Year End Thoughts by Malbert

Well, I'm trying to pass the time until the Senior Shindig, and all the good football happened earlier, so now's a great time for me to spout off a few thoughts and thank yous as the season ends.

First off, I'm very old. That aside, the work ethic of the section this year was the best it's ever been since I've been here. Which has been a good number of years, since I'm so old. I also bet that the rest of seniors will probably agree with me on this one. The level of efficiency exhibited by this section was second to none, and I owe a huge thank you to all of you for that. You made the section leaders' jobs easier by being prepared to practice and perform as if it were the last time you took the field. I can't help but think of how great next year will be, and it is all because of the hard work you did this year.

Second, I want to thank the rest of the section leaders for the job they did this year. Jenny and Heather did a phenomenal job in their first year as leaders. Bob didn't miss a beat (bad pun) by switching to the Firsts. Chad, Val, and Cara were as good a team that I could possibly have hoped to work with. To the six of you, it's been a privilege to have the opportunity along with you to help this section become one of the best in the nation. Assuming Pete takes back the remaining four of us next year, it means that we have three new leadership spots open. If you think you might be perfect for the job, GO FOR IT! More info will be available at the last meeting.

Third, a big thank you to the squad leaders this year. Our drill looked much better than it has before, and it's because all of you pitched in to make sure everyone was where they needed to be. Your contributions did not go unnoticed. There were also considerably less tempers on the field, too. That is also because of how well you executed with your responsibilities. If you're a squad leader and you're coming back next year, please consider doing it again.

Fourth, I offer the most sincere Congratulations to the Senior class. For those of you who marched your final show today, I hope it was everything you could have wished for. The moment is over in a heartbeat, but the stories about it are priceless. Please stay in touch with the rest of us when we start this whole thing up again next season. It certainly won't be the same without you, and I certainly won't forget any of you for your work. You've done this band and university proud.

One last thing: just because MI is over doesn't mean you have to stop seeing each other. You'll find yourself with a buttload of free time next semester with nothing to do. If you're bored and looking to do something, there's bound to be at least ONE person in a section of over 60 that wants to go out, too.

Thanks for making my fourth year my most memorable one. It's only nine months 'til Bandcamp 2007............and it's only 13 months until Bowl Trip 2007-08.

Final TFL Statistics For First Half

League MVP: Quinn Fuechsl

Rushing Yards
Fuechsl................243
Forry...................135
Wujek..................103
Preston.................92
Braker...................52

Passing Yards
Fuechsl...............300
Forry..................226
Wujek.................138
Braker................133
Preston...............122

Receptions
Braker.................15
Wheaton, B.........12
Huffman..............11
Forry.....................8
Geller....................8

Receiving Yards
Wheaton, B.............104
Braker.......................88
Griglione...................83
Forry.........................73
Huffman....................67

Tackling
Wheaton, B..............17
Fuechsl.....................15
Gradl........................15
Braker......................14
2 others with...........13

Interceptions
Braker.................5
Fuechsl................5
Eikenberry.........4
Forry...................4
2 others with......2

Touchdowns
Wujek.................8
Forry..................6
Fuechsl...............6
Huffman.............5
Wheaton, B........5

Hurries
Obendorf............11
Gradl....................5
Lareau.................5
Schwaegler.........4
Skarpiak.............3

Sacks
Gradl................4
Schwaegler.......2
Wheaton, B.......2
7 others with....1

A Quinn-tessential Afternoon

Fuechsl Leads Team to Title, Wins TFL Bowl XXVIII MVP Award

Matt Albert
TFL Press

CHAMPAIGN--After Team A came back to beat Team C two weeks ago in dramatic fashion, nobody could pick a favorite with total confidence for the winner of TFL Bowl XXVIII. Fittingly, this one would have to be decided on the field in front of friends and family with emotions running high.

Team A capped off a tremendous run with a hard-fought 35-28 win over Team C. Fuechsl was incredible yet again as he passed for 69 yards and rushed for 121 more. He could not be reached for comment after the game, but it was clear how emotional he was after the win. Fuechsl visibly choked back tears throughout the team photo taken afterwards.

Fuechsl's 40 yard touchdown run with 1:23 left in the game put the finishing touch on what was a complete team effort. Andy Gradl anchored the defense all day long and was the leading tackler for the day with six. Brad Wheaton also had major contributions by intercepting Team C twice, catching one pass for a touchdown, and by having 19 yards receiving on the day. The victorious super-senior was nearly speechless afterwards. "It was a good game." Wheaton was also mobbed by his parents when he jogged off the field with the win.



Hilary Antosh was able to draw many defenders away from Joe Griglione and Brad Wheaton all day with her juking ability. She along with two other trumpettes, Allissa Carter and Val Billing, made sure that two weeks ago was no fluke. Billing put pressure on Team C quarterback Eric Forry late in the second half, and it led to an interception by rookie Rob Greathouse. Carter meanwhile found her way onto the stat sheet in many ways. She had one tackle, one hurry, and one catch for seven yards.



As for Team C, it was another frustrating experience as an early lead slipped away by the end. The Achilles heel for them was the interception as Team A picked them off four times. Two went to Wheaton, one went to Greathouse, and the other was the most painful of all--an Eric Tolar interception that went all the way back for a touchdown and ultimately proved to be the deciding factor. Forry was distraught after the game but managed to utter a few words. "The only reason we lost was because of interceptions." It cannot be said any plainer.

Valiantly giving effort for Team C along with Forry was Calvin Braker. He came in at brief moments to handle the quarterback position, and he put up very respectable numbers. He went 5 for 9 good enough for 45 yards through the air. This included a late touchdown pass to Forry to pull Team C within one score. Braker also found Andy Imig late in the first half with a 16 yard touchdown pass that put Team C up 14-7 and sent them into halftime with the lead.



Also contributing were Mike West, Kevin Bassett, and Zach Geller. West had 4 tackles equaling his season high. West pretty much summed up his team's frustration after the game when he said, "I'd like to see Tim Schwaegler's credentials as an official."

Bassett had 2 catches for 7 yards and 5 tackles on the day. He was much more positive in the post game interviews. "We've got lots of young and new talent out there. It's great for the league."



The rookie Geller 11 yards receiving and 3 tackles for his team. He couldn't help but look forward to October 22nd when the Trumpets play the Trombones. "I think we're going to give them a great game."

Most of the scoring took place in the second half. With 18:17 remaining, Forry was able to find the end zone from 14 yards out to make it 21-7 Team C. The lead looked insurmountable, but Fuechsl came right back five minutes later with a 10 yard touchdown pass to Rob Greathouse. This made it 21-14 with 13:11 to go. After a defensive stand, Team A got the ball back and Fuechsl hooked up with Brad Wheaton for an 8 yard score that tied the game at 21 with 8:08 left. Tolar's interception came one minute later and gave Team A the lead for good.

Game Notes

The Wheaton family was well represented on the field and and off the field as the parents of Brad showed up to take in the insanity. More family members were present at this game than any other TFL game before.



The field looked to be less slippery than when the previous game was played...The opening ceremony was supposed to be a fire-eating group from Mongolia, but they found a hot time elsewhere and chose not to participate...With numerous weekend engagements on the calendar, it appears no TFL games will be played until November. Whether this happens is still up in the air...The quote of the game came from Kim Lareau. "Early in the first half, Val and I were lined up against each other when all of a sudden I got hit by a truck. Obie and Rob flattened me down to a B cup."

All photos courtesy of TFL photographer and Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader Michelle Lewis.

Fit To Be Tied

Buchanan Bowl I Never Happens, Pickup Game Breaks Out

Matt Albert
TFL Press

CHAMPAIGN--Championship Day of the TFL's first half of the season got off to a bad start when numerous people refused to show up for the third place game. Despite frantic phone calls, not enough players were present to play the inaugural Buchanan Bowl. But this did not dampen the spirits of those who were there. A pickup game was organized right away with one player being the most unlikeliest of subs.

Free-lance statistician, mock journalist, and "Frasier" DVD Collector, Matt Albert, played in his first TFL game in nearly two years. The emotional comeback coupled with the teams' 35-35 tie made the entire day a feel good story.

"It was great to catch a touchdown pass out there. I didn't think I still had it. But you can ask Katrina Willitz about the smoke I left in her face when I burned her over and over again. I warned all of them, 'Don't let this white skin fool you'," said the ridiculously egotistical and delusional jerk.



Not to be forgotten was the reemergence of Bob Mecozzi at quarterback after receiving Chris Preston passes for two weeks. Mecozzi brilliantly guided his team across the field by mixing up short bullet passes and long bombs all day long. Tim Schwaegler was the deep threat for Mecozzi's team as he hauled in pass after pass.



Brendan Frank made a huge play when he helped free up Albert in the second half for a first down by giving him space from Scott Wujek. Albert in a rare showing of sportsmanship actually found it in his heart to congratulate his teammate after the play. "I told him it was nice to see him not screw it up."

Kim Lareau was instrumental in keeping Brittany Davis from being a presence in the pocket for Mecozzi. She blocked all day long and was able to use the grab-the-collar-and-maybe-a-bra-strap technique frequently.

Leading the other team was perennial competitor Scott Wujek. Wujek was able to achieve a balance of passes to Andy Imig and Jon Huffman. He was set up beautifully as Imig and Huffman ran perfect slant routes for most of the game. Katrina Willitz and Brittany Davis once again proved why the future for the freshmen class is bright as well. Davis gave Wujek lots of time to find his receivers, and Willitz was able to use her act-frustrated-by-rolling-my-eyes-and-then-dramatically-sigh-so-he-laughs-his-butt-off-and-gives-me-a-chance-to-get-wide-open technique on Albert every time her team had the ball.

Game Notes

By the time the game had ended, most of the players for TFL Bowl XXVIII had shown up. The audience was a great lift for both teams...The weather was beautiful but the field conditions were still slippery. Many lost traction on kickoffs and punts...The teams disregarded the TFL timing rules by playing a 35 minute first half and a 20 minute second half...The marketing director for TFL was suspended without pay for the poor turnout of athletes and fans alike for what should have been a historic third place game.

All photos courtesy of TFL photographer and queen of six African tribes Michelle Lewis.

Week 3 TFL Standings and Statistics

Team..........W..........L..........PF.......... PA.......... +/-
C.................2...........1..........98...........84............+14
A..................2...........1..........105...........98............+7
D..................2...........1..........98...........98.............0
B..................0...........3..........84...........105.............-21

3rd Place Game: Team D vs. Team B
Championship Game: Team C vs. Team A

Note: Game times to be determined by commissioner. Standings are determined first by overall record, then point differential, then head-to-head matchups.

League Leaders through Week 3 (only top 5 in each category are displayed)

Rushing Yards
Fuechsl................122
Wujek..................103
Preston................92
Forry...................66
Braker.................40

Passing Yards
Fuechsl...............231
Forry..................189
Wujek.................138
Preston...............122
Braker.................88

Receptions
Braker.................13
Huffman..............11
Wheaton, B..........9
Geller....................7
2 others with.......6

Receiving Yards
Wheaton, B.............85
Griglione.................83
Braker.....................78
Huffman.................67
Forry......................53

Tackling
Wheaton, B............14
Braker....................13
Schwaegler............13
Wujek.....................13
Fuechsl...................12

Interceptions
Braker.................5
Eikenberry.........4
Forry...................4
Fuechsl................4
Frank..................2

Touchdowns
Wujek.................8
Huffman.............5
4 others with.....4
4 others with.....3

Hurries
Obendorf............9
Gradl..................5
Schwaegler........4
Lareau...............3
Skarpiak............3

Sacks
Gradl................4
Schwaegler.......2
Wheaton, B.......2
5 others with....1

Team A Posts Incredible Win in Double Overtime

Sets Up Rematch with Team C for Championship Next Week

Matt Albert
TFL Press

CHAMPAIGN--It was easily the most emotional game of the regular season, and it was fitting that it was the final game before the championship rounds. Team A behind the passing of Quinn Fuechsl was able to upset Team C 42-35 in double overtime to close out the day. It clinched a berth in the championship game for Team A (2-1) who will face Team C (2-1) again next week but with much bigger stakes.



It was truly an entire team effort by Team A as Quinn Fuechsl threw 5 touchdown passes among 3 different receivers for the victory, none bigger than a 9 yard fade pattern to Brad Wheaton in the back corner of the end zone to win it in the second overtime. "I saw Team C had some superstar subs today, and it made me bring my 'A' game. We figured out their defense at halftime and used it to our advantage. It just all came together at the right time," said the victorious yet humble Fuechsl.

The receiver on the final play, Wheaton, gave his take on the play as well. "It was a perfect spiral from Quinn and I wasn't really thinking anything big. I just wanted to catch the ball because I hadn't really done that all day. It just felt great to catch one, but it was also great that it was the game winner." Wheaton caught only 2 passes for 13 yards; however, his last catch will be talked about in old timers' circles on creaky porches for years to come.

Also playing major roles for Team A were Joe Griglione and Andy Gradl. Griglione in his first week back from suspension caught 3 passes for 40 yards and had 2 touchdown receptions. He played as if he had something to prove after a weeklong ordeal of doping allegations. Griglione got right to the point in his postgame interview. "I'm just glad we made it to the championship game. I also deny those allegations."

Gradl had a brilliant game on both sides of the ball. He had 4 catches for 41 yards with 2 going for touchdowns. On defense, he had 3 tackles but 2 were sacks that came at extremely important junctures in the game. His first came as Team C tried to tie the game in regulation and his second came in the second overtime, just three plays before his team won it. "Twenty bucks is all it takes. I went to Payless (TM) and bought size 10 1/2 cleats. I really felt like I could do no wrong, and Team C's got nothing on me, nothing."



Not to be overlooked was the supporting cast of Team A as well. Rob Greathouse had 3 tipped passes at the line of scrimmage, and Allissa Carter had 2 tackles with one very important tipped pass. On Team C's possession in second overtime, she emphatically batted away a Calvin Braker pass to force the turnover on downs and set up the win for Team A.

For Team C, it was a day to reevaluate where they stand before next week's big game. They looked sharp offensively as Eric Forry was 11/23 for 82 yards and 4 touchdown passes. He also ran the ball 9 times for 34 yards and one touchdown.



But defensively, they were lacking as they gave up 6 touchdowns on the day. Calvin Braker was unable to intercept a pass for the first time this season, but his impact was felt in other ways. He had four tackles and led his team in that category along with Kevin Bassett and Mike West. Braker led his team in receiving with 3 catches for 41 yards. He now has 78 receiving yards on the season. Chris Preston in a substitution role also came up big with 3 catches for 28 yards.

Game Notes

If this game is only a preview of the rematch next week, then the championship game should be one of the best games this league has ever seen...Two of the season's best trash talking moments came from Val Billing and Allissa Carter. Early in the first half after Brad Wheaton made a first down, Val took exception to those who had a problem with him. "Hey ya'll, you do NOT talk to my man like that!" Carter's moment came right before her team won the game with Fuechsl's pass to Wheaton. "I have homework to do. We are NOT going to quintuple overtime again!"...The defender on the game winning pass was Zach Geller. Earlier in the week, Wheaton had made it clear to Geller that he was better by saying "You're mine Jewish Princess." Whether this affects next week's matchup remains to be seen.

All photos courtesty of TFL photographer and unintentional late night napper/party misser Michelle Lewis.

Team D Clinches Third Place with High-Scoring Win

Team B Puts Up Valiant Effort Despite Missing Mecozzi

Matt Albert
TFL Press

CHAMPAIGN--Team D came into Sunday's game knowing it needed to win to have any shot at a possible berth in next week's championship game. It also knew it would need some help from Team A in order to get there, too. They got the win 42-35, but they didn't quite get enough help from Team A in the following game. Nevertheless, Team D put on an offensive clinic as quarterback Scott Wujek completed a pass with every receiver on his squad.

Wujek was phenomenal behind center in his 3rd week of leading the young crop of mostly freshmen and sophomores. He was 12/18 for 77 yards, and he found the end zone twice through the air. In addition, he rushed the ball 7 times for 37 yards. Wujek was quick to give praise to his offensive line. "I want to thank Brittany Davis for doing a stellar job on Kim [Lareau]. She kept her off me all afternoon."



The humorously ironic Wujek was able to utilize his entire roster throughout the day. Matt Danalewich led his team in receiving yards with 3 catches for 35 yards. Also with three catches was Katrina Willitz, good enough for 14 yards. Brendan Frank had 2 catches for 6 yards and Brittany Davis had one catch for 2 yards.

Also having a stellar offensive day was Team B (0-3) quarterback with Chris Preston. Preston was only 6/22 for 51 yards passing, but his rushing total was astounding--12 attempts resulting in 82 yards. In only two weeks of play, he is just 8 yards short of 100. Preston led off the scoring with a 22 yard scramble on the second play from scrimmage as he got great blocking from Andy Wheaton, Chris Paolinetti, and Tim Schwaegler. Schwaegler led all tacklers with 6 on the day.

Wujek responded not once but twice for touchdowns with a 7 yard run and a 5 yard run. The second one gave Team D (2-1) the lead with 10:15 remaining in the first half. Preston came right back with an 18 yard touchdown pass to Andy Wheaton with 8:05 left in the half to tie it at 14. The scoring continued immediately as Jon Huffman took the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown and a 21-14 lead for Team D. It was his first special teams touchdown of the year, and it was only the second kick that has been returned for a touchdown in regular season play (Bob Mecozzi). Wujek made it 28-14 just minutes before halftime with a 27 yard pass to a wide open Matt Danalewich. It was also Danalewich's first touchdown of the year.

As halftime approached, the steady misting that had been present all day turned into showers. It forced the commandeering of Huffman's car as a lone reporter turned it into his personal press box. Luckily, his laptop and game notes were saved and dry. There wasn't much debate about whether to continue play as both teams clearly were enjoying themselves in the cloudy, mid-60s weather.

The second half scoring began right where it left off as Team D increased their lead again. Wujek made it 35-14 with 16:25 left in the game as he ran the ball in from 7 yards out behind the blocking of Davis. Preston was finally able to get his team back in the scoring column 6 minutes later with a 3 yard run to make it 35-21.



Team D once again quashed any comeback effort when Wujek hooked up with Huffman for a 14 yard touchdown pass at the 7:50 mark. Preston began to make it respectable with a 6 yard touchdown run with 6:37 left in the game. With the score at 42-28, Preston was able to find a subbing Brad Wheaton in the end zone for a 4 yard touchdown but with only 51 seconds in the game. Team D was able to run the clock out and preserve the 42-35 victory.

Game Notes

Team B clearly was hampered by the absence of Bob Mecozzi. Mecozzi did not play in the game because he was granted a bereavement leave. Mecozzi was scheduled to attend the flushing of his parakeet, vanaCe vanUg Mecozzi, Sunday afternoon. A Saturday night autopsy revealed that his pet of 8 years died of bird flu...Because Team C did not lose by enough points in the second game, Team D will have a rematch with Team B next week for 3rd place due to point differential in the standings...When asked who he'd rather play next week, Wujek said, "I definitely don't want to face Calvin [Braker] because he's easily the MVP so far." Wujek will get his wish in next week's contest.

All photos courtesy of TFL photographer and world-renowned bounty hunter Michelle Lewis.

Week 3 TFL Preview

Teams Begin Push For 1st Half Championship

Matt Albert
TFL Press

The race is getting tighter for the 1st half title as week 3 looms large. Injuries are taking effect and lesser-knowns will have to step up big. What remains to be seen is what teams can shrug off the effects of a certain Green Street gathering Saturday night. If they take in too much tea and crumpets, they can go from champs to chumps.

Game Capsules

Team B (+6.5) vs. Team D
Time: 1 pm
Location: Terrace Fields
TV: None
Radio: None
Keys for Team B: Team B is in a big hole right now at 0-2. Their hopes for a berth in the championship game are probably gone, but that won't stop them from playing for pride. With the emergence of a new quarterback in Chris Preston, the hopes are high. Look for Preston to establish a short passing game as he did the week before. He only threw one bad pass that resulted in 7 for the opponent. If he can avoid the turnovers, Team B has as good a chance as anybody. There's no reason to think they'll come out flat at all.
Keys for Team D: Team D needs this one badly. With a win, they'll pull to 2-1 and a possible tie for 1st place. With the regular season dwindling down, every play matters. Scott Wujek led his team to an incredible win in quintuple overtime, and it provided the lift to a relatively young and inexperienced team. Their tough, gritty style is what helps them succeed. If they come out with their edge, they can overcome any disparity in talent or experience.
Malbert's Fearless Prediction: Team D 28, Team B 21


Team A (+6.5) vs. Team C
Time: 2 pm
Location: Terrace Fields
TV: None
Radio: None
Keys for Team A: Team A suffered two setbacks last week: a loss and a slight injury to Quinn Fuechsl. The good news for them is that Joe Griglione comes off of suspension this week, and a win would put them in a tie for 1st place. It would also give them the tiebreaker advantage over Team C because of the victory. The major challenge for Fuechsl will be to keep the ball away from Calvin Braker. He has 5 interceptions and shows no sign of slowing down. A balanced rushing and passing attack will be vital for a victory. If Fuechsl is content to drop back on every play and chuck it deep, it won't work.
Keys for Team C: A win this week will almost certainly give them a berth in the championship game, not to mention the continued pride of being the only unbeaten team in the league. This team has been a buzz saw for all of its opponents. They'll get their stiffest (hehehehe, I totally just said stiffest) competition this week when they face Team A. If they continue to play their game, they'll win this one. As long as they stay away from the injury bug and the mental mistakes, Team C could very well be 3-0 by the end of the day.
Malbert's Utterly Fearless Prediction: Team C 35, Team A 21

That's all for now. Let the debating begin. And let's keep the hate mail to a minimum this time or else I'll have to post the funniest ones with my even funnier retorts.

Week 2 Standings and Statistics

Team..........W..........L..........PF.......... PA.......... +/-
C.................2...........0..........63...........42............+21
A..................1...........1..........63...........63............0
D..................1...........1..........56...........63.............-7
B..................0...........2..........49...........63.............-14


League Leaders through Week 2 (only top 5 in each category are displayed)

Rushing Yards
Fuechsl................66
Wujek..................66
Mecozzi...............33
Forry...................32
Braker.................26

Passing Yards
Fuechsl...............123
Forry..................107
Braker..................76
Preston................71
Wujek...................61

Receptions
Braker.................10
Huffman...............8
Geller....................6
Tolar.....................6
2 others with........5

Receiving Yards
Wheaton, B.............57
Forry.......................48
Huffman.................47
Griglione.................43
Braker.....................37

Tackling
Braker....................9
Mecozzi..................8
Wujek.....................8
Schwaegler............7
5 others with.........6

Interceptions
Braker.................5
Eikenberry.........4
Forry...................2
7 others with......1

Touchdowns
Wujek.................5
Fuechsl...............3
Huffman.............3
7 others with.....2

Hurries
Obendorf............6
Gradl..................4
Schwaegler........4
Skarpiak............3
2 others with....2

Sacks
Gradl................2
Fuechsl.............1
Greathouse......1
Obendorf..........1
Schwaegler......1

Team C Takes Overall Lead in Standings With Win

Braker and Forry Help Team Move to 2-0

Matt Albert
TFL Press


CHAMPAIGN--Separation Saturday in college football carried over to Sunday for the TFL as Team C defeated Team B 35-28 in late game action. It made Team C the only undefeated team remaining in the league with a record of 2 wins and no losses. Calvin Braker once again stepped up as he added to his league leading interception total when he picked off a Chris Preston pass and returned it 23 yards for a score. It was Braker's fifth interception of the season and established his average at 2.5 picks per game.



"I knew Bob [Mecozzi] would cut right, so I just followed him and read the quarterback's eyes," said Braker. He also had seven tackles as he led his team to its second win in a row.

Eric Forry also had a big day for Team C. He was 8/17 for 52 yards and two touchdown passes. His first came on a trick play that was flawlessly executed by him and Braker. Braker took the snap then pitched back to Forry. He ran around the line and streaked down the right side of the field. Forry found him with a gorgeous 15 yard fade pass. It made the score 21-14 in favor of Team C and provided the cushion for the rest of the game.

Not to be overlooked was the debut of rookie Chris Preston for Team B (0-2). Despite the final outcome, Preston led all quarterbacks for the day as he went 14/32 for 71 yards through the air. His only crucial mistake came on the Braker interception that went back for 7 points. However, he still shouldered all of the blame after the game was over. "Chalk the loss up on my part. I didn't throw enough good passes. But give credit to their defense."



Bob Mecozzi had a good all around today as he caught 4 passes for 27 yards and then contributed on the defensive side with 7 tackles. With Preston taking on the quarterbacking responsibilities, Mecozzi looked much more at ease on the field. It is expected for the change to be a permanent one.

Team C began the scoring as Braker found Chad Skarpiak for an 8 yard touchdown pass with 14:04 left in the first half. Team B had no answer four minutes later when Braker intercepted Preston to make it 14-0. Preston finally answered on the next possession finding a leaping Kevin Caron in the back of the end zone to make it 14-7 with 9:45 remaining in the half. Preston then threw a 6 yard strike to Mecozzi for the tying score with 7:10 until halftime. The teams appeared equally matched until the second half started with the Braker/Forry trick play which was then followed by a 13 yard touchdown run by Forry with 3:55 left in the game. This made it 28-14 and finished off any hopes for Team B.

Braker added on the final score for Team C when he threw a 2 yard touchdown pass to Zach Geller making it 35-14. It was Geller's first touchdown of his TFL career. Preston was able to make it look respectable when he found temporary sub Scott Wujek for a 7 yard scoring pass. This brought it to 35-21, and Wujek returned a fumble on the final play of the game for a touchdown that ended the scoring at 35-28.

Game Notes

Allen Obendorf was instrumental for the second week in a row with his play on the defensive line. He had 6 hurries on the day. "They were doing a good job holding me back, but I was just trying to open it up for interceptions by Calvin."...There were five total interceptions in the game by five different players...The attendance for the game was significantly less than the previous game. Only 3 showed up and severely bruised the marketing department's ego on what was expected to be their biggest promotion day: Invisible Bobblehead Doll Day...Negotiations have apparently broken off as the TFL cannot find a suitable TV contract. However, there are rumors that WDWS is looking into a radio deal as Brian Barnhart is suffering from manic depression as he broadcasts Illinois football. It is hoped that the compelling game play of the TFL can cure him. There are no candidates for a color commentator at this time.

All photos courtesty of TFL photographer and Mysterious Fifth Beatle Michelle Lewis.

Team D Pulls Off Major Upset in Historic Game

Wujek and Fuechsl Stage Epic Battle, Team A Feels Effects of Griglione Suspension

Matt Albert
TFL Press

CHAMPAIGN--Team D overcame huge odds and an equally huge point spread to capture their first win of the season as they outlasted Team A 42-35. And it only took 5 overtimes to do it. The longest game in TFL history ended when Scott Wujek found Jon Huffman in the end zone for the go ahead score followed by a defensive stop to finish off Team A on the very next play.



It was the first victory of the year for Team D (1-1), and it also kept them in the hunt for the championship game. With an 0-2 start looming before the beginning of the game, a win was absolutely necessary for their league title hopes.

But it never would have happened if it were not for one of Team D's many rookies. Team D received a stellar defensive showing from Glenn Eikenberry in his TFL debut. Eikenberry dived and intercepted a Quinn Fuechsl pass in the end zone with 46 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime with the teams tied at 21. "I was thinking just make a defensive stop or else we don't go into overtime. I was in the right place and it turned out great. It was kind of nice," said Eikenberry. The pickoff was his third of the game and his second in the final five minutes of regulation.

Team A (1-1) won the toss before overtime and surprisingly decided to go against conventional strategy by taking the ball first. Usually, a team will choose to go on defense to start overtime to see what they need to meet or beat. But it didn't matter as Team A started the first overtime scoring with a 4 yard touchdown pass from Fuechsl to Andy Gradl. That made it 28-21. The touchdown came after 2 incomplete passes and a 6 yard run by Fuechsl.

Team D only needed one play to answer right back. Wujek ran the ball for a 10 yard score to tie the game at 28. Neither team was able to score in double overtime. But Team A nearly ended it when Eric Tolar caught a Fuechsl pass 2 yards from the endzone. Wujek made the game saving tackle. Triple overtime began with Fuechsl lofting a 10 yard pass to Brad Wheaton in the back left corner of the end zone to make it 35-28 for Team A. Team A had yet another chance to put it away as they forced Team D into a fourth down situation. But Wujek found the defensive hero Eikenberry for a 2 yard pass that tied the game at 35.

At this point, the college overtime rules were abandoned and the teams went to a one play sudden death format. The fourth overtime had no scoring as both Wujek and Fuechsl threw incomplete passes. The fifth overtime began with a 5 yard pass from Wujek to Huffman to make it 42-35 for Team D. Fuechsl had one last gasp, but his pass bounced off the fingertips of Brad Wheaton and gave Team D the much needed win.

"There were just too many dropped passes because I didn't throw the best balls today. It was a tough game to lose," said losing quarterback Fuechsl. Fuechsl was 11/33 for 64 passing yards and ran the ball six times for 35 yards. His counterpart, Wujek, also had a mediocre day through the air going 7/35 for just 32 yards. However, Wujek had more success on the ground with 9 rushes for 48 yards, none bigger than the 10 yard scoring play in the first overtime.

Wheaton had a great day catching the ball with the exception of the final play. He caught 4 balls for 36 yards and led all receivers. Huffman provided the spark for Team D as he had 5 catches for 26 yards. Wujek led all players with 3 touchdowns on the day, and he also passed for 2 more.

Game Notes

Team A was visibly hampered from the start of the game when they learned that last week's hero, Joe Griglione, would not play in the game. Griglione was suspended just hours before kickoff when he failed a random TFL drug test. He tested positive for 24 different kinds of performance enhancing drugs and also barely completed the test because of his heavy inebriation. He was also found to have some Oreo cookies and Pringles in his system, but neither are on the TFL's list of banned substances. Griglione could not be reached for comment and served his suspension today...Andy Gradl had a fine defensive effort for Team A with 2 sacks...The total attendance for the game was 3 in the first half, but it ballooned to 17 when Teams B and C showed up to watch the overtime. Also included were the 2 people who wanted to know what club we were...



Eikenberry's three interceptions are the second most in a TFL debut (Braker, 4)...The funniest trash talking came before the fourth overtime when Katrina Willitz complained about having homework to do and wanting the game to be over. A voice from the crowd immediately responded by saying, "You could just lose on purpose." Without a witty retort, Willitz was reduced to mere giggling. There is no word on whether it affected her gameplay in the fourth and fifth overtimes...The teams were treated to a fly over at the midpoint of the first half. No one seemed to care.



All photos courtesy of TFL photographer and scraped leg sufferer Michelle Lewis.

TFL Week 2 Preview

Teams Look For Improvement After Competitive First Week

Matt Albert
TFL Press

The big question facing each team this week is "How Do We Get Better?" While most of the quarterbacks have figured out who their favorite receivers are, the key point is figuring out how to find roles for everybody else. This will be the biggest challenge facing all four teams on Sunday at the Terrace Fields. That and trying to avoid the silk worms.

Game Capsules

Team A (-13.5) vs. Team D
Time: 1 pm
Place: Terrace Fields
TV: None
Radio: None
Keys for Team A: It was all about Quinn Fuechsl and Joe Griglione last week during that frantic final drive. Look for Team D to double team Griglione and prevent the big play. Fuechsl will no doubt have to find other receivers to free up the Italian Stallion. An effective run game will also keep the defense packed down by the line making it easier for Griglione and the rest of the WRs to get behind the secondary.
Keys for Team D: Interceptions were the downfall for them last week. Luckily, they're not facing a secondary with high school football experience this time. Their aggressiveness with the passing game may be the only thing that can keep them in the contest. One thing's for sure: Team A's secondary showed holes in the second half last week down the stretch. If Jon Huffman, Andy Imig, and the other WRs (including rookies Davis and Willitz) can have enough stamina for the end of the game, Wujek's got the arm to find them in the end zone.

Malbert's Prediction: Team A, 35-28


Team B (+6.5) vs. Team C
Time: 2 pm
Place: Terrace Fields
TV: None
Radio: None
Keys for Team B: They came oh so close to pulling off an incredible comeback last week. They're no doubt very anxious to get back on the field for another shot at it. Bob Mecozzi was able to help establish a balanced run and pass attack last week, but he'll need help this week. He's going to have to deal with Calvin Braker and his ability to go up and get the ball. The offensive line needs to step up big this week because if Mecozzi doesn't have time to throw, it may spell trouble early on. Look for Tim Schwaegler to get a few more touches and for Chris Paolinetti to handle the duties all day on the line.
Keys for Team C: After wowing the sparse crowd last week, Calvin Braker is going to try to do it again. It's not the end of the world if he doesn't get another four picks, but it's no shocker if he's able to get one or two more. Allen Obendorf was able to put a lot of pressure on the quarterback last week, and he'll have to do it again. If he succeeds with this, Braker will be licking his chops for an errant throw.

Malbert's Prediction: Team C, 21-14

Week 1 Standings and Statistics

Team..........W..........L..........PF.......... PA.......... +/-
C .................1...........0..........28...........14............+14
A..................1...........0..........28...........21............+7
B..................0...........1..........21...........28.............-7
D..................0...........1..........14...........28.............-14


League Leaders through Week 1 (only top 5 in each category are displayed)

Rushing Yards
Fuechsl...............31
Mecozzi..............29
Braker................19
Wujek.................18
Forry...................7

Passing Yards
Fuechsl...............59
Forry..................55
Mecozzi..............43
Braker................40
Wujek.................29

Receptions
Braker.................4
Geller...................3
Huffman..............3
Imig.....................3
7 others with........2

Receiving Yards
Griglione.............43
Forry...................29
Geller..................24
Imig....................23
3 others with........21

Tackling
Imig....................5
Gradl..................4
Greathouse..........4
3 others with........3

Interceptions
Braker.................4
Forry...................1
Frank..................1
Wheaton, A..........1
Wujek..................1

Touchdowns
Bassett................2
Griglione.............2
Imig....................2
7 others with.........1

Team C Downs Team D With Second Half Flurry

Braker Intercepts Four

Matt Albert
TFL Press

CHAMPAIGN--Calvin Braker staked an early claim to the TFL’s Golden Bell Award (given to the MVP at season’s end) with an incredible performance in the second game of the day. Braker had 4 interceptions to go along with 2 touchdown passes and one touchdown reception in Team C’s 28-14 win over Team D. But he was quick to give credit to his offensive line. “It was all about Obie [Allen Obendorf] blocking up front.” When asked about his previous high school football experience, he said, “It helped me out a lot. I was able to read the passes better and find the ball.”

Braker was 5/18 passing and racked up 40 yards through the air. He also ran the ball 2 times for 19 yards. The other notable performance for Team C was backup quarterback Eric Forry who was 9/13 for 55 yards. Forry additionally ran the ball once for 7 yards.

Team D was led by their veteran leader Scott Wujek who had a very good game offensively despite throwing 3 interceptions—all to Braker. Wujek was 5/13 for 29 yards along with 18 yards on the ground. Team D used two other quarterbacks during the game as well. Brendan Frank was 0/6 and Andy Imig was 3/7 for 16 yards.

Both teams were evenly matched throughout the first half. Braker started the scoring with a 3 yard touchdown pass to Kevin Bassett, and Wujek responded on the next possession with a 2 yard touchdown shovel pass to Jon Huffman. The two teams entered halftime tied at 7.

Team C opened the second half scoring as Braker wasted no time airing out a 24 yard touchdown pass to Eric Forry. This made it 14-7 and it was also the closest Team D would be the rest of the day. Forry returned the favor to Braker with a 3 yard touchdown pass and only 7:36 remaining in the game giving Team C a 21-7 lead. Wujek gave Team D some hope on a 3 yard touchdown pass to Andy Imig with 5:18 left in the game. However, Forry found Kevin Bassett on a 2 yard touchdown pass with 2:10 left to cement the victory for Team C.

Chipping in for Team D were Brittany Davis and Katrina Willitz each with 2 receptions. Davis had 10 yards receiving and Willitz had 13. Team C’s Zach Geller had 3 catches for 24 yards.

Game Notes

The silk worm problem was no better by kickoff…More subs were used in this game than normal due to some no shows…One of the lighter moments of the day came when Davis caught her first pass of her TFL career and then immediately yelled out, “I caught one!”…Braker’s four interceptions lead the league after the first week…The total attendance was a new TFL record of 5…Many silk worms were harmed during the playing of this game.

All photos courtesy of Michelle Lewis, TFL photographer

Team A Wins In Heart-Stopping Finish

Fuechsl and Griglione Provide Last Second Heroics

Matt Albert
TFL Press

CHAMPAIGN--Week 1 of the TFL started off with a bang as Team A defeated Team B 28-21 in dramatic fashion. Quinn Fuechsl’s pass to a wide open Joe Griglione gave Team A the decisive touchdown with only 10 seconds remaining.

The 21 yard strike was Fuechsl’s third touchdown pass of the day and also his third of the half. “I was just trying to find my stroke,” said Fuechsl. “I was lucky that Joe [Griglione] had his legs under him because he is the Italian Stallion.” While Fuechsl showed utmost confidence in his number one receiver, Griglione wasn’t shy about admitting his nerves on the final scoring play. “I was just thinking catch it because I blew the coverage from before. It was all about redemption.”

The two teams started off slowly in the first half with the only touchdown coming on Fuechsl’s 29 yard run just before halftime. He was able to elude three, possibly four, defenders on his way to the first score of the young season. Fuechsl also started the scoring in the second half with a 4 yard touchdown pass to Brad Wheaton.

Team B responded on the very next possession when Bob Mecozzi returned the ensuing kickoff 21 yards to make it 14-7. It was just the beginning of a valiant effort by Mecozzi to keep his team in the game. Team A extended the lead to 21-7 when Fuechsl hooked up for the first time with Griglione for a 22 yard touchdown pass.

Not to be outdone, Mecozzi found Andy Imig on the run for an 18 yard touchdown pass making it 21-14 with about 9 minutes remaining. The two teams traded possessions until Team B successfully executed a two minute drill with Mecozzi firing a 15 yard touchdown pass to Tim Schwaegler with only 21 seconds remaining.

Team A returned the following kickoff to about midfield with 16 seconds to play. This set up the heroics from Fuechsl and Griglione. Team B had one last chance to tie up the contest, but Mecozzi’s Hail Mary pass fell incomplete with Fuechsl fittingly being the one who knocked it down to give Team A the win.

Fuechsl was 7/21 on the day, good enough for 59 yards passing. Fuechsl also rushed the ball twice, picking up 31 yards. Griglione was the leading receiver of the game with 2 catches for 43 yards. Mecozzi led Team B by going 5/18 for 43 yards passing. Mecozzi’s best performance came on the ground, though, with his kick return for a touchdown and his 29 yards on 9 attempts. Team A’s Andy Gradl was the leading tackler for the game with 4 tackles. Rob Greathouse and Brad Wheaton also chipped in with 3 each. Team B’s leading tackler was Schwaegler with 3 stops.


Game Notes

The new timing rules were received well by the two teams…The total attendance for the game was 3…The field was in good condition except for an infestation of silk worms…Andy Wheaton had the TFL’s first interception of the year…The beginning of the game was marked by severe heartbreak when Val Billing was switched to Team B after she had worked so hard to get on Team A by trading spots with Mike West prior to the start of the season. She could not be reached for comment, but she appeared to handle the situation well. The switch happened when Team B did not have enough players.

All photos courtesy of Michelle Lewis, TFL photographer

Rutgers Repays The Favor, ESPN2 Gets Bored

They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I have no idea how that relates to Illinois football, so here's some thoughts on the game.

The first half just might have been one of the worst in the last five years of Illinois football. It's only rivaled by last year's PSU Homecoming debacle. It was also a perfect example of how finicky momentum is in a football game. After Illinois stopped RU on the Knights' first possession, the defensive unit was as fired up as ever. Not more than 25 seconds later, a 78 yard punt took UI right out of it again due to a misjudgment by E.B. Halsey in his return to New Jersey. This set up the snowball of suck. Four plays later, a blocked punt led to a touchdown that viewers later found out was Ron Zook's fault for not having the right blocking scheme out there. Special note: this is not a bash Zook column because it's really hard for a football coach to block an entire defensive line. More on this in a bit.

After RU took a 7-0 lead, Illinois had a chance to regain some composure with a scoring drive. It had about as much chance as Canada winning a major war. Brasic was intercepted on third down, and RU hit the pick-six for a two score lead. RU had a 14 point lead while having the ball for less than 2 minutes. I thought people only pulled this crap off when playing video games. Score after score piled up along with another Brasic interception as the second quarter rolled on. By halftime, it was 30-0 and ESPN2 began trying to figure out how to hold an audience for the rest of the game.

They figured out a plan at the start of the fourth quarter as viewers were redirected to a game with not one but TWO actual football teams playing against each other AT THE SAME TIME!!!! By the time ESPN2 switched back, there were only 40 seconds left and the game mercifully ended in a 33-0 RU rout. For those of you who want to watch this game called football, tune in to NBC around 2:30 for PSU vs. ND and don't miss tonight's game on ABC at 7, OSU vs. Texas.

Malbert's Good, Bad, and Ugly:

The Good: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, surely you jest. Okay, if I had to pick something....................ummmmmmmmmmm.............the defense only allowed 3 points in the second half after RU had stopped trying at the end of the first quarter.

The Bad: I didn't see it out there, but apparently we have this group of guys called an offensive line. Not sure if the team actually does have one, but you theoretically need one to win a football game. If any of you know of the whereabouts of this mystery group of guys, call the Unsolved Mysteries hotline so we can figure out just what the hell is going on.

The Ugly: The punting game got a few lucky rolls as the game went on, but it was still a lot of suck. The running game got no help from the O-line whatsoever. Brasic's and Juice's passing was horrendous. And third down conversions? Try 0 for 12. Also, color analyst Mike Gottfried needs to learn how to coordinate his tongue and lips to accomplish a task known as speaking--preferably in English.

Band Camp Over!!!!

Now that camp is officially over, I think I'll give some of my observations:

1. Our section is good this year, really really good (but still with room for lots of improvement). I've never had 2 TAs tell me during camp that it's already impossible to pick a full slate of alternates. Major props to all of you for your hard work. Keep it up!

2. I've yet to fly off the handle this season. This breaks my previous record of two days. Again, another sign that things are going very well this year. And I must say, your survey answers about what enrages me, classic stuff. For those of you who haven't filled out your surveys yet, the bar's been set high.

3. "Snakes on a Plane" just might be the greatest movie ever made in the history of the world. Kate's tub of popcorn is also the greatest taking advantage of a movie theater's rules ever by a consumer. And one more thing....... ah never mind. Some poor sap just missed the $300 question on Millionaire. He goes home with nothing. What a chump.

4. Kyle's farts are as potent as ever.

5. All right, I've saved the best for last. Jenny's got this secret that she doesn't want anyone to hear. So that's why I'm telling you. Last night, she......GOOD LORD, how can you use the Audience lifeline so early in the game? Seriously, this guy is a moron. Huge freakin' moron. Let me speak for all gameshow junkies, stupid people do not make good TV. Once in a while is fine, but all the time is bad. It takes what, half a brain to get through the first five questions? Since when do you have to think about them? Ok, so Jenny........HE DID IT AGAIN?! You can't be serious! He just used his second lifeline three questions later. How do people like this even get on TV? This might be the worst Millionaire contestant ever. Wow, this has gotten way too long, and I've got lots of Jane Austen to read. So what I was talking about?..........Eh, I forget.

Good work this week guys. See you tomorrow!

Band Camp Blog: Monday, 08/21/06

Monday and Tuesday are usually the two hardest days of band camp but not because of their length. Despite being the two shortest days of the week, Monday stayed true to form by being extremely hot AGAIN. But let's not get ahead of ourselves here. Monday began with a full section music sectional in Harding at 9 AM. We went over stands tunes for the first part of rehearsal while the marching section leaders modeled the horn flashes. Once Kim begged me to show off my rear, well, how could I say no? The horn flash rehearsals in general have been much easier to get through than before which makes me wonder how in the world this week could get any better.

After the horn flashes, we read through two of Kyle's arranged features. The themes from "Family Guy" and "Superman" really are starting to come together and should be on the radio at some point this season. Kyle did a tremendous job writing for five parts and deserves a HUGE amount of credit. Keep looking through them, guys, because they are always getting better each time you play through them.

Practice then shifted outside to our brand spanking new practice field on the South Quad. Any returning member can probably tell you the lack of mud on this field is yet another thing that has been a nice surprise this week. Pete reviewed some fundamentals and taught the run-on step. Everybody is learning the revised step this year, and most have already said how much easier it will be once they practice it a few times. Pete's made so many changes since he took over, but they all have a reason and are being received extremely well by the MI. We've never looked and sounded this good since I've been here.

Once practice ended, we took a break, formed the parade block, and then marched over to Memorial Stadium for Illinois Sights and Sounds Day (formerly Illini First Nite). A lot of the things from music rehearsal carried over into the performance, so major ups to all of you for that. Keep up the phenomenal work on your playing. Lunch was served at the stadium which then led into a much deserved and needed three hour break. Music rehearsal lasted for an hour and a half to finish up the day.

Tomorrow is Quad Day and is the final day of Band Camp 2006. Given past history, I'd expect it to be hotter than a fire created by a match and Kyle's "tell me that's not epic" farts. I'll be posting a recap with my thoughts on the whole week later on.

Passing the day away

There are 4 days 12h 30m 54s until band camp and each hour has seemed to creep by even slower than the last. So I have taken upon many things in order to help pass the time. Here are a few:

1. Sleeping. A good hour nap can really reenergize the body and even though you may believe an hour of your day was wasted, it's still one less hour until bandcamp.

2.The internet. This is a tricky one, because the internet can be boring, but if you're bored then you aren't using the internet for what it was created for, "looking up freaky sex that you'll never have yourself." -Randal Graves, Clerks II, 2006

3. Ultimate frisbee. Nothing like a good pickup game of ultimate. Not only will it tire you out and give you a great segue to no 1, it will also prepare your body for the run-on.

4. Practice. It had to be on the list somewhere.

5. Facebook. Yes, the facebook is also on the internet, but it definitely deserves a separate number. You can make a bunch of random friends and never talk to them...ever!

6. Stories. Start thinking of anecdotes to share with the rest of us. Test them in front of other friends or stuffed animals so that it's perfect for the real thing. Airplane peanuts? What's up with that?

Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments section (hooray interactivity). Now hopefully, the time until bandcamp will just fly by.

NCAA Announces Rule Changes for 06-07 Season

This week, the NCAA continued their annual tradition of changing the rules of college football. As is the usual custom, many are upset and crying foul. However, with a very different twist, this year's most significant rule changes are no doubt going to help the underdogs more than the powerhouses. With the NCAA looking to shorten the games this season, they went right away to the obvious solution and tinkered with the clock rules. This comes as no shock since the advent of instant replay made normal length games last over three and a half hours a.k.a. hell on earth for marching bands with wool uniforms.

For the benefit of all, here are explanations of the two main rule changes this year along with their significance. Since you'll hopefully be paying attention at the games this season, it will help to learn them.

1. Clock Timing

The clock will start immediately on any kickoff play during the game. It used to start when the receiving team caught the ball. On a related note, the clock will continue to stop after a first down has been made. However, the clock will start when the official gives the signal instead of when the team on offense snaps the ball.

This is going to cut out a LOT of plays per game this year, anywhere in the neighborhood of 10-15 plays per game. This will help out the defense more often, and it will greatly benefit the underdogs this season. Why? Because underdogs who have a chance to win but end up losing do so due to being much more tired at the end of games. With less plays, they'll have a much better chance at playing a full four quarters (something the Illini hasn't done since about 2002).

2. Instant Replay

It's not mandatory this year, but it's uniform across all the conferences. NFL fans should recognize a lot of what's going on here. There will still be a replay official in the press box, but coaches now have more power. Starting this season, each coach may call a timeout once per game and ask the officials to review the play upstairs. If the coach's challenge is correct, he keeps the timeout. If he's wrong, he loses the timeout. It's not quite the same as the NFL, but it's finally getting closer. One more thing, the away team no longer has the option of deciding whether or not to use instant replay, only the home team does. This will eventually be known as the "Notre Dame Rule" as they were notorious for not allowing instant replay in the majority of their road games last year.

It's a much better system now with coaches allowed to have some say in what affects their team with regards to replay. The NFL system has garnered much praise over the years with regards to the logistics even if the officiating has been horrible. With the NCAA's system, it's getting closer to making up for the horrendous job that college officials do every year, but there's still a long way to go.

There they are, kids. You're now a better college football fan for reading this. Now go back to memorizing your music!

Big Ten Opens Season with 4 Ranked Teams in Coaches' Poll

If you get a chance in the next few days before camp, take a good long look at the first Coaches Poll of the season. Sitting at the top is none other than the Ohio State University despite losing 9 starters on defense, not to mention Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year A.J. Hawk. The next Big Ten team to appear is Michigan, but they enter in way down at number 15. Following them is Iowa at 17 and finally Penn State at 19. That's it, 4 teams and done. For the past few years, we've all heard from the national media about how the conference was down in basketball. Now it appears that the same talk will surface for football.

And why shouldn't it? Look at the coaching situation. For the first time in a LONG time, both coaches in Michigan (Lloyd Carr and John L. Smith) are on the hot seat. Couple that with two second-year coaches (Ron Zook and Terry Hoeppner) and two first-year coaches (Bret Bielema and Pat Fitzgerald).

With about a third of the coaches still adjusting to new programs and with the talent level down, it means the Big Ten is more wide open than it's been in years. Any of 4 teams have a shot at the title (OSU, UM, Iowa, and PSU).

This is plenty significant for Illinois. With the conference being down, it gives them a chance to sneak up on some of these teams at home this year despite the possibility of players still adjusting to Zook's system. If they can go 3-1 in the nonconference part of the schedule, it only leaves them with 3 wins to go for a (dare I say it?) bowl game. Their Big Ten home schedule has Iowa, Indiana, Ohio State, and Purdue. Two of these are very possible wins if the secondary and the offensive line decide to show up. Add that to an also very possible road win over Northwestern, and it may mean Christmas in Detroit or Nashville (what, you were expecting New Year's in Florida?).

No one's more cynical than I am when it comes to Illini football, but even I can't help noticing that the schedule alone puts them in position for success this season.

One last thing. Go to your calendar, circle Sept. 9th. #1 OSU vs. #2 Texas in Austin. It was one of the best games of the season last year. Look for the past to repeat itself.

Frankfort Sectional is Big Success

Hey guys. Here's a recap of the Frankfort Sectional for those who are interested:

The day started off with a massive game of "Follow the Signs" that put to shame any game of hide and seek you may have played. Luckily, despite the maintenance people moving some of the signs, everybody made it up to Room 236. Even though the room was hotter than Jamar Smith's shooting, the focus and concentration was still good enough to get plenty of work done.

We began with a different icebreaker this week but kept the rules the same. One by one, each member would tell us what they would bring to the moon with the first letter of the thing being the same as the first letter of their name. Once again, animals made it to the list, but they were overshadowed by the obvious lack of alcoholic drinks (Where's the creativity, people?). After the icebreaker was finished, we got into the traditional and halftime music with Bob, Heather, and Jenny alternating in leading each piece. Kyle's features again sounded like they could really be something huge for our section this year. Keep working on them guys, they will sound better each time we go over them.

After the music, we took a break, did some Q&A, and then focused on marching. In keeping with last week, I focused on just Attention and Horns Up/Down. You guys looked very very good for right before band camp. I along with the rest of the marching section leaders expect this to be one of your best years fundamentally. At this point, we ended the sectional and headed back to my place.

I'm so glad that all of you had a wonderful time there. My parents especially can't thank you enough for all of the compliments on the food, house, and pool. They said it was easily the most enjoyable band related thing they've ever had at the house. Thank you to all of you for representing the MI and the U of I in a professional and courteous manner. My parents LOVED you guys and can't wait to see how you perform on the field this year.

Well, we have 2 weeks left until camp. Keep on practicing and memorizing. As always, please email any one of the section leaders if you have questions. We are ready and willing to help you whatever it takes. Enjoy the rest of your summers!