A year ago, a mediocre Illinois football team went into its final game knowing that it was playing Michigan State for a bid to the Holiday Bowl.
This year, another mediocre Illinois team goes into its final game knowing it can keep its postseason hopes alive only with a victory over Wisconsin in Memorial Stadium. The Fighting Illini (5-5, 5-2 in the Big 10) may see their streak of five straight bowl appearances, a number exceeded by only eight schools, snapped even if they win.
The difference is the Big 10 could produce eight bowl-eligible teams this season. In 1992, Illinois was among only three conference teams with the minimum six victories required for postseason participation.
Athletic Director Ron Guenther has been trying to sell the Fighting Illini to the Independence and Liberty bowl committees, but neither appears ready to commit until next week at the earliest. The bowls could be waiting to see if Iowa (5-5, 2-5) qualifies by beating Minnesota. The bowls presumably would ignore the Hawkeyes’ dismal eighth-place league finish because the school has a history of bringing big crowds to bowl games.
“We all feel awkward about the waiting, but that’s what we’re going to have to do,” Guenther said Tuesday in Champaign. “We don’t have a landing pad for Illinois at this moment. We may need some help around the country. We could get boxed out, but I would be disappionted if this team goes 6-5, finishes second in the conference and does not have a place to play.”
By “help around the country,” Guenther means that Illinois could sneak into the Sunshine (formerly Blockbuster) Bowl in Ft. Lauderdale if 4-5 LSU loses to Tulane or Arkansas, or into the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio if 5-5 Baylor loses to Texas in its finale.
But those are only backups. “Much as I would like to have something to play for in hand, we will be in a wait-and-see situation,” Guenther said.
Northwestern: Four senior starters have decided they will return next year and play their final season of eligibility. Tackles Matt O’Dwyer and Todd Baczek will anchor an all-veteran offensive line as fifth-year seniors in 1994. Hugh Williams will back up the line. Chris Gamble will return at wide receiver. Receiver Michael Senters also is eligible to play as a fifth-year senior and is expected to announce that decision at next week’s football banquet. Fullback Bobby Jackson will graduate and not play football in 1994.
Wednesday is “Senior Hit Day” at practice. This means any senior can call upon any player or coach, line up four yards away from him and deliver a blow. Well, almost any player or coach. “Everybody is eligible to be hit,” said coach Gary Barnett, “except (quarterback) Lenny Williams and Coach Barnett.”
Barnett promised the Wildcats will “have fun” in practice this week. He said seniors Steve Shine and Steve Ostrowski “will run and control practice. Our seniors all want to go out the right way . . . with a win over Penn State.” Barnett said Williams, who missed the Iowa game due to a rib injury, is “probable” to face Penn State. “If he can run,” he’ll start,” said Barnett.
Williams, Shine and wide receiver/kick returner Lee Gissendaner have attracted the most attention from pro scouts, Barnett said. “Shine’s stock has really gone up,” said Barnett of the Wildcats’ all-time sack leader. “They all like his movement and want to put weight on him. Everybody likes Giss. Lenny isn’t the prototype dropback passer, and his height (6-foot) might hurt him, but if he gets into the right system, Lenny will have a chance.”
Northern Illinois: The early results are in, and senior tailback LeShon Johnson established at least 16 school records in his two-year Huskie career. The most prominant marks were set this season, including most single-game rushing yards (322 vs. Southern Illinois), most single-season rushing yards (1,976), most single-game all-purpose yards (322 vs. SIU), most single-season all-purpose yards (2,082) and most single-season carries (327).
Johnson, a candidate for the Heisman Trophy and Doak Walker National Running Back Award, produced 3,314 rushing yards in 22 games at Northern, fourth on the all-time Huskie list.
Notre Dame: Shawn Wooden, one of the heroes in the Irish’s 31-24 win over Florida State, hurt his knee in the postgame celebration and won’t play Saturday against Boston College. Wooden recovered an on-sides kick in the final minutes and knocked down a pass at the goal line as time expired. During the celebration on the field, someone jumped on Wooden and injured his knee. “It’s serious,” said coach Lou Holtz. “He’s definitely out and may undergo surgery.”
Center Tim Ruddy aggravated a hip flexor and is listed as questionable for the BC game. Holtz said he also suffered a sore toe in the contest when a Florida State player was knocked out of bounds on the Irish sideline. “When he was coming back on, he stepped on my toe with his cleat,” Holtz said. “It hurt and it turned black and blue.”