Fourth-and-blog

15 days to 2009 opener

Posted by: Bob Asmussen

Saturday, August 22, 2009 9:45 PM

A couple items to wrap up as the Illini get ready for classes and return to practice at Memorial Stadium on Monday:

- The guard situation will be important to watch in the next two weeks. Jon Asamoah and Jack Cornell are expected to return from an illness and ankle injury, respectively. But if they aren't able to get all the way back for Missouri, the Illinois offensive line loses valuable depth. Ron Zook has raved about the play of converted defensive lineman Anterio Jackson, but asking him to play this early might be too much.

- Zook didn't want to go into the Urban Meyer accusations after Saturday's scrimmage. Meyer pointed fingers at the former Florida coach, then later said his comments were misunderstood. Don't know about the rest of you, but I'd love to see an Illinois-Florida bowl game. Soon. The press conferences would need to be held in different cities. Or different countries.

- If Illinois beats Missouri in the opener, it will move into the Top 25. How high will depend on what happens in front of it. But 18 voters already have the Illini in their Top 25 and others will follow if Zook's team beats the Tigers. Here's a prediction that could come true: If Illinois wins its first two games and goes into Ohio State at 2-0, it will be at least No. 20 in the nation.

To read Day 16, click here

To read Day 17, click here

To read Day 18, click here

To read Day 19, click here.

To read Day 20, click here.

To read Day 21, click here

To read Day 22, click here.

To read Day 23, click here

To read Day 24, click here

To read Day 25, click here

To read Day 26, click here.

To read Day 27, click here.

To read Day 28, click here

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