Improvement is becoming the main theme discussed after every Fighting Illini football game. After suffering a heart wrenching loss to Ohio last Saturday on a last minute field goal for the second game in a row, the Illini players and coaches are trying to stay positive, looking at the strides made every game.

Freshman tight end, Jeff Cumberland, caught his first touchdown of the season on Saturday and commented on what improvements the team has made throughout the season and how mistakes have cost them a few games.

“I feel that from last year we have improved a lot. It’s just the point that we make certain mistakes where the game is lost by a couple field goals.”

Coach Ron Zook also focused on the improvements, specifically commenting freshman quarterback, Juice Willimas and the impact his growth has had on the team.

“He made some progress, continued to improve, did some really good things and some things that you don’t expect him to do. I mean he’ll learn, and he ran the ball well.”

The Illini travel to face Penn St. on Saturday.