2010 Football Season Previews: Illinois
Saturday, Sept. 4, 11:30 a.m. – Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Mo. (FSN)
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Fighting Illini at a Glance |
| Head Coach |
Ron Zook |
| at Illinois |
21-39 (Five Seasons) |
| 2009 Record |
3-9 Overall, 2-6 Big Ten |
| Home/Road/Neut. |
2-4 / 1-4 / 0-1 |
| Off. Starters R/L |
5 / 6 |
| Def. Starters R/L |
7 / 4 |
| Lettermen Ret. |
48 |
| Off/Def/Spec |
20 / 25 / 3 |
| Lettermen Lost |
16 |
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2009 Team Statistics |
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Stat |
NCAA |
Big Ten |
| Total Offense |
393.5 |
47 |
5 |
| Rushing Offense |
200.4 |
17 |
2 |
| Passing Offense |
193.1 |
87 |
10 |
| Points/Game |
24.2 |
81 |
8 |
| Total Defense |
403.3 |
91 |
11 |
| Rushing Defense |
154.4 |
76 |
8 |
| Passing Defense |
142.7 |
103 |
11 |
| Pts Allowed/Game |
30.2 |
96 |
11 |
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Returning Stat Leaders |
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#10 Eddie McGee | 6-4 | 210 | Sr. | WR
Receiving: 10 Rec, 152 Yds, 15.2 Avg |
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#21 Jason Ford | 6-0 | 235 | Jr. | RB
Rushing: 97 Att, 588 Yds, 6.1 Avg, 4 TDs |
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#38 Ian Thomas | 6-0 | 240 | Jr. | LB
Tackles: 95 Total, 57 Solo, 4.5 TFL, 0 INTs |
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#3 Tavon Wilson | 6-0 | 205 | Jr. | DB
INTs: 1 for 0 Yds, 74 Tackles, 56 Solo, 3.5 TFL |
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#11 Jarred Fayson | 6-0 | 215 | Sr. | WR
Receiving: 16 Rec, 218 Yds, 13.6 Avg, 1 TDs |
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Series History |
| Games Played |
23 |
| Series Record |
Mizzou leads, 16-7 |
| Last Meeting |
Sept. 5, 2009 (Mizzou, 37-9) |
| First Meeting |
1896 (Illinois, 10-0) |
| Average Score |
24-17, Mizzou |
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – The dog days of summer continue, but we're turning our eyes to the Fall, as MUTigers.com begins its look at the 2010 football season with the opening contest against Illinois. It's the final contracted game of a four-year series in St. Louis that has seen incredible success for Mizzou. FSN has already announced it will televise the morning kickoff nationally.
What Others Are Saying About Illinois |
"Eight starters return on defense so the hope has to be that experience turns into production. The entire linebacking corps is back with smallish, quick players like Ian Thomas certain to get more room to roam. The O line was relatively young, and even though it loses star guard Jon Asamoah, it should be a wee bit better…" College Football News
"This team really isn't that far away with personnel. At the very least, they're better than three wins. The Zook mantra is watching tape and "correcting problems" – except they just keep happening and there seems to be zero accountability. New coordinators Paul Petrino (offense) and Vic Koenning (defense) – two no-nonsense, meticulous guys – could bring a fresh air of coach-to-player discipline and accountability." Sporting News
"After serving as the Big Ten's most disappointing team two years in a row, the Illini are trying to build their way back into bowl contention with completely new looks on both sides of the ball. … The Illini must play an inexperienced quarterback and there are several question marks on defense as well, so a .500 season likely would be considered successful." FOX Sports
"Nobody in Champaign-Urbana is asking for a Big Ten title or another trip to the Rose Bowl, but the team must show progress. If the new quarterback picks up the offense quickly and the defense makes necessary improvements, a six-win season is within the team’s grasp." Athlon
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