PULLMAN, Wash.  The Illinois defense did some Saturday it hadn''t done since Sept. 21, 1996: hold a team to 20 points or less.

   Every Illini opponent had at least 23 last season. The last seven teams in ''96 scored that many.

   Illinois forced three turnovers, two fumbles and an interception. Garrett Johnson and Danny Clark each recovered a fumble. Mike Gusich had the interception.

   "That''s the key to the game," Johnson said of forcing turnovers.

   Almost. The three turnovers came from a team that gathered just 22 the entire ''97 season.

   Johnson was happy, mostly, with his unit''s effort. The Illini gave up 14 of Washington State''s 20 points in the opening quarter.

   "I think we kind of felt them out," Johnson said. "We''ve got to go out there and attack."

Moore watches, waits

   Former Illini Connie Moore watched from the sidelines as his new team rolled at home on opening night.

   Murray State beat Southern Illinois 41-13 Saturday behind Justin Fuente''s 325-yard, three-touchdown performance. The Racers amassed 562 yards total to 167 for Southern.

   Moore, dismissed from the UI for violating team rules, didn''t dress for the game. He''s expected to suit up for the Racers next Saturday when they host Western Kentucky.

Trip gone bad

   "By God," Mike Price said, "we aren''t going to blow this."

   Thus did the Washington State football coach fling down the gauntlet for Saturday''s intersectional battle.

   No representative from any major conference ever visited the Pac-10 member  no one from the Big Ten or SEC or the former Big Eight or Southwest Conference. After a century of unspoken insults, Washington State meant to get even in the only way it could: by adding to Illinois'' losing streak.

   For Price, whose last appearance was in the Rose Bowl, this was another historic moment for WSU. He said his inexperienced athletes would be ready, and they were in clearly outplaying Illinois.

   Nastiness began in local newspaper columns. Wrote one:

   "Illinois will learn how it feels to be, say, a fallen prince  a man esteemed for his connections but scorned for his poverty."

   The columnist, Dale Brummert, noted that the modest crowd (31,568) "reflects (1) the eternal skepticism that underlies WSU fans'' eternal hope and (2) the strange abyss into which (Illinois) has fallen over the past three years."

   John Bianchette also jumped on the barrier-breaking visit, quipping:

   "Toss out a few WAC and Big West teams and here''s the best nonconference opposition the Cougars have been able to lure to Pullman: Army, Temple, Ball State.

   "Hey  Illinois could win that conference. If Army goes on probation."

   So if the UI drew praise for venturing where no major conference team ever has been, the Illini were scorned for their dizzying athletic slippage. And they did little to start regaining lost respect in a 20-13 loss.

Injured official

   The game was delayed for about 15 minutes early in the third quarter after Illini running back Jameel Cook collided with umpire Dave McCullough.

   Cook, wearing pads and a helmet, was fine. McCullough was not.

   The Pac-10 Conference official suffered a broken hip and a broken leg. He was taken off the field by ambulance.

   With McCullough out of the game, back judge Jack Folliard moved into the position, and the game finished with six officials.

   Umpire is considered the most dangerous position. The job requires lining up in the middle of the defense at the start of a play. Cook''s rambling run went right toward McCullough.

Great boot I

   Fans at Saturday''s game might have seen the greatest minus-1-yard punt in the history of football.

   Late in the second quarter, Washington State long snapper Erik Larson sailed the ball over Kareem Anderson''s head. Rather than kick the ball out of the end zone for a safety, Anderson bravely picked it up and looked for an opening. He got the punt off from his 11, and the lame duck rolled to the 44. The line of scrimmage was the 45.

Great boot II

   Continuing a recent tradition, Washington State kicker Rian Lindell nailed a long field goal against the Illini. Lindell''s kick went for 52 yards.

   During the 1997 season, four Illinois opponents made field goals of at least 40 yards.

In memory

   Before Saturday''s kickoff, a moment of silence was held for Washington State''s Leon Bender and Illinois'' Steve Willis, who died during the summer.

   "Our captains wrote Illinois a letter asking them if that would be OK," Washington State coach Mike Price said.

   Defensive lineman Bender, a Los Angeles Raiders draft pick, died of a neurological disorder. Safety Willis died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

   "I really believe that this team has an angel watching over them," Price said. "This team is special and all the players know that. Leon Bender''s up there watching us."

   Both teams are honoring the players, wearing stickers on their helmets.

Hungry man

   Price has visited Champaign once as a head coach. He remembers his trips as an assistant coach more fondly.

   "I used to sit in the pressbox," Price said. "It was Pork Day that day. I had a big old pork sandwich. Man, was it great. I miss that. I should go up there and relax."

Uncrowded house

   The defending Pac-10 champions couldn''t fill up their stadium for the home opener.

   Just 31,568 showed at 37,600-seat Martin Stadium. Don''t blame Price for the crowd.

   "My job is to coach the football team," he said. "It''s other people''s jobs to market it."