Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009

'Young Gunners' have lent spark to Illini

Hawthorne has come up with some big plays

CHAMPAIGN -- University of Illinois football players and coaches have all thought about it and talked about it.

What changed that allowed an Illini team that had lost five in a row to orchestrate a modest turnaround that has resulted in two straight victories?

On Tuesday, a couple of players floated their theories.

One theory is that the offense stopped worrying so specifically about scoring points. Once that burden was lifted, they focused on making solid plays. The result was a dramatic increase in scoring.

Another theory -- advanced by a freshman -- is that the coaching staff began having enough confidence in freshmen to play them in key situations. Once that happened, the infusion of youthful energy helped jump-start the defense.

All theories are still in play, and it might not matter much of Illinois can't keep it going in the final three games of the season, beginning with Saturday's Big Ten Conference finale at home against Northwestern. But senior center Eric Block said he believes a change in emphasis helped uplift the offense.

"Coach (Ron) Zook has kind of refocused us," Block said Tuesday. "The focus had been that we were supposed to be this great offense and score all these points, with all these receivers, all this talent, this quarterback, these running backs, this offensive line.

"And we kind of refocused ourselves and said we don't need to focus so hard on scoring points. We just need to go play."

In five straight losses, the Illini offense scored a total of 59 points. Then in two consecutive victories, the offense racked up 73 points.

"It's like a weight has been lifted off this offense," Block said. "We're just going out and having fun and the points are coming. We've been a little more loose."

If a less uptight attitude has helped the offense, it's the arrival of two high-energy freshmen who seem to have given new life to the defense.

Walter Aikens' insertion at safety and former East St. Louis star Terry Hawthorne's play at cornerback seems to have energized the secondary.

Aikens said they have coined the nickname "Young Gunners" for the true freshmen who have found their way onto the field.

"I feel the young guys can bring some energy," Aikens said. "We're flying around and we have something to prove. Being a freshman means nothing. When I step onto the field, I'm not a freshman, not a sophomore. I'm a football player."

Aikens said Hawthorne's touchdown-saving tackle against Michigan -- which is credited for turning around that game and, perhaps, the season -- has helped win respect for the freshmen in the locker room. And he's not surprised the freshmen have made an impact.

"We have talked about that," he said. "We were trying to tell (the coaches) a long time ago to play us, although I'm just joking a little. We have a nickname for the freshmen. We call ourselves the 'Young Gunners,' like Young Gunner No. 12 (Hawthorne), Young Gunner No. 6 (Joelil Thrash) and Young Gunner No. 99 (Michael Buchanan)."

Injury update

Zook said Tuesday's he is "cautiously optimistic" about senior quarterback Juice Williams' availability for the home game against Northwestern.

Williams sprained his left ankle in the first quarter last week against Minnesota and did not play the rest of the game.

"If you look at Juice's history, he's a tough guy," Zook said. "We're not going to put him in a situation that could be a detriment to him. I would say you'll probably see him in uniform."

Williams did not practice Monday and on Tuesday he was still wearing a protective boot, "as a precaution," Zook said.

"I think there is a good chance he could be ready to go," Zook said.

If Williams can't go, Zook would presumably start Jacob Charest, who finished up against Minnesota. And Eddie McGee would be the backup.

"(McGee) will be all over the place," this week in practice, Zook said. "He has to be able to play quarterback and he has to be able to play receiver."

Zook said Michael Hoomanawanui has returned to practice and is likely to play against the Wildcats. Hoomanawanui has missed the past two games with an ankle injury.

New trophy

For 62 years, Illinois and Northwestern played this rivalry game for the "Sweet Sioux Tomahawk Trophy," which was awarded to the winning team for safekeeping until the next season.

That trophy was retired, however, when the NCAA clamped down on native American symbols and references.

So for the first time Saturday, the schools will compete for a new trophy, the "Land of Lincoln Trophy," which is a replica of Abraham Lincoln's stovepipe hat. The "Land of Lincoln Trophy" was chosen by fans of both schools in an online vote.