Bob Asmussen | Bielema, Illini on upset alert

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CHAMPAIGN — The first of two open weeks for the Illinois football team is done. Time to get back to work.

As he usually does on game week, Illinois coach Bret Bielema met with the media Monday afternoon in the Memorial Stadium press box. If he missed us (doubt it), he didn’t let on.

Before taking questions, Bielama brought up the rivalry part of the Illinois-Purdue series. The teams play for the Cannon Trophy. The Boilermakers have four in row, with the last Illinois victory coming in 2019 at Ross-Ade Stadium. Illinois hasn’t won against Purdue at home since 2010, when Ron Zook’s guys rolled 44-10.

The Cannon is one of three trophies missing from the Illinois case. It also doesn’t currently control the Land of Lincoln (Northwestern) or the Illibuck (Ohio State).

The Illini aren’t sure if the Cannon is real, though I promise it is.

“Never had it, never saw it, never touched it, never smelled it,” Bielema said.

The Boilermakers seem ripe for the picking.

They are 1-4 after a blowout loss at Wisconsin. Bielema won’t go there. He’s seen ranked teams lose to unranked teams too often. Michigan and Southern California both dropped games on Saturday to Washington and Minnesota, respectively.

“When you’re dealing in the Big Ten, there’s no greater indication than this past weekend,” Bielema said.

Three Top 10 teams — Alabama, Tennessee and Missouri — were upset on Saturday, too.

“Everybody always asks me before the year, ‘Coach, what’s the definition of a successful season?,’ “ Bielema said. “As a head coach and even when I was a coordinator, what you want to do is get through a season without regrets. All my years of doing it, I haven’t been able to do that yet.

“Through five games, there’s obviously some things in every one of those five games you would always go back and correct. But I love their approach. I love their demeanor. I love their attitude. I love their fight. I love all of the things that in my opinion are things that go into being successful on gameday.”

After five games, Bielema likes what he has seen from his team.

“We’re a 4-1 team that’s trying to go 1-0 this week, but I think there’s some teams as you go back and look at it, they probably regret what they’d done that day or the way they played or the way they approached the game,” Bielema said. “Right now, I don’t have that regret in any of our phases overall.”

Quick change

Purdue seems to be teeming with regrets.

Second-year coach Ryan Walters, the former Illinois defensive coordinator, recently fired offensive coordinator Graham Harrell. The Purdue offense has been abysmal, ranking No. 120 nationally in both yards gained and points scored. A losing combo.

“They started off very positive,” Bielema said in reference to a 49-0 win against FCS school Indiana State.

But the Boilermakers fell apart at home the following week against Notre Dame, losing 66-7, and struggles have continued to happen.

“Kind of treat that as its own little unique entity,” Bielema said. “I think everyone’s been a part of those moments when games get away from them as it plays out.”

Bielema respects Walters and his assistants, many who have ties to Illinois.

“I know a lot of those guys on a personal level,” Bielema said. “I think I know what this game is going to mean to them and to their players.”

Marked improvement

The Illinois defense, which struggled to slow opposing offenses in 2023, continues to post winning numbers.

Aaron Henry’s guys are No. 12 nationally in points allowed and No. 26 in yards allowed.

Why?

“Not to overstate the obvious, but Aaron is a second-year coordinator,” Bielema said. “Even though my first year to second year wasn’t as good statistically, I think I learned some things better in my second year than that first year. Every coordinator I’ve been associated with, they’ve always been better in Year 2 than Year 1. I think there’s just this process you have to go through that’s very unique to that moment.”

Henry’s support staff is also strong. Three new assistants joined the defense this season: Clint Sintim, Archie McDaniel and Corey Parker.

“Those three guys have brought a lot to the table that have helped Aaron grow,” Bielema said.

The secondary, Henry’s field of expertise, has made a big jump.

Familiar faces

Bielema took a few moments during his opening statement on Monday afternoon to congratulate the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame recipients, who will be honored during the weekend.

Two of the inductees are football players: running back Robert Holcombe, the school’s career rushing leader, and linebacker Darrick Brownlow. He is a contemporary of Bielema, who was at Iowa when Brownlow starred for the Illini.

“Darrick was a great player when I played and coached in the league,” Bielema said.

Holcombe will serve as the Illinois guest captain for Saturday’s game against Purdue. He is currently a high school coach in Arizona.

“It’s been fun to reconnect with him,” Bielema said. “I know he’s excited to get here and be a part of it as well.”