IlliniHQ.com
The Final Word from Evanston
Friday November 21, 2008
Robert K. O'Daniell/The News-Gazette
Illinois' Martez Wilson (2) will not play today against Northwestern after a violation of team rules.
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Illinois will be without one starter on defense today. And possibly two.
Illinois sophomore linebacker Martez Wilson won't play against Northwestern. Wilson didn't make the trip because of a violation of team rules.
Though listed on the depth chart as a starting linebacker, Wilson hasn't been on the field for the first play the past three games. Instead, senior Sam Carson has gotten the call. Carson is expected to take Wilson's place again against the Wildcats.
Wilson got in early against Ohio State, entering on the third offensive play for the Buckeyes. He finished with four tackles and a fumble recovery.
For the season, Wilson is second on the team in tackles with 73. He leads the team with five quarterback hurries and is fifth with three sacks.
A highly touted high school player from Chicago Simeon, Wilson picked the Illini over offers from almost every college football power. His signing was considered the defensive equivalent of adding receiver Arrelious Benn.
Wilson isn't the only Illini starting defender who might not play today. Safety Donsay Hardeman's status is uncertain because of a sore neck. Hardeman made the trip north and was with the team at its Northbrook hotel Friday night.
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The Illini didn't stop at Ryan Field on Friday. Instead, they went directly from Memorial Stadium to team headquarters at the Northbrook Hilton. They arrived at about 5:45 p.m., with the Peoria Charter buses getting a police escort.
The bus trip was the second of the season for the Illini, who also drove to St. Louis for the Missouri game. There will be three bus trips in 2009: Missouri in St. Louis, at Indiana and at Purdue.
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The Wildcats had a late- afternoon walkthrough at Ryan Field, followed by dinner at the N-Club, the team's training table.
The Northwestern travel party left for the team's North Shore hotel at about 7:15 p.m. The players watched a movie together before lights out at about 11 p.m.
The team will arrive today at the stadium at about noon. The Wildcats will have their traditional "Walk With Us" from the bus to the locker room along Walker Way.
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The Sweet Sioux Tomahawk trophy will be retired after Saturday's game.
The move was made by the Illinois Board of Trustees, through the chancellor's office, to keep the school within compliance of the NCAA rules on use of Native American imagery.
Regardless of the outcome of today's game, the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk will remain at Northwestern, Illinois sports information director Kent Brown said.
Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips, an Illinois graduate, issued a statement:
"Out of tremendous respect for the Native American community, the two universities have decided this would be the last year we play for the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk trophy. After the first of the year, Northwestern and Illinois will get together and develop a new rivalry trophy. The two schools have a tremendous football history and we look forward to continuing this great instate series."
The first game with the new trophy in place will be next Nov. 14 at Memorial Stadium.
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There will be a handful of bowls represented at today's game. Scouts from the Capital One, Outback, Alamo, Champs Sports and Insight will be at Ryan Field.
At 8-3, Northwestern is already bowl eligible. If the Wildcats win today, they are a strong bet for Tampa's Outback Bowl, which has the third or fourth pick from the Big Ten. The one possibility for a nine-win Northwestern team to drop to the Alamo Bowl would be if the Big Ten lands one BCS berth.
With a win today against Northwestern, Illinois' most likely bowl scenario would be a trip to the Insight Bowl in Tempe, Ariz.
Northwestern has a reputation of not traveling well to bowls. But officials from the school point out that 46,000 went to the Rose Bowl, 30,000 attended the Citrus Bowl and that 9,000 were at the Sun Bowl, drawing more fans than UCLA.
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The Illinois captains for today's game will be Benn, defensive end Will Davis, defensive tackle David Lindquist, linebacker Brit Miller and quarterback Juice Williams.
The team has game captains during the season. Permanent captains will be announced at the team's banquet Dec. 13.
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