Note: This story was written by DI staff writer Wes Anderson

CHICAGO–While attending Big Ten Media Day (a misnomer given the event’s two-day length) in downtown Chicago is a welcome privilege of writing for the Daily Illini (read: an opportunity to hoard free stuff that will inevitably find the bottom of a garbage can soon after), that doesn’t mean the day’s activities don’t often stray towards the monotonous.

The steady progression of coaches waxing poetic about the unfaltering greatness of their team, their university, and their undying optimism for 2008 (contrary to what the coaches may say, every team cannot win the Big Ten in one year) can leave a reporter drowning in sports clichés.

Lucky for us, though, the fraternity of Big Ten coaches is full of personalities. Here now, a look at the more attention-grabbing moments from today’s round of head coach pressers:

- All was jovial for Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema’s press conference until a rather vindictive reporter took his best shot at the Badgers’ somewhat shaky non-conference matchups:

Q: Your out-of-conference schedule includes Akron, Marshall, Fresno State and Cal Poly. Isn’t this below what’s to be expected of a program that’s been to 13 bowl games in the last 13 years and that is a perennial contender for the conference championship?

Bielema: Do you want to answer your question, or can I?

Read the rest of this entry »

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 Read the rest of this entry »

College football, much like the NFL and other pro leagues, has proven to be a copycat league over the years. If something works well on either side of the ball, other teams quickly take it up and start using that strategy. Starting with George Halas’ man in motion with the T formation in the 1920’s and cutting midriffs on jerseys in the eighties (Thanks Doug Flutie) to the present-day practice of taping offensive linemen’s jerseys to their pads (nothing to grab here), everyone in football wants to gain an edge with the newest wrinkle set on by an innovative coach.

One big example that has lately swept both the nation and the Midwest is the spread offense. The spread offense is usually centered in three or four receiver sets with the quarterback five yards behind center, or in the shotgun, and is designed to spread the defense wider to force them to cover more area of the field. This type of offense is being used at just about every level—from Pop Warner football and high school to the New England Patriots of the NFL—and almost everyone adds their own wrinkles to the offense with option packages (see Illinois and new Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez) or an all-out ariel attack (see former Hawaii and new SMU coach June Jones and Texas Tech’s Mike Leach). I apologize for some of the cheesy music in those videos, but they do a good job of showcasing the spread.The Big Ten has a pioneer in the spread offense in outgoing Purdue coach Joe Tiller. Tiller was the first coach in the Big Ten to spread out his receivers and throw the ball a majority of the time in the former run-happy Big Ten. Tiller brought his spread offense from Wyoming to the Midwest and now eight of the 11 teams in the Big Team run the spread offense or a variation of it as their primary offensive formation. Wisconsin, Iowa and Penn State are the three schools that don’t.

So, being that the spread offense is the talk of the town (maybe I’m exaggerating a bit), it was a big topic of discussion in Thursday’s coaches press conferences. Here’s some of the tidbits from Big Ten coaches.

Illini Coach Ron Zook: When I first became a head coach, one thing most of my experience was on the defensive side of the football, and the one thing I wanted to do is I wanted to run an offense that I hated to see the most as a defensive football coach. Any time they spread out you’ve got to be able…to stop the run, and the more field that you have to cover sometimes the harder that it is, and I think once again it gives people an opportunity that maybe we’re — personnel-wise you may not be quite as good as others it maybe levels the field a little bit, and plus I think it’s a front offense. Read the rest of this entry »

The following was written by DI Senior Writer Daniel Johnson

CHICAGO–One of the last people to see Illinois’ loss to USC at the Rose Bowl was ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit. The former Ohio State quarterback was announcing the game for the network and was in Pasadena and Los Angeles for the week leading up to the game.

Herbstreit was also at Big Ten Media Days getting a glimpse of both coaches and players. The Daily Illini spoke with him on Thursday morning about Illinois and the Big Ten.

Daily Illini: Since you last saw Illinois at the Rose Bowl, what has changed most for the team in your eyes?

Kirk Herbstreit: I think it’s the experience of that game that has changed them the most. It’s funny, people are saying, ‘Well, Illinois got killed,’ and I’m like, ‘If you really go back and study that game, USC was on their way to blowing out Illinois, but they started to make some stops. All of the sudden (Rashard) Mendenhall gets loose on a couple of plays, then they get the ball back and they just start driving up and down the field at will, and they’re inside the 10-yard line. If they score that touchdown (instead of Jacob Willis fumbling,) it’s a seven-point game. But (Willis) fumbles going, SC on the next series fumbles themselves, but Joe McKnight being Joe McKnight picks it up and goes 75 yards and it’s pretty much over.
But I think what’s going to change the team is that experience of that is only going to strengthen them when they go to play Chase Daniel in Missouri. They’re not going to be like, ‘Wow, this is a big game,’ they’re going to be like, ‘Let’s go do this.’ The natural maturation of the program is kind of on the incline.”

DI: When you look at Illinois playing Missouri last year versus this year, what do you think is the different between the mindset of the players?

Herbstreit: I think there’s nothing more important to this team, a frustrated and young team, than focus on the next year, after having a great year, in its first game. If you’re playing a 1-AA team or a MAC (Conference) opponent, it doesn’t grab the players’ attention, but when you play Missouri and they’ve got Chase Daniel and they’re going to be a preseason top 5, top 7 team. It’s easy for (strength and conditioning coach Lou Hernandez) and Coach Zook to have the team ready for (Missouri,) because they know it’s coming.DI: With Rich Rodriguez coming to Michigan and changing the culture there from their traditional pro-style offense to a spread, what’s the difference going be in Ann Arbor?

Herbstreit: I think it’s bigger to the fans, guys like me and you are so used to seeing Elvis Grbac, John Navarre, Todd Collins; close your eyes and you envision a 6′4″ or 6′5″ just lumbering on the scramble, like a Tom Brady. I think for the casual fan it’s going to be like ‘wow, that’s weird,’ but the players will be fine, players adjust. But, it’s going to take some time, you don’t go from a power-running game to spreading them out and throwing. They did it some in the bowl game, but they had (Chad Henne) that started 40-some games. Now, you’re going to have a quarterback not prepared, I think this year’s going to be a tough year, they’re going to have to find a quarterback to run that system. They’ll adjust, but the spread is the kind of way of life now in college football, not just in Michigan, it’s every where.

Read the rest of this entry »

CHICAGO–So Big Ten football season is starting, and the DI has you covered with full coverage of the Big Ten Media Days right here on the DI Sports Blog!

Ron Zook started the day off as the first coach to speak and we have an audio wrap on his press conference below.Enjoy and look for more today and tomorrow.

The story can be found here at Dailyillini.com with the full audio wrap-up.

As if a 38-0 season, conference title, and ACHA national title weren’t enough, the Illini hockey team will be sending two players to the first annual ACHA All-Star Game, and the honor is well-deserved for both players.

 The first is junior Jason Nemeth.  The forward from Roanoke, Texas led the national champs in scoring this year with 66 points but also did more than finding the net, leading the orange in blue in penalty minutes as well with sixty.  This was a breakout year for Nemeth.  When I talked to Coach Chad Cassel about his play this year, he said that Nemeth has really emerged as more of a scorer this year rather than someone who just sets other guys up like he had in his previous two seasons.

The next player going to State College, PA is sophomore defenseman Brad Hoelzer.  Hoelzer also had a special year, leading all defensemen in scoring with 26 points.  His play late in the season in the defensive zone, however, was what brought this nod.  He played his best hockey at the right time–the postseason–becoming a starter along to go with some other accolades.  Hoelzer was named CSHCHL tournament MVP and also was an ACHA all-tournament first team selection. 

 These two Illini will be joined by 38 other players from all over the country in the event hosted by Penn State on Saturday, March 29.  For more info on the game visit the illini hockey website.

Listen and watch all the action at www.livesportsvideo.com

ILLINOIS WINS! ILLINOIS WINS!ILLINOIS WINS!ILLINOIS WINS!ILLINOIS WINS!  WOW…what a season…38-0 with the final score of 4-2.

Illinois captain Drew Heredia was the MVP, and deservedly so.

Until next year, Illinois is on top of the ACHA world!
Two periods down and the Illini still have a one-goal lead. This time it is 3-2 with the Illini getting a short-hander of their own from Drew Heredia before Lindenwood brought back to within one with under a minute left in the second. This should be a great one! 20 minutes left!!

One period is over and the Illini have a 2-1 lead. Lindenwood got on the board first with a short-hander from Larry Kopecky, but on that same power play, the Illini answered back with Drew Heredia putting one in the net. They got another one soon after from the stick of Daniel Cohen.

It’s been a physical one so far, and let’s hope it stays that way. GO ILLINI!
It’s about 6:10pm eastern time and the Illini are skating on the ESL Sports Centre ice and the puck will drop in about 20 minutes here. The Illini will be trying to take home their second national title in the last four seasons! Standing in their way is CSCHL foe Lindenwood. The orange and blue have beaten the Lions four times this year and three times it was decided by just one goal. So tune into livesportsvideo.com for all of the action, and keep checking the DI sports blog for more updates.

THE ORANGE AND BLUE ARE IN THE ACHA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!!!!

The Illini grabbed a short-handed breakaway goal about 5 minutes into the third, but Liberty clawed back within one to make it 3-2. But Jason Nemeth made an empty net goal to put the Flames away and put the final score at 4-2!

Illinois looks to win their second national title in 4 years with a victory tomorrow at 6:30 Central here from Rochester.

The Illini came out with a 2-0 in the second period and didn’t do much with it…with the Flames doing a great job on the penalty kill, even scoring a shorthanded goal on a rebound to put the score at 2-1. The star of the game right now, however, has to be Liberty goalie Mike Binnie, he is keeping this Flame team in the game and has been the difference so far, along with the physicality of the Flames.

We have one period of semifinal hockey left here in Rochester and let’s see if the Illini can hang on…
It’s semifinal time and the Illini are leading after 2-0 after one period with a goal on the power play on a deflection by Jordan Pringle on an Alex Park wrister.

The next one was a Nick Fabbrini rebound. This game is really physical…with quite a few hits from the neutral zone. We’ll see if the Illini can hold on…

ILLINOIS WINS! ILLINOIS WINS! ILLINOIS WINS!

The final score being 6-2. The Illini showed their dominance tonight and have definitely established themselves as the team to beat in this tournament. Now it’s time for a day and the Illini will take on Liberty on Tuesday night.

It gives you Illini fans a chance to make the trek out to Rochester and support this squad. This is a special team and a special season…36-0…the magic number is now at 2.

End of the second period, Illinois 5, Rhode Island 2.

The Illini defensemen are doing a much better job of not turning the puck over in their own zone and the offense has responded with long offensive rushes and, the big one, 4 second period goals.

The long offensive rushes from the orange and blue are keeping the Rhode Island Ram defensemen on the ice for longer shifts and tiring them out. It also looks like the Illini have found the weak spot of Ram goalie Andrew Lisi–scoring three goals from behind the net with wraparounds after faking the centering pass. Joey Resch provided the first spark using that strategy, followed by Jason Nemeth putting one past Lisi with an impossible angle. The highlight of the period had to be from Brad Hoelzer, picking up final goal of the period with point two seconds left with a great scrap by Johnny Liang with the assist.

Let’s see if the Illini can hold on here in the final period
End of the first period, Illinois 1, Rhode Island 1.

The Illini playing well, allowing a goal on a great breakout by one of the Rhode Island forwards. Fabbrini had the early goal for Illinois. Credit Johnny Liang with the assist.

Sorry about all the tech difficulties, but we should be good for the rest of the game.

GO ILLINI!

Rochester, NY-The top-ranked and undefeated Illinois hockey team put a scare into some of its fans early in its first round national tournament match up with Robert Morris University in Rochester, NY, allowing a Colonial power play goal halfway in the fist to tie the game at one. The orange and blue came out sluggish in the first period, with much of the action happening in the Illini zone.

But Daniel Cohen came to the rescue to put the Illini out front 2-1 at the end of the first with a masterful deke followed by a backhanded wrister past Bobby Mo goalie John Hoffman. From there, the Illini added a tally each in the second and third periods to get three out of four of their goals on the power play, which goes to show that the old adage is true—special teams are more important when it comes to playoff hockey. Chad Cassel’s bunch took the final 4-1, with junior defenseman Brad Hoelzer getting two goals on wrist shots from the blue line. Mike Burda also played an unbelievable game, bailing out his defenseman multiple times.

So the Illini survived and advanced, avoiding an early exit from the national tournament and reducing their magic number to three. If you want to see the Illini in action, you can visit www.achahockey.org to catch a webcast of the orange and blue in Rochester, with WPGU’s own Jon Hansen, Blake Stubbs, and myself calling the action. If you want to reach us during the broadcast or want to send out a message to a loved one, you can email us at achanationals@gmail.com. The webcast is only a five dollar fee to watch all of the games this weekend with very crisp audio and video feeds. Keep it locked here at the DI sports blog for more updates throughout the national tournament

Hey there Illini hockey fans!

Our team has had quite the season — perfect so far! Join the WPGU crew out in Rochester, N.Y., as the Illini try and finish their perfect season with a national championship.

Due to ACHA restrictions, WPGU cannot broadcast the games on the air. But play-by-play announcer Jon Hansen, color commentator Alex Symonds, and statistician-extrodinare Blake Stubbs will be bringing you all the action online. The ACHA is providing a video Webcast, so you can not only listen to us call the game, but watch it online as well.

Jon, Alex and Blake will also be providing updates on WPGU 107.1 throughout the tournament, as well as real time updates on dailyillini.com, and the217.com.

Here is the link for the webcast. There is a quick and easy registration: LiveSportsVideo.com

Stay tuned to the DI sports blog for updates on the games all weekend…

First game is tonight at 7:30pm CST vs. Robert Morris (PA).

Go Illini!!!

This was not the way it was supposed to end. Not this time, not this year.

Everyone expected Bill Belichick and Tom Brady to become the new Don Shula and Mercury Morris—the new perfect team of the modern era of football that would tout themselves until no end as the greatest team ever because of their unblemished record, popping the corks every time the last unbeaten fell.

Someone forgot to tell Tom Coughlin’s New York Giants that that was how it was supposed to go. Eli Manning, the Giants defensive line and David Tyree ruined the dreams of sports fans hoping to see history and shut up the ’72 Dolphins, while at the same time showing everyone that some things are still right in the world. That cheaters never prosper. And that the underdog always has a shot.

It is nights like February 3, 2008 that reminds me why I love sports. As cliché as that sounds, Bill Belichick’s early exit from the manicured turf of the University of Phoenix Stadium was a touching end to my football season, not to mention seeing a gigantic smile creep across the boyish face of the much-maligned Eli Manning while hoisting the Lombardi trophy his older brother brought home just a year ago.

But I’d like to focus on Belichick, the most-hated and most-copied coach in the NFL. The man known for “Spy-gate.” The man, that after eighteen straight wins, couldn’t hold himself to a high standard and take his first loss in over a year with some class and dignity. The incident I’m referring to is when the clock had one second left and Belichik and Tom Coughlin met at midfield, thinking the game was over. The two shook hands with as much enthusiasm as if they were in the waiting room for a prostate exam, exchanged a few words, and were then rushed off the playing field because the officials, rightly so, were requiring the Giants to snap the ball in order to run the clock out.

It is what happened immediately after this moment that really grinds my gears and shows how little respect New England’s head man deserves.

I’m talking about when Belichick refused to give Eli Manning and the Giants their moment in the sun: the endgame knee. The point where Manning takes the snap, kneels and finally gets a chance to revel in his success. It’s the point where the opponent is supposed to realize and accept the fact that his team didn’t play to its potential and just got beat.

Belichick was not man enough to give Eli his moment. He was too much of a coward to have some class and civility. He walked off the field early, further showing that he is a classless individual when it comes to the basics of sportsmanship. We’ve seen earlier displays this last season when his teams would run up the score on lesser opponents and throw long bombs throughout. I don’t even want to get into the fourth down attempts when the game has been well in hand.

And I can hear you yelling out right now. “It was just one second!” “Everyone thought it was over!”

Mybe you’re right. Maybe I’m being too picky, but the other truth is this: you are supposed to respect your opponent. That’s the first rule of sportsmanship, and Belichick refuses to follows these rules. It has been seen in the Spy-gate incident, his postgame walk-off, running up the score during the regular season and his laughable post-Super Bowl interview with Chris Meyers (You couldn’t help but feel bad for that guy).

But, the sports world confirmed Sunday that some things do ultimately work out—the Pats lost and Belichick could face further repercussions with the Spy-gate situation. Thank goodness karma exists.

credit AP