Final: Northwestern 27, Illinois 10

EVANSTON -- A year after reaching the Rose Bowl, the only postseason game the Illinois football team will see this season will be on television.

Northwestern knocked the Illini out of a bowl game with a 27-10 win Saturday at chilly Ryan Field. The Wildcats also earned the right to keep the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk trophy in the final edition of the game. The trophy will be replaced starting in 2009 as Illinois follows mandates from the NCAA about use of Native American imagery.

Northwestern dominated the first half, leading 13-0. The Wildcats outgained the Illini 213 yards to 86 and sacked Illinois quarterback Juice Williams three times.

Third-string tailback Stephen Simmons got the Wildcats on the scoreboard first with a 1-yard run late in the first quarter. Amado Villarreal missed the extra point.

Northwestern got its second score on C.J. Bacher's 14-yard touchdown pass to Ross Lane in the back of the end zone. Bacher had to scramble to his right before making the throw.

Bacher was 15 of 20 in the first half for 162 yards. Williams hit 8 of 13 passes for 71 yards.

Illinois cut into the Northwestern lead on the opening drive of the second half. Using a combination of Williams runs and passes, the Illini drove 80 yards for the score. Williams was 3 of 3 passing on the drive for 44 yards and ran for another 29. Jason Ford went the final yard, spinning in after initially falling short.

Northwestern pushed its lead to 16-7 on Villarreal's 28-yard field goal late in third quarter.

After struggling on offense in the opening half, Williams and the Illini were more effective in the third quarter. Williams ran for 85 yards and threw for 44.

The Illini cut the margin to 16-10 early in the fourth quarter on Matt Eller's 21-yard field goal. Illinois got the ball back later in the quarter, but couldn't move the ball.

Brendan Smith's 51-yard punt return set the Wildcats up at the 20. Bacher hit Eric Peterman on an 18-yard touchdown pass to put Northwestern up 22-10 and Simmons added the two-point conversion to make it 24-10.

NU 24-10 2:49 fourth

Don't know who said it, but an open mic on the field allowed this dandy statement to be broadcast in the press box: "End this thing, will ya?"

How appropriate. It's cold, dark and over for Illinois, which becomes the first team since Michigan in 1965 to go from the Rose Bowl to a losing record.

The latest sack and Juice's fumble all but guarantee it.

Asmussen and Tate are headed to the field. It'll be interesting to see who shows up to speak to reporters. The number usually is much smaller after an Illinois loss. Among are questions:

Is this Mike Locksley's last game at Illinois?

How about the co-defensive coordinators?

How about Vontae Davis?

Is Martez Wilson coming back to the program?

Is Illinois ever going to make consecutive bowl games again?

 There are dozens more, but we only have so much time after each game. Send last-minute e-mails to jrossow@news-gazette.com and I'll try to answer them. Remember to check back the second the game is over for a complete story.

 

NU 24-10 7:19 fourth

Where did this season go wrong?

This from Tate: "Illinois has four real problems - the pass defense is inept, special teams is bad in every game they lose, turnovers and red zone."

How do you get it fixed?

"I don't know what to say. I don't know how they do it."

Let me know at jrossow@news-gazette.com

Remember, Asmussen's chat on Tuesday still is on. You can submit questions now by clicking here

NU 24-10 9:08 fourth

Special teams disaster - who woulda thought?

We break from what's turning out to be an exciting game to read Asmussen's chat with Asmussen:

Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley has interviewed for the Clemson coaching job and there is reported interest from Syracuse, too.

National recruiting expert Tom Lemming said Illinois will be hurt, especially in the Washington. D.C., area, if Locksley takes another job.

"It will take away a third of their class every year because he dominates the D.C.-Maryland area," Lemming said. "Obviously, he's their best recruiter. If he goes, he'll take those players with him. Illinois will not get people from that area anymore because they're his connections, not Illinois'."

If Locksley leaves, Illinois will need to hire a coach who brings connections in an untapped recruiting area, Lemming said.

Replacing Locksley with a top recruiter will be "paramount," Lemming said. "It doesn't have to be an offensive coordinator. They could elevate somebody else. But it has to be a recruiter. Whenever you lose your best guy, you've got to replace him with a real good one or you're going to suffer."

Lemming said he thinks Locksley has a good chance to succeed as a head coach. The priority will be bringing in talented player and Locksley has shown the ability to do that.

"Look what Tim Brewster's done at Minnesota and what (Ron) Zook has done at Illlinois," Lemming said. "They had the same kind of reps before they were a head coach."

At Syracuse, Locksley will need to recruit out of the area. Washington, D.C., New Jersey and Florida. Lemming said Illinois' struggles this season haven't hurt it in recruiting. The team is recruiting off of last year's Rose Bowl season.

"It could hurt them a little bit for next year," Lemming said. "All the recruiting's really done before the season starts."

Illinois landed a top defensive end this week when Cincinnati Taft's Tank Carradine made a commitment to Ron Zook's team.

"Michigan went after him," Lemming said. "Ohio State didn't go after him. But that does mean anything. The Buckeyes have their first choice of everybody in the state and they can't take everybody.

"He's a tall, slender pass rusher. He's going to get stronger and bigger, but he's already got that speed and the burst and the natural aggressiveness that you like. The smart thing for them is not play him as a freshman. I think he can be a real good player."

NU 16-10 12:24 fourth

Third-quarter number-crunching:

11-16-1-115 - Juice's improving pass stats

2 - Illinois penalties

3-27 - Benn's catches-yards

205 - yards passing by Bacher

8 - tackles by Vontae Davis

6 - tackles by Garrett Edwards and Bo Flowers, who are playing more because Hardeman's injury

9 - game-high tackles by Nate Williams

36.8 - Santella's average on five punts

0 - area high schools in the IHSA football finals. For the first time in four years, we're without a representative after Salt Fork's loss to Concord Triopia today.

 

NU 16-7 end of third

Earlier in the third quarter, Juice passed Tony Eason to become the school record-holder for single-season total offense. Eason had 3,671 in 1982.

Juice also is closing in on another 100-yard rushing game (he's got 89 yards after picking up 85 in the third quarter). He'd tie Howard Griffith, Chubby Phillips and J.C. Caroline for 10th place on the school's career chart with seven 100-yard games.

Another reason to pick up Sunday's N-G:

There more than cheering going on inside the new addition to Memorial Stadium. Some folks are eating some mighty fine food. In Sunday's Living section, longtime food writer Lynda Zimmer checks out the premium food service at the home for Fighting Illini football - from the new kitchen in the stadium, all the way up to the finest suites this side of Wright Street.

NU 16-7, 2:41 third

Up to date Big Ten bowl scenario, courtesy Asmussen:

Rose - Penn State

Fiesta - Ohio State

Capital One - Michigan State

Outback - Northwestern

Alamo - Iowa

Insight - Wisconsin

Champs - Minnesota

Motor City - Arkansas State

 

NU 13-7 5:30 third

Vontae Davis' INT was his second of the season. The team's leading tackler today, he's our early pick for Player of the Game (Illini).

Davis is a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award. He's not going to win it because of his low INT total and team's lack of success.

Here's what Asmussen had to write after talking to the Insight Bowl scout:

Steve Whiteman made the trip to Ryan Field to watch one team Saturday. And it wasn't host Northwestern.

The Insight Bowl scout wanted to see if Illinois would win a sixth game and become eligible for the postseason.

"There's definitely good appeal," Whiteman said. "We have people on our committee and board that have ties back to Illinois. They'd be a popular team to come out to the Valley of the Sun.

"There's definitely an attraction there. There's still a lot of games today and a lot to sort out over the next couple of weeks before we can determine who's going to come to our game."

The Insight Bowl will get the sixth or seventh pick from the Big Ten, depending on whether or not the league gets a second BCS bid. Ohio State's win against Michigan on Saturday would appear to help the Big Ten's cause. Northwestern will likely be gone before the Insight makes its choice. Scouts from the Capital One, Outback, Alamo and Champs Sports bowls are also at Ryan Field today.

"Clearly, we're here to see if Illinois can get to that sixth win and get them in a bowl position," Whiteman said. "We know they would draw well. If Illinois ends up in our game, we feel very comfortable with them."

The Insight will match a Big Ten team against one from the Big 12. Whiteman said Big 12 North schools Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado appear to be the most likely options. "We're all guessing right now," Whiteman said. "It's hard to speculate. There are a lot of great schools."

Besides Illinois-Northwestern, the Insight Bowl is also scouting Iowa-Minnesota today.

NU 13-7 9:45 third

Maybe there's reason to talk to the bowl scouts after all. Ford's TD has all  of Belleville celebrating.

On the TD drive, Juice was 3 for 3 for 44 yards and had 5 rushes for 29 yards. The Illinois fans - and our guess is about 6,000 - are awake.

Mike Goebel, who will be helping lay out Sunday's N-G, points out Ben Roethlisberger is in attendance. We're trying to figure out why.

Let's hold off on those "Why this season went south" ideas until Northwestern pulls away.

The third-stringer from Northwestern I referred to is Stephen Simmons. An e-mailer points out he taught the tailback at St. Louis U-High, the same school that now features Ronnie Wingo, who might come to Illinois.

In summary: we have new respect for Stephen Simmons.

NU 13-0 11:45 third

From the good news department: East St. Louis beat Glenbard West 27-20 this afternoon to reach the Class 7A championship game next Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

It's a good chance of future Illini Terry Hawthorne, Kraig Appleton and  Tommie Hopkins to show their stuff to Illinois fans in the C-U area.

More good news. Illinois is trying to make a game of this.

NU 13-0 halftime

Some second-quarter number-crunching:

14-7 - Northwestern's edge in first downs

14-15 - attempts-yards rushing by Illinois

8-13-1-71 - Juice's line

15-20-0-162 - C.J. Bacher's stats

11 - team-high yards rushing by Jason Ford

6 - game-high tackles by Vontae Davis

5 - tackles by Brit Miller

36 - yards rushing by some guy named Simmons. He's third -string.

5 of 9 - Northwestern on third down

2 of 2 - Northwestern in the red zone

213-86 - Northwestern's edge in total yards

0 - reasons to talk to all the bowl scouts in the pressbox

NU 13-0 halftime

Ted on an earlier comment:

"Some early scores and how they relate to Illinois' bowl situation:" Good one!! Here's some late results and how they relate to Illinois' bowl situation: Western Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin."

For the second half, we want to hear your reasons why this season went so horribly wrong.

Coaching? The Journey? Injuries? Suspensions? Locker room brawls? Early departures? Chemistry? Traffic on Green Street?

Let me know at jrossow@news-gazette.com

NU 13-0 1:06 second

A couple e-mails to sum up this mess:

Trophy ideas: (based on the Illini play today)

"The Old Flu Bug Bucket"

And this from Ted in Chicago:

Call the trophy "the "Governor's Corruption Cup" as both teams are located in the home of transparent government & open meetings, just like the one that the Board had for this decision? Tell Lori that tissue better be recycled. Can't defile Mother Earth! The PC-heads will have another cause."

Keep 'em coming at jrossow@news-gazette.com

NU 13-0, 4:07 second

Juice's INT is his 16th this season.

Most in a season at Illinois is 19 by Tony Eason in 1982. Juice might get there if Illinois is forced to throw.

The UI career mark is 43 by Jack Trudeau (1981-85) . Juice is up to 37.

Ironically, Tate has thrown his pen in disgust 37 times this season. Today's forecast calls for at least five more before halftime.

Hey, at least it's not Cal-Poly the Illini are losing to.

NU 13-0 9:15 second

That's three punts by Santella, three first downs for Illinois. Ugh.

Keep complaining to jrossow@news-gazette.com and I'll run the best of 'em.

Since it's clear this football season is over, let's turn back to basketball. This from Klee, who's moved down to a coffee shop in downtown Champaign.

Klee said he made a mistake with his Illinois basketball grades after the Vanderbilt game. Demetri McCamey, who reads the News-Gazette, brought it to Klee's attention.

The mistake: the bench was graded at a C-minus. "They should have gotten an A-plus," McCamey said. Why? Richard Semrau. After watching the film -- yes, we watch the film too -- Semrau set at least three, maybe four screens, that directly led to an Illinois field goal. He's their best screen-setter, and he was at his best setting screens at Vanderbilt.

So that grade should have been a B-plus. Klee regrets the error, and thanks Demetri McCamey for his readership.

NU 13-0 12:07 second

First-quarter number crunching:

2 - UI first downs

2 - sacks by Northwestern

9 - Northwestern first downs

minus 1 - yards rushing by Illinois

41.5 - Anthony Santella's punting average

63 - yards receiving by two-time N-G All-Stater Eric Peterman

1 - touch by Arrelious Benn (on a kickoff return)

4 - game-high tackles by Vontae Davis

0 for 2 - Illinois on third down

NU 6-0 end of first

Really mad about the Illini's meltdown this season? Tell Turpin and Tate about it during their weekly online chat. It's at 11 a.m. each Monday. Submit questions by clicking here.

Or e-mail jrossow@news-gazette.com and I'll give Loren your message. He's at my right and about to throw a pen for the first time today. He doesn't like how uncomfortable Juice is looking in the pocket today.

Juice has been sacked twice today. Illinois ranks fifth inthe Big Ten in sacks against, but it seems to have had trouble in protection lately.

Eddie McGee? After being named a captain against Iowa and Western Michigan, he's lost his status vs. Ohio State and Northwestern. Wonder what happened there?

Illinois had 12 yards of offense in the first quarter. I'll skinny-dip in Lake Michigan if the Illini win this game.

NU 6-0 2:24 first

C.J. Bacher is looking Brett Basanez - he's 8 of 12 for 79 yards.

Any chance Martez Wilson can be made eligible at the quarter break? Any chance that missed PAT comes back to hurt the Wildcats? Any chance anyone reads any of our stories if Illinois loses?

Juice will receive a vote or two for All-Big Ten QB on Monday (the selections will be made on a BTN show at night) because votes don't pay a whole lot of attention to anything but stats.

He's rushed one time today - with three more he'll move into the UI's career Top 10 for rushing attempts. He will become the first quarterback on the list:

Robert Holcombe 943

Antoineo Harris 676

Jim Grabowski 579

Thomas Rooks 560

Rocky Harvey 545

Rich Johnson 521

Keith Jones 482

Chubby Phillips 480

Howard Griffith 479

Ty Douthard 473

Juice also needs 44 yards rushing today to reach 2,000 in his career. Only 13 Illini have reached that mark, led by Holcombe (4,105) and Harris (2,985).

0-0 7:00 first

As the Illini are driving, another basketball fix courtesy Klee, who is working hard in his downtown Champaign apartment:

On the injury front, the Illini have been relatively healthy. Relative to the the last two seasons, anyway. Chester Frazier took a hard fall during practice last week and landed on his wrist. It was a nasty-looking fall, and the practice gym went quiet.

But, like Chester does, he returned the court and went on to play a team-high 36 minutes at Vanderbilt. It wasn't 10 minutes after the game that Frazier had a big ol' ice bag taped to his left wrist.

"It hurts a little," Frazier said yesterday before practice. "But it will be fine."

I thought Frazier had an interesting take on Illinois' poise in crunch time at Vanderbilt. That was the kind of game Illinois would have lost last season -- tight game, lots of free throws, on the road.

"When we're getting down the stretch in big games, we're trying to find ways to win it and not play to lose," Frazier said.

There was also a change in their approach. Instead of allowing Vandy to go on the offensive, the Illini continued to attack and try to score.

"The biggest thing last year was (that) we would get the lead and then hold the ball and be comfortable with the lead," he said.

Got hoops questions - send 'em to pklee@news-gazette.com

0-0, 10:17 first

Send me trophy ideas at jrossow@news-gazette.com

This from Andrew in Florida: "A Statuette with a big open space in it's mid section. Call it the GutlessAdministrator trophy. Or another statuette with a spine made from Jello."

Great stuff - Andrew's in the lead for lunch with Tate.

How's the BTN doing?

A pressbox update: Not many Illinois beat writers in attendance today. I see the Trib, the Sun-Times, Gatehouse and St. Louis writers. And Tate and Bob, who are sharing a seat to stay warm.

0-0, 12:20 first

It's 35 degrees with a wind chill of 26. Wind from the south at 12 mph. 38 percent humidity. Clear skies. Happy Loren Tate.

Brit Miller needs 23 tackles to break into the UI's top 10 single-season list. It might happen, especially if Northwestern's offense stays on the field a long time.

Sam Carson didn't start after all, the co-defensive coordinators opting for five defensive backs.

Estimated attendance: 27,000.

First Illini penality a doozy: Dere Hicks'  face-mask. Illinois ranks 9th in the Big Ten at 51.3 yards of penalties per game.

15:00 first

Some early scores and how they relate to Illinois' bowl situation:

West Virginia beating Louisville - Makes it impossible for Louisville to get to seven wins and makes it likely the Cards won't reach six, which creates an opening from the Big East

Colorado State is losing to Wyoming - Rams need a win to get bowl eligible.

Tennessee is leading Vanderbilt late - Although Vandy has six wins, they might not reach seven because they close with Wake Forest. If you have Vandy and Illinois to pick from, you're going to pick Illinois.

Memphis is losing to Central Florida - Tigers need to win their last two to get to seven wins.

On Friday, San Jose State and Bowling Green lost, which makes it impossible to reach seven wins. That's a big deal, too.

2:30 p.m.

Tate's last-minute thoughts:

"I just heard a line that Northwestern and Illinois never have gone to a bowl in the same season. Never!!!!!"

Asmussen's last-minute thoughts:

- "A lot of people in orange here. I'm surprised. Good chance for Chicago fans to come out I guess."

- "I wonder if not having Martez Wilson in the game will be addition by subtraction. While he's second on the team in tackles, someone clever on the message boards says he leads the team in missed tackles."

- "It's sunny for the first time ever at an Illinois-Northwestern game ... in Evanston."

- "Someone needs to tell Northwestern fans their team is 8-3.Get in the seats!!! This is why Pat Fitzgerald will leave."

Check out his prediction by clicking here

Lori e-mails about the trophy replacement:

"I would suggest maybe a cotton ball or a tissue. Hard to believe anyone would find either of those 'offensive'."

Keep ideas coming at jrossow@news-gazette.com

2:15 p.m.

Some Big Ten scores and what it means to the bowl picture:

Ohio State 42, Michigan 7. Buckeyes should be the conference's second BCS team, which moves everyone below them up a notch.

Purdue 62, Indiana 10 (4th). Means nothing other than Joe Tiller goes out on a positive note.

Asmussen just talked to Steve Whiteman, here representing the Insight Bowl. Bob thinks Illinois is headed there. We'll get his thoughts up on here in the first quarter.

2:05 p.m.

This e-mail from Mike G. for a trophy replacement:

"I suggested earlier today on the Scout.com message boards that they create a new "Stove Pipe Hat" trophy in honor of Dear Old Abe!Surely nobody would object to the two Illinois teams playing for that, right? Would've thought the same about the Sweet Sioux though. Oh well!"

Send ideas to jrossow@news-gazette.com

 

So far,  no one's guessed our Player of the Year. How about if I up the reward to lunch with Tate at the Esquire in downtown Champaign?

2 p.m.

Loren Tate is back in his seat after doing pregame radio. He had Illinois SID Kent Brown as a guest, and the two discussed the retirement of the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk and Martez Wilson.

Brown said the trophy decision was made earlier by the chancellor's office, which has the responsibility of eliminating all Native American imagery as was the case with Chief Illiniwek.  It only became an issue late this week because the teams are playing for the weapon.

Tate's got a good question: Who has ever seen the tomahawk? It's not exactly a popular trophy.

As for Wilson, Brown didn't say why he's been suspended. Wilson ranks 15th in the Big Ten at 6.6 tackles per game.

Illinois will wear blue pants and white tops today. A couple Illini are playing for All-Big Ten spots. Here's the latest from Asmussen: link

1:45 p.m.

Let us know how you think Bruce Weber's team will fare this season at our Daily Poll by clicking here

So far, it looks like the NCAA tournament.

Klee checks in from Champaign with this Illini item:

Demetri McCamey's 23 points at Vanderbilt turned heads. He looked like the Demetri McCamey that often dominated pickup games during the summer. Bruce Weber still wants to see improvement on defense -- that's not going to change. The coach has been tough on McCamey since the day he got to Illinois, and that doesn't figure to change over the next two-plus seasons. I asked Demetri yesterday how he feels about the tough-love approach, and Weber's decision to bring him off the bench the first two games.

"It comes with the territory. To be the leader, he already told me from day one (that) he's going to treat me like he did with Dee, Deron and Lu," McCamey said. "There's not going to be any lax from here or there. You've got to do it with the leader so the others know how to follow."

The Illini will practice this afternoon at the Assembly Hall as they get ready for Jackson State.

1:30 p.m.

Thanks to St. Joseph's Grady Crippin for this update:

East St. Louis 20 Glenbard West 14 at Halftime

Future Illini Terry Hawthorne is looking amazing today! He looked like Walter Payton dodging defenders on a short pass toward the sideline that turned into a long touchdown run in the 2nd quarter. He made at least 3 defenders miss tackles on his way to the endzone with that touchdown, and he has 5 catches for 166 yards and 3 touchdowns in the 1st half alone!!! SIMPLY WOW!!! I can't wait to see Hawthorne in an Illini uniform after only watching one half of football today!! WOW!!! The game is on Comcast Sports Net for those who'd like to take a look and even in HD!!!

Buc Chumbley of Athens, Ala., is the first to check in today. He's not happy about the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk's demise, but he's tickled pink about the Illini's win at Vanderbilt on Thursday.

Buc was in the crowd.

"Sure was a nice drive back south after the win," he said.

We need ideas for the new trophy. A bronze ear of corn? Abe Lincoln's nose? Dinner with Loren Tate? E-mail us at jrossow@news-gazette.com

Asmussen is being grilled by folks who produce the Big Ten Network's "The Journey." For each episode, Bob wears makeup. I think he likes it. Not the show, but the makeup. He had on eye shadow for dinner last night in Deerfield.

See for yourself on the video Bob and photo editor Darrell Hoemann shot on Friday at Ryan Field. Here's the link

A reminder we'll have highlights from today's game as well as Ron Zook's postgame news conference on HQ later tonight.

1:15 p.m.

Pau Klee has plenty of basketball coverage coming for Sunday. Trent Meacham will give us the fourth installment of his diary. He writes like he shoots free throws in the clutch - very well. It's going to be hard for Trent to top the diary in which he announced his engagement link

I'm sure he'll have plenty to say about the win at Vanderbilt.

If Trent can get up here, there are tickets available. Thousands of them.

Here's what the Wildcats have drawn this season:

Syracuse 20,015

Southern Illinois 19,062

Ohio 22,069

MIchigan State 32,527

Purdue 27,163

*Ohio State 47,130

*Denotes huge contingent of guys wearing Beanie Wells jerseys.

The small following is the main reason Phillips has work to do to move Northwestern ahead of any Big Ten competition for the better bowls.

First one to guess who our N-G All-State Player of the Year is gets a prize of some sort. How about tickets to a women's game?

E-mail me at jrossow@news-gazette.com

1 p.m.

Thanksgiving means good food, frolicking with family and, of course, plenty of football. We'll try to help with the latter at IlliniHQ.com.
- Just because the regular season is over doesn't mean our college beat writer, Bob Asmussen,. will shut it down. Asmussen will continue to conduct his weekly online chats (2 p.m. every Tuesday) at HQ. This week ask him about the Football Writers Association of America All-American team. Asmussen, in his 13th year on the Illinois beat, was selected to represent the Big Ten for  the team, which will be unveiled on ABC on Dec. 13.
He will spend two hours on a conference call Sunday to wrap up the team.
"I think you'll see the Big Ten is down a bit based on fewer number of players on both teams," Asmussen said.
Any Illini in the discussion?
"Brit Miller, Vontae Davis and Arrelious Benn will all receive consideration," Asmussen said.
-- Before you start cooking Thursday, be sure to check out the News-Gazette's 73rd All-State football team. It's a project we're very proud of at the newspaper - and one I consider the most accurate of any all-state team out there.
I can't tell you who our Player of the Year is, but here's a hint: Asmussen and photographer Robert K. O'Daniell visited the senior and his school last week.
Let us know updates from IHSA semifinals around the state.

E-mail jrossow@news-gazette.com

12:45 p.m.

Northwestern AD Jim Phillips said he dined with officials from four different bowl games Friday night during his interview with Jim Turpin and Loren Tate on this morning's "SportsLine."

Phillips is a former student-manager for Lou Henson's Illini who has made a meteoric administrative rise. He could have a hard bowl sell even though the Wildcats could wind up with nine wins and in sole possession of fourth place in the Big Ten.

Why? Start with attendance. And star power. And quality wins.

If Northwestern wins today, Asmussen thinks Outback (over Iowa) or Alamo.

Phillips, by the way, said Bill Carmody's job is safe as Wildcats basketball coach.

Phillips is often mentioned as a possible replacement for Ron Guenther as Illinois AD. Would Jim Delany allow an in-league move like that?

Anyone have a replacement trophy for the Sweet Sioux?

Send ideas to jrossow@news-gazette.com

 

12:30 p.m.

If you haven't read Asmussen's Final Word, click here.

The biggest news is Martez Wilson's suspension. What it means is Sam Carson will start at outside linebacker.

Also, Garrett Edwards or Bo Flowers will start in place of Hardeman, whose neck injury occured during last week's loss to Ohio State.

Wilson, the team's second-leading tackler, has been a target of criticism this season. Will he be back in '09.

"Yes, he'll be back," Asmussen said. "I just think he's too talented to at least not try to continue. Whatever the problems are, they'll work him  out."

Brit Miller, in his Q&A on HQ, said Martez is critical to next season's lineup. That's good enough for us.

Meanwhile, back to the Sweet Sioux. It's staying with Northwestern win or lose. I'm sure the Wildcats really want it. I'm thinking it's going into Lake Michigan on Sunday.

The schools will come up with a new trophy. My question: Why?

It's hard to find rivalries with less impact than Illinois-Northwestern. It doesn't deserve a trophy.

 

***

Greetings from blustery Evanston.  Jim Rossow reporting in, stationed next to Bob Asmussen. Plenty to discuss leading up to today's 2:30 p.m. start:

- Mike Locksley's status (candidate for Clemson)

- Martez Wilson's suspension (violation of team rules)

- Sweet Sioux Tomahawk (it's going the way of the Chief)

- Illinois' bowl chances (Asmussen has 'em in the Insight with a win today).

E-mail me at jrossow@news-gazette at any time and we'll respond. We'll get going in a few minutes.