For Illinois, there are worse things than losing to Middle Tennessee State.

A letter of inquiry comes to mind. So does Digger Phelps as your commencement speaker. How about Marcus Griffin committing to Iowa the second time around?

That's about it.

Each weekend you'll find a smattering of the matchups. Illinois vs. Middle Tennessee State. The Citadel at Florida. Eastern Illinois at Northern Illinois.

It's the little guys against the big guys. It's 63 scholarships against 85. It's local radio stations against national television. It's 15,000-seat stadiums against 100,000-seat monstrosities.

CHAMPAIGN – Maybe Illinois officials should talk to the folks at Middle Tennessee State about transportation. The Blue Raiders had no trouble Friday getting to Champaign-Urbana.

The players and coach Boots Donnelly left Murfreesboro at 6:30 a.m. for the six-hour bus trip. Donnelly rode in one bus with his seniors. The rest of the team split up in the other two.

This week's guest: linebacker Danny Clark

   Linebacker Eric Guenther hasn''t practiced all week because of a hamstring injury. That doesn''t completely knock him out of Saturday''s game. Illinois coach Ron Turner said Guenther will be available in case of an emergency against Middle Tennessee State.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – When Antwaan Randle El says he wants to be just like Coach, he's not being a big brownnoser.

He really means it.

CHAMPAIGN – The pitcher is struggling. He throws 12 consecutive balls and walks three batters. Finally, on pitch No. 13, he throws a strike. The crowd gives the pitcher a standing ovation.

That's the way Ken Zimmerman felt Nov. 3, 1962.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The phone rang off the wall Monday at Torin Kirtsey's place. But few of the calls were for him.

They wanted his roommates. They wanted to sell him a new phone service. They wanted to order a pizza. Sorry, wrong number.