BIG TEN 1,000-YARD RUSHERS

Through four games in the 2007 season the Big Ten boasts 12 career 1,000 yard rushers. Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall ranks eighth among active running backs in the Big Ten. With three straight 100- yard rushing performances in four games, Mendenhall looks to move up that list.

1. Mike Hart, Sr., Michigan - 4,328 yards
2. Tyrell Sutton, Jr., Northwestern - 2,596 yards
3. Albert Young, Sr., Iowa - 2,467 yards
4. Amir Pinnix, Sr., Minnesota - 2,315 yards
5. P.J. Hill, So., Wisconsin - 2,080 yards
6. Jehuu Caulcrick, Sr., Michigan State - 1,893 yards
7. Javon Ringer, Jr., Michigan State - 1,715 yards
8. Kory Sheets, Sr., Purdue - 1,688 yards
9. Rashard Mendenhall, Jr., Illinois - 1,394 yards
10. Austin Scott, Sr., Penn State - 1,271 yards
11. Damian Sims, Sr., Iowa - 1,249 yards
12. Chris Wells, So., Ohio State - 1,001 yards

FROM THE DIAMOND TO THE GRIDIRON

Illinois' true-freshman safety Bo Flowers turns 24 on Nov. 12, and is the oldest player on the Illini roster. Flowers is beginning his college career this season after four years in professional baseball. He was a fifth-round draft pick in 2003 by the Detroit Tigers. After spending three seasons in the Detroit organization, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs where he played the 2006 season. Currently, Flowers is a walk-on on the Illini team because the Tigers are footing the college bill. He is one of seven active Division I-A football players who have seen action in minor league baseball: Gary Banks (Troy...Cubs); Mike Conroy (UConn...Indians); Bo Flowers (Illinois...Tigers/Cubs); Marquise Liverpool (Temple...Mariners); Michael Machen (Baylor...Braves/Orioles) Mike Nixon (Arizona State...Dodgers); Jose Perez (SDSU...Yankees)

KEEPING UP WITH THE DAVISES

Illinois defenders Vontae and Will Davis (no relation) are two of the bright spots on this Illini defense which ranks 19th in rushing and 37th in total defense nationally. Vontae, a two-year starting cornerback, has made an impact on the Illini program in a short time. Last season, he earned unanimous first-team Freshman All-America honors and is one of the best corners in the Big Ten this season. He ranks second on the team and 10th in the league with seven tackles per game, got his first interception of the season last week vs. Indiana and has four passes broken up. He also has blocked two punts this year in just four games. Will, a junior defensive end, already has 5.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss on the year. He was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after his performance vs. Indiana, which accounted for four sacks and five TFL. He currently ranks fourth and sixth in those two categories in the NCAA.

PULLING DOUBLE DUTY

Junior receiver Kyle Hudson is in his third year of pulling double-duty as a starting wide receiver on the football team and starting centerfielder on the Illini baseball team. Hudson led the Illini in receptions last year with 30 and in receiving yards each of his first two seasons. In three seasons, he has accumulated 861 receiving yards. On the diamond, he has started 87 of 88 games in two seasons. He led the team in hitting as a freshman and was second as a sophomore. He is hitting .360 for his two season average and has stolen 26 bases in that span. As a freshman, he won the school's Newcomer of the Year award for the impact he made on the two sports.

FIRST-TIMERS

• The Illini have played nine true-freshmen through four games: Arrelious Benn has started four games at wide receiver; Josh Brent (DT), Nate Bussey (DB), Bo Flowers (DB), Brian Gamble (WR), Troy Pollard (RB), Erique Robertson (LB), Marcus Thomas (DB) and Martez Wilson (LB) are the other eight.
• In addition to the nine true-freshmen, nine others have seen their first collegiate football action this year: junior wide receiver Will Judson, sophomore running back Daniel Dufrene, and redshirt freshmen defensive end Jerry Brown, defensive back Garrett Edwards, offensive guard Randall Hunt, offensive guard Brandon Jordan, quarterback Eddie McGee, offensive lineman Ryan Palmer and punter Anthony Santella.

OFFENSIVE NOTES

• In the first three weeks of the season, the Illini outgained their opponent. Against the vaunted Missouri offense, Illinois edged them by a 435-429 margin, while also posting a better average in yards per play, 5.9-4.9. Against Western Illinois and Syracuse, the offense dominated, doubling their opponents 908-438.
• For the first time in the Zook era at Illinois, the Illini put together three straight games of over 400-yards total offense. They began the season with 435 yards, posted 400 vs. Western Illinois and topped the 500-yard mark with 508 at Syracuse.
• The Illini posted three straight 200-yard rushing games this season with 277-yards against WIU, 378 at Syracuse and 288 at Indiana. The rushing numbers vs. SU were the best under head coach Ron Zook. For the year, Illinois is averaging 265.5 yards per game and 5.5 yards per carry. So far, the team's per game rushing average is 76 yards better than a year ago when they led the conference.
• Last season, the Illini proved to have big-play ability with 49 plays over 20 yards. Already through four games, the offense is on pace to match that number with 21 big plays, including a season-high 42-yard pass from Eddie McGee to Rashard Mendenhall against Missouri and a 50-yard touchdown run by Rashard Mendenhall at Syracuse.
• Against Missouri, the Illini passed for 316 yards combining the quarterback numbers of Juice Williams (59) and Eddie McGee (257). It was the first 300-yard passing performance for an Illini team since the squad put up 430 yards on California on Sept. 20, 2003.

Justin Sanders (25) is the second-leading player in the Big Ten with two forced fumbles.

DEFENSIVE NOTES

• With its 21-0 win over Western Illinois, the Illini recorded its first shutout since blanking Iowa on Oct. 14, 2000. It was also the fewest total yards allowed during the Zook era at (152), fewest passing yards (71) and fewest first downs (4).
• Beginning at the 8:32 mark of the fourth quarter vs. Missouri, the Illini defense held its opponents scoreless for 99:21. It ended in the third quarter at Syracuse when the Orange kicked a field goal at 14:11.
• The defense is extremely experienced, returning nine of 11 starters. All three starting linebackers return, along with three lineman and three defensive backs. Five Illini on defense have recorded 20 or more starts in their career: SS Justin Harrison (30), LB J Leman (32), FS Kevin Mitchell (25), DT Chris Norwell (37), DE Derek Walker (27).
• Justin Sanders ranks second in the Big Ten Conference with two forced fumbles against Missouri. Of the two fumbles, one was retained by the Tigers and the other set up a four-yard touchdown run by Rashard Mendenhall two plays later.

Jason Reda connects on one of his two first-half field goals at Indiana last Saturday.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

• Senior placekicker Jason Reda has been perfect on his four field goal attempts of the year. After not attempting a kick in the first two games, he has been 2-of-2 vs. both Syracuse and Indiana. He connected on his second longest field goal of his career when he nailed a 50-yarder at Syracuse.
• After an offseason position battle, redshirt-freshman Anthony Santella earned the starting punter job. Santella has punted 24 times for a 36.5 average. But of those 24 punts, only seven have been returned (29 percent) for a total of 47 yards (6.7 yard per return). He has placed nine punts inside the 20 yardline (38 percent) and three have been fair caught.
• Sophomore cornerback Vontae Davis has now blocked two punts this year. He got his second of the season last week against Indiana. When he got a hand on a Missouri punt in the season opener, it was Illinois' first blocked punt since the 2004 season. He recovered the block at the 2 yardline and took it in for the score. The last time an Illini blocked a punt was by Kevin Mitchell against Michigan State on Oct. 9, 2004. That same block was the last time an Illini scored a touchdown, which was by Sharriff Abdullah.
• Oddly enough, Illinois this year boasts a trio of four-year starters on the field goal and extra point units. Long snapper Kyle Knezetic, holder Frank Lenti Jr. and Reda have worked together extensively throughout their careers as Illini, giving the coaching staff a great deal of confidence in that special teams unit.

ILLINI IN DOMES

• This year Illinois will play in domes for three of its six away games. With its 41-20 win over Syracuse in the Carrier Dome on Sept. 15 the Illini broke a streak of nine straight losses in Domes, dating back to the 1994 season.
• The team kicked off the season at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis against Missouri, and fell to 0-3 at the venue after a 34-40 loss to the Tigers. The squad evened its record on the year with a 41-20 win over Syracuse in the Carrier Dome to improve to 3-0 in the arena.
• Finally in week 10, the squad heads to the Metrodome to play Minnesota in an evening contest. The Illini are 3-5-1 in the Metrodome since the Gophers began playing there in 1982.

DAVIS' FAMILY INSTRUMENTAL IN LIBERIAN GOVERNMENT

Illinois defensive end Will Davis' family are natives of the Republic of Liberia. He has spent his entire life in the United States, and was able to visit Liberia as a young child before Civil War broke out. Now that the war has ended his mother, Pearine Davis-Parkinson, recently returned home to become the Deputy Minister in the Ministry of State office. The Ministry of State supports the work of the President of the Republic of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. The major departments of the Ministry of State are the Office of the President, Administration, and Public Affairs and Communications Technology. Davis' mother played basketball for the Liberian national team and at the University of Liberia. His uncle, John Davis, played soccer for Liberia. She should be in town in the month of October to attend Illinois football games.

WHAT'S IN A NAME

It is hard not to pay attention to the 12-letter long last name of freshman tight end Michael Hoomanawanui. The difficulty in its pronunciation has caused coaches and teammates to nickname Michael "Huh-oh" representing the first two syllables of his name. The name is one of Hawaiin decent, which he gets from his father, Isy's, side of the family, who hails from Oahu. The name is not the most common in its native land, but retains the special meaning "patience".

CLASSROOM STANDOUTS

• Six Illini have already earned their college degrees -- FB Justin Ijei, WR Frank Lenti, Jr., DB Tyler Rouse, LB J Leman, DT Chris Norwell and OL Martin O'Donnell.
• Illinois junior linebacker J Leman is not only a standout on the field, but his accomplishments in the classroom include a bachelor's degree in just three years. He maintained a 3.7 GPA in communications, graduating in August of 2006. He is currently pursuing a master's degree which he will complete this December.
• The Illini's starting center Ryan McDonald is pursuing his undergraduate degree in one of the most difficult academic fields at the University of Illinois. Illinois is known for its engineering cirriculum, ranking in the Top-10 in all nine disciplines, including the top-rated civil engineering program. McDonald has recorded a 3.87 in aeronautical engineering, a program which ranks eighth nationally. He had an internship this summer on campus working with NASA.

ILLINI GRIDDERS MAKE IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY

For the second straight summer the team hosted an event to raise money for the Cunningham Children's Home, located locally in Urbana. The event was a 12-hour supply drive to raise goods and money for the home from their Wish List. The team congregated on the East side of Memorial Stadium and along with the help of local radio stations, solicited the help of community members to give supplies and money to the Home. The team's two-year total of goods and money raised is $20,000. Among the money in 2007 was a $250 donation from tight end Jeff Cumberland. Cumberland won the Slam Dunk contest at the 2007 Gus Macker basketball tournament and gave his winnings to the team's charity.

EXCITEMENT ABOUNDS FOR THE 2007 ILLINI FOOTBALL SEASON

• Great excitement surrounds the 2007 Illinois football season. More than 14,000 Illini fans became new season ticket holders and the school sold out its South Endzone "Horseshoe" section. Students also jumped on board, with season ticket sales up increasing by 2,500.
• Phase I of the Memorial Stadium project was completed in time for Illinois' home opener against Western Illinois. The students are now housed in the brand-new North Endzone seating as well as the Marching Illini. This was the first part of a $116 million renovation taking place at the historic stadium right now.
• The Illinois athletic department has announced two sellouts so far this season. Both Big Ten games vs. Wisconsin on Oct. 6 and Michigan on Oct. 20 are sold out. They are the first sellouts since the 2002 season (Michigan) and the first time for two sellouts in a season since 2001 (Wisconsin, Penn State).

MARCHING ILLINI RESURRECTS TWO STORIED SONGS

The Marching Illini will reclaim music from the rich history and tradition of University of Illinois football this season. "Fight! Illini!" was written in the early 1920's and sub-titled "The Stadium Song." This piece was recently discovered by Marching Illini director Dr. Peter Griffin. It was written by two Illinois graduates Sampson Raphaelson ('17) and Rose J. Oltusky ('22). "Fight! Illini!" will be played following Illinois point after touchdowns this season. Harold Hill and Howard Green wrote "Cheer Illini," "Hail to the Orange" and "Oskee Wow Wow." "Cheer Illini" was used decades ago by the Marching Illini as a downfield motion piece to float the band off the field at the end of its pre-game show. It was also used at basketball games for many years during player introductions.