Q. You and 10 other Illinois seniors are going to play your last home game today. How do you feel about it?

A. I think a little bit sad. We played a lot of games here. There''s going to be a lot of nostalgia when we go out on the field. But at the same time, it''s also the start of something new, getting the rest of your life going.

Q. Do you have any special plans for your run out on the field?

A. No. I''ll probably run straight forward with my helmet on. I''ve seen some guys run out there and do some things that ended up looking pretty cheesy. I''ll probably stay away from anything that''s overdone. Last year, Brent Taylor ran out and he was waving his helmet in the air. Just a little bit too much for me.

Q. Does it make it easier that you still have another game?

A. Most definitely. Last year, our last game was at home. Afterward, the mood in the locker room was dreary because it was the seniors'' last game and it will be the last time you''ll see guys. After this game, you''ll know we still have another week of practice and another week of practice and a game. It will take a lot of the edge off.

Q. In the last five years, only one senior class left the field with a win. Tell me why today will be different.

A. I really do think we have a great group of guys that are seniors. We''ll come out and we''ll fight hard. Overall, as a team, the attitude is so much better than it''s been in the past. We can definitely play with Indian

Q. Give the fans some insights on the other seniors:

A.Tom and Ryan Schau.

Those are probably the two guys I know best in the senior class. I room with them. They''ll be a little sad to see it go. But they''ve had the pleasure of being able to know they had good careers here and they''ve enjoyed their time.

Garrett Johnson.

We''ve been friends since we got here. He''s had a real good career here. I don''t think he''ll feel like he left anything out on the field.

Jeff Weisse.

Weisse is always a little bit different. He''s one of those guys that gets really revved up for games and he gets after people. A little bit of crazy in him.

The Ohio connection, Rob Majoy, Mike Gusich and Ryan Murphy.

They''ll go out and have a good time.

Mark Hoekstra

Mark really is a great team player. He''s not a guy who complains and gripes when things don''t go his way. He''s always been one of those guys who does whatever it takes to help the team.

George McDonald-Ashford.

George plays real hard when he''s out there. He''ll be excited for the last game.

Joe Lauzen.

He''ll get after you a little bit. He''s real light around the locker room.

Q. How do did you end up at Illinois?

A. I was only getting recruited to places like Augustana and Loras College. I knew if I wanted to play football in college, I wanted to play big-time football. I thought that would be the only way it would be worth it. I pretty much decided I''d either play here or just go to school here.

Q. At the start of your career, did you ever think you would be a starter your final season?

A. When I got here, I always thought I''d play. I thought I''d be a guy who could come off the bench and help the team a little bit. I never envisioned being able to play as much as I have.

Q. The coaches asked you to switch early in your career from defense to offense. Do you ever wish you had stayed over there?

A. The dreams of playing defense were pretty much crushed when I was behind Simeon Rice my freshman year. I watched that guy play and I knew there was no way I''d ever be able to do those kind of things.

Q. The team is 16-37-1 during your career. If you could flip that record, but you personally wouldn''t be on the field, would you do it?

A. Most definitely. I''ve got a brother (Jeff) who plays at Oklahoma State. Last year, he was a redshirt freshman and didn''t play at all. They were successful and went to a bowl game. It really was enjoyable for him. The whole team gets something out of that.

Q. What is the best moment during your career?

A. The first time I ever got playing time was the first time I started. It was against Michigan at Michigan. That was just a really great time. I remember being so nervous thinking they were such a great team. We went in there and we played with them.

Q. What is the worst moment?

A. I''d have to say the culmination of last season, not being able to send the seniors out with a win. Nothing seemed to go well for us last year. This year, we haven''t had a lot of breaks. But last year, we had none.

Q. You are one of the strongest players in UI history, which must mean you love lifting weights. What kept you working out?

A. When I came in as a walk-on, they can tell you a lot of things like, ''This guy''s better.'' But when you''re in weight room, it''s just numbers. They can''t really dispute that. If you''re stronger than a guy, they have to acknowledge it. That''s something that helped me get on the field.

Q. Will you keep lifting weights after football is over?

A. Oh yeah. You get out of control if you stop lifting, especially as a lineman. Your weight goes berserk if you don''t try to stay in shape.

Q.Do you think Illinois is going in the right direction?

A. I would say yes just because of the attitude of the team. When I got here and we were winning a lot with (John) Holecek and (Dana) Howard, the attitude was just a different thing. The last couple years, nobody has the kind of confidence those guys had. The younger guys, they exude that kind of confidence it''s going to take to be good.

Q. When recruits come in and talk to you privately, how do you describe your coach, Harry Hiestand?

A. That''s a tough one. He''s a guy who really knows what he''s doing. I''ve played for coaches here who really had no idea what they were doing. They''d teach you techniques and things that I knew weren''t working. Coach Hiestand, everything he says is true. He''s also a coach who really likes to get after you. While that''s tough in practice, it''s probably what has helped us the most because we tend not to wear down, not to weaken, when things get tough out there.