Illini football to-do list

August 28, 2008 3:24 PM

Since coming on board in December 2004, Ron Zook has infused the Illini football program with a fantastic amount of talent, energy, and hope. Entering the 2008 season there is genuine pumpitude amongst the Illinois football faithful, the most excitement since the mid-80s or early 1990s. 2007 was a great year, highlighted by the upset of #1 Ohio St and a Rose Bowl appearance, but there is still much to do as far as garnering national respect.

The brief history of Illinois football this decade goes like this- won the Big Ten in 2001 then got stomped by LSU. Over the next 5 years the program stopped winning. In 2007 the Illini won a bunch of Big Ten games but got destroyed by a real opponent (USC).

Zook continues to say, "We have a long way to go." He's correct. There is still much to do, much to prove, and much success to attain and sustain. Below, a college football to-do list for the Illini-

Beat a good non-conference opponent

Goes without saying, especially now with the Big Ten suffering from national reputation issues.

Last time it happened: Well, Ball St 2007 and Rutgers 2005 finished with winning records but were unranked, so let's go with the Louisville team in 2001 that finished in the Top 20 at 11-2.

Next opportunity: Saturday against Missouri! Plus, perhaps the bowl game opponent if things play out favorably this season.

Huge home win in late October/November with Big Ten title implications

Criteria: home Illini contest in the last half of the Big Ten schedule (final 4 games) between teams that can control their own destiny with the conference title. These are the rarest of regular season games, because so many things need to work out with the schedule.

Last time it happened: 2001 Penn St (although PSU entered the game with 2 conference losses and would have needed a lot of help to win the conference had they beaten Illinois). Before that, the 1983 Michigan game amid the Dream Season. Last year's Michigan game is a big almost.

Next opportunity: Nov 15 against Ohio St. Next season it could happen at the Halloween home game against Michigan.

Beat Michigan

The Wolverines own the Illini in football. Is it possible to reverse this unholy curse?

Last time is happened: 1999, 1993, 1983, 1966.

Next opportunities: Oct 4 there, Halloween 2009 here.

Big Ten Title

Preferably an 8-0 or 7-1 finish. Having to share that 1990 6-2 title with three other teams just leaves a bad taste.

Last time it happened: 2001.

Next opportunity: begins Sept 27.

Consecutive winning seasons

Nothing says success like consistent winning.

Last time it happened: 1989 (Jeff George! 10-2) - 1990 (Howard Griffith! 8-4). I don't consider 1991 (6-6) to be winning as much as non-losing.

Consecutive bowl wins in consecutive years

Nothing says success like consistent, repeated bowl wins.

Last time it happened: Never happened. Ouch.

Last back-to-back bowl wins: 1994 Liberty (30-0 East Carolina) and 1999 MicronPC.com (63-21 Virginia).

Last bowl appearances in consecutive years: 1991 John Hancock (loss to UCLA 6-3) and 1992 Holiday (loss to Hawaii 27-17).

Win a BCS bowl game

Nothing says success like BCS success.

Last time is happened: Never happened. Had some trouble with USC (2007 Rose) and LSU (2002 Sugar) in our only 2 BCS outings.

Next opportunity: 2009 Rose Bowl against USC.

Play for the National Championship

Nothing says success like being one of the best-of-the-best.

Last time it happened: Never happened.

Next opportunity: January 2010.

Win the National Championship

Nothing says success like beating the best-of-the-best.

Last time it happened: 1927, 1923, 1919, 1914. And 1951 according to the Quarterback Club.

Next opportunity: January 2010.

Work to be done. Keep on keepin' on, and Go Illini!

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