A Reflection on Week 1...

The first day of September found me in St. Louis for the Illini season opener against Missouri. I attended the game with Teresa, my sister. She lived in France last fall and missed much of the dismal two win campaign. We settled into our seats with great anticipation: she to be back at an Illinois football game and me to see what progress the team had made. I talked to a Mizzou friend, seated in the upper deck, on my phone shortly before kickoff. He wished me good luck. He said we would need it.

After the first 15 minutes, it appeared my Missouri friend may be wrong and that no luck would be necessary to claim victory. Despite trailing 7-6, good things happened. Our offensive line, notorious for false starts last season, did not commit a penalty. And when the defense forced the Tigers to punt within the red zone, Illinois took the chance and brought the house. The result was a blocked punt recovered by Vontae Davis for the first Illini touchdown of the 2007 season.

I turned to Teresa after the first quarter. "This is great!" I remarked. "We're not making dumb mistakes on offense and we're converting on opportunities. We look so much better than last year."

Those words no longer seemed true at halftime after the Illini endured likely one of the worst 5 minute stretches in the program's history. While trailing by the same 7-6 score, Eddie McGee fumbled at the goal line, inches from taking the lead. After a scoop and a 100 yard scamper, Mizzou led 13-6. On the ensuing possession, the Illini drove into Missouri territory before another McGee fumble gave the ball back to the Tigers with under 2 minutes to play. The Tigers drove and scored to take a 20-6 lead. With seconds remaining in the half, the Illini fumbled the kickoff, and after one play from scrimmage, Mizzou kicked a field goal as time expired. 3 turnovers. 16 points. All in the last 5 minutes of the first half.

The performance assessment I gave Teresa this time wasn't so positive. "We can't be this bad again," I claimed, suddenly transported back to the gloom of the 2006 season. "We have to be better than this. We can't have stretches like that this season. We have to be improved."

I made a silent vow at that moment. I vowed to try to be more patient throughout the season and not get so carried away after one quarter, or even one game. True progress can't be measured in spurts or stretches, but in seasons. I would wait until after the entire 2007 schedule was played to assess the direction of the program and determine if progress was made.

So, true to my word, I'll reserve judgment until after the Illini's final game. That will take place on New Year's Day. At Pasadena. In the Rose Bowl.