CHAMPAIGN – Illinois safety Robert Jackson made 11 tackles and broke up three passes Saturday. Not bad for a first-time starter.

If not for two missed plays, Jackson's solid debut might have been called spectacular.

Early in the first quarter, Jackson had a clean shot to sack Purdue quarterback Billy Dicken. But Dicken escaped and threw an incompletion.

"He made a little move on me," Jackson said. "I don't really know what happened. I know I didn't do the right thing."

Jackson had a legitimate excuse. It was the first blitz of his life.

"Any move that he throws is a new move to me," Jackson said.

On their next series, the Boilermakers tried to pick on the Illini freshman. Receiver Vinny Sutherland took the ball from Dicken and threw an option pass to Gabe Cox.

Jackson, in perfect position near the end zone, dropped the ball.

"Right place, right time, I just didn't produce," Jackson said. "You've got to make those plays. It's just that simple."

If Jackson had made the interception, it would have been the lone Purdue turnover. The Illini lost the ball seven times.

"It's just an unlucky bounce," Jackson said. "Nothing bad is cursed upon us. The ball didn't bounce our way that time. Next time, it may bounce our way. You never know."

Jackson did know when he came to Illinois he would have a chance to play early. Most of his time has been on special teams. He was happy to be in the lineup against Purdue.

"It felt really good," Jackson said. "They (the UI coaches) believe that I can make the plays, and I believe that I can make the plays. The defense feels I can do my part."

Familiar foe.

When Illinois tight end Josh Whitman lined up across from the Boilermakers, he didn't need any introductions.

The freshman grew up near the Purdue campus in West Lafayette, Ind. He has been attending Boilermaker games for years, though he said he isn't a diehard fan.

Some of Whitman's friends are big Purdue fans. But Saturday's 48-3 rout wasn't what they wanted to see, Whitman said.

"I hope not," Whitman said. "It was a lopsided game, and it certainly wasn't pretty to watch."

Whitman finished second on the team with three catches for 26 yards. It didn't make him feel any better.

Like his teammates, Whitman said the Illini practiced well the two weeks before the game.

"We're doing the physical part in practice, we're not doing the physical part in the games," Whitman said. "We need to figure something out."

Local hero.

Lenny Willis led the Illini with four catches for 45 yards. The Boilermakers impressed the former Centennial star with their attitude.

"I think Purdue's a team that plays with a lot of confidence," Willis said. "They're playing on a lot of emotion right now."

Tradition means trouble.

Illinois invented homecoming in 1910 with a 3-0 win over Chicago. The big day hasn't been as kind to recent Illini teams.

Illinois has lost four consecutive homecoming games, including two to Purdue.

The Illini might want to screen the homecoming opponent better. It's supposed to be a cream puff. But three of the last four Illinois homecoming games have been against ranked teams.

The Illini lost in 1995 to Rose Bowl-bound Northwestern and last season to No. 25 Iowa.

Winding down.

The Illini seniors have four games left in their careers. They don't want to go out 0-11.

"We've got to play for pride," senior cornerback Trevor Starghill said. "That's all we're about is trying to win, trying to get our first one, second one, three and four. We're trying to finish out this season on a positive note so these young guys can come back next year and realize they are capable of winning more games."

Starghill predicts a bright future for the young Illinois team. The Illini started 13 freshmen or sophomores against Purdue.

"They will win games," Starghill said. "We will win. Eventually, it's going to happen."

Despite an 0-7 start, Starghill said the Illini have stayed positive.

"Nobody's screaming or pointing the finger," Starghill said. "It's a team thing. We are close. Guys see that mistakes are made. As a senior, you try to discourage somebody pointing the finger at somebody else. That's not going on."