Illinois' A.J. Jenkins pulls in a pass under pressure from Arkansas State's Darryl Feemster on Saturday, September 3, 2011 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign. Ted Schurter/The State Journal-Register
CHAMPAIGN — The numbers are on Illinois’ side, even if history isn’t.
When Illinois plays host to South Dakota State today, the Illini will move deeper into a season featuring eight home games for the first time in Memorial Stadium, which opened in 1923.
The Illini haven’t played more on campus since 1903, when they had nine home games.
Thanks to the schedule, Illinois realistically should expect its first back-to-back bowl berths in 19 years.
With athletic director Mike Thomas analyzing the department in his first month on the job, everyone understands this isn’t a season to be squandered. The Illini realize the make-or-break number for a successful year is well past the six victories required to be bowl eligible.
“We definitely want to start something big,’’ Illini senior wide receiver A.J. Jenkins said. “We have eight home games. The meat of the schedule is set up for us to win. It will determine bowl game (slots). We have to take care of the first five.’’
How unusual is this? With lucrative neutral-site games becoming more popular, only Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee and Pittsburgh play eight home games this season.
Illinois and Michigan are the only teams in the nation beginning the season with five home games. Coach Ron Zook said he doesn’t need to apologize to anybody about the schedule.
“I love it. Don’t you?’’ Zook said. “I don’t feel bad. All you’ve got to do is go back and put our schedule up against anybody in the Big Ten.’’
After seasons when the Illini played six at home, the border war game in St. Louis against Missouri and bizarre games away from home against Western Michigan and Fresno State, the pendulum has swung in Illinois’ favor.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,’’ Illini senior tackle Jeff Allen said. “We have to take advantage of it. I don’t think we’ll ever get eight home games again.’’
He’s probably right, considering the future challenges of a nine-game Big Ten Conference schedule looming in 2017 and Thomas’ desire to take games from Memorial Stadium to Chicago. With Illinois selling roughly 45,000 tickets and paying $400,000 to South
Dakota State for showing up, this isn’t a big money-maker, but the Illini have a chance to get rolling.
After losing four straight to Missouri in the St. Louis dome over the past four years, Illinois already has won its season opener (33-15 over Arkansas State) for the first time since 2006, when the Illini beat Eastern Illinois. The Illini haven’t won two straight to open the season since 2005, Zook’s first year on the job.
The Illini last won their first three games in 2001, when quarterback Kurt Kittner led Illinois to the outright Big Ten title and a berth in the Sugar Bowl. That was the third consecutive 3-0 start under former coach Ron Turner. Illinois hasn’t been 4-0 since opening with seven wins in 1951.’
“We’ve talked about everything-and-0,’’ Illini quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase said. “If we come out 5-0, imagine the momentum we can have.’’
From the other point of view, the home Big Ten schedule is filled with peril. The four opponents — Northwestern, Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin — combined for a 37-15 record last season before Ohio State vacated its wins. Illinois likes to look down on Northwestern, but the Illini have won two of the last eight against the Wildcats.
“If you think about it, we have pretty good opponents at home,’’ Jenkins said. “We have to show up and play ball.’’
Facing a Football Championship Subdivision program this weekend, Illinois wants to spread the playing time. Expect backup quarterback Reilly O’Toole to get more snaps. On the offensive line, the Illini may build depth although teams often play just six interior linemen all year, coordinator Paul Petrino said.
Defensive coordinator Vic Koenning hinted freshman linebackers Ralph Cooper and Henry Dickinson might play for the first time. Zook wants to see safety Pat Nixon-Youman in the mix. Defensive end Tim Kynard likely earned more playing time, and Illinois wants to get defensive tackle Craig Wilson some experience.
The South Dakota State Jackrabbits, who won their opener 29-28 over visiting Southern Utah, were picked to finish fourth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
“Our guys got to want to be there and want to be playing that game more than their guys,’’ Koenning said. “We just have to make it extremely important for us to be there, playing as hard as we can play. It’s going to be one of those effort games.’’
John Supinie can be reached at 377-1977. Follow him on Twitter @JohnSupinie.
COACHES: Ron Zook, 29-45 in seventh year at Illinois, 52-59 in 10th year overall; John Stiegelmeier, 89-66 in 15th year at South Dakota State and overall.
NCAA RANKINGS: Illinois offense — rushing 35th, 202.0 yards per game; passing 33rd, 271.0 yards per game; scoring 58th, 33.0 points per game; total 27th, 473.0 yards per game. Illinois defense — rushing 17th, 60.0 yards allowed per game; passing 89th, 290.0 yards allowed per game; scoring 38th, 15.0 points allowed per game; total 58th, 350.0 yards allowed per game. South Dakota State offense — rushing 38th, 137.0; passing 23rd, 279.0; scoring 34th, 29.0; total 28th, 416.0. South Dakota State defense — rushing 16th, 53.0; passing 96th, 340.0; scoring 55th, 28.0; total 62nd, 393.0. (South Dakota State rankings for Football Championship Subdivision.)
NOTABLE: Illinois bandit linebacker Michael Buchanan (medial collateral ligament sprain), defensive tackle Akeem Spence (ankle sprain) and reserve quarterback Reilly O’Toole (shoulder bruise) practiced this week. Buchanan and Spence are expected to start. O’Toole will likely get more playing time after taking three snaps last week. ... Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase has 15 touchdown passes and one interception in the last eight games. ... Linebacker Houston Bates was named Big Ten freshman of the week after totaling five tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and a fumble recovery last week. ... The first 10,000 fans will receive an American flag, the university will show videos of military personnel and the band will feature a patriotic halftime show to honor those lost on Sept. 11, 2001.
QUOTABLE: “We have to take care of us. That’s one of the problems we had after the Rose Bowl year.’’ — Illinois coach Ron Zook.
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