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See Jane Style:
Do IT this week: Layering
Rotating position could affect stability of team
By George M. Thomas Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Thursday, Oct 18, 2007
Illinois Fighting Illini coach Ron Zook might have made his job more difficult with last week's loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes.
With his offense struggling under quarterback Isaiah ''Juice'' Williams, he turned to redshirt freshman Eddie McGhee. McGhee got into the game and eventually threw an 80-yard touchdown pass that would have won the game had it not been called back because of a penalty. That moment alone is enough to make tongues wag in Champaign, Ill.
''Juice is our starting quarterback. I also think there is a good chance that you're going to see Eddie come in the game,'' Zook said in his weekly news conference. ''We don't have a predetermined time when that's going to happen.''
Many regard a rotatingquarterback system as an insidious two-headed monster, but Zook said that he would have little problem using it.
''There have been a lot of teams that have played two quarterbacks, and that doesn't mean we're going to, but I think if Eddie prepares the way that we need Eddie to prepare, Please see Big Ten, C7
Continued from Page C3 then I think there's a chance that we can use him,'' he said.
There's something to be said for stability at the quarterback position, and Zook could be taking a huge risk. Upon further scrutiny, the Illini at 5-2 haven't locked up a bowl bid. His season could still implode, and some might look back to this moment if it does.
It was reported Wednesday that Zook received a three-year contract extension. Here's hoping he knows that there are no guarantees when teams don't perform.
They're baaaaaack!!!
Remember a long, long time ago the first week of the college football season when the Michigan Wolverines lost to Appalachian State and Michigan's detractors were warned not to get too happy?
Check your rearview mirror.
The Wolverines are back despite that loss and another to Oregon, re-entering the polls at No. 24 this week. Coach Lloyd Carr sounded bored by the prospect in his weekly news conference.
''I think it's nice to play well and improve, and I think that's what we did against Purdue (a 48-21 victory). The things that are important are that we improve, continue to improve this week. Because certainly there are some things that we didn't do well, and certainly some things that we need to do better,'' he said. ''If we can do that on a week-to-week basis, day-to-day basis, we can know that we have got a chance to do something. Other than that, I really don't have a lot of thought on that.''
At the beginning of the season, the Wolverines' Mike Hart said that the team had three goals win the Big Ten, win a national championship and beat Ohio State. Two of those are still on the table. Although, things could be tougher for the Wolverines this week when they take on the Illini with Hart's status unknown after he appeared to injure his ankle last week.
Back to the future
Michigan State Spartans coach Mark Dantonio isn't above using the past to motivate his team against the Ohio State Buckeyes. More than once in recent memory the Spartans had the opportunity to spoil the Buckeyes' season and No. 1 ranking. The last time they actually did so was in 1998 when the Spartans won after Buckeyes quarterback Joe Germaine threw an interception to end a potential game-winning drive.
''I would use it as a motivational tool in the fact that you can get things done,'' Dantonio said. ''We had five sacks. Turnovers are obviously key to any game, so we played very well in that area and came up with some turnovers, and we didn't turn it over.''
Dantonio, having coached under Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel, knows, however, that these are different times, different teams and different coaches.
''Coach Tressel is very, very good about not letting his players get too far ahead of themselves,'' Dantonio said. ''And keeping them current and keeping them focused on the task at hand. He is very, very good at that.''
George M. Thomas can be reached at gmthomas@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/sportsblitz/
Illinois Fighting Illini coach Ron Zook might have made his job more difficult with last week's loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes.
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