Forty-four college football teams received official bowl assignments Sunday. Illinois wasn't one of them.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Illini will spend the holidays at home. The last bowl trip came after the 1994 season. Illinois is 10-33-1 since.

Ron Turner's team bumped the wins from zero in 1997 to three in 1998. They lost another game by seven points. In Turner's first year, the Illini didn't lose any game by fewer than 10. Progress. Without a doubt.

Illinois picked up its scoring and gave up fewer points. Illinois chased the quarterback better and gave up fewer sacks.

Listen to Turner, and he will try to convince you the turnaround is just starting.

"A lot of young players got playing time," Turner said. "A lot of good young players are going to grow up to be good players. Throw out the young part of it, and that's when we'll be able to start accumulating the wins and seeing the success."

Before we follow Turner's lead and look ahead, we need to take a final glance back at the 1998 season. Position-by-position grades for Turner's second team:

Quarterbacks

For the second consecutive year, Turner used three different starters. Mark Hoekstra went the first three games. Kurt Kittner took over for the next five. And Kirk Johnson finished the season, playing the last two games with broken ribs.

There's an old saying that describes Illinois' situation: Having three quarterbacks is like having none. It is difficult to work a timing offense when the main part keeps changing.

Hoekstra, Kittner and Johnson combined for three touchdown passes, by far the lowest in the Big Ten. Illinois had the worst passing efficiency in the league, barely half of Big Ten leader Ohio State.

Johnson showed the most of the three, leading the Illini past Indiana in the home finale. He stood up well against Penn State and played so-so against Michigan State. With two broken ribs.

Going into the season, Hoekstra looked like the quarterback for the year. But after early losses to Washington State and Louisville, games Illinois could have won, it became obvious the UI needed a change. Hoekstra was a fine practice player who couldn't made the conversion to Saturdays.

Kittner led Illinois past Northwestern, which looked better at the time than it does now. The Wildcats didn't win again until a trip to winless Hawaii.

In a perfect world, Kittner would have been a reserve to Hoekstra or Johnson, would have gotten his feet wet late in games and would be ready to compete for the job as a sophomore.

"He just really wasn't totally mature enough to take over the responsibility in his first year," said quarterback Jeff Ziegler, who didn't play and is transferring. "He just needed a year to mature. He'll be what they expected from him. I watched him in practice, and he did some real good things."

Asmussen's grade: D

Running backs

Rocky Harvey had more rushing yards as a freshman, 634, than any player on Illinois' top 10 career rushing list. But Harvey got a third of the yards against Division I-AA Middle Tennessee State.

Late in the season, the Illini went with junior Steve Havard, who struggled all season with hamstring injuries. Having Havard healthy would have helped the Illini running attack.

Late in the season, Illinois found a fullback who could run and catch. Elmer Hickman finished fourth on the team in rushing and third in receptions.

Asmussen's grade: C

Receivers/tight ends

For two weeks in training camp, Connie Moore showed the big-play ability Turner craved. When he was kicked off the team for an alcohol-related incident, it should have been a sign of things to come.

Of the four junior college receivers Turner brought in, two didn't make it through November. William Loyd was booted after an arrest for possession of marijuana. Terrance Smalls was suspended but will return in the spring.

Only Larry Davis made it through his first season unscathed. Davis was fifth on the team with 17 catches, finishing behind Lenny Willis, Rob Majoy and Michael Dean.

Willis bounced back from an early demotion to star in the win against Northwestern. He stayed in the rotation the rest of the way. Dean wasn't as lucky. He didn't make the trip to Michigan State.

Tight ends Josh Whitman and Brian Hodges combined for 17 catches and 174 yards. They didn't make the impact Turner hoped.

Asmussen's grade: F

Offensive line

No position had more stability. Five players started all five games.

At times, the line created big holes. At times, it held up against the pass rush.

The problems at quarterback and receiver didn't help the lineman, who needed to hold blocks longer on pass plays. And a healthy Havard would have made the line look better.

A good way to check the work of an offensive line is a team's rushing totals. Illinois finished fifth in the Big Ten ahead of Michigan and Michigan State. Not bad.

Asmussen's grade: C

Defensive line

A year ago, Illinois had to deal with the early loss of Rameel Connor. In '98, the Illini never had the full use of defensive end Fred Wakefield.

Wakefield's illness late in training camp left him weak. He didn't play for three games and was never the same as in '97.

Connor needed time to recover from his '97 injury, playing better later in the season. Garrett Johnson was solid at one inside spot, finishing third in stops and leading the Illini in tackles for loss.

Illinois rotated three players – Mike McGee, Karleton Thomas and freshman Brandon Moore – at the second tackle spot. McGee had four sacks, best of the three.

Asmussen's grade: C-

Linebackers

By far, the best part of the team. Danny Clark earned MVP honors and would have been a contender for All-Big Ten with a few more wins.

Robert Franklin stepped in for injured Eric Guenther, and the unit never skipped a beat. Michael Young finished sixth in tackles at the outside linebacker spot opposite Clark.

Asmussen's grade: B

Secondary

Much better than in '97, when it was the toast of Champaign. Still, the defensive backs have a ways to go before they can help the team climb the Big Ten.

Asim Pleas played hurt late in the season, and it showed. He didn't have the same burst of speed he showed earlier in the season.

Mike Gusich recovered from a knee injury and finished well at one safety spot. The Illini will miss his leadership and hard hitting.

Bobby Jackson might team next season with his younger brother, Marc, a high school star in Oregon. Jackson finished fifth on the team in tackles, just behind Pleas.

Asmussen's grade: C-

Special teams

When he got a chance to kick, and it wasn't often, Neil Rackers did well on field goals. Rackers hit 7 of 10. Two of his misses came from beyond 45 yards.

Thanks to Harvey, Havard and Smalls, the Illini led the Big Ten in kickoff returns. Freshman punter Steve Fitts finished in the top 50 nationally.

It wasn't all good. Illinois allowed a punt and kickoff return for touchdowns. Opponents actually outgained the Illini on kickoff returns.

Asmussen's grade: B-