Great expectations await Illini, Williams

I remember Nov. 10, 2007 like it was yesterday.

I was a first-semester freshman who had arrived on campus expecting the Illinois football team to stink like always.

I remember that day because I skipped a "mandatory" social event that my fraternity (I was a pledge at the time) had ordered me to go to. I opted instead to lock myself in my room, turn off my phone out of nervousness and watch arguably the greatest win in the history of Illinois football.

After already having knocked off No. 5 Wisconsin and No. 23 Penn State at home that season, Illinois had exceeded the expectations of fans and media alike behind the play of All-American running back Rashard Mendenhall. Yet some critics still questioned whether the Illini were for real, believing them to be a team simply playing above its head.

Then they took down undefeated No. 1 Ohio State 28-21 in Columbus, Ohio.

Critics were silenced.

Head coach Ron Zook still references the win today. After this year's week-one loss to Missouri, Zook responded to a question about Arrelious Benn's injury by saying, "In 2007 when we beat Ohio State, both (Benn) and Vontae Davis got knocked out of the game (with injuries)."

The absence of two All-Americans only makes the '07 triumph against the Buckeyes all the more impressive. That victory has since come to define the Zook era of the Illini football.

This decade, the Buckeyes have lost a mere nine games in the Horseshoe. This puts Illinois among the likes of elite programs such as USC, Texas, Penn State and Michigan, as well as Wisconsin and Minnesota, as the only teams to triumph in front of the red-clad crowd of over 100,000 people.

But more impressive is the fact that the Illini, along with Wisconsin, are the only two teams to have accomplished this feat twice since 2000.

In 2001, Illinois quarterback Kurt Kittner, aided by the explosive tandem of wide receivers Greg Lewis and Brandon Lloyd, recorded a pair or fourth-quarter touchdowns to rally late and beat the Buckeyes 34-22 in front of a then-record crowd of 104,407.

Illinois quarterback Juice Williams then put on his own show six years later. Williams will forever be remembered by the OSU contingent for leading the Illini on the historic fourth-quarter drive in which they kept the ball for over eight consecutive minutes to seal the victory. He led the Orange and Blue to a win that shook up the entire picture of college football after OSU was dropped from its top spot in the national poll.

Other players that have shined while playing at Ohio Stadium include former Texas quarterback Vince Young, former Wisconsin running back Anthony Davis, former Michigan wide-receiver David Terrell and USC's current starting tailback, the electric Joe McKnight.

To this date, Nov. 10, 2007 marks the most important performance of Williams' career. Yes, Williams has had more impressive statistical days following that game — such as his 503-total yard outing at Michigan or his 212-yard passing, 94-yard rushing day at Northwestern, both of which came in 2008.

But since defeating OSU, the Illini have failed to record another marquee win, which significantly devalues Williams' outrageous statistics.

Saturday, they have a chance to change that.

A victory over OSU this weekend would be even more significant than the win in 2007. Illinois is only two games into its 2009 campaign and already question marks (spurred along by yours truly) are abound about the team's ability. A blowout loss to Missouri in week one, as well as minor injuries to Williams and Benn, coupled with the season-ending blow to preseason All-Big Ten linebacker Martez Wilson, have all put a significant damper on a season in which most expected the Illini to return to the glory of '07.

But if Illinois emerges victorious from the Horseshoe once again, the gloom-and-doom surrounding the team would instantly disappear. Aside from starting off conference play at 1-0, the Illini would prove once again that they can challenge the Buckeyes, as well as teams like Penn State, for the Big Ten title.

An Illinois win would also prove to be a demoralizing loss for OSU to stomach (an admittedly added bonus). The Buckeyes already lost at home to USC in week two, and beginning the season at 2-2 would be viewed as nothing short of a disaster by the fans in Columbus, especially with both losses taking place in front of their home crowd.

Williams has already broken the hearts of OSU faithful once in his career. On Saturday, we'll find out if he can do it one more time.

Peter Zervakis is a junior in Media.