MISSING PARTS: Wide receiver William Loyd, a junior college transfer, missed Friday''s session. "He''s taking care of some personal business," Illinois coach Ron Turner said. "He''s fine."

   Defensive end Jeff Weisse was out for a second consecutive day because of a death in the family. Turner had expected Weisse back Friday. "He called and said everything''s fine," Turner said. "I don''t know what happened."

   WEEKEND PASS: The players were supposed to have a short practice this morning, but Turner called it off. The Illini also will take Sunday off. "We just need to get another day of rest," Turner said. "I encouraged them to stay off their feet. We just had a hard camp."

   Turner said the extra day off is a sign practice has been going well. "Practice was great today," he said. "We could have come out tomorrow and got something done. The big thing is we''ve got to be fresh next week."

   SAGARIN SAYS: No surprise, but Jeff Sagarin''s computer rankings, which are published each week in USA Today, aren''t kind to the Illini. In the first poll, Illinois is ranked No. 82, behind Central Florida, Wake Forest, Maryland, Southern Methodist and Division I-AA Montana. Illinois is the last Big Ten team listed, nine spots behind Indiana.

   Ohio State is the top Big Ten team at No. 5. The Buckeyes are followed by Michigan (sixth), Penn State (seventh), Iowa (21st), Michigan State (26th), Wisconsin (33rd) and Purdue (34th). Nebraska, Florida and Florida State are the top three teams.

   WHO''S HURT? Defensive end Fred Wakefield returned to practice after being out with a strained neck. He worked in a limited amount of drills. Tight end Mike Cracioniou remained out with a hamstring injury. Defensive end Rameel Connor reinjured his hamstring and will be out until Monday. Receiver Lenny Willis missed practice because of an ankle injury.

   UP NEXT: The Illini return to practice Monday afternoon at a site to be determined. The practices are closed to the public and the media.

POLLING PLACE

Record: 7-4

   "The Illini were close to winning four times last year. The new staff will have them prepared for this season defensively. Watch out for Fred Wakefield at defensive end."

    Larry Myers, Jeffersonville, Ind.

Record: 5-6

   "They have had a year with a new coach and his strategies, and training should start to pay off this year."

    Bonnie Blaford, Americus, Ga.

Record: 3-8

   "The record will not show this, but you will see improvement on the field. Our fans need to come out and support the team so Coach Turner can show new recruits how much spirit and pride our school possesses even in our low times. I think Coach Turner will bring us back to being in the nation''s elite, we just need to give him time."

    Brett Booth, Newbury Park, Calif.

Record: 3-8

   "Can only get better. Hopefully, the Illini will play as well as Turner and (Loren) Tate both say they have improved. It is a real struggle for them to play as a team with solidarity in their ranks. Often appears as though there is little backup support for the starting players. Hope they learn how to play smart and make things happen with a bright and quick defense. Our offense is still light years away from being a Top 10 team."

    Del Harnisch, Urbana

Record: 2-9

   "The Illini should be competitive with Middle Tennessee State and Indiana. The offensive line is the weakest in the conference. The defensive front should be stronger than last year. Still doesn''t stack up with first-division conference teams. Jameel Cook and Steve Havard are good backs, but they better have their insurance paid up. Barry Sanders would not average 2 yards a carry behind the Illini offensive line. Turner''s offense requires talent at the quarterback position. Unless (Kurt) Kittner steps up, forget it."

    Bill Logan, Springfield

COUNTDOWN TO WASHINGTON STATE: 7 DAYS

   SERIES HIGHLIGHT: No Illinois coach opened his career at the school with a worse loss than John Mackovic. In the 1988 opener, Washington State pounded Mackovic''s Illini 44-7 at Memorial Stadium. Cougars quarterback Timm Rosenbach hit 21 of 29 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown. Rosenbach ran for three touchdowns, including a 16-yarder late in the first quarter. Washington State running backs Steve Broussard and Rich Swinton combined for 296 yards. Howard Griffith scored Illinois'' lone touchdown on a 53-yard run. Quarterback Jeff George was 19 of 31 for 143 yards and an interception.