Chicago Sun Times: Quarterback Brasic bloodied, beaten, unbowed

BERKELEY, Calif. -- After the Rutgers game Sept. 3, Illinois coach Ron Zook said quarterback Tim Brasic looked as though he had been in a barroom brawl.  After the California game Saturday, Brasic looked as though he had been on the wrong end of a heavyweight fight. His chin was bandaged, his face was scuffed, his right hand was swathed in a bag of ice and his left arm had a bag of ice taped to it. "I got my hand stepped on, and I took a helmet to the forearm,'' Brasic said. "And I got a couple of stitches at halftime. It's your standard Saturday.'' Except for one thing: After guiding Illinois to a 17-7 halftime lead and going 21-for-37 for 228 yards, Brasic said the Illini are going to be better than people think.

"We came in believing we could play with these guys, and we did,'' said Brasic, a junior from Riverside-Brookfield. "We came up short, but we're 2-1 and were right there with a great team. Take a few plays away, and we win this game.''

That's the feeling Illinois has heading into its Big Ten opener Saturday against Michigan State. "Tim did well,'' Zook said. "He's getting better and better. Every time he steps on the field, he has a better grasp of the offense.'' JUST PLAY: One of Illinois' second-half problems was that some players became too intent on the outcome and lost their focus, Zook said. "We we started worrying about trying to win the game,'' he said. "Our goal was to come in here and play as hard as we can and look at the scoreboard at the end of the game. When you start playing not to lose, you aren't aggressive.'' Another problem was that Cal was bigger and faster.

NOTES: Wide receiver Derrick McPhearson made his college debut, but it was pretty much a cameo role for the highly regarded freshman from Hyattsville, Md. McPhearson, who broke his right leg in July, had one catch for two yards.

"He got his feet wet,'' Zook said. "He'll continue to improve and be another weapon for us.'' *Sophomore tailback Justin Forsett led Cal with 187 yards on 16 carries, including two touchdowns, in relief of injured Marshawn Lynch. Illinois held Golden Bears quarterback Joe Ayoob to 8-for-17 passing for 121 yards and one touchdown. *Brasic, fullback Jason Davis, nickel back James Cooper and defensive tackle Ryan Matha were the captains for the game.