A classified ad you might see soon in the Austin (Texas) American-Statesman: For sale by owner, plush home, close to UT campus, please ignore the windows broken by bricks.

It's been another long year in Texas for former Illinois coach John Mackovic. He might not survive this one.

   There is, of course, a plus side to all this losing. You just have to sift through the debris to find it.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Joe Tiller knows a thing or two about wide receivers.

During six years at Wyoming, Tiller's offense always ranked in the top 20 in passing, and his Purdue team is among the national leaders this year.

   News and notes from Thursday''s UI football practice:

The way Joe Tiller talked before the season, you would have thought he was taking over forever losers Prairie View A&M or Mattoon.

At the Big Ten media day, Tiller mentioned his team's lack of speed, depth and ability.

News and notes from Wednesday's UI practice:

   WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  The ex-baseball player had lost his fastball. Billy Dicken''s passes looked more like Tim Wakefield''s knucklers.

   Five months off will do that to a quarterback. Your form goes to pot. Your long balls fall short.

When Billy Dicken & Co. carry Purdue's first national ranking in 13 years into Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon, it would be inappropriate to consider this an aerial circus. And it's certainly not a "touch football" team.