Two teams searching for an offense collide today when Utah State meets Illinois at Memorial Stadium.
A crowd of 60,000 is expected for the Illini's home opener on the field where Red Grange and Dick Butkus once roamed. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. MDT.So far this season, the Aggies and Illini have been anemic offensively. Illinois has scored just 21 points in two games, Utah State 20. The Illini are averaging 238 yards offensively, the Aggies 206.
Illinois Coach John Mackovic is looking for some improvement before his team gets into the Big Ten season.
"We simply have to create more big-play opportunities and get the ball downfield," said Mackovic. "We need to find a good balance between the run and the pass."
A lot was expected from quarterback Jeff George this year, but he is off to a slow start. The top rushers will be Howard Griffith and Kenny Thomas with freshmen Wagner Lester and Steve Feagin backing them up. Darren Boyer, the team's second leading rusher will be out after undergoing knee surgery Friday.
The Aggies will try to get off to a better start with Kevin White starting at quarterback. Coach Chuck Shelton has a game plan that includes former starter Kirk Johnson, but he said, "We'll stay with Kevin if he gets hot."
Shelton will also use Demetrius Brown more at tailback along with Brett Payne. Todd Richardson and Paul Trette will share fullback duties.
The big difference in the game could be on defense. While the Aggies are giving up a worst-in-the-nation 608 yards per game, the Illini are giving up about half that much - 338 yards per game.
The Aggies have had problems with both a passing team in Utah and a running team in USC, but the Illini aren't as proficient as either of those teams. But they're still a great concern to Shelton despite their struggles so far.
"It's all a matter of personnel and they have that," he said. "They beat USC. I would have to conclude some things from that."
But like he did a week earlier before playing USC, Shelton isn't conceding anything to the 20th-ranked Illini, despite the apparent disparity in talent.
"Our goal is to play a competitive football game," he said. "We have not played a competitive game yet. If you can do that, you have a chance to maybe upset somebody."