By JOHN SUPINIE
OF COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
CHAMPAIGN - A former special teams coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Illinois coach Ron Zook not only takes pride in the special teams but he also takes charge of them with the Illini. No one more than Zook understood how fortunate the Illini were Saturday. A blocked punt and long kickoff return by San Jose State didn't keep the Illini from rolling to a 40-19 victory. "You normally don't have two blunders like that on special teams and win a game,'' Zook said. "Our thing was we're not going to lose a game because of special teams. That's a great lesson to be learned.'' Illinois suffered the blocked punt on its first possession despite San Jose State setting up for a return, Zook said. The block set up a 19-yard touchdown drive that handed San Jose State a 7-0 lead. Later in the first quarter, the Spartans had a 72-yard kickoff return called back because of a penalty. The miscues gave Zook cause for concern as Illinois (2-0) prepared to meet No. 15 California (2-0) at Berkeley at 4 p.m. Saturday.
"Every play on special teams is a nightmare,'' Zook said. "Cal comes after the punt. They're like sharks smelling blood right now. They will come after us and try to do the same thing.'' Zook said the punt block was a combination of a missed blocking assignment by Kevin Mitchell, a poor snap by Kyle Knezetic and punter Steve Weatherford taking too long. FEAR OF FLYING: Road trips are fun, except for the part about getting on an airplane for sophomore receiver DaJuan Warren. When he traveled with Illinois to Wisconsin last year, "it was the first time I flew,'' he said. Warren hoped it would be his last, but the reality is that he will fly with his teammates to California, Iowa and Ohio State this season.
"Last year, I was scared of airplanes,'' Warren said. "I listen to my headphones, try to take a nap or read to take my mind off it. The turbulence gets me every time.'' Warren apparently isn't alone is his fear, he said. Former teammate Brad Bower, who also didn't like to fly, transferred out of the program.
INJURY REPORT: Freshman wide receiver Derrick McPhearson is expected to play after practicing with the Illini on Monday. McPhearson, who broke his left leg during 7-on-7 passing drills in July, showed no effects from Monday's workout and was back on the field Tuesday.
Senior wide receiver Kendrick Jones wore a walking boot to practice Monday and was limited Tuesday. He didn't play in the second half against San Jose State because of plantar fasciitis, a painful inflammation of the tissue between the heel and ball of the foot, although Zook expected Jones to play against Cal.
Tackle Jim LaBonte (back) and safety Justin Harrison (hip) also continued to rehab injuries. LaBonte could play this weekend. Harrison's return won't occur until the Big Ten Conference season.
RB or LB: Remond Willis wasn't sure if he'd play running back or linebacker when he arrived at Illinois. As a redshirt freshman linebacker starting his second game Saturday, Willis grabbed his first interception and returned it to the San Jose State 5-yard line. Evidently, Willis is a better linebacker than runner, since he was so close to the end zone yet failed to score.
"I thought you were a running back,'' joked Zook with Willis. "He got trucked. "Remond is going to have a chance to be a special player. I can remember telling him after one of the first practices in the spring and seeing him run that he's going to be a starting linebacker here.''
EXTRA POINTS: Cal running back Marshawn Lynch is expected to play despite fracturing the pinky finger near the knuckle in the win over Washington last Saturday. Lynch will wear a cast during the week, Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. . . . The Illini are 26-42 all-time against teams from the Pac-10 Conference, but the Illini are 7-2 against the Bears. Illinois lost the last meeting 31-24 at home in 2003.
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