Moderator: Welcome back to another chat. I'm going to answer a few questions, then work on my stories for a little bit.

Thanks for participating.

Ken, Champaign, IL: Bob,

what can you tell us about Juice's injury?

Moderator: Ken,

Juiced suffered a sprained ankle. He was wearing a boot after the game and was on crutches, mostly as a precaution. I'm guessing there is a chance he will miss the Northwestern game, but they won't know for sure until later in the week. We will keep you posted.

Daneal Colton, Chicago , IL: Ron Zook is Like Stan Van Gundy he is Gun shy and makes his teams nerveous. Finally the team is playing and they look good on defense and offense. They got up big by half time and instead of putting their foot on the gas, Zook eased up and went conservative on offense and Especially on defense. The playing calling was Ultra conservative and that allowed Minny back into the game. Also Zook's unwillingness to change QB's earlier in the year cost us wins. Charest is a actual QB. He has the mental toughness and a nice ball. He's not a athlete trying to be a QB. He is just a QB. Charest has earned the right to start at QB this year and going into next year. McGee along with Fayson will be the starting WR unless Prater comes or Benn comes back. I know this isn't a Question but I just wanted your thoughts on what I said and please no one word answer.

Moderator: Daneal,

I hope I don't ever give one-word answers. That would be rude.

I would give a little of the credit in the second half to Minnesota. The Gophers played better. And they should have. I do think Illinois backed off a bit until it needed the drive after Minnesota pulled within three.

Juice Williams was on his way to a big game before he got hurt. But I think Jacob Charest should have played earlier in the season.

I think Eddie McGee continues to show he can be a really good receiver. I agree with you that he will be on the field a lot next year. If Kyle Prater comes to Illinois, he is starting next season. Period.

Brian, Urbana, IL: is there a reason that Leshoure wasnt the featured back today?

I know Ford had a good game, but Leshoure had 2 100+ games in a row and than doesnt touch the ball much

Moderator: Brian,

Great queestion. According to Ron Zook, Jason Ford had a better week of practice. I think Mikel might be a bit nicked up, which could explain some of it. Ford ran well. He got off to a good start and finished strong. But I think both of them are in the plans.

Tom, Urbana, IL: Bob,

what can we do about the punting team? Had one blocked today and it seems like teams have been getting closer to blocking one each week

Moderator: Tom,

It's a big problem for Illinois and could have cost it the game today. I don't know what the answer is for Illinois other than keep putting different people in there. Michigan showed the way and Minnesota followed the plan. Two blocked punts in two weeks is not good.

Chief Illiniwek, Champaign, IL: What happened to Matt Eller? Is it just all a confidence issue, because he was solid last year but has struggled all year long.

Also, Clay Nurse? Wow. Whoever gave the pre-gam talk to the defensive line, props to him. This is the most pressure I have seen since Will "Sack Master" Davis had his breakout year.

And, how long after each practice this week do you think Cumberland spends catching passes?

Moderator: Chief,

I don't think there's any question that Matt Eller has got something going on confidence-wise. He kicks the ball well in practice. To be fair, that was a decent-length kicked that he missed, but a year ago he hits it.

Clay Nurse can be a disruptive player and proved it today. I'm not surprised it happened, more surprised that it took this long.

Jeff Cumberland will be hanging out a lot with Jim Pry this week after school.

Jack, Clinton, Illinois: Bob, We sure like Terry Hawthorn don't we! This team showed me something today coming back and responding with the touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. It is almost unbelieveable to me that this team can play like a complete different team after one play by Hawthorn last week. It is almost scary that their mental make-up can be so fragile one way or the other. It is almost like multiple personalities. I don't recall a team having such a drastic change. They don't look like the same team or coaching staff, for that matter. In the first half of the season they were not even able to compete. This team looked like they would come out not only not ready to play, but they looked inept, flat with no desire or fire. Do you recall any team changing so much after one play?Can you explain this, with this team specifically? I mean I have seen turn arounds over the years but not off of one play.With you being around these guys so much have you picked up on anything? Clues Bob? Thanks

Moderator: Jack,

First, you'd have to say the team has the ability to play the way it did today in the first half. The talent is there. But getting from Point A to Point B isn't always easy. I think the coaches have continued to try different guys and they have found the right combination.

I don't ever remember a switch like this one. Very puzzling. If Illinois wins the last three games, Terry Hawthorne gets some sort of prize. Maybe "Second Half of the Season Player of the Year."

glen, southern Ill, Illinois: What was the thinking of not calling any timeout at the close of the first half?

Moderator: Glen,

I wondered about that too. Illinois almost ran out of time. But there was a second left when Jason Ford scored. I don't know what Illinois would have done had he not gotten in. Maybe even a field goal.

Clyde Drexler, Elgin, IL: would like to know why duvalt goes back into the game one play after another of his stupid personal foul penalties...Why don't the coach's have him sit?...Also, have we ever got any reasoning as to Cordele Scott's lack of offensive opportunities?

Moderator: Clyde,

Ron Zook was asked about that and said Duvalt was very remorseful. And that if he hadn't been, he would have stayed on the bench. Duvalt actually made a big play in that drive after the penalty.

There is definitely something going on between the Illini and the Gophers. A lot of stuff that you don't like to see. I don't see it changing with the current staffs in charge.

Jed, Berwyn, IL: Hey Bob. I always look forward to the chats. You do a great job.

Curious as to what the coaches had to say about Charest. He was poised, made some nice throws under pressure. Question is, is there really going to be a QB competition next year? From what I understand Scheelhaase is a different type of QB than Charest. Once they know what type of offense they want to run, won't that decide which QB they go with? I wonder how fair the competition is going to be to Charest. Your thoughts?

Also, what is Jeff Cumberland's problem? Does he have a quota of great passes that he has to drop?

Moderator: Jed,

Thanks for the nice words.

The coaches have a lot of nice things to say about Jacob.

I don't think there is any question there will be a competition in the spring. And I can't guess who will win it. Playing this season will really help Jacob, but Nathan is a very talented kid.

Jeff Cumberland is an enigma wrapped in a puzzle wrapped in a question mark. Great one play. Not so great the next. He won't be on the field if he keeps dropping passes. But he did score another touchdown.

DW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Do you think CJF saw how many times next years potential qb threw to the tight end? What would the score have been if Cumberland made a few of those easy catchs?

Moderator: DW,

Illinois would have won easily had those catches been made. I do think Illinois is giving CJ a better feel for its use of the tight end.

Chester, Springfield, Il: Our clock management has been an issue all year. It nearly cost us at the end of the first half. Whose fault is the poor management

Moderator: Chester,

The buck stops with the head coach. Always has. Always will.

James, Savoy, IL: Hey Bob-

Can we put this whole "still bowl eligible" thing to rest? Let's be realistic.

Is there still any fire under Zook's chair? Or has two wins in a row locked him in with AD Guenther?

Moderator: James,

I have seen so many odd things in college football that I don't say never. But beating Northwestern, Cincinnati or Fresno would be a chore, let alone all three.

I think the fire has turned into a smoldering pile of sticks. And the Illini are about to throw some water on it.

Ted, Palatine, IL: Your opinion: does this win ensure that Zook returns next year?

Moderator: Ted,

More than the win, I think the way the team is playing now helps Ron Zook's cause. Ron Guenther was sitting behind me today and he didn't look unhappy. This is the team he expected all along.

Moderator: I'm going to take a quick break to work on my stories. I'll be back in about 15 minutes.

Mike DeFelice, Springfield, IL: Anyone celebrating this or last week's win is a fool. The best-case scenario, following the debacles at Indiana and Purdue, was for Illinois to go 1-11 so as to ensure Zook's ouster. Now he's managed to create the illusion of competence with two surprising victories over teams we *should* have beaten to begin with.

I'll put it to you all like this: after Cincinnati karate chops us in the throat and ensures consecutive non-bowl seasons, we'll be no better off going into 2010 than if some mythical being known as Gary Lou Turner were steering the ship.

FOL.

Moderator: Mike,

Thanks for the comments. I like the combination name at the end. Nice touch.

Ryan, Champaign, IL: Hey Bob, love the HQ staff and their work. Just one question that I hope you can answer. Before today, when was the last time an Illini returned an interception for a TD?

Moderator: Ryan,

It was by Travon Bellamy against Wisconsin in 2006.

60degreeillinifan, decatur, IL: What was today's announced attendance at the game?

Moderator: 60,

50,805. I would guess the real number was in the high 30s or low 40s.

DO, Champaign, IL: Very happy with the W. Howeverr, the punt formation is odd with the big gap in the middle of the line next to the center and three guys in the backfield to protect the punter. The problem is the defense can get a running start to try to jump over the protection. With a block in each of the past to weeks and several near misses, don't you think it's time to change the formation? The block6 put Minny back in the game.

Moderator: DO,

Bad news, they changed to this formation going into the season. I wonder how much they miss Michael Hoomanawanui, who is one of the protectors. Maybe a lot.

Moderator: I'm going to call it a chat, finish my stories and try not to hit a deer on the way home. Wish me luck.