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Schedule Twist For The Fighting Illini
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Brian Barnhart
Voice of the Illini
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Nov. 20, 2009
Down through the years it has been the Northwestern-Illinois football game that closed out the Illini regular season. Most of the time the Illini battle with the Wildcats has been played the Saturday prior to Thanksgiving. This year the Big Ten Conference gave the Illini the "bye" week leading up to Thanksgiving. On one recent occasion (2001 Sugar Bowl season), the Illini actually played on Thanksgiving Day itself.
But in 2009, the Northwestern game is not the end of the season. In fact the Illini seniors still have some things to play for, including an important game against a highly ranked undefeated team from the state of Ohio.
In 2007, that team from Ohio was top-ranked Ohio State. This time it is No. 5 Cincinnati. In 2007, the Illini were huge underdogs; in 2009, the Illini will be a big underdog again, this time to a very talented Bearcat team.
The Bearcats (10-0) have had to do some shuffling at quarterback this season, but no matter who pulls the trigger at the QB spot, Cincinnati has a powerful offensive attack that will give the Illini all they can handle.
That being said, I have talked to a couple of national broadcasters in the last few days and asked them about the Illini chances against the Bearcats the day after Thanksgiving. Both say the Illini will have a chance to put a scare into the Bearcats at Nippert Stadium. Here is why I agree with them.
The Bearcats are closing in on an undefeated season, something extremely rare in sports. They are also hoping to be included in the national championship discussion. If I learned anything about undefeated teams (having been around the 2004-05 Illini basketball Final Four team that started 29-0), I have observed that the closer you get to the end of a "perfect season," the tougher it gets to stay undefeated. In other words, the mental burden of staying unbeaten gets heavier, the closer you get to the finish line. Everyone is aiming for you and they want to be the one to knock you out of the unbeaten ranks. You always get everyone's best effort.
If you are that unbeaten team and you happen to face someone who has a decent level of talent (think Ohio State basketball over the Illini in 2005) and no post-season to play for, you have the ingredients for a possible upset. The big difference this time is that the undefeated team is playing at home (Cincinnati) and the underdog (Illnois) has to try to win away from home.
The Illini do have the talent to give the Bearcats a battle. Certainly the Bearcats have been a little shaky in their last couple of games as they try to run the table this season.
The question for the Illini will be if the team can mentally rally around this senior class and make this game in Cincinnati feel like a "bowl game" and spring the upset. We will find out right after Thanksgiving.
Another twist in the schedule will be a football/basketball doubleheader in Champaign on Saturday Dec.5. It will be Senior Day as the Illini football team battles Fresno State, while Bruce Weber's Illini take on Boise State that night across the street at the Assembly Hall. I dont remember too many football/basketball doubleheaders in the past.
And remember that Illini volleyball is highly ranked and could be playing deep into December as well. It could be a busy time around Fourth and Kirby/Florida.
We obviously don't know exactly what the weather will be like Dec. 5 against Fresno State at Memorial Stadium. Most likely it will be chilly, if not downright cold. But I do hope Illini fans will turn out and say "thank you"to this group of seniors (led by Juice Williams) that took the Illini program to its first Rose Bowl in nearly 25 years during the course of their careers.
We were all hoping for a better record this season for the Illini. But they do have a chance to finish strong and certainly would have something to build on for next season if they can grab a couple of wins over the next two weeks. A win over the No. 5 team in the country on the road and a home victory at Memorial Stadium for the outgoing senior class would certainly be an early Christmas present for Illini fans.
Kurt Kittner and Steve Kelly will join me from Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati right after Thanksgiving. We will see you on the radio then.
Have a great time with family and friends this Thanksgiving!
