It’s been nearly a month since the Illini (4-1, 1-1) have competed on their home turf at Memorial Stadium. Also, it’s been nearly five years since the team has beaten the Boilermakers (1-4, 0-2) in football. However, the Illini have a solid chance to break this losing streak this weekend and finally bring home the Cannon Trophy.
“Never had it, never saw it, never touched it, never smelt it,” is what head coach Bret Bielema said about the Cannon Trophy. Bielema has yet to defeat Purdue and hold the trophy in the palm of his hands. But, that could very well change this time around.
A bye week means a lot for teams: rest, recovery and reflection. In their previous game, the Illini took some hard hits against the No. 4 Penn State Nittany Lions. The team experienced a lot of firsts against them: their first loss, the first interception for junior quarterback Luke Altmyer and the first real wake-up call against a Big Ten opponent.
Their weekend off came at the right time — right after a tough loss, but right before a very achievable win. Bielema noted earlier this week what the bye meant to them and how they plan to approach this weekend.
“The part that you always look at during a bye week is trying to get your guys healthy, but also trying to get your guys fresh,” Bielema described. “I think one of the things this group has done a really good job at is just focusing on the now, 1-0 mentality … I don’t think anything’s changed. Excited about the opportunity to play Purdue this week.”
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Bielema and his crew have every reason to be excited about their battle this weekend. Originally, people anticipated a competitive rematch between Altmyer and Boilermaker senior quarterback Hudson Card. However, Card will not be taking the field this weekend since he’s been placed under concussion protocol per Sports Illustrated. While Altmyer won’t be able to get a rematch win over Card per se, a win over the Boilermakers should be enough to bring added momentum and joy for the upcoming weeks.
The Illini must focus on a few key components to maximize their success against the Boilermakers. The first area of focus should be the run game.
Illinois has significantly struggled with the run game this year, only averaging 3.8 yards per carry each game. With that in mind, Purdue has allowed nearly 240 rushing yards on average per game for their opponents. If Illinois’ rushers can successfully find gaps in the center and take advantage of Purdue’s defensive weaknesses, they could potentially have one of the best run games of the season so far.
Another crucial element for Illinois this weekend is patience and collective communication. Against Penn State, there were sloppy plays, pre-snap penalties and overall frustration with the pressures from the opponents. Penalties and errors are bound to happen, but when they cost a touchdown or two, that’s when tensions rise and emotions get the best of these players.
Altmyer and his offensive line must ensure they’re on the same page to prevent bad snaps or sacks. On the surface, it seems like it could be a smooth sailing game for the Illini. However, it is a Big Ten matchup at the end of the day. Ultimately, these are the competitions that provide the biggest challenges to the team.
“When I came in, one of the first things we did was build a trophy case,” Bielema discussed. “We can express our opinion and desire to have it (the Cannon Trophy) … but it’s not there. That’s been its own message in itself. This week is about playing Purdue, which is the next Big Ten opponent and there’s an emphasis on that. I think it’s a little bit more obtainable once you have it.”
The Illini want the Cannon and they want a fifth win. A win, a trophy and a morale boost are exactly what the team needs heading into the second half of the season.
@tess_eken
