It takes only a little less than four hours to drive 250 miles-the distance from Champaign-Urbana, Ill., home of the University of Illinois Fighting Illini, to Madison. However, for the Illinois football team, 250 miles in four hours is farther than the team has traveled all season.
The Fighting Illini (0-1 Big Ten, 2-2 overall) played their first four games on their home turf at Memorial Stadium, and hope to not dig themselves into a hole against the Badgers (1-0, 4-0) at Camp Randall Stadium Saturday.
Wisconsin is the second-straight undefeated and ranked opponent Illinois has faced. The Illini ran out of gas last week, losing 38-30 to No. 15 Purdue in their Big Ten opener. Though the close loss to Purdue was difficult for the team, eight-year Illinois head coach Ron Turner thinks the loss will help educate his players.
\This team has a lot of pride and believes in itself and what it can do,"" Turner said after the loss to Purdue. ""We have to eliminate mistakes and correct some things before we can take the next step.""
Illinois has not yet learned to hold on to the ball, as unrecovered fumbles have proved to be foes for the team. In four games, the Fighting Illini fumbled six times, losing the ball five times to their opponents.
However, Turner's team has also forced turnovers as well. Newly crowned cornerback, senior Kelvin Hayden, who has switched from running back to quarterback to receiver in his career, finally found his niche on the defensive end. Hayden is responsible for forcing half of the six turnovers this season against Illinois opponents, with two interceptions and one forced fumble against Purdue.
Hayden hopes to stop Badger backs senior Anthony Davis, sophomore Booker Stanley and junior Matt Bernstein. He will be aided by junior defensive tackle Ryan Matha and senior linebacker Matt Sinclair, who, earlier this fall, was named to the Butkus Award watch list, awarded each year to the nation's top linebacker.
In last season's 38-20 loss to Wisconsin, Illinois star fullback Carey Davis could not bring the Fighting Illini a victory. This time around, another Davis, junior fullback Jason Davis, looks to run through the Badger defense. Against Purdue, Davis ran for 78 yards on 15 carries. Turner, who is 2-3 all-time against the Badgers, thinks Davis constantly improves.
""He's had a great year so far and he's playing with a lot of confidence,"" Turner said. ""I think he's trying to show us and tell us to put the ball in his hands more. He's also blocking well and doing whatever he can to help this team win.""
Also carrying Illinois is sophomore running back E.B. Halsey. Halsey, who in August was placed on the Doak Walker Award watch list, a prize given to the nation's best running back, needs only 125 more rushing yards to eclipse 1,000 yards in his college career. Halsey notched 350 yards on 72 carries so far this season.
One-third of the way through the season, balance is Illinois' strength. The team has scored eight touchdowns and rushed for 855 yards. Illinois quarterbacks six-year veteran and senior Jon Beutjer, and redshirt freshman Brad Bower lead the passing offense. Beutjer and Bower have thrown a combined 898 yards this season. In last week's loss, Beutjer threw for 215 yards and three touchdowns, half of Illinois' passing touchdowns this the season. So far, Illinois averages 438.3 yards of offense per game.
Wisconsin Head Coach Barry Alvarez is aware of the balanced attack the Fighting Illini have.
""They'll throw the ball down the field, as well as high percentage passes. Beutjer, I think, has been given the leeway since he knows the offense so well,"" Alvarez said at a press conference Monday. ""He'll make a lot of checks at the line of scrimmage to give them the best possible play whether it be run or pass ... he [Beutjer] has some good weapons with him, Halsey and their fullback are really good runners. They present a lot of problems.""
Leading the entire Illinois team is senior offensive lineman Bucky Babcock. Babcock is Illinois' most experienced athlete. He will start his 41st career game in his fourth season as a starter.
One final Illinois starter starting to make a name for himself is sophomore running back Pierre Thomas. Thomas is 10th in the country in kickoff returns, averaging 31.2 yards per return. The past two weeks, Thomas ran back two returns for touchdowns-a 99-yard return against Western Michigan on Sept. 18 and a 72-yard return versus Purdue. He is only the second player in Illinois history, besides the legendary Fighting Illini running back Red Grange, to record to kickoff returns for more than 70 yards.
Since the season began, Thomas has averaged 175.5 yards per game. He currently ranks first in the Big Ten in all-purpose yards, with 318 rushing, 11 receiving and 372 in kickoff return yardage. He knows Illinois has confidence in him.
""They put me back there because they know I can gain yards and get the offense good field position,"" Thomas said.
Thomas, the special teams leader, will help the Fighting Illini fight for their first Big Ten win of the season.
-University of Illinois Sports Information contributed to this report.
