Illinois Football quick hits
CHICAGO–Just a couple of quick things from the Hyatt Regency that haven’t been mentioned yet in today’s blog coverage:
Conference Announces Preseason Awards
The media (DI staffers included) that was polled by the conference has chosen its preseason favorites to win the Big Ten. And the results are:
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
2. Wisconsin Badgers
3. Illinois Fighting Illini
Also, the preseason player of the year awards were given out today. The Buckeyes swept those just like the top spot in the preseason poll with tailback Chris “Beanie” Wells taking the offensive honors and linebacker James Laurinaitis defended his title as the defensive preseason player of the year.
Your 2008 Big Ten Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Iowa game sold out
The hunger to see Illinois football (or “Illini Fever” as former PA man Jim Sheppard used to say) is at an all-time high compared to recent years as the November 1 Iowa game has become the second game to sell out of single game tickets on only the second day of ticket sales. The November 15 Ohio State game was sold out within an hour of tickets going on sale yesterday morning. So the only way to attend either of these games, aside from going to a ticket broker, is to buy one of the limited number of season tickets that are left through the DIA. Ticket office sources also say that the other single game tickets are moving much faster than usual as well.
Davis Makes Hendricks Award Watch List
Illini senior defensive end Will Davis has been tabbed as one of the best defensive ends in the country after being named to the Hendricks Award Watch List. The award is given annually by a committee of national media, head coaches, former award winners and professional scouts. It is named after former Miami Hurricane Ted Hendricks who was the first ever three-time All American.
Davis has already been named preseason All America third team by The Sporting News and an honorable mention by nationalchamps.net. As a junior, Davis was a second team All-Big Ten selection after recording 9.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss on the season. He ranked sixth in the Big Ten and 26th in the nation in sacks and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after his four sack, five TFL performance against Indiana. He looks to be one of leaders on Illinois’ vaunted defensive line in the 2008 season.
Illinois vs. Missouri in St. Louis Sold Out
The 2008 State Farm Arch Rivalry Game in the Edward Jones Dome between the Illini and the Missouri Tigers has already sold out. Tickets went on sale at 10am on Tuesday and were gone within a few short hours. The game looks to be one of the best of college football’s opening weekend as the Tigers return with Heisman candidate Chase Daniel at the helm going up against the Orange and Blue defense. It is set for a 7:30pm kickoff is St. Louis and will be nationally televised on ESPN.