Nov. 25--CHAMPAIGN -- Illinois coach Tim Beckman has banned purple pens from the football offices.
Before his first game at Illinois, he hung a sign in a football meeting room with "NU" crossed out. He has said often that he won't suck on purple Life Savers.
He referred to Saturday's game at Northwestern as the "state championship."
"That's what college football is about," he said. "I've been blessed to coach in the Iron Bowl, Ohio State-Michigan, Oklahoma-Oklahoma State. My dad coached in Browns-Steelers. That's what football to me is about."
But even rah-rah Beckman acknowledged that the rivalry against Northwestern isn't as intense as he'd like. Even this weekend's game to determine which team will earn bowl eligibility with a sixth victory isn't moving the fan meter much.
"In comparison to the other rivalries I've been in, I'd wish it was a little more," he said. "You always respect your opponent and your rival. You also have a little -- and I'm sure (Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald) says it too -- a little bit of hate in there for your opponent."
Illinois and Northwestern have had their occasional spats over the Northwestern's "Chicago's Big Ten Team" slogan. The Illini (5-6, 2-5), who are coming off a home victory against Penn State, have lost two straight to the Wildcats (5-6, 3-4).
But this year's players said they are more interested in earning bowl eligibility and ending the regular season with an important two-game winning streak.
"It's real exciting, ultimately giving us a chance to keep our season alive and keep our ultimate goal of making a bowl game alive," quarterback Reilly O'Toole said.
For Beckman, that should only add to the rivalry, which presents the winner with the Land of Lincoln Trophy.
"This is it," he said. "It's almost like the playoffs. You have to win to keep playing and so do they. It's a great rivalry. It would be great to be considered one of the top-10 rivalries."
Extra points: Quarterback Wes Lunt hasn't been himself since returning from a leg injury two games ago. That opened the door for backup Reilly O'Toole, who entered in the second quarter of the Penn State game to lead the Illini to victory. So who is Illinois' starting quarterback? Beckman said the decision will be made after Thursday's practice. ... Cornerback V'Angelo Bentley left the Penn State game with a knee injury and is questionable to play against Northwestern. ... Kicker David Reisner, who booted the game-winner to beat the Nittany Lions, was named the Big Ten's co-special teams player of the week. ... Beckman called the poor turnout against Penn State for senior day at Memorial Stadium "tough."
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