MU to test football team against Illinois
Published Aug. 31, 2007
For months, all the members of the Missouri football team have seen, heard and read about is how they are supposed to win the Big 12 North, which would be the team's first division title of any kind since the league was the former Big Eight in 1969. Saturday in St. Louis, the team will have its first test against the Illinois Fighting Illini.
The Fighting Illini were just 2-10 last year and are 1-15 in Big Ten play under coach Ron Zook. But MU coach Gary Pinkel said the Tigers aren't taking this game lightly.
"I have great respect for Ron Zook and the whole Illinois team," Pinkel said. "You look at Juice Williams, and I expect Illinois to be a much better team this year."
The Illini return nine starters on defense, including its top four tacklers.
Isiah Williams, whom Pinkel referred to by his nickname, Juice, threw for 1,489 yards and ran for 576 more in his freshman season.
Tigers' senior defensive tackle Ziggy Hood said containing Williams is the defense's top priority.
"Juice is very fast," Hood said. "He's very mobile, and we have to contain him and force him to throw the ball and not be able to run. The (defensive) line, the linebackers all have to do their job."
Offensively, the Tigers have been expected by many to have one of the country's most explosive defenses. Junior quarterback Chase Daniel, who was fifth in the country last year with 300.5 yards in total offense, will have the nation's top tight end duo to throw to in senior Martin Rucker and junior Chase Coffman.
"We have so many great weapons," Daniel said. "My job this year is just to get it to the receivers and tight ends and stand back and say 'job well done.'"
Daniel said he isn't thinking at all about statistics.
"If I throw for 100 yards and we win, who cares?" he said. "If I throw for 4,000 yards this year and we go 8-5 again, that's not a successful season."
Senior wide receiver Will Franklin said he is excited for the chance to play in the Edward Jones Dome in his hometown.
"I never thought it would be this simple," he said. "I thought I was going to have to play in the NFL to get a chance to play in St. Louis."
Because Saturday's game is the only Division I-A college football game in St. Louis this year and the first since these same two teams played in 2003, Frank Viverito of the St. Louis Sports Commission said he hopes to put on a "bowl game-like atmosphere."
"We honestly would rather do this than a bowl game," he said. "We want this to be one of the three biggest days on the St. Louis sports calendar, along with Opening Day and the (Busch Braggin' Rights) basketball game."
Ticket sales are above 50,000. MU sold its allotment while Illinois has not yet.
"We want those Mizzou fans buying all the tickets," Pinkel said. "I don't care about Illinois' fans. They can do whatever they want."