2007 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

NCAATeamFootballSeason
Year=2007
Team=Illinois Fighting Illini


ImageSize=125
Conference=Big Ten Conference
ShortConference=Big Ten
Division=
CoachRank=18
APRank=20
BCSRank=
Record=9-4
ConfRecord=6-2
HeadCoach=Ron Zook
OffCoach=
DefCoach=
OScheme=Spread option
DScheme=
StadiumArena=Memorial Stadium
Champion=
BowlTourney= 2008 Rose Bowl
BowlTourneyResult=v. USC, L 49–17

The 2007 football season is the third for Illinois head coach Ron Zook. The Illini represent the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and play their home games at Memorial Stadium. They entered the season in search of improvevent upon a 2-10 2006 record, and secured bowl-eligibility the first time since 2001 with a homecoming win over Ball State. From weeks 2-6, the Illini won 5 straight games, their longest win streak since 2001. On November 10th, the Fighting Illini upset the then #1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

chedule

CFB Schedule Entry
date = 09/01/2007
time = 2:30 p.m.
w/l = l
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
away =
neutral = yes
rank =
opponent = Missouri
opprank =
site_stadium = Edward Jones Dome
site_cityst = St. Louis, MO
gamename =
tv = ESPN2
score = 40-34
overtime =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 09/08/2007
time = 6:00 p.m.
w/l = w
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
away =
neutral =
rank =
opponent = Western Illinois
opprank =
site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Champaign, IL
gamename =
tv = BTN
score = 21-0
overtime =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 09/15/2007
time = 11:00 a.m.
w/l = w
nonconf = yes
homecoming =
away = yes
neutral =
rank =
opponent = Syracuse
opprank =
site_stadium = Carrier Dome
site_cityst = Syracuse, NY
gamename =
tv = ESPNU
score = 41-20
overtime =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 09/22/2007
time = 11:00 a.m.
w/l = w
nonconf =
homecoming =
away = yes
neutral =
rank =
opponent = Indiana
opprank =
site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Bloomington, IN
gamename =
tv = BTN
score = 27-14
overtime =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 09/29/2007
time = 11:00 a.m.
w/l = w
nonconf =
homecoming =
away =
neutral =
rank =
opponent = Penn State
opprank = 19
site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Champaign, IL
gamename =
tv = BTN
score = 27-20
overtime =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 10/06/2007
time = 11:00 a.m.
w/l = w
nonconf =
homecoming =
away =
neutral =
rank =
opponent = Wisconsin
opprank = 5
site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Champaign, IL
gamename =
tv = ESPN
score = 31 - 26
overtime =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 10/13/2007
time = 11:00 a.m.
w/l = l
nonconf =
homecoming =
away = yes
neutral =
rank = 18
opponent = Iowa
opprank =
site_stadium = Kinnick Stadium
site_cityst = Iowa City, IA
gamename =
tv = ESPN2
score = 10-6
overtime =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 10/20/2007
time = 7:00 p.m.
w/l = l
nonconf =
homecoming =
away =
neutral =
rank =
opponent = Michigan
opprank = 25
site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Champaign, IL
gamename =
tv = ABC
score = 27-17
overtime =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 10/27/2007
time = 11:00 a.m
w/l = w
nonconf = yes
homecoming = yes
away =
neutral =
rank =
opponent = Ball State
opprank =
site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Champaign, IL
gamename =
tv = BTN
score = 28-17
overtime =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 11/03/2007
time = 7:00 p.m.
w/l = w
nonconf =
homecoming =
away = yes
neutral =
rank =
opponent = Minnesota
opprank =
site_stadium = Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN
gamename =
tv = BTN
score = 44-17
overtime =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 11/10/2007
time = 2:30 p.m.
w/l = w
nonconf =
homecoming =
away = yes
neutral =
rank =
opponent = Ohio State
opprank = 1
site_stadium = Ohio Stadium
site_cityst = Columbus, OH
gamename = Illibuck
tv = ABC
score = 28-21
overtime =CFB Schedule Entry
date = 11/17/2007
time = 11:00 a.m.
w/l = w
nonconf =
homecoming =
away =
neutral =
rank = 21
opponent = Northwestern
opprank =
site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
site_cityst = Champaign, IL
gamename = Sweet Sioux Tomahawk
tv = ESPN
score = 41-22
overtime = CFB Schedule Entry
date = 01/01/2008
time = 3:30 p.m.
w/l = l
nonconf =
homecoming =
away =
neutral = yes
rank = 13
opponent = Southern California
opprank = 6
site_stadium = Rose Bowl
site_cityst = Pasadena, CA
gamename = The Rose Bowl Game
tv = ABC
score = 49-17
overtime =

Game Notes

Missouri

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Tigers
R1=7
R2=16
R3=14
R4=3
RT=40
Home=Fighting Illini
H1=6
H2=0
H3=21
H4=7
HT=34The Illini scored first off a Vontae Davis blocked-punt return. Quarterback Juice Williams looked sharp in the first quarter before leaving due to injury in the second. Mizzou jumped out to a 37-13 lead late in the third quarter, before backup quarterback Eddie McGee led the Illini to 21 unanswered points. A late fourth-quarter interception sealed the game for the Tigers. McGee ended the day 17-31 for 257 yards with a TD, but lost 2 fumbles and threw 2 interceptions. The loss increased Illinois' losing streak to 8 games.

Western Illinois

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Leathernecks
R1=0
R2=0
R3=0
R4=0
RT=0
Home=Fighting Illini
H1=0
H2=7
H3=7
H4=7
HT=21The Illini returned to Memorial Stadium to face FCS Western Illinois in the home opener. Illinois built upon a 7-0 halftime lead with a Juice Williams touchdown run in the third quarter and a Rashard Mendenhall touchdown run in the fourth. Mendenhall finished the day with 142 yards.

yracuse

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Fighting Illini
R1=14
R2=3
R3=17
R4=7
RT=41
Home=Orange
H1=0
H2=0
H3=10
H4=10
HT=20Illinois looked to secure its first road win at the Carrier Dome. After one quarter, the Illini led 14-0 off a Juice Williams touchdown pass and a Rashard Mendenhall touchdown run. Syracuse got on the board in the third quarter with a field goal, and eventually cut the deficit to 20-10. But big plays hurt the Orange in the second half. Arrelious Benn ran for 23 yards on one play, and one drive later, Rashard Mendenhall ran for 50. He finished the day with 150 rush yards and 3 TD's. 378 of Illinois' total yards came on the ground, and they outgained Syracuse 508-286 overall.

Indiana

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Fighting Illini
R1=6
R2=14
R3=0
R4=7
RT=27
Home=Hoosiers
H1=0
H2=7
H3=0
H4=7
HT=14Illinois opened their Big Ten season at Indiana. Two Jason Reda field goals put the Illini on the board before Juice Williams found Michael Hoomanawanui in the endzone. They led 20-7 at the half. After a Rashard Mendenhall touchdown put Illinois up 27-7 in the fourth quarter, Indiana QB Kellen Lewis drove down the field to find James Bailey for a 30-yd touchdown, Lewis' second TD on the day. But with a minute left, Vontae Davis picked off Lewis in the endzone, securing a 27-14 Illinois victory, their first in a Big Ten opener since 1993 and their first in Bloomington since 2001. Mendenhall finished the day with a career-high 214 rush yards. Tracy Porter picked off two Juice Williams passes, and Williams finished a disappointing passing effort 13-28 with a TD.

Penn State

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Nittany Lions
R1=10
R2=7
R3=3
R4=0
RT=20
Home=Fighting Illini
H1=14
H2=7
H3=3
H4=3
HT=27The Illini faced ranked opposition for the first time in 2007 when the #19 Nittany Lions came to Memorial Stadium. Penn State scored first with a field goal, but Arrelious Benn returned the ensuing kick-off 90 yards for a touchdown, putting Illinois up 7-3. They never would relinquish the lead. Their defense intercepted Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli 3 times, and allowed the Nittany Lions to score only 3 times out of 6 red zone possessions. A Kevin Mitchell interception with 9 seconds on the clock ended Penn State's comeback hopes. Illinois' victory marked their first over a ranked opponent since the 2001 season and gives the Illini a 4-game win streak, also their longest since 2001.

Wisconsin

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Badgers
R1=0
R2=6
R3=13
R4=7
Home=Fighting Illini
H1=7
H2=10
H3=7
H4=7Going into the game, the unranked Fighting Illini were actually favored by oddsmakers to beat the #5 Badgers, who entered the game undefeated but having had numerous close games against unranked opponents, including a close game against The Citadel. The Illini won in a game not as close as the score. Terry Bannon, [http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/cs-071002illinibits,1,814276.story Zook scoffs at Illini's favored status] , "Chicago Tribune", October 2, 2007.]

Iowa

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Fighting Illini
R1=3
R2=0
R3=3
R4=0
Home=Hawkeyes
H1=0
H2=3
H3=7
H4=0The #18 Fighting Illini suffered their first Big Ten loss of the season at Kinnick Stadium. In the fourth quarter, trailing 10-6, Eddie McGee appeared to complete an 82-yard pass for a touchdown, but an ineligible receiver downfield penalty negated the would-be go-ahead score. With two minutes left, Eddie McGee drove the Illini to the Iowa 11-yardline, but threw an interception to seal the win for the Hawkeyes.

Michigan

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Wolverines
R1=3
R2=14
R3=0
R4=10
Home=Fighting Illini
H1=7
H2=7
H3=3
H4=0

Ball State

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Cardinals
R1=0
R2=3
R3=14
R4=0
Home=Fighting Illini
H1=0
H2=7
H3=14
H4=7

Minnesota

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Fighting Illini
R1=14
R2=20
R3=3
R4=7
Home=Golden Gophers
H1=0
H2=10
H3=0
H4=7

Ohio State

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Fighting Illini
R1=14
R2=7
R3=7
R4=0
Home=Buckeyes
H1=14
H2=0
H3=7
H4=0

With their win over the Buckeyes, the Illini defeated a number 1 ranked team for the first time since 1956, and for the first time ever on the road. Juice Williams completed 12 out of 22 passes for only 140 yards, but four receptions were caught for touchdowns. With the win, the Illini damaged the Buckeyes' national title hopes, though Ohio State eventually reached the national championship game. The Illibuck will return to Champaign next year. This was arguably one of the greatest victories in the history of Illinois football.

Northwestern

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Wildcats
R1=0
R2=7
R3=7
R4=8
Home=Fighting Illini
H1=14
H2=7
H3=14
H4=6

Rose Bowl

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Fighting Illini
R1=0
R2=3
R3=7
R4=7
Home=Trojans
H1=14
H2=7
H3=14
H4=14

The Illini ended the 2007 season by participating in the 2008 Rose Bowl, held on New Year's Day in the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California. Although it traditionally hosts the champions of the Big Ten and Pac-10 conferences, the 2007 Big Ten Champion, Ohio State, was ranked #1 in the final BCS poll and instead participated in the 2008 BCS National Championship Game. The rules governing BCS bowl selections allowed the Rose Bowl to select a BCS "at-large" team from the top fourteen teams ranked in the BCS Standings that have at least nine wins. Keeping with its traditional bowl ties, the Rose Bowl selected #13-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini (9-3), under third-year head coach Ron Zook.Gary Klein, [http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-sp-rose3dec03,0,4892375.story USC-Illinois accents Rose Bowl tradition] , "Los Angeles Times", December 3, 2007.]

The Illini entered the Rose Bowl after a Cinderella season where they won nine games, including an upset victory over at-the-time #1 Ohio State, after winning a total of four games the previous two seasons.David Wharton, [http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-sp-illinirep17dec17,1,209591.story Underdog role suits Illini] , "Los Angeles Times", December 17, 2007.] It was Illinois' first bowl game since winning the 2001 Big Ten Championship and playing in the 2002 Sugar Bowl. The Illini offense was led by sophomore quarterback "Juice" Williams, who in the regular season passed for 13 touchdowns and ran for seven, junior running back Rashard Mendenhall, who averaged 127 yards rushing per game and scored 18 touchdowns, and freshman receiver Arrelious Benn, who caught 49 passes and had 158 yards in 32 carries.Gary Klein, [http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-sp-rose3dec03,0,4892375.story USC-Illinois accents Rose Bowl tradition] , "Los Angeles Times", December 3, 2007.] For taking Illinois to the Rose Bowl a year after going 2-10, Zook won both national and Big Ten coach of the year honors. [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/ncaa/12/29/bc.fbc.illinois.zookhon.ap/index.html Illini's Zook wins coach of year award] , Associated Press, December 29, 2007.] The Illini entered the game 13.5-point underdogs, the biggest of any of the season's 32 bowl games.Eddie Pells, [http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/recap?gid=200801010062 (6) USC 49, (13) Illinois 17] , Associated Press, January 1, 2008.]

The Trojans defeated the Illini 49–17 before a sold out Rose Bowl crowd.

Roster

References

External links

* [http://fightingillini.cstv.com/ The official University of Illinois athletics site]