Illinois Fighting Illini Football

Winning changes everything.

That quote could never be more true than with Illinois' 20-14 win over UCLA in the 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.

One would be hard-pressed to find a program in the unique position Illinois was in going into this game.

Before the game, Illinois was sitting on a fence, and the outcome of this matchup was the force that would send the program to one side or the other.

If they lose, the entire university is forced to deal with the pain of a seven-game losing streak.

The new head coach, Tim Beckman, has the difficult task of picking up the pieces of a Illinois football team lacking any confidence whatsoever and without an identity. And a trio of key defensive juniors will likely leave this mess for the chance of NFL riches.

But if they win, the team can to go into the Beckman era with high spirits, and their dismal 0-6 finish to the season forgotten. Nathan Scheelhaase has a chance to solidify himself as the leader of this Fighting Illini team to his returning teammates and his new coaching staff.

The fanbase can have a chance to smile for a change, knowing that the correct moves were made regarding coaching changes. 

Illini fans, you can let out your breath. This program's arrow is pointing up, all because of this win. 

This patchwork coaching staff showed that the pieces are in place to succeed right out of the blocks next year, and that it was Ron Zook and Paul Petrino's schemes, play calling, and game plans that were to blame for this season's meltdown, not the players.

Nathan Scheelhaase (not Reilly O'Toole) was the quarterback who took charge and willed this team to win. Don't think for a second that this game wasn't an audition for Tim Beckman to determine who would enter the spring lining up behind center.

Having No. 2 holding the reins of the offense gives this team the best chance to win next year, and it was imperative for this team that he played well and showed that he has what it takes to turn this team around.

But all of these outcomes pale in comparison to the largest gain winning proved about this team.

This win showed that this team will not just roll over and die.

After the Minnesota game, this team looked as if it had all but given up. It lacked confidence and it left fans wondering if this team had the mental toughness to succeed in the future in a highly competitive Big Ten.

By coming out and throwing the ball deep, playing passionately on defense, and delivering punishing blocks, this team showed that with the proper motivation, it can overcome even the greatest of obstacles.

You could see it in the faces of the players as the game clock extinguished; they wanted this win. They wanted to make this program better. They wanted to establish themselves as mentally tough winners... and they did just that.  

That confidence will carry over to the 2012 season. Tim Beckman will be able to take this talented, tough group of men and mold them into a team that can compete consistently.

And to think all this was the result of just one win.

Winning changes everything.

Illinois 20 - UCLA 14

The only hunger Kraft neglected was the hunger for good offensive football.

The bowl game matched up perhaps the two most wounded, haphazard bowl teams in the nation this year. Both teams had struggled to 6-6 records, lost badly to rivals and fired their head coach over the course of the year and were looking for anything positive on which to close the door on 2011 with.

The Illini were once again led by a powerful defense.  UCLA was only able to manage 220 yards of total offense for the game (at just 3.8 yards per play) as the Illinois defense swarmed into the backfield five times for sacks.  The Bruins punted eight times---six of them three-and-outs---while fumbling, missing a kick and throwing an interception.

In fact, it was the defense's touchdown and extra point that would push Illinois back into the game in the third quarter and allow the offense enough breathing room to score the 10 points needed to put the final score out of reach.

Outside of that fourth-quarter touchdown---a 60-yard pass from Nathan Scheelhaase to AJ Jenkins---the Illinois offense performed much the same as it had for the last six games of the season:  Poorly.  The Illini finished with 327 yards of offense but just 4.5 yards per pass attempt despite:  A) the aforementioned 60-yard touchdown pass and B) 33 attempts against the 80th ranked pass efficiency defense in the nation.

Had the running game not managed 179 yards on 4.2 yards per carry, that was mostly attributable to Scheelhaase and his 110 yards; it's quite possible the Illini would have been blanked entirely on the scoreboard.

When it all comes down to two pitiful teams, sometimes all that matters is just doing one thing a little better than the other guy.  Illinois' defense was the one thing working in a game full of mistakes and sloppy play, and it ultimately meant the victory for Illinois.

Now, the offseason is here, as is the first true months of life after Zook.  One has to imagine that after the season, Illini fans had, that even a win in the Kraft Fight Hunger bowl would be enough to hold them over.  I suppose someone got fed after all.

Big Ten Bowl Preview Extravaganza—Part 5 of 10

Illinois earned the dubious honor of becoming the first team in college football history to make a bowl game despite suffering through a six game losing streak. Ever since Ohio State shut down the 6-0 Illini in mid-October, the Fighting Illini could never right the ship for the remainder of the season, leading to the firing of Ron Zook.

Illinois finds a perfect match though in San Francisco, as UCLA was granted special permission by the NCAA to play in this bowl game after falling to 6-7 with the loss in the conference championship. To be fair, UCLA should have never been in the championship, but that is what happens when good programs get bowl bans.

Who knows, maybe next year Illinois can benefit from the same situation with Ohio State banned.  But there is a bowl game (albeit a war of attrition with two interim coaches) to be played, so let's take a look at the keys for Illinois to win the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl today.

(The analysis for this game will be brief due to this article being published right before kickoff.)

No. 1: QB Nathan Scheelhaase and the Backup RB's Should Dominate Time of Possession

When Illinois has found success this season, it has usually started up front with the running game.  Although top RB Jason Ford will miss this game, the Illini will still need to start the offense with the run.

UCLA is particularly weak against the run, giving up more than 200 yards per game on the ground.  In light of most Pac-12 teams not pounding the ball with the running game, this statistic is even worse than it looks. 

Illinois should be able to dominate time of possession and wear out the UCLA defense, but only if the backup running backs show up to play well. Look for freshman RB Donovonn Young to be the primary option with QB Nathan Scheelhaase also running the ball from time to time.

Once the running game is established, Illinois will be able to reach the second key to the game...

No. 2: A.J. Jenkins Must Burn UCLA Cornerbacks All Game

That second key being the passing attack. UCLA was better defensively against the pass than against the run, but that usually did not matter when teams ran all over the field on the Bruins.

However, UCLA did not face many speed talents as good as Illini WR A.J. Jenkins. Jenkins has the ability to leave some of the better cornerbacks in the country in the dust, and UCLA does not have some of the best cornerbacks in the country.

As a result, once the running game is dominant, Scheelhaase should be able to sneak a pass or two behind the defense to break open this game.

No. 3: DE Whitney Mercilus Needs to add 3 Sacks to Resume

Mercilus does not just have one of the best names for a defender in college football history, he has the solid play and athleticism to back up the name.  Mercilus will almost certainly be playing football on Sundays in the near future, so Illini fans would like to see him go out with one of his best performances in this bowl game.

UCLA QB Kevin Prince was prone to being rattled by good defensive lines during the regular season, and Illinois should be able to contain Prince and the UCLA running backs. If Mercilus can get a sack or two and bring a lot of pressure early in the game, UCLA may just fold on offense and allow Illinois enough time to score the points required to put the game away.

No. 4: Vic Koenning Must Coach Like This is his Only Chance at the Spotlight

Interim coach Vic Koenning has decided to not stay on next season as the Illinois defensive coordinator under the new coaching regime, so this will be his one opportunity for now at the head coaching position.

In view of this, Koenning should take some risks and take advantage of the favorable bowl match up provided to his team.  Every team plays a bit more liberally with trick plays and the like during bowl season, but Koenning should pull out all the stops and really show off his creativity against UCLA.

Koenning may not be headed for a head coaching position immediately, but this bowl game could go a long way towards that eventual goal.  In addition, these plays will probably work against UCLA and help Illinois move closer to victory.

No. 5: Illinois Must Stuff The Strong UCLA Running Attack

Although UCLA gives up a lot of rushing yards, the Bruins also rack them up with an average of 191 per game on their own offense. Illinois struggled to stop running backs and running quarterbacks during the six game losing streak to lose the season, and that will have to change in this game to come home with a win.

Thankfully for the Illini, Kevin Prince and the UCLA running backs are not the same caliber of talent as some of the teams that ripped through the Illini defense. The lessons learned against teams like Michigan, Ohio State, and Wisconsin will come in handy to slow the only real threat UCLA presents.

Game Prediction

UCLA will struggle to get any offense going throughout this game as Illinois will want to play well for Coach Koenning.  UCLA players do not appear to be as focused as Illinois, skipping a practice earlier this week and not rallying around their interim coach. This will show on the field as Illinois will slowly pull away with a relatively ineffective offense.  That offense will be more than enough against UCLA though.

Illinois 23, UCLA 7.

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David Fitzgerald II is a Big Ten Football Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.  Follow him on Twitter for new article updates @BuckeyeFitzy.

Illinois Football.

It's rare to find two words that can have such different meanings for the various audiences who hear them.

In Champaign, those words conjure up feelings of extreme frustration, heartache, hope, disappointment and confusion. 

In a place like Happy Valley, PA, Penn State fans look on those words with a slight grin, and reminisce on their 15-4 all-time record against the Illini, or on Joe Paterno's final and 409th win in 2011.

Even in Columbus, Ohio, feelings drastically differ. Hearing those words might make a Buckeye fan yawn in boredom over the prestige-less Illibuck rivalry trophy that the two teams play for. Or it might remind them of one of the few bright spots in Illinois' football history—the upset over No. 1-ranked Ohio St. in the Horseshoe in 2007.

Fortunately for Buckeye fans, that loss didn't affect their team's ability to make it to the national championship game—so it's really just viewed as an insignificant stain on an otherwise impressive season.

Indiana doesn't even seem to care enough to show up for football games (Illinois won 41-20 this year). They must be too preoccupied waiting for basketball season.

The Big Ten as a whole sees Illinois' football team as a constant bottom dweller. The team's finishes in the Big Ten standings over the past decade have been as follows:

'00-Ninth

'01-First

'02-Fifth

'03-Last 

'04-10th

'05-Last

'06-10th

'07-Second

'08-Sixth

'09-Ninth

But there is a question that resonates throughout all of this inconsistency. Why can Illinois never seem to get over that hump and perform as they are supposed to perform year in and year out?

When the team is supposed to lose...they win. And when they finally have something good going, they always seem to fall apart and lose. 

It hasn't been a lack of talent.

Ron Zook managed to bring in multiple Top 25 recruiting classes early on in his career at Illinois.

The school sent numerous players to the NFL in that time, many going in the first couple rounds of the draft.

Maybe it's been coaching?

Although many of Illinois' past struggles could be attributed to an inept leadership core, head coaches have come and gone, but the problems have remained consistent. So the coaching staffs cannot simply be the primary parties at fault.

So maybe it is university leadership. What if the athletic director and president have not taken the steps necessary to promote the program and spin it in a positive light to alumni and recruits?

No, that can't be the answer. Millions have been spent on renovating Memorial Stadium and on advertising campaigns to help with the program's image. The old AD is gone and a newer, bolder one has taken his place, but the team still managed to free-fall in the second half of its season.

I propose an answer that won't sit well with many of us in Illini Nation.

Yes my fellow Illini supporters, I believe the that issue lies with us, the fans.

We have grown so used to mediocre play that we view each and every season as another painful reminder of our inability to produce on the gridiron. As a result, I have seen fans grow more and more tepid in their support of the Orange and Blue. We all know what it feels like to turn off the TV in the third quarter, saying "here we go again" when Illinois goes down three scores.

We have breed an atmosphere losing.

As fans, we have accepted that Illinois will forever remain mediocre, and I believe that that idea is the web that is holding the program back.

Unfortunately, that attitude is contagious. It spills over to the fans, to the administration, to the coaching staff and even the players. They all know that the fan support is so fickle that even one sign of faltering will break the spirit of the people in the stands, and ultimately, the spirit of those kids in the helmets and shoulder pads.    

Until we as a fanbase step up and begin to keep the faith in the good times—and, more importantly, in the bad—the program will continue to struggle.

There is no time better than now to begin to change our mindset regarding this team. Have faith in this new, high-energy coach. Have faith in the arms and legs of Nathan Scheelhaase. And please, have faith that this fanbase can change the fortunes of its team by changing itself.

If Illini Nation can do that, I assure you that there will be consistently brighter days on the horizon.

After much speculation, Illinois has officially hired Toledo head coach Tim Beckman to take the same job in Champaign. Beckman was 21-16 during his three years in Ohio after taking over a program in the middle of a point-shaving investigation.

The Rockets went 8-4 this season, but were a possession away from beating Ohio State, Syracuse and MAC champion Northern Illinois.

There was a rumor that the Illini could attract current Houston coach Kevin Sumlin, but Beckman was always going to be the best they could do.

With all of the openings in college football, why on earth would Sumlin take a job all the way up in Illinois?

He knows the Texas area well, and with head coaching jobs open at Texas A&M, Arizona State and even UCLA, there would be no reason for him to take his talents up north to the Big Ten where spread offenses are essentially non-existent.

Taking a guy who has spent all his time as a head coach in Ohio is considerably better from a recruiting standpoint.

Plus, Illinois does not have the greatest football tradition, which is a selling point for a lot of top coaches. The program has not been consistently relevant since at least the early 1990s, and the students are considerably more interested in the basketball team than the football team.

Obviously coaching in the Big Ten is a great honor and achievement, but it is no longer the best football conference out there. The SEC is without a doubt the best and the Big 12 and Pac-12 are not far behind that, especially with all of the coaching hires in the Pac-12.

And winning in the Big Ten will be a lot more difficult going forward, with the rise of Michigan, Wisconsin and Michigan State as well the hiring of Urban Meyer at Ohio State. If you plan on winning there, you have to be able to recruit in Ohio and Beckman does that better than anyone else.

Couple that with the lack of tradition, and there was no way Illinois was going to do any better than Toledo’s Tim Beckman.

In a surprise to many Illini faithful, the University of Toledo's Tim Beckman will be the new head coach at Illinois. This morning Beckman told his players that he would be going to the Illini. 

The Toledo Blade has reported that Toledo athletic director is holding a press conference this afternoon where it is expected that he will name offensive coordinator Matt Campbell to lead the Rockets. The University of Illinois will be holding a press conference this afternoon to introduce Beckman as the 23rd head coach of the Illini football programs.

The Search

Earlier this week Beckman's name was not even amongst the names being widely speculated as taking over the Illini. The Chicago Tribune's Shannon Ryan had Houston coach Kevin Sumlin, Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Todd Monken and Pittsburgh Steelers running back coach Kirby Wilson being the main candidates.

While the News-Gazette had Beckman on their list, he was a 20-1 longshot, behind Temple's Steve Addazio, Wyoming's Dave Christensen, Wisconsin's Paul Chryst and the Steeler's Wilson and on par with Sumlin and Iowa State's Paul Rhoads.

As the coaching search unfolded, the Illini faithful have seen that athletic director Mike Thomas stayed clear of candidates with baggage like Mike Leach. Efforts to lure the "hot" coaching candidates like Sumlin or Southern Mississippi's Larry Fedora were rejected. The desire for a coach with head coaching experience left fan hopefuls Monken and Wilson on the sidelines.

After the smoke cleared, that left Beckman as the man being named to lead the Illini into the 2012 season. 

About the Coach

In three seasons at Toledo, Beckman compiled a 21-16 record. He has led the Rockets to a 8-4 mark this season and the program's second consecutive bowl appearance.

Prior to moving to Toledo, Beckman served as the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State. Beckman has Big Ten ties as he spent two seasons with Ohio State, serving as the cornerbacks coach.

Beckman has stated that, "I've been around football and football coaches all my life. I was born with a football. My dad coached high school ball and up to college ball and the pros, so I've had a chance to see it all."

In addition to his father being a football man, he has worked under three successful coaches during his coaching tenure. Beckman has been mentored by Jim Tressel at Ohio State, Urban Meyer at Bowling Green and Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State.

The coaching trees he is attached to will hopefully serve him with the Illini faithful as well as the high scoring offense that the Rockets had late this season, posting 60+ points in consecutive games in November.

The University of Toledo can hang their hat on the changes in mentality that took place under Beckman's watch. Not only were there successes on the field, but off it as well as student GPA rose from 2.370 to 2.922 and the team's four-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) has risen to a school-record 943.

It has been reported that Beckman has had success in recruiting, as he has he has brought the top recruiting class in the MAC the past to Toledo according to the Toledo Blade.

However, Chicagoland recruiting guru Tom Lemming says, "Toledo doesn't recruit Chicago." With that being the case, it will be seen if his success in the MAC will translate to success in the competitive Big Ten.

The Chicago Tribune reported that Athletic director Mike Thomas doesn't seem to be concerned about this as Beckman has the Midwest recruiting strengths and the head coaching experience he desires in a candidate 

The Road Ahead

The new coach has an uphill battle to succeed at Illinois. Since Ray Eliot retired at Illinois, no coach has lasted longer than eight years and only two (Mike White and John Mackovic) posted winning records.

Beckman will have to make the right hires as soon as possible to help assure those concerned about this selection. Though he is a defensive-minded coach, he needs to find a strong defensive coordinator.

This will help reduce concerns about his Toledo defense that is 89th in the nation, allowing 30.9 points a contest. A hire that would go a long way with the Illinois faithful and players is in Illini's fold already, interim coach Vic Koenning.

The new coach is going to have to reach out to the fan base and the community as Ron Zook lost them in recent years. The hard work he put in at Toledo will have to be done here to get the Illini faithful to accept what can be done and that he is the right man to move things forward.

It is a concern that Beckman will not fire up the masses as Zook did upon his arrival to Champaign. However, if he replicates the positives he did with Toledo, the fans will come. If not, he will join the growing list of coaching disappointments for the Illini.

Let the clock on the Beckman era (and Thomas's legacy) begin. Go Illini

Chief Illiniwek was the official symbol of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign associated with the University's intercollegiate athletic programs for over 80 years and was officially retired by the university in 2007.

Even though it has almost been five years since he last performed on the field of play at an Illinois sporting event, heated conversation and controversy still exists regarding this iconic figure.

The latest hot spot in the debate regarding Chief Illiniwek is the potential removal of the "Three in One" from the half-time performances of the Marching Illini. This arrangement consists of three original songs entitled "The March of the Illini", "Hail to the Orange", and "Pride of the Illini".

According to the Daily Illini's Hannah Meisel, Robert Warrior, director of American Indian Studies submitted a letter to Robert Easter, who was the interim chancellor, asking him to cease playing "American Indian-themed music".

In the letter, Warrior stated that the playing of such music serves no benefit other than inciting individuals with strong feelings regarding this matter. In the letter, Warrior stated that School of Music Director and faculty "are prepared to replace the current music with a march written by John Phillip Sousa."

Following the men's basketball team season opener against Loyola on November 11th, calls for change heated up.

After attending the game—and seeing the women's soccer team join the Orange Krush student section for the 3-in-1—Abigail Broga, a retired assistant dean, discussed via e-mail with athletic administration her being "extremely disturbed to see them stay and join the Krush in enthusiastically clapping" during the 3-in-1. 

This thread was eventually shared with Chancellor Phyllis Wise and Athletic Director Mike Thomas. In response to the concern, Wise replied, “Need to continue to work on this."

An on-line petition entitled "Illinois Leaders: Stop The Presence of Chief Illiniwek. New Mascot Now!" which has now expired, had 527 signees.

While the petition letter focuses on the Chief, there is one paragraph that calls for the elimination of the Three-In-One.

It states as follows: “We demand an immediate end to the band’s playing the Chief’s Dance music—known as the ‘Three-In-One’—at halftime, and to create a halftime show that does not offer an opportunity for the current unofficial ‘chief’ to perform in the stands.”

Due to the recent correspondences, fans of the medley and the rich tradition of the song have been asked to sign an on-line petition titled “Chancellor of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Stop Changes to the 3-in-1 Medley”. It has so far gathered more than 3,700 signatures.

Only time will tell if next fall the alumni and fans will get to hear the band play the 3-in-1 and sing:

Hail to the Orange,
Hail to the Blue,
Hail Alma Mater,
Ever so true,
We love no other,
So let our motto be,
Victory, Illinois Varsity

History will be made for the Illini regardless of the result of their bowl game against UCLA.

Lose, and the Illini become the first team to lose seven straight games in one season after winning six straight. If they win, it will be the first time that the Illini win bowl games in consecutive seasons.

There are many things that influence the game, but here are four keys that can impact the Illini on New Year's Eve.

Illinois vs. The Ghosts of UCLA Bowl Games Past

The last two times the Illini have played UCLA in bowl games, it has ended with an ugly game from the Illini's perspective.

In 1991, the Illini had a new coach for the bowl game, as Lou Tepper led the Illini into the John Hannock Bowl. In a game that most Illini fans would want to forget, the Illini's offense struggled on their way to a 6-3 loss.

That loss pales in comparison to the 1984 Rose Bowl loss to UCLA.  The Illini turned Rick Neuheisel into a UCLA icon as he passed for 298 yards and four touchdowns en route to a 45-9 win for the Bruins.

If the 2011 Illini remember the feelings of last year's bowl experience, they should shake the struggles and win bowl games in consecutive years for the first time in the program's history.

UI DE Whitney Mercilus vs. UCLA RB Johnathan Franklin

The Hendrick Award winner Mercilus leads the nation in forced fumbles (nine) this season.

He has the speed and strength to make him a viable candidate for all of the major defensive player awards he is eligible for. Franklin has demonstrated the ability to run the ball, but he has had problems fumbling, with 18 in the past three seasons.

This matchup has the ability to be fun for the Illini unless something dramatically changes.  

UI WR A.J. Jenkins vs. CB Andrew Abbott

Biletnikoff Award semifinalist Jenkins showed in the first half of the season he was a beast. He gained 815 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 46 receptions.

As teams keyed on him, he faded in the second half of the season but was still the favorite target of the Illini quarterbacks.

Abbott earned honorable mention Pac-12 honors this season. He has made a presence in the secondary with four interceptions and seven pass deflections.

He will have to step his game up to compete with the athletic Jenkins. 

If the Illini are committed to getting the ball to Jenkins, he will have a matchup that can be exploited.

UI AD Mike Thomas vs. UI Coaching Staff

First-year athletic director Mike Thomas is conducting a search to replace Ron Zook.

We have seen that he has been hindered by the search process at the university. This delay has led to some leading candidates being picked up by other institutions.

A bigger short-term problem is that it leaves the current coaching staff in limbo.  They have been told by interim coach Vic Koenning that they need to put their family first.

We see that offensive coordinator Paul Petrino has already left the team, and others are seeking to find a position.  The sooner a new head coach is hired, the sooner the current coaches will know their fate and can focus on the game plan at hand.

Go Illini!

The changes are continuing for the Illini as offensive coordinator Paul Petrino has left the staff to return to Arkansas. Petrino came to Illinois after the 2009 season from the Razorbacks, where he served as the offensive coordinator. 

Upon arriving at Illinois, the team saw success, as the offense broke school records for total points (423) and points per game (32.54) in 2010. The offense was clicking as they averaged just over 42 points the second half of the season and out-shined 2011 Heisman finalist Robert Griffin III.

This season started well, but the Illini struggled with both the passing and running game during the last six games, dropping 59 yards a game and 120 less yards rushing.

This will be a reunion with his brother Bobby, who led Arkansas to a 10-2 season and a No.6 BCS ranking. Petrino has worked with his brother at Louisville (2003-06) and the Atlanta Falcons (2007) prior to joining him with the Razorbacks.

As the Illini prepare for Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, quarterback coach Jeff Brohm will assume the offensive coordinator duties. This could be the first of many changes for the Illini staff leading up to the December 31st bowl game.

Chicago Tribune's Shannon Ryan reported that interim coach Vic Koenning said he has made no guarantee that he or any of the assistants will be with the Illini by game time. He said that he is actively seeking a new position and has encouraged the rest of the staff to do the same. 

It seems that "Go Illini" may be mean a little something else in the next couple weeks.

Time will tell.