Illinois got off to a hot start in the team's sound pounding of Wisconsin, but wide receiver Arrelious Benn and starting quarterback Juice Williams watched the finish from the sidelines. Late in the third quarter, Benn aggrivated the injury to his right shoulder that he sustained during training camp while trying to stiff-arm a Badger defender. Williams joined him a few minutes later when, halfway through the fourth quarter, he hyperextended his left knee. Head coach Ron Zook said both players could have returned if the team really needed them, but the Illini backups were doing just fine against the Badgers.

Continue reading "Illinois: Out Of Juice" »

Posted by Carolyn Braff at 04:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Illinois starting quarterback Juice Williams was certainly roughed up last weekend, but in practice this week he has looked as good as ever, according to head coach Ron Zook. Perhaps the head-to-head collision with a Missouri defender that knocked him out of the second half of last Saturday's game improved his vision - the hit did come near his eye - but either way, Zook is sticking with his starter.

Continue reading "Illinois: Juice Is Flowing" »

Posted by Carolyn Braff at 04:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Illinois quarterback Juice Williams probably didn't see this one coming. The sophomore ran to the right side of the field early in the second quarter of the Illini's season opener against Missouri, only to collide head-on with Tiger defensive back Hardy Ricks. The helmet-to-helmet hit left Williams on the turf for several minutes before leaving the game after, walking off the field only with help from his trainers. The hit looked clean, since Ricks was not penalized on the play. It also looked hard.

Continue reading "Illinois: No More Juice" »

Posted by Carolyn Braff at 06:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When Missouri faces off against Illinois on Saturday in the season opener for both teams, the Tigers will welcome back a lost man while the Illini bemoan their bad luck. Missouri defensive back Hardy Ricks disloacted his left shoulder during the second week of preseason practice, but will be back hitting people this weekend in St. Louis. Meanwhile, Illinois was not so lucky, as starting wide receiver Chris James is lost for the season after injuring his ACL.

Continue reading "Missouri vs. Illinois: In and Out" »

Posted by Carolyn Braff at 01:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)