Cheer up, Illini fans: Football season's coming

This time of year is normally reserved for the NCAA tournament, but Illinois sits on the sidelines for the first time since 1999.

Thankfully for Illini fans, they're rooting for a football school all of a sudden. Coming off a 9-4 season overall, a 6-2 mark in the Big Ten and its first appearance in the Rose Bowl in 24 seasons, Illinois opens spring football practice Wednesday.

After a week off for spring break -- even coach Ron Zook spent time water skiing in Florida -- the Illini begin preparations for the season opener against Missouri in St. Louis on Aug. 30. The spring game is April 19 in Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is 1 p.m. The Illini also make a return trip to the Chicago area for a spring scrimmage on April 12 at Lemont High School with a 1 p.m. kickoff.

Like other teams, the Illini have some questions to answer throughout the depth chart.

Q. Does Illinois still have the hunger of an underdog trying to climb the ladder despite last year's remarkable turnaround?

A. From what Zook saw in winter conditioning, the answer is yes, he said. The Illini shoot for their first back-to-back winning seasons since 1989 and 1990. Illinois hasn't made bowl appearances in consecutive years since 1990 and 1991 seasons.

"In the last two weeks of winter conditioning, I don't think we could have asked for anything more,'' Zook said. "They seem to be understanding that last year we got a little taste of it. Now, let's go back and take a big bite of it.''

Q. Who will replace running back Rashard Mendenhall?

A. Senior Daniel Dufrene and freshman Mikel LeShoure get a jump in the spring, but the real competition won't begin until Camp Rantoul. Sophomore Troy Pollard, emerging last fall before a season-ending knee injury, is withheld from contact drills this spring. Incoming freshman Jason Ford, the St. Louis-area career rushing leader with 6,415 yards at Belleville Althoff, isn't here for spring practice.

LeShoure, who rushed for 4,652 yards in his career at Champaign Centennial, benefits from spring practice just as wide receiver Arrelious Benn did a year ago.

Q. What should be expected from junior quarterback Juice Williams?

A. After two seasons of learning on the job, Williams has two more left to make a bigger impact in the passing game. His stats as a freshman (1,489 yards, 39.5 percent, nine TDs, 9 interceptions) rose last season (1,743 yards, 57.3 percent, 13 TDs, 12 interceptions), but the Illini still ranked last in the Big Ten and No. 109 among 119 teams nationally.

"There was a big difference between his freshman and sophomore years,'' Zook said. "There's no reason why we shouldn't have the same amount of improvement from his sophomore to junior year.''

Q. Where is sophomore receiver Arrelious Benn in his return from offseason shoulder surgery?

A. Benn visits the doctor again Monday, but he's not expected to go through any live contact drills this spring after surgery to repair a shoulder that dislocated several times last season. His absence leaves the position thin.

Junior Jeff Cumberland gets more work at wide receiver after making the move from tight end midway through last season. Senior Kyle Hudson's availability will be limited this spring while he also plays on the baseball team. Hudson is expected to miss the scrimmages during Big Ten weekend baseball series.

Sophomore Brian Gamble will apparently stay at the position, at least through spring drills, although he would prefer to play on defense.

Freshman Fred Sykes is on campus early, but impact players Cordale Scott of Cleveland Glenville and A.J. Jenkins from Jacksonville, Fla., won't arrive until this summer.

Q. Who are the new faces on the offensive and defensive lines?

A. At left guard, sophomore Randall Hunt, redshirt freshman Jack Cornell and sophomore Brandon Jordan are leading contenders. At right tackle, sophomore Ryan Palmer played in 11 games last season.

Sophomore Mark Jackson and sophomore Craig Wilson will also compete at the position.

With starters filling three spots up front on defense, sophomore Josh Brent and redshirt freshman D'Angelo McCray will share the open defensive tackle spot.

Q. How will personnel shuffle at linebacker with J Leman graduated?

A. The middle linebacker was an overachiever who will be missed, but the Illini shift senior Brit Miller back to middle linebacker where he started as a freshman. Martez Wilson, The Next Big Thing, will start at outside linebacker in what should be a preview to a breakout season. Redshirt freshman Ian Thomas is the leading contender at the other linebacker spot. Middle linebacker Sam Carson and outside linebacker Rodney Pittman will also contribute.

Q. Are the Illini as inexperienced at safety as it appears?

A. Yes. Graduated seniors Kevin Mitchell, Justin Harrison and Justin Sanders handled the bulk of the snaps. Sophomore Bo Flowers gained some experience, and sophomores Nate Bussey and Garrett Edwards played primarily on special teams last season.

Junior-college transfer Donsay Hardeman, who isn't yet on campus, is a likely starter at one position. Homewood-Flossmoor's Supo Sani could also make immediate impact at Camp Rantoul.

"We've got talented guys,'' Zook said. "Obviously, they're going to be young. Our front four is the strength of our defense. Our corners are awfully good. We're decent at linebacker. We'll bring those (safeties) along.''

Q. Who are the leading candidates among the specialists?

A. Sophomore Anthony Santella returned at punter after Illinois ranked No. 92 in net punting. Juniors Jared Bosch and Kyle Yelton are also back.

At placekicker, sophomore John Brandabur and powerful junior Michael Cklamovski return. Touted recruit Derek Dimke from Rockford Boylan won't arrive on campus until this summer.

Q. Are the practices and scrimmages still open to the public?

A. Yes. Weekend practices are basically scrimmages. The weekday sessions typically include more drill work. The Illini practice on the grass fields east of Memorial Stadium when weather permits. The Irwin Indoor Practice Facility is useful on overly windy, cold or wet days. The Illini can also practice in Memorial Stadium.

The Chicagoland scrimmage was a big hit last year with players and fans.

John Supinie can be reached at Johnsupinie@aol.com. For more coverage, read the Illini Talk blog at www.sj-r.com and www.pjstar.com.

Spring football schedule

March 26 -- 4-6:30 p.m.

March 28 -- 4:6:30 p.m.

March 29 -- 2 p.m.

March 31 -- 4-6:30 p.m.

April 2 -- 4-6:30 p.m.

April 3 -- 4-6:30 p.m.

April 5 -- TBA

April 8 -- 4-6:30 p.m.

April 9 -- 4-6:30 p.m.

April 11 -- 4-6:30 p.m.

April 12 -- 1 p.m., Lemont High School.

April 15 -- 4-6:30 p.m.

April 16 -- 5-6:30 p.m.

April 18 -- 4-6:30 p.m.

April 19 -- spring game, 1 p.m., Memorial Stadium.

Illinois 2008 schedule

Home camps in CAPS

Aug. 30 -- vs. Missouri, Edwards Jones Dome, St. Louis

Sept. 6 -- EASTERN ILLINOIS

Sept. 13 -- LOUISANA-LAFAYETTE

Sept. 27 -- at Penn State

Oct. 4 -- at Michigan

Oct. 11 -- MINNESOTA

Oct. 18 -- INDIANA

Oct. 25 -- at Wisconsin

Nov. 1 -- IOWA

Nov. 8 -- vs. Western Michigan, Ford Field, Detroit

Nov. 15 -- OHIO STATE

Nov. 22 -- at Northwestern