9:14 PM - Illinois hopes The Shoe fits again
Posted by ESPN.com's Adam RittenbergArrelious Benn has a selfish reason for wanting Illinois to win another game at Ohio Stadium.When the Illini shocked the top-ranked Buckeyes in 2007, draining the final 8:09 off the clock, Benn was on the sideline, concussed after absorbing a hit."Man, I couldn't tell you what was going on," the Illini star wide receiver recalled this week. "I had no clue. I was knocked out, I was a bit woozy. But I looked at old clips and saw Juice [Williams] told [Ron] Zook to go for it on fourth down." Mark Cowan/Icon SMI Juice Williams had arguably his finest efficiency at Ohio State throughout the 2007 season.Williams' plea to Zook led to one of the greatest wins in team history, as the Illini beat Ohio State 28-21 and went on to the Rose Bowl. The Ohio State win was the pinnacle for both Williams, who threw four touchdown passes in the game, and Zook, who overcame struggles in his initial two years at Illinois to lead the program back to a BCS bowl.Those are good memories, but they will not assist Illinois when it returns to Ohio State on Saturday afternoon (ABC, three:30 p.m. ET)."We all realize we cant live off that past expertise," Williams said. "Its two different teams."Ohio State hasn't forgotten what happened in 2007, and Buckeyes players watched tape with the game this week to get a sense how Illinois will approach Saturday's contest. Although Williams and Illinois have had mixed results because their triumph in Columbus, the Buckeyes defense doesn't take the Illini lightly."Juice is a dual threat," Ohio State linebacker Austin Spitler said, "which makes it that much more difficult on defense because you need to defend the quarterback zone and trap and run also as his arm. He's exactly the same guy, but he's clearly much more polished. He's a better passer now and he understands the scheme a lot much better, which makes him that a lot more of a threat."Illinois will finally have its full complement of offensive weapons on the field Saturday. Benn hurt his ankle on the third play of a season-opening loss to Missouri and did not return, whilst Williams pulled a leg muscle on the very first play the following week against Illinois State.The Illini had been also without operating backs Jason Ford or Daniel Dufrene for the opener."Me and Juice have talked all of the time about that," Benn said. "Well always say our season starts September 26 against Ohio State. If you look at it, we really havent had a chance to play."Illinois' offense may be at full strength, but it faces a Buckeyes defense that is hitting its stride. Following a somewhat shaky begin against Navy, Ohio State's defensive front outplayed USC's heralded offensive line in an 18-15 loss.The Buckeyes followed by shutting out Toledo 38-0 last Saturday, allowing just 13 rushing yards in the victory."We're definitely creating some momentum on the defensive side," Spitler stated. "From Game 1 to Game 3, we've produced some large strides and we're heading within the correct direction."Illinois hopes it can say the same factor following a much-needed bye week.At 1-1, the Illini can't afford a slow start to Large Ten play. It will not be easy as Illinois opens with Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan State, the leading three teams within the Large Ten's preseason rankings."Forget about Illinois State, forget about Missouri," Benn stated. "Were 0-0 right now, were starting Large Ten play, were going into a hostile atmosphere and weve got to obtain it carried out."No ifs, ands or buts.