren

Moderator: Thanks, everybody. We're like you. We are searching for answers. Illinois should be more competitive, even against these tough opponents. We'll see what happens from here. Jim and Loren