CHAMPAIGN  The spring weekends will be busy for Tim Lavery. That''s just the way he wants it.

   The University of Illinois freshman won''t be hard to spot. He''ll be the one walking from Illinois Field to Memorial Stadium carrying a bag full of gear.

   Some of the time, Lavery will be a quarterback, 1 of 5 fighting to replace Scott Weaver as the Illini starter. At other times, he''ll be a pitcher trying to earn a spot in Illinois'' Big Ten Conference rotation.

   Before Friday, Lavery wasn''t sure he would be allowed to try the baseball-football doubleheader. But a meeting with new football coach Ron Turner eased Lavery''s concerns.

   "Going into it, I didn''t really know what to expect," Lavery said. "I didn''t really think things would work out. I figured I would have to be football all the time and maybe get to play baseball at the end of the season.

   "It worked out real well. I have to be at spring practice all 15 days. Other than that, I can travel with the (baseball) team."

   When Turner first met with the team in December, he told the players they could play baseball or run track in the spring.

   "But I didn''t know what limitations would be put on that," Lavery said. "I couldn''t have gotten a better answer."

   Itch Jones wants the left-hander on his baseball team.

   "He''s making progress," Jones said. "To ask us if he''s going to be a starting pitcher right now, we don''t know. Is he going to be a person who has the potential to be an outstanding pitcher? Yes."

   If he earns a spot in the rotation, Lavery might be able to work his baseball schedule around spring football practice.

   "I could be at Ohio State (to pitch) on a Friday and then fly back on Saturday for spring practice," Lavery said. "They talked about that."

   There are three Saturday football practices scheduled. Those shouldn''t limit Lavery.

   "I''m assuming I could pitch on Sundays," Lavery said.