Touchdown Times: Aug 31, 2012

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A publication of The Daily Illini | Friday, August 31, 2012

A new era beckonsTim Beckman will

kick off his career at Illinois on Saturday

against a familiar foe

Friday, August 31, 2012 The Daily Illini | www.DailyIllini.com2

DARYL QUITALIG THE DAILY ILLINI

Photo of

THE GAMEEditor’s note: This page is a place to run a photo each week that is relevant in some way to the upcoming game. The photo could be from last year’s matchup or the Illini’s game from the previous week — whatever. As long as it gets you ready for this week, it’ll be here.

Nathan Scheelhaase passes the ball during the Illini’s 23-20 win over Western Michigan last year at Memorial Stadium.

Nathan Scheelhaase completed 14 of his 20 attempts for 133 yards and one touchdown. But he was picked off once. What are your expectations for Scheelhaase this time around against the Broncos? Sound off on the live blog this Saturday and on our Twitter accounts: @di_sports and @DailyIlliniFB, #illinifootball.

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The Daily Illini | www.DailyIllini.com Friday, August 31, 20123

But when the Illini take the fi eld in Saturday’s season opener at Memorial Stadium , the head coach will be right back in the conference he left behind.

The MAC’s Western Michigan is fi rst up for Illinois. The Broncos gave both Beckman’s Toledo squad and the Illini nearly all they could handle last season. Western Michigan fell to Illinois and Toledo by three points, but that’s just about all the two games had in common.

The Rockets defeated the Broncos in a 66-63 shootout, and the Illini overcame a halftime defi cit to squeeze out a 23-20 win.

While allowing over 60 points or scoring just 23 isn’t Beck-man’s ideal outcome for the Illini this weekend, he will just be content to start his Illinois career with a victory.

“As long as there’s a ‘W’ up there,” Beckman said. “That’s what we’re seeking.”

Like Illinois, the Broncos fi nished 7-6 after a bowl appear-ance last season. Western Michigan will bring a potent passing game to Champaign led by senior quarterback Alex Carder , who is arguably the MAC’s best passer.

“I think they’re an even better team than they were last

year,” quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase said. “It’s going to be another great game.”

Scheelhaase said Beckman has shared much of his experi-ence coaching against Broncos with his team.

“It’s nice to have that because he’s used to playing against those guys and knows those coaches pretty well,” Scheelhaase said. “He’s been in that conference and been around them so he has helped us out with just what they’re all about.”

Beckman is 2-1 against Western Michigan, and Illinois leads the all-time series at 3-1 with all three victories com-ing at home.

Last season, Carder passed for 3,873 yards and 31 touch-downs and will be looking for a big game against an Illinois secondary that may be without top safeties Steve Hull and Suppo Sanni , who both could miss Saturday’s game with lin-gering injuries.

“They’ll be out there practicing, but we’re not going to put a football player on the fi eld unless they’re 100 percent ready to roll,” Beckman said Monday.

Both Hull and Sanni were left off the week’s depth chart that was released Monday. Defensive end Justin Staples will also miss the game while serving a one-game suspension. Staples was charged with a DUI last February in Champaign .

Western Michigan head coach Bill Cubit said during Mon-day’s MAC coaches teleconference that his players play with a chip on their shoulders against Big Ten opponents.

“Let’s face it, when we play these teams, they’re a lot more highly ranked than what we’ve got,” Cubit said. “But I don’t think that necessarily puts us at a disadvantage. I think we’ve got some good players in the MAC, too.”

After nearly upsetting the then-ranked No. 24 Illini last season, the current Illinois players certainly won’t be under-estimating the Broncos.

“I’m pretty sure their coach will be telling them, ‘We can beat these guys,” junior defensive tackle Akeem Spence said. “We’ve got to be hungry. We’ve got to take it from them. With the new era starting off, I feel like it’s going to be a real big day for us.”

Chad can be reached at [email protected] and @cthornburg10.

After almost sideswiping Illinois last year, Beckman not overlooking old foe

THE BRONCOS ARE BACK IN TOWNDAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO

Illinois’ Nathan Scheelhaase has his helmet twisted around by Western Michigan’s Paul Hazel during last year’s 23-20 Illini win at Memorial Stadium. Scheelhaase said he expects another close game.

“We’ve got to be hungry. We’ve got to take it from them. With the new era starting off, I feel like it’s going

to be a real big day for us.”AKEEM SPENCE,

junior defensive tackle

BY CHAD THORNBURGSTAFF WRITER

T IM BECKMAN COMES TO ILLINOIS AFTER THREE YEARS IN THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE WITH TOLEDO.


W hen Tim Beckman runs onto the fi eld at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, it will be the culmination of eight months since being named head foot-

ball coach at Illinois. In many ways, his fi rst game as a Big Ten coach is something Beckman has worked his whole life for. He said he’s been wait-ing for this day since he was in a crib.

“Words are probably not going to be able to express the feeling that I’ll have,” Beckman said.

He’ll walk from First Street with the team through the early tailgaters at Street Fest around 8:45 a.m. without the presence of his daughter, Lindsay Bec kman — the fi rst walk he’s completed without her. She’s walked with him during his days at Oklahoma State, Ohio State and Toledo. But she enrolled as a freshman at Toledo this fall and, as he put it, she’s a grown girl now; however, Beck-man will be able to look over and see his parents sitting in the stands cheering him on.

“We’re really excited. I mean, this coaching staff, this football team, I can’t say enough about the excitement that’s fi lling the air about opening week, opening season of football,” Beckman said. “You can smell it in the air, as they say.”

He said he doesn’t sleep much, especially in the last few weeks. His mind has been so focused on preparing the Illini for a football game that he said he’s barely heard about possibility of rain from Isaac’s leftovers on Saturday.

“I haven’t seen TV in three weeks,” he said Mon-day. “My wife told me there was a hurricane com-ing. I heard that last night as a matter of fact ... but we’re looking at right now and what we need to be successful both offensively and defensively and special teams.”

When Operation New Era — ONE, as it’s been abbreviated on the Illini’s wristbands — begins, an old Mid-American Conference foe, Western Michi-gan, will be waiting for Beckman. He is 2-1 against the Broncos in his career. Last year, Toledo and Western Michigan both had an offensive explosion, where Beckman’s team eked out a 66-63 victory. The score prompted defensive lineman Akeem Spence to poke some fun at his head coach, saying Beckman didn’t have any answers for him.

Beckman’s going to be focused on not allow-

ing that to happen again Saturday. The last time Illinois scored 60 or more points, it needed three overtime s against Michigan in 2010.

Expect Beckman to be very involved and active during the game as well. He’s always had high energy, and his coordinators can expect to hear him in their headsets all game long.

“My headset will be clicking back and forth offensively, defensively and special teams,” Beck-man said. “I like to be involved in the games. I like to chest bump them, run down the fi eld with them, all that stuff. That’s what I like to do, that’s why I coach football.”

This will be Beckman’s fi rst time with this group of coordinators, and he’s excited to see how they call the games. He uses the co-coordinator system on offense — something he said he’s always done because he wants to see his coordinators work together, just like his team.

“It’s about building a family,” Beckman said. “I’m not into ego guys. We’re not going to have ego guys on this football staff. We’re going to have ‘we guys, not me guys.’” A banner that reads the same hangs on the practice fi eld adjacent to Memorial Stadium.

On Saturday, Beckman said his football players can expect two things from him and vice versa for them: accountability and trust. Quarterback Nathan S cheelhaase, who’s starting his third straight season opener, has put his trust in Beck-man. He said this opener is different from any in years past.

“There is a new momentum building. There is a new look for what we’re all about,” he said. “It’s exciting. I think our fans are excited. I think our players are excited for the new era we’ve been talking about for so long.”

Beckman has tried different tactics to build camaraderie within the football program. Now this is his fi rst chance to change the culture of the Illini in a different way. And to prove what he said when he took the job in December: “This is a gold mine. You can win at the University of Illinois.”

Jamal can be reached at [email protected] and @JamalCollier.

BECKMAN BORN FOR THE BIG TEN

After a lifetime of preparation, new coach ready for 1st game

BY JAMAL COLLIERSTAFF WRITER


DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO


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PORTRAIT BY DARYL QUITALIG THE DAILY ILLINIOUR PICKS

Western Michiganat

Illinois

No. 14 Clemson at

Auburn

No. 8 Michiganat

No. 2 Alabama

Georgia Techat

No. 16 Virginia Tech

No. 24 Boise Stateat

No. 13 Michigan State

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Hammond

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Illinois 24, Western Michigan 16Not the 66-63 shootout like the last time Tim Beckman faced the Broncos.

Illinois 27, Western Michigan 17This game will not be an easy win for the Illini.

Illinois 27, Western Michigan 17 Illinois has won its last six season openers at Memorial Stadium.

Illinois 27, Western Michigan 10Perhaps if these Broncos had Tim Tebow, but alas ...

Illinois 27, Western Michigan 20 Alex Carder could have his way with an Illinois secondary; the pass rush should slow him down.

Illinois 27, Western Michigan 14Unlike Zook, Beckman knows his opponent, and the D-line gets good pressure on Carder.

Michigan State 20, Boise State 13Boise’s giant-killing stops here. After all ... This. Is. Sparty!!!

Michigan State 27, Boise State 14Boise State has lost too much fi repower.

Boise State 31, Michigan State 24 I could’ve gone either way on this one. If you ask me tomorrow, I may tell you the other way.

Michigan State 24, Boise State 17Boise State won’t snap Michigan State’s home unbeaten streak, held since Nov. 21, 2009.

Michigan State 28, Boise State 20I don’t expect Friday night’s matchup with the Broncos to buck their home winning streak.

Michigan State 24, Boise State 10Since 2006, Boise State is 8-1 against BCS teams and has a 73-6 record overall.

Clemson 27, Auburn 21No Sammy Watkins, not a problem for Chad Morris and Tajh Boyd.

Clemson 38, Auburn 24In the battle of the Tigers, Clemson’s returning talent is too much to handle.

Clemson 35, Auburn 21 Not buying into Auburn, not yet at least.

Clemson 24, Auburn 20Series record is 34-12-2 in Auburn’s favor, but Clemson is clawing back.

Clemson 35, Auburn 14 Auburn fi nished among the worst in the SEC last year.

Clemson 35, Auburn 21Cam Newton ... I mean Tajh Boyd ... Need I say more?

Alabama 33, Michigan 17Nick Saban had 36 days to prepare for LSU. He has 235 days to prepare for Michigan.

Alabama 31, Michigan 17The Crimson Tide’s defense is too much for the Wolverines.

Alabama 30, Michigan 14Michigan will keep it close for a half at least but will be overwhelmed by the defending national champions.

Alabama 38, Michigan 24No amount of improvement from Denard Robinson can put the Maize and Blue over the defending champs.

Alabama 34, Michigan 17 The Crimson Tide will temper the expectations in Ann Arbor.

Alabama 30, Michigan 14 Denard Robinson’s Heisman campaign gets off to a rough start — a Nick Saban defense.

Virginia Tech 28, Georgia Tech 23The winner of the Battle of the Techs has gone on to win the ACC Coastal Division every year.

Virginia Tech 24, Georgia Tech 21If you like the ground game, watch this matchup.

Virginia Tech 29, Georgia Tech 28Hokies eke one out in a close one.

Virginia Tech 31, Georgia Tech 23 Paul Johnson is susceptible in games with an extended amount of prep time.

Virginia Tech 21, Georgia Tech 13 The Hokies have won 17 of their last 23 season openers.

Virginia Tech 20, Georgia Tech 10A Hokie defense that returns nine starters beats a team wearing honeycomb helmets.

DAN WELIN FOOTBALL COLUMNIST

JEFF KIRSHMAN SPORTS EDITOR

CHAD THORNBURG SPORTS WRITER

JAMAL COLLIER SPORTS WRITER

MAX TANEASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR/

HOST OF ILLINI DRIVE @ 5

SEAN HAMMOND SPORTS WRITER

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In1947, Western Michigan and Illi-nois played for the fi rst time. The Illini won 60-14.

The next three meetings have been decided by a combined 12 points, with Western Michigan claiming its only vic-tory in the four-game series at a neutral site game at Ford Field in 2008.

Because of Illinois’ fortune of fi lling in positions vacated by departing play-ers and Western Michigan’s inability to do so, 2012 seems like a good season for the Illini to keep their fans’ heart rates regular against the Broncos for the fi rst time since that 46-point drub-bing in the ’40s.

Senior quarterback Alex Carder has thrown for 7,207 yards and 61 touchdowns the last two seasons. With a completely new wide receiving corps needing to devel-op chemistry, especially in a game setting, playing the Illini on the road isn’t going to help that cause.

One would think the loss of last year’s sack leader and current Houston Texans’ fi rst-round draft pick Whitney Mercilus

would downgrade a defensive line, but defensive line coach Keith Gilmore has continued to fi ll the holes left by depart-ing players.

Out goes Mercilus, in comes Michael Buchanan.

Buchanan’s speed off the end in combi-nation with his 6-foot-6, 240-pound frame makes him a threat to every offensive line he will face this season.

Add in Akeem Spence, Glenn Foster and Tim Kynard, and the going could get rough for Carder early Saturday.

In his fi rst season as Illinois’ head coach, Tim Beckman couldn’t ask for a more familiar opponent — or quarterback, for that matter — to start his Big Ten coach-ing career.

Now that he has Big Ten-caliber play-ers in Buchanan and linebacker Jona-than Brown, along with an experienced secondary in Terry Hawthorne and Jus-tin Green, Beckman’s defense shouldn’t allow nearly as many points as the 63 his Toledo defense allowed to Carder and the Broncos last year.

As far as scoring points goes this sea-son, it’s not clear how many points fans can expect to see on the scoreboard each game.

After an offseason of confusion about the offense — one that wasn’t necessarily cleared up during the media availability this week — what to expect come Satur-day is still a mystery.

Co-offensive coordinator Chris Beatty made it a point to say that he’s not a fan of

a two-quarterback system.That is interpreted to mean that Nathan

Scheelhaase will be the starter for the third consecutive season, which shouldn’t come as a surprise because of his ability to throw and run.

His critics usually say he runs too much and that he can’t complete throws.

Given the offensive line struggles last season and the lack of depth at wide receiv-er after A.J. Jenkins, his limited time in the pocket and lack of targets shouldn’t be placed under the microscope.

Scheelhaase needs a steady offensive line and a few more weapons that can help move the chains to effectively run this offense.

That lack of depth behind Jenkins from last season carried over into this season, but a recruiting victory from National Signing Day 2011 should offer glimmers of hope this fall.

Jon Davis chose Illinois over Kentucky back in 2011, and I imagine Beckman and his staff can’t be happier to have a physi-cal specimen such as Davis, who can catch and run with the football, especially with a talented quarterback who’s missing prov-en passing targets.

The pressure to score shouldn’t be as evident this week as long as the defensive line gets good pressure on Carder.

The same can’t be said going forward.

Dan is a senior in Media. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @welinanddealin.

Friday, August 31, 2012 The Daily Illini | www.DailyIllini.com#8

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Illini’s DL should be enough against BroncosQuestions about o! ense loom over season opener

Illini Drive goes “three and out” every Monday on WPGU. Here are the highlights.

NATIONAL QUESTION — What team in a new conference is poised for the best season?

Thomas Bruch — I’m going to go with TCU. ... They live in Big 12 country. They’ve been playing these teams before.

I think they can settle in there and fi nd their niche within the Big 12 pretty quickly.

BIG TEN QUESTION — Who’s more likely to win this weekend? Michigan (versus Alabama) ... or Michigan State (versus Boise State) ?

Jamal Collier — I don’t think either of these teams are going to win. I think it’d be nice for the Big Ten if they go out and not get embarrassed here. ... I want to believe in Michigan here. I don’t want to believe in Michigan, but I want to believe the Big Ten could be a national power. But I keep seeing them lose by three touchdowns.

ILLINI QUESTION — Who will you miss the most from last year? You can even say Ron Zook .

Max Tane — I’ll go with Whitney Mercilus , simply because the defense revolved around him and it led to the upbringing of Jonathan Brown . ... He was a multitalented guy. You could put him in a stance. You could put him standing up. (He is) very athletic, and I think he’ll be missed a lot.

DAN WELINAssistant Sports Editor

Illini Drive

THREE AND

OUT

Touchdown Times: Aug 31, 2012

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