CHAMPAIGN  Most of the Illinois football players trickle out to the practice field. A quarterback here, a running back there. It''s pretty routine.

   Then there are the offensive linemen. They shuffle to the field en masse. It''s a 20-legged, 10-headed monster directed by position coach Harry Hiestand.

   The University of Illinois last week mailed out football season ticket renewal forms.

   Don''t expect a line at the post office when re-upping.

   In its current condition, UI football is dusty, rusty and has a few cracks. In the Big Ten parking lot, it is the jalopy on blocks.

CHAMPAIGN – Tim Kish rattles off the three objectives like they're written on the inside of his eyelids.

"Stop the run, create turnovers and stop the explosion plays," Kish says.

Illinois defensive stats from last season

It comes as no surprise that Pat Moorer, the new Illini football strength coach, can outlift his students. If called on, the chiseled, 255-pound Floridian can bench-press 460 pounds.

"I just lift to stay in shape," Moorer said. "You don't want some guy to come in here out of shape with a big stomach and ask these young guys to work. Our goal is to improve. We're not going to pile on weights just to see what we can do. I believe in repetitions. We're not in here to waste time."

CHAMPAIGN – The knee brace on Fred Wakefield's left leg did exactly what's it supposed to – it deflected the blow somewhere else.

The somewhere else happened to be Wakefield's ankle. The Illinois freshman defensive end came up limping late in Wednesday's practice.

On the last play of Thursday's football scrimmage outside Memorial Stadium, Tim Lavery hooked up with Lenny Willis for a long touchdown pass.

The play?

A deep post.

The pitch?

"A fastball," Lavery said.

CHAMPAIGN – Dharma Frye woke up Wednesday a tailback. He went home a fullback.

That's the way things work early in spring football practice. Players move to fill needs. And at the University of Illinois, fullback is definitely a need.