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University of Minnesota Athletics
Blog: Opposing Viewpoint
11/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Each week during the football season, GopherSports.com will bring you the opposing viewpoint by talking to a member of the media who covers Minnesota's opponent for that week. This week, we're joined by Bob Asmussen of the Champaign News-Gazette.
Asmsussen is the Illinois beat writer for the News-Gazette and also contributes to IlliniHQ.com.
GopherSports.com: The big question this week is if anyone saw last week's dominating performance by Illinois coming?
Bob Asmussen: I certainly think the players and coaches saw it coming. Ron Zook said late in the week he was feeling good about the way his team had performed in practice. The key, of course, was Juice Williams coming back and playing well. He's the school career total offense leader, so you know he had it in him. He looked like a different guy during and after the game.
GopherSports.com: How does Illinois respond to a big win like that, as they go into a road game this week?
Bob Asmussen: I would think it will be a positive on almost every level. Practices will be more intense. The hunger to get another win will certainly be there. More than anything, I think the confidence of the team has changed.
Remember, this was a team many figured had a chance to compete for the Big Ten title. There is talent there. Against Michigan, they showed it.
GopherSports.com: Who, or what, has the Illini's attention this week?
Bob Asmussen: Adam Weber. He is coming off a great game and played well against Illinois last season. I think the Illinois coaches and players view him as one of the better quarterbacks in the Big Ten.
GopherSports.com: What are your thoughts on the Minnesota program?
Bob Asmussen: First, I can't wait to see the stadium. It sounds like Minnesota did a great job with it and I'm kind of a stadiumaholic. What a nice thing to be able to build a new stadium now with all of the advances. I think the stadium will be important for the growth of the Minnesota program. There's just something better about being on campus.
Second, Tim Brewster has always been a great guy to work with. When he got the job at Minnesota, I thought that was a perfect fit for both the school and for him. He has a lot of fans in Illinois because of his days as a player here. Many wanted him to become the Illinois coach when Ron Turner was fired. I think it's great to have him in the Big Ten.
GopherSports.com: What do you see as some of the top matchups in this week's game?
Bob Asmussen: I'll go with Minnesota linebacker Lee Campbell against Illinois running back Mikel Leshoure. Leshoure has played very well the past few weeks and has taken over as the go-to back. Illinois doesn't beat Michigan without him. I think there will be a lot of collisions between Leshoure and Campbell. Leshoure is very good at getting yards after contact. I'll be curious if he can do that against Minnesota's top tackler.
GopherSports.com: Many fans know about some of the Illini stars. Who is a little under the radar that Gopher fans should keep an eye on?
Bob Asmussen: He isn't under the radar after Michigan, but Terry Hawthorne is a rising star. He came to Illinois as a receiver, but moved to cornerback when Miami Thomas tore up his knee during training camp. Hawthorne was the top high school player in the state last season and never left the field.
He was a top receiver, defensive back, kick returner and averaged about 45 yards as a punter. Eventually, he will be a two-way player for Illinois.
He's got a pick-six or two in him. If he intercepts a pass in the open, I don't think there are many people who can catch him.
His rundown of Michigan receiver Roy Roundtree, who had at least a 10-yard headstart, was one of the best plays I've seen by an Illinois player in two decades of covering the team.
-Andy Seeley
