Team preview: Illinois

Originally Published: July 28, 2004

Blue Ribbon Illustrated previews the 2004-05 college football season, exclusively on Insider.

Email Share

STAY AHEAD OF THE GAME Become an Insider Today

Blue Ribbon Yearbook

Editor's Note: Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 117 Division I-A teams. To subscribe to Insider, click here. To order a copy of the 384-page book, visit www.blueribbonyearbook.com.

COACH AND PROGRAM

It's said you can learn a lot from losing, which would put Ron Turner among the smartest coaches in the Big Ten this year. But after a 1-11 season that provided endless lessons to everybody associated with the Illini program, Turner said the last thing he wants his team to do is dwell on last year's disaster.

"We don't talk about it," Turner told the Daily Illini. "We talk about moving forward. We talk about what we have to do and how we have to do it. The biggest thing is we got to regain our swagger. Regain our confidence."

Well, the Illini might not want to review last year, but we have to. A look at the Big Ten statistics gives you a pretty good idea of why Illinois lost 11 games for the first time since Turner's first year with the squad in 1997.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

ESPN The Magazine subscribers

Activate your Insider account »
Need more information?

View Insider Benefits »

ESPN College Football