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Illinois visits Nebraska for 1st time in Big Ten play

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A publication of THE DAILY ILLINI Thursday, October 3, 2013

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Thursday, October 3, 2013 THE DAILY ILLINI | www.DailyIllini.com2

Nebraska Illinois

PassingTaylor Martinez

PassingNathan Scheelhaase

RushingAmeer AbdullahTerrell NewbyImani Cross

RushingDonovonn Young Josh Ferguson

ReceivingRyan LankfordMartize BarrJosh Ferguson

DefenseCorey CooperHarvey JacksonDavid SantosJosh Banderas

DefenseJonathan BrownMason MonheimEaton SpenceEarnest Thomas IIIAustin Teitsma

C-A-INT53-80-1

C-A-INT82-122-3

Yards 528

Yards 1,162

TD9

TD12

TD113

Long40

Long72

Long723053

Carries743630

Carries4630

Catches111112

Tackles30232219

Tackles4738252820

Sacks1011

Sacks1.51.0000

TFL2112

TFL2.54.001

2.5

INT1000

INT00000

Yards465210198

Yards208 196

Yards236125262

Avg6.35.86.6

Avg4.56.5

TD325

TD20

OffenseNathan Scheelhaase 2 QB

Josh Ferguson 6 RBDonovonn Young 5 RBRyan Lankford 12 WR

Miles Osei 8 WRSpencer Harris 80 WR

Evan Wilson 89 TESimon Cvijanovic 68 LT

Michael Heitz 74 LGAlex Hill 52 C

Ted Karras 69 RGCorey Lewis 70 RT

DefenseTim Kynard 59 DEJake Howe 95 NT

Austin Teitsma 44 DTHouston Bates 55 LEO

Jonathan Brown 45 WLBMason Monheim 43 MLB

Mike Svetina 34 STARV’Angelo Bentley 2 CBEarnest Thomas 9 SS

Taylor Barton 3 FSEaton Spence 27 CB

OffenseTaylor Martinez 3 QBAmeer Abdullah 8 RBC.J. Zimmerer 31 FB

Jake Long 41 TEKenny Bell 80 WR

Quincy Enunwa 18 WRJamal Turner 10 WR

Jeremiah Sirles 71 LTJake Cotton 68 LGCole Pensick 62 C

Spencer Long 61 RGAndrew Rodriguez 63 RT

DefenseJason Ankrah 9 DEThad Randle 53 DT

Vincent Valentine 98 DTRandy Gregory 44 DE Nathan Gerry 25 LBDavid Santos 52 LB

Zaire Anderson 13 LBJosh Mitchell 5 CBCorey Cooper 6 SS

Harvey Jackson 1 FSCiante Evans 17 CB

ReceivingQuincy EnunwaKenny Bell

TD52

Long3322

Catches1718

Yards202190

Schedule Games in bold are at home

Sat., Sept. 14vs. No. 15 Washington (Soldier Field)

L 34-24

Sat., Sept. 28vs. Miami (Ohio)

W 50-14

Sat., Oct. 5@ Nebraska

11 a.m. | ESPNU

Sat., Oct. 19 vs. Wisconsin

7 p.m. | Big Ten Network

Sat., Oct. 26 vs. Michigan State

2:30 p.m.

Sat., Nov. 2 @ Penn State

TBD

Sat., Nov. 9@Indiana

TBD

Sat., Nov. 16 vs. No. 4 Ohio State

TBD

Sat., Nov. 23 @ Purdue

TBD

Sat., Nov. 30vs. No. 16 Northwestern

TBD

Sat., Aug. 31 vs. Southern Illinois

W 42-34

Sat., Sept. 7 vs. Cincinnati

W 45-17

THE DAILY ILLINI | www.DailyIllini.com Thursday, October 3, 20133

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Huskers have viable options at QB without MartinezBY STEPHEN BOURBONSTAFF WRITER

When the Illinois football team takes on Nebraska this weekend in Lincoln, Neb., there will be an ugly streak on the line for the Illini.

Illinois (3-1) has lost 14 consecutive conference games dating back to the 2011 season — a season where the Illini won their first six games, only to finish the regu-lar season 6-6.

“It’s definitely something we think about,” offensive tackle Corey Lewis said. “But is it the only thing we think about? No. We’ve just got to take it one game at a time.”

This week’s contest will be the first road test of the season as well as the conference opener for Illinois, who had three of its first four games at home. The Illini played Washington at a neutral site at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sept. 14.

Coming into the contest, the Cornhuskers (3-1) have questions about who will be under center on game day.

Four-year starting quarterback Taylor Martinez’s sta-tus for the game is uncertain, as he is battling through a turf toe injury sustained after the team’s loss to UCLA on Sept. 14. He then missed the team’s 59-20 victory over South Dakota State on Sept. 21.

If Martinez is unable to play, Nebraska has viable back-ups. In their last game, the Huskers used two different signal callers. Redshirt freshman Tommy Armstrong and senior Ron Kellogg III split time at quarterback but both were successful. The Huskers racked up 645 yards of total offense and pulled away by halftime.

“I think Taylor will play,” head coach Tim Beckman said. “We watched the South Dakota State game and the other two quarterbacks that played were outstanding.”

Martinez is primarily known for his rushing ability as a quarterback during his career. He rushed for a com-bined 2,858 yards in his first three seasons under center; although, his dependence on running makes his turf toe injury even more concerning.

The Illini had a tune-up game last Saturday against Miami (Ohio) when the Redhawks featured two rushing quarterbacks in a run-based offense. Miami quarterbacks rushed 23 times on the game for 94 yards and the Illini defense held Miami to 250 total yards.

With or without Martinez, Nebraska will feature a run-ning game that ranks 14th in the country with 280.8 yards per game. Returning starter Ameer Abdullah already has 465 rushing yards on the year, following a season where he accumulated 1,137 yards in 2012. Abdullah has rushed for over 100 yards in three of the first four games; the only contest where he didn’t hit the century mark was a 98-yard effort against UCLA.

This game marks the first conference game between Illinois and Nebraska. The teams haven’t faced each other since 1986, when the Huskers won 59-14 in Champaign.

Stephen can be reached at sbourbo2@ dailyillini.com and @steve_bourbon.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICKOLAI HAMMAR DAILY NEBRASKAN

Nebraska players run onto the field before the game against Southern Miss on Sept. 7. Nebraska will host Illinois for the first time in Big Ten play.

Thursday, October 3, 2013 THE DAILY ILLINI | www.DailyIllini.com4

THE DAILY ILLINI | www.DailyIllini.com Thursday, October 3, 20135

BY SEAN HAMMONDSENIOR WRITER

Most of the Illini have never been to Memorial Stadium. Not their Memorial Stadium, the other one.

Indiana’s Memorial Stadium? No, no. Not that one either.The Memorial Stadium out west;

the one in Lincoln, Neb., where they’ve sold out every Cornhuskers football game since October 1962.

The one where red-clad fans with no NFL team within 190 miles to root for pack the stands for the only games that really matter in the Corn-husker State.

This Saturday, the Illinois foot-ball team will travel to Lincoln for the fi rst time since 1985 and play in a stadium they haven’t won a game in since 1924.

To say it’s getting the Illini jacked up doesn’t quite capture the excitement.

“It’s going to be awesome,” junior defensive tackle Austin Teitsma said.

But that doesn’t quite capture it ether. Teitsma exudes the type of enthusiasm that might make him say the same thing about the tacos served at head coach Tim Beckman’s weekly news conference.

Tight end Matt LaCosse put it in simplest terms: “I know it’s big, and I know the fans are diehards.”

That they are.The last time Memorial Stadium

in Nebraska wasn’t fi lled to capac-

ity for a Huskers football game was Oct. 20, 1962. There were a measly 30,701 fans at the game (the stadium then held a capacity crowd of 36,501).

That’s 329 consecutive home sell-outs. There have been 10 different presidents of the United States in that time. The New England Patriots have called six different stadiums home in that stretch. The next closest sellout streak in college football is Notre Dame Stadium’s 234 straight sellouts (dating back to 1973).

But the most staggering statistic is the two — yes, two — losing sea-sons Nebraska has had since 1962.

Over the years, the stadium’s capacity has been expanded, and still the sellouts continue. Over the off-season, Nebraska added some 4,000 seats to its Memorial Stadium, mak-ing its capacity upward of 91,000. All four home games this year broke the previous attendance record.

Saturday’s conference opener with Illinois should do the same. And the storylines will be plenty.

Illinois hasn’t won a conference game in two years, nearly to the day. The two starting quarterbacks are two of only fi ve signal-callers in FBS college football with at least 40 career starts (Georgia’s Aaron Mur-ray leads the nation with 45).

When Illinois head coach Tim Beckman asked his squad early this week who had been to Lincoln before, only a couple of hands rose

into the air. One of them was fi fth-year quar-

terback Nathan Scheelhaase. As a high school player in the Kansas City, Mo., area, Scheelhaase visit-ed Nebraska three times on recruit-ing visits. Once he went to a sold out spring game and another time he watched the Cornhuskers host No. 1 ranked Southern California.

“It’s one of the top venues you could ever be in,” Scheelhaase said. “There’s not much that will have to be said in the locker room or on the fi eld to get everybody going. There will be enough electricity in that sta-dium that everybody will be ready to go.”

Scheelhaase is going to have to be ready to gun it if his counterpart Taylor Martinez returns from a toe injury. Both offenses like to air it out and both quarterbacks are versatile guys who can make something hap-pen with their feet.

Beckman said the Illini have prac-ticed all week as if Martinez will play and defensive coordinator Tim Banks said Martinez is a guy who can keep an entire defense on its toes.

“It’s not always outperforming the defense,” Beckman said. “It’s about outperforming that player that plays your position on the other team.

“That’s how Taylor is and that’s how Nathan is. They’re competitive men, and I’m sure they’ll want to

go out and lead their football teams the best way they can.”

Martinez did not play in Nebras-ka’s last game against South Dakota State and appeared as if his injury was nagging him against UCLA a couple of weeks ago. But whether he or backup Tommy Armstrong Jr. starts, expect a shootout.

Illinois offensive coordinator Bill Cubit and his Nebraska counterpart Tim Beck (not to be confused with Beckman) are two of the best in the business. Their offenses rank 26th and 15th in the nation in points scored, respectively.

If there’s anything college foot-ball fans cheer for, it’s bucketfuls of points.

And the cheering is one concern for Beckman and his staff. A stadium fi lled with 90,000 fans can get pret-ty loud. So Beckman has done what he always does to prepare: Play loud music through-out practice.

“That’s one of the things that will probably never be as loud,” Beck-man said of trying to rep-licate the crowd volume.

“(Beckman’s) done a great job with the noise,” Cubit added. “Listening to that music, it seems to be right

behind us all the time.”It certainly seems to get Teitsma

pumped up. He said when he walks out on that fi eld, he’s just going to take a second to look around before getting down to business.

And that’s what Scheelhaase, the veteran who’s been there and seen it in real life, has tried to teach his younger teammates.

“I’ve been telling all the players just to take in a moment like this, and take in the opportunity to get to play at a great venue like this,” Scheel-haase said. “Then strap it up and get ready to go because it’s going to be a heck of a 60-minute football game.”

Sean can be reached at sphammo2@dailyillini.com and @sean_hammond.

Thursday, October 3, 2013 THE DAILY ILLINI | www.DailyIllini.com6

BY ERIK PRADOSTAFF WRITER

Matchups to watchOffense will be key in Big Ten opener

Nathan Scheelhaase vs. Nebraska defense and home crowd

Illinois secondary vs. Nebraska receivers

Tim Beckman vs. Bo Pelini

Scheelhaase’s final year in Champaign is shaping up to be a career year. His 1,162 passing yards are first in the Big Ten and his 12 touchdown passes are good for second. Not only will he be looked to ignite the offense against the Big Ten’s worst defense, but to guide the young team in many players’ first true road test against a hostile crowd.

V’Angelo Bentley and his fellow defensive backs have struggled against the pass so far this season, ranking 10th in the Big Ten in pass defense and may have a challenge limiting big plays. They might have an easier time containing Nebraska if starting quar-terback Taylor Martinez is unable to play.

It’s difficult to say which coach must win this game more. Beck-man is at the helm of a team that still hasn’t won a conference game since October 2011, when Ron Zook was head coach. A loss for Pelini, however, will further anger a Cornhuskers fan base with which he is already in hot water. If either of these coaches suffers a poor showing in the conference season, expect their seats to warm up.

BRENTON TSE THE DAILY ILLINI

Nathan Scheelhaase leads the Big Ten in passing yards and efficency and could improve those numbers against Big Ten’s worst defense.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT MASIN DAILY NEBRASKAN

Nebraska’s Kenny Bell (80) and Quincy Enunwa have combined for 392 yards and 7 touchdowns on 35 catches this season. They may struggle if quarterback Taylor Martinez is unable to play.

BRENTON TSE THE DAILY ILLINI

Illinois head coach Tim Beckman hasn’t won a Big Ten game during his tenure with the Illini, but he may change that this weekend at Nebraska.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MORGAN SPIEHS DAILY NEBRASKAN

An audiotape of Nebraska’s Bo Pelini has upset many Huskers fans. A poor showing in Big Ten play could put Pelini on the hot seat.

MICHAEL BOJDA THE DAILY ILLINI

V’Angelo Bentley (2) celebrates a goal-line stop against Cincinnati in the third quarter on Sept. 7.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALLISON HESS DAILY NEBRASKAN

Illinois will face its first hostile crowd of the season at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb.

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CHECK ALLWEEKEND

LONGFOR FULL

GAMECOVERAGE

Eliot SillSports editor

31-27

38-17

28-24

36-13

31-14

38-31

27-23

28-17

42-21

17-14

44-34

42-20

30-24

28-10

33-30

35-21

28-24

35-28

35-21

21-14

35-27

21-17

28-17

42-17

23-20

34-24

38-35

24-21

45-17

24-21

Illinoisvs.

Nebraska

No. 4 Ohio State

vs.No. 16

Northwestern

No. 15 Washington

vs.No. 5

Stanford

No. 12 UCLAvs.

Utah

Arkansasvs.

No. 18 Florida

Sean HammondSenior writer

Stephen BourbonStaff writer

Torrence SorrellAssistant sports

editor

Erik PradoOn-air reporter

Michael WonsoverVideographer

OUR PICKSTHE DAILY ILLINI | www.DailyIllini.com Thursday, October 3, 2013

7

Saturday, Sept. 28

Illinois @ Nebraska11 a.m. | ESPNU

Penn State @ Indiana11 a.m. | Big Ten Network

Michigan State @ Iowa11 a.m. | ESPN2

Minnesota @ No. 19 Michigan2:30 p.m. | ABC

No. 4 Ohio State @ No. 16 Northwestern7 p.m. | ABC

(18-7) (18-7) (19-6) (19-6) (17-8) (20-5)

StandingsLEGENDS

IOWA

MICHIGAN

NORTHWESTERN

MICHGAN STATE

NEBRASKA

MINNESOTA

LEADERS

OHIO STATE

WISCONSIN

ILLINOIS

PENN STATE

INDIANA

PURDUE

CONF

1-0

0-0

0-0

0-0

0-0

0-1

CONF

1-0

1-1

0-0

0-0

0-0

0-1

OUR

4-1

4-0

4-0

3-1

3-1

4-1

OUR

5-0

3-2

3-1

3-1

2-2

1-4

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Find out more and get started today at uiecu.org/student.*Free 2 GB Illini USB while supplies last for anyone opening an I-Checking account at the Illini Union UIECU

Branch. **All I-Checking accounts opened at the Illini Union between August 1, 2013 and September 30, 2013 will be entered to win one of !ve $100 VISA gift cards. Odds of winning are dependent on number of eligible entries. Accounts must be in good standing at time of drawing. Drawing will occur in October 2013 and winners will be noti!ed via phone or email. UIECU reserves the right to reject any checking application, other restrictions may apply. UIECU reserves the right to modify or discontinue this promotion without notice.

Free 2 GB USB* For First 100 New Student Accounts

Thursday, October 3, 2013 THE DAILY ILLINI | www.DailyIllini.com8

There’s been a renaissance for Illi-nois football in 2013, especially on the offensive end. As offensive coordina-

tor Bill Cubit has implemented his massive playbook, the Illini’s skill position play-ers have reaped the benefi ts. And shared them. No Illinois receiver comes close to the top receptions leaders in the Big Ten. Despite this lack of marquee names, the Illini’s depth has made them one of the best offenses in the conference. Who are Illinois’ best playmakers? Let’s count down the top 10.

10. Evan WilsonThe 6-foot-6 senior may have piqued

John Groce’s interest with his acrobatic grab in the back of the end zone in Satur-day’s game against Miami (Ohio). It was his only catch of the game, however. The tight ends position is stacked for Illinois, which bodes well for the team but not the individual playmaker status of either Wil-son, Jon Davis or Matt LaCosse. Wilson has just fi ve catches on the season, third among the tight ends group, but his athleti-cism distinguishes him as a preeminent playmaker in the red zone.

9. Aaron BaileyBailey hasn’t even touched his potential

yet as an Illinois quarterback, and it remains to be seen what his role will be next season when Wes Lunt is eligible to play. No matter what, though, he will continue to be a viable threat in converting short-yardage situations. He also had four runs of 10-plus yards in his fi rst chance to operate the offense in the open fi eld. It’ll be fun to see how his usage evolves.

8. Nathan Scheelhaase

This ranking is obviously irrespective of Scheelhaase’s arm, which makes every pass-ing play for a pass-happy Illinois squad. This is referring more specifi cally to his abilities as a runner. He’s no longer needed for short-yardage situations, as Bailey now fi lls that role. Scheelhaase still can make plays with his legs, and while Cubit has encouraged him to use that arm more than those legs, defens-es haven’t forgot his running abilities.

7. Donovonn Young

Young hasn’t had a great year, but much of the reason he’s this low is because of his teammates thriving in Cubit’s offense. It’s been clear that Illinois coaches have tried to put Young in a position to succeed, giving him bulk carries at the end of games to try and get him in rhythm. Young has improved as the season has gone along. But he’s become the change-of-pace back as Josh Fer-guson has taken over the primary role.

6. Jon DavisDavis is tied for fourth in catches for Illi-

nois this season, with two touchdown grabs. At 6-foot-3, he’s not as tall as the other tight ends on the roster, but he’s made up for this by becoming a threat to run out of the back-fi eld on occasion. He’s also the best of Alex Golesh’s group with the ball in the open fi eld.

5. Steve HullThink where on this list Hull ranked last

season. After injuries derailed his college career, Hull underwent a metamorphosis and has spread his wings as a wide receiver. Oth-er than a crucial drop against Washington, Hull has been a consistent playmaker, getting open and making big catches in tough spots. He’s also proved himself as a threat running with the ball in space.

4. Miles Osei

Another player whose college career was fl oundering before a position change, Osei has found a thriving role in the offense. He’s exceedingly athletic and a threat to throw on a reverse. Osei hasn’t yet found the end zone, but it’s a matter of time.

3. Martize BarrA surprise and an unsung hero of sorts,

Barr has the second most receptions on the team, and has been a dynamic player with the ball in his hands. Classifi ed as a junior

after transferring from junior college, it’ll be interesting to see how Barr develops in his time in orange and blue.

2. Ryan Lankford

From the opening curtain of the 2013 sea-son, Lankford has been “the guy” for this deep receiving corps. Lankford’s speed makes him the team’s most viable deep threat, and his fi ve carries have gone for 10.4 yards per rush, mostly on reverses. A Ron Zook recruit from Florida, Lankford has fi t in to Cubit’s system quite well.

1. Josh Ferguson

Saturday’s swaggerifi c performance against Miami completed Ferguson’s rise to this spot. Accruing nearly 150 total yards in one half of football, for a guy who’s supposedly co-starting alongside Young, cemented him as Illinois’ best playmaker.

He now leads the Illini in catches and yards with 12 for 262, all while averaging more than 6.5 yards per carry on 30 carries for 196 yards. And he’s only a sophomore. He epitomizes Illinois’ transformation under Cubit, and the thought of working with Ferguson for the next-two-and-a-half seasons surely has the new coordinator dreaming big.

Eliot is a senior in Media. He can be reached at sill2@dailyillini.com. Follow him on Twitter @EliotTweet.

Ranking the 10 best playmakers of the Illinois offenseELIOT SILL

Sports editor