Illinois football announced today that senior running back Jason Ford and redshirt freshman wide receiver Jake Kumerow are academically ineligible under NCAA rules and will not participate in the 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl versus UCLA on New Year's Eve in San Francisco. Ford is the Illini leading rusher this year with 600 yards on 155 carries (3.9 ypc) and seven … [Read more...] about Illini Leading Rusher to Miss Bowl Game
jason ford
Illini Receiver A.J. Jenkins: Probably Best WR Weapon in Big Ten
Earlier this college football season, University of Illinois senior wide receiver A.J. Jenkins made some comments that proclaimed himself the best wide receiver in the Big Ten. He has since backed off from those remarks, and now maintains a more standard, PR-friendly, humble and some could say vanilla manner in his on-the-record comments to the media. But his play on the … [Read more...] about Illini Receiver A.J. Jenkins: Probably Best WR Weapon in Big Ten
Illini LB Kick to Northwestern OL Groin Earns him 1 game Suspension
The Big Ten Conference announced today that it has accepted the one-game suspension of University of Illinois linebacker Jonathan Brown for violating the Big Ten Sportslike Conduct Agreement during the rivalry game versus Northwestern this past Saturday. In case you missed it, Brown blatantly and very intentionally kneed Wildcats OL Patrick Ward in the, um, let's say he hit … [Read more...] about Illini LB Kick to Northwestern OL Groin Earns him 1 game Suspension
Groin Kicks. Juvenile Insults. Illinois-Northwestern Rivalry Gets Low Brow
The video that follows after the jump makes me anything but proud to be an Illinois alum. Illini linebacker Jonathan Brown has had his issues within the program. He's found himself benched when he's failed to meet his commitments and expectations, but this is only going to further tarnish his reputation. He kneed Northwestern offensive lineman Patrick Ward in the groin in … [Read more...] about Groin Kicks. Juvenile Insults. Illinois-Northwestern Rivalry Gets Low Brow
Illini Beat Northwestern 38-35: Chicago’s Big Ten Team?
It was a week where one school's marketing slogan became a motivational rallying cry for the other school in the state. Northwestern has been promoting themselves as "Chicago's Big Ten Team" for a season and half, and today Illinois made stated pretty loudly how they felt about it. Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase scored a 1-yard touchdown with 13 seconds left to lead #22 … [Read more...] about Illini Beat Northwestern 38-35: Chicago’s Big Ten Team?
#22 Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Northwestern Wildcats: Brutally Honest Game Preview
Big Ten conference play begins with the annual in-state rivalry game between the Northwestern Wildcats and Illinois Fighting Illini. It does feel a little weird not having this game played on the last week of the season, when all the other intrastate, intra-region bloodfeud games are held. But last year it was such a special event that it's hard not to get excited for the 2011 … [Read more...] about #22 Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Northwestern Wildcats: Brutally Honest Game Preview
Why the Illini Will Win More Games than Notre Dame
You're like, "ok Captain Obvious." Not so fast my friend, I was saying this in August too. I thought my local media friends would find that assertion crazy given all the BCS preseason hype Notre Dame was getting, and the fact that Illinois was getting zero votes in either poll. But the truth is Notre Dame is 2-2, and very mediocre, while the Illini are this year's … [Read more...] about Why the Illini Will Win More Games than Notre Dame
Questioning Ron Zook’s Very Questionable Play-Calls, Rationale
Fans of the Florida Gators will understand this piece. Actually non college football fans will probably understand it even. It feels like we publish this column every season. Last year, we did the "Did Ron Zook's play-calling cost Illinois a win?" story after the Illini had a chance to upset then #2 Ohio State at home in the Big Ten conference opener. Go here to brush up … [Read more...] about Questioning Ron Zook’s Very Questionable Play-Calls, Rationale