Beckman at the Big Ten Football Media Day; Photo by Reid Compton of US PRESSWIRE

Of all the coaches, it was new Illini coach Tim Beckman who was the most excited to be present at today’s Big Ten Football Media Day in Chicago. Clad in a fantastic orange tie, Beckman’s enthusiasm was contagious as he addressed the media and exclaimed how honored he is to be the head coach of the University of Illinois. He also went ahead and addressed the Penn State situation head on before anyone had a chance to ask.

Overall, the question of pinching players from Penn State was a hot topic, and Tim Beckman made sure that everyone knew that he had not in fact been on the Penn State campus recruiting. Oh, he was in Happy Valley and talked to a couple of players, but he was not on the campus.

On that topic, each coach had a different response. Some said they would in no way shape or form be looking into PSU players (Urban Meyer) while others seemed pretty open to the idea of grabbing some good players that are available (Beckman, Danny Hope). Those players that want to leave are going to go somewhere, so why not to your B1G school? The rules are the rules, so I don’t really see anything wrong with speaking to players who are interested in leaving.

Back to Beckman, he had a lot to say without actually really saying much, and he did it with a ton of energy. He’s excited about the 19 seniors, and having those 19 seniors return for one more year of football. Did I mention there are 19 of them?

In response to a question regarding last season’s epic fail of losing the last six games, Beckman said that he focuses on good old fashioned competition to get morale up and prepare the guys for the upcoming season.

“I think we had 15 outstanding days of Spring,” he said. “Going over competing and playing the first play as if we played the last play and playing at a tempo that we believe is going to be the Illini tempo and being a finisher by competing.”

Four Illini were drafted last year, but obviously that didn’t mean that last year’s team was any good. In addressing the question of how to translate a draft win into actual football wins, Beckman pointed out that four other guys checked on their draft stock, and decided to come back. Michael Buchanan, Graham Pocic, Terry Hawthorne and Akeem Spence all decided to return, though Beckman didn’t exactly say how that’s going to transform into wins.

While all positions are up for grabs, if the season started right now Nathan Scheelhaase will be the starting quarterback. However, this could change. “Quarterback-wise and defensive back-wise, it’s all going to be the same. We’re going to compete and make our determination on who is going to be that starter based on practice,” he said.

Beckman addressed the major concern for everyone: the offensive line. The plan is for a dual offense next year, with two running backs in the game at times, and also two quarterbacks when Miles Osei lines up as a running back. “It’s a commitment that our offensive staff has made to running the football and we’ve got to establish the run first for us to be successful,” he said. “So the challenge will be on the offensive line to provide for [Donovonn] Young and [Josh] Ferguson and hopefully some of the young freshmen to step in and play.”

On the topic of Northwestern, Beckman acknowledged that he is fueling the rivalry, and referred to them as the “Team Upstate.” Later, Pat Fitzgerald said he wasn’t paying attention to Beckman and the “Team in Champaign,” as he is focusing on his own team instead.

Even though Beckman addressed the PSU topic from the start, it still came up again. Rumors were swirling about Illini coaches swarming the Penn State campus this week, and that’s why the questions were flying. Beckman again admitted he was in Happy Valley, but not on campus. He doesn’t feel bad about reaching out, because he’s following the rules. There are players he’s got his eye on, and he informed Penn State as such before even arriving.

With only four teams in the Leaders division eligible to go the Championship game, Beckman certainly wants to get Illinois to that game, but he realizes there are going to be many obstacles along the way.

“We have a challenge, there’s no question about it, because of our away football games, playing in Camp Randall and playing at the Big House and playing in The Shoe, are three big places to play in this conference,” he said. “And being on the road for those three challenges are definitely going to be the challenges on the road. You’ve still got to win your Big Ten football games to give yourself that opportunity to get in that championship on 12-1-12 in Indianapolis.”

Beckman also mentioned that today is his mother Pat’s birthday, and I hope she has a lovely celebration with her son today.

It seems that the Maui Invitational people didn’t get the memo about the Big Ten Football Media Day taking place today, because they just decided to announce the official bracket for this year’s invitational basketball tournament.

In the first round game on Monday, Nov. 19, the Illini will play my grad school alma mater USC at 11PM. While I am a USC fan as well, let me assure everyone that I will wholeheartedly be rooting for my Illini, just like I did during the Rose Bowl a few years back. This time, it’s even more important since this is the first game of the tournament, and I want Illinois to win the whole shebang.

That game will be televised on ESPN2. Other first round match-ups include Texas vs. Chaminade (8:30 p.m. CT, ESPNU), Marquette vs. Butler (2:30 p.m. CT, ESPN2) and North Carolina vs. Mississippi State (5 p.m. CT, ESPN2).

For the 29th year, Maui’s oceanfront Lahaina Civic Center will be home to Basketball in Paradise during Thanksgiving week, as the eight Island Teams compete in the Championship Round for the Wayne Duke Championship Trophy.

Prior to the Championship Round and Regional Games, the Island Teams and Mainland Teams will face-off in seven Opening Games at the Island Teams home arenas from November 9-13. Illinois will host Colgate in the season opener on Nov. 9 at the Assembly Hall.

Illinois is making its fourth appearance at the Maui Invitational, owning an all-time record of 6-3. The Illini finished third in its most recent trip in 2007, defeating Arizona State in the first round, falling to eventual tournament champion Duke in the semifinal, and defeating Oklahoma State on the final day. Illinois was the Maui runner-up in 2000, defeating UNLV and Maryland before falling to Arizona in the title game. Illinois finished third in 1987 in its first visit to Maui, defeating Baylor, falling to Villanova, then beating eventual national champion Kansas.

USC has had lots of problems on the basketball court since Tim Floyd and OJ Mayo ruined the program, so normally I wouldn’t think they would cause problems for Illinois. However, we’ve now got a brand-new coach, and Hawaii is a long way from Illinois. I think if the Illini can shake off the nerves they should have no trouble with this game. The official schedule hasn’t been released, but this could be the first road trip for the guys, as well as maybe the first game against a team from a major conference. After that, it’s not an easy road with teams like Texas, Marquette and UNC in the mix. It’s good to be challenged early.

If you’d like to head to Maui and see the guys in person, travel packages for Illini fans that include game tickets to the Championship Round and hotel accommodations are currently available online at illinoissportstravel.com and by phone at 855-329-9272. Remaining tickets for the Championship Round, including school specific booster tickets, will be on sale to the general public beginning on Wednesday, August 22 at 1 p.m. CDT online at mauiinvitational.com (No phone orders, website only).

Six former Illini athletes and one current head coach will head to London to compete in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Various alums will be representing USA, Great Britain, Canada and Jamaica in the Olympics, competing in basketball, soccer and track & field.

Robert Archibald (Great Britain) and 2008 gold medalist Deron Williams (USA) might get to face each other on the basketball court. Four-time NCAA Champion and 2012 NCAA 100m and 110m hurdles champion Andrew Riley (Jamaica) leads a trio of former Illini track and field stars at the 2012 Games, which also includes hurdler Nikkita Holder (Canada) and discus thrower Gia Lewis-Smallwood (USA). Former soccer star Emily Zurrer (Canada), who is appearing in her second Olympic games, rounds out the Illini athlete contingent in London.

In addition to the six athletes competing, current Illinois women’s track and field head coach and former Olympic medalist Tonja Buford-Bailey is also in London as an assistant coach for USA women’s track and field. She will work primarily with Team USA’s sprinters and hurdles.

Take a look at the schedule below to watch all of the Orange & Blue athletes in action!

2012 Olympians

ROBERT ARCHIBALD
Great Britain, Men’s Basketball

Robert Archibald (1999-2002), a native of Scotland, is making his first Olympic appearance. At Illinois, Archibald was a third-team All-Big Ten pick as a senior in 2002, averaging 10.6 points and 5.5 rebounds while leading the Big Ten in field goal shooting at 65.9 percent. Archibald helped Illinois win back-to-back Big Ten titles and advance to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2001 and Sweet 16 in 2002. He plans to retire after a successful 10-year pro career.

Great Britain Men’s Basketball Schedule

Group B: 7/29 vs. Russia, 7/31 vs. Brazil, 8/2 vs. Spain, 8/4 vs. Australia, 8/6 vs. China

Quarterfinals: 8/8

Semifinals: 8/10

Gold/Bronze Medal Games: 8/12

NIKKITA HOLDER
Canada, Women’s Track & Field (100m hurdles)

Personal Best: 12.80 (2012)

2012 Best (world rank): 12.80 (29th)

Canadian hurdler Nikkita Holder (2007-2009) will be making her first Olympic appearance this year. Holder finished third at the Canadian Trials with a career-best time of 12.80 to advance to London. Holder represented Canada in the 100m hurdles at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea. At Illinois, Holder competed in the 100m hurdles, 100m and 60m hurdles, placing a career-best fourth in the 100m hurdles at the 2007 Big Ten Championships.

Olympic 100m Hurdles Schedule

Aug. 6, 10:05 am BST/4:05 CDT: Round 1

Aug. 7, 7:15 pm BST/1:15 CDT: Semifinals

Aug. 7, 9 pm BST/3 CDT: Final

GIA LEWIS-SMALLWOOD
USA, Women’s Track & Field (discus)

Personal Best: 63.97 m/209-10 (2012)

2012 Best (world rank): 63.97 m/209-10 (15th)

Gia Lewis-Smallwood (1998-2001) will be competing in her first Olympic Games for the United States in the discus throw. Lewis-Smallwood represented Team USA at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, her first international experience after 11 years competing on the national level. A native of Champaign, Ill., Lewis-Smallwood was a All-American in the discus for the Fighting Illini in 2001, placing fifth at the NCAA Championships.

Olympic Discus Schedule

Aug. 3, 7:10 pm BST/1:10 CDT: Qualifying

Aug. 4, 7:30 pm BST/1:30 CDT: Final

ANDREW RILEY
Jamaica, Men’s Track & Field (110m hurdles)

Personal Best: 13.19 (2012)

2012 Best (world rank): 13.19 (14th)

Recent Illini graduate Andrew Riley (2009-12) will representing his home country of Jamaica at the Olympics. Riley finished second in a loaded field at the Jamaican Trials with a career best time of 13.19 to earn his trip to London. In June, Riley became the first male NCAA athlete ever to win both the 100m dash and 110m hurdles NCAA titles in the same year. He finished his Illinois career as a four-time NCAA champion, 12-time All-American and 12-time Big Ten Champion.

Olympic 110m Hurdles Schedule

Aug. 7, 10:10 am BST/4:10 CDT: Round 1

Aug. 8, 7:15 pm BST/1:15 CDT: Semifinals

Aug. 8, 9:15 pm BST/3:15 CDT: Final

DERON WILLIAMS
USA, Men’s Basketball

Deron Williams (2003-05) will go for his second Olympic Gold medal with the United States men’s basketball team in London. Williams was a part of Team USA’s “Redeem Team” that won gold in Beijing in 2008. After being the highest Illinois player drafted at No. 3 overall in the 2005 NBA Draft, Williams has had a brilliant professional career. The seven-year NBA veteran and current Brooklyn Net averaged 21.0 points (11th in NBA) and 8.7 assists (fifth in NBA) last season and has participated in the last three NBA All-Star Games. .

USA Men’s Basketball Schedule

Group A: 7/29 vs. France, 7/31 vs. Tunisia, 8/2 vs. Nigeria, 8/4 vs. Lithuania, 8/6 vs. Argentina

Quarterfinals: 8/8

Semifinals: 8/10

Gold/Bronze Medal Games: 8/12

EMILY ZURRER 
Canada, Women’s Soccer

London 2012 will be the second Olympic appearance for Emily Zurrer (2005-08), as she also represented Canada in 2008 in Beijing, starting every game in the defensive backfield. Zurrer is in her fourth season on the Canadian national team and is one of the key figures on the Canadian defense. Zurrer also played at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany. At Illinois, Zurrer was a three-time All-American and the 2006 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

Canada Women’s Soccer Schedule

Group F: 7/25 vs. Japan, 7/28 vs. South Africa, 7/31 vs. Sweden

Quarterfinals: 8/3

Semifinals: 8/6

Gold/Bronze Medal Games: 8/9

Football season is just a couple months away, which means it’s time to start keeping our eyes on certain players. Four Illini football players were recently named to national award watch lists, announced by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). Junior linebacker Jonathan Brown and senior defensive end Michael Buchanan are both candidates for the Nagurski Trophy, which goes to the nation’s top defensive player, while senior center Graham Pocic and junior defensive tackle Akeem Spence are both up for the Outland Trophy, awarded to the best interior lineman in college football.

Brown was a second-team All-Big Ten selection by the media in 2011 after he ranked sixth in the nation in tackles for loss per game with 1.63 (19.5 total). He led the Big Ten in TFLs (14.5) in conference games and ranked second in tackles (11.9 per game), pacing the Illini with 108 stops. Brown has already been named to the 2012 Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy watch lists and is a preseason All-American by Phil Steele.

Buchanan also had a big 2011 season playing opposite first-team All-American DE Whitney Mercilus. Buchanan was a second-team All-Big Ten selection, recording 64 tackles and ranking fourth in the Big Ten in sacks (7.5) and ninth in TFLs (13.5). Buchanan is also on the Bednarik Award watch list.

Pocic enters 2012 having started 26 consecutive games at center for the Illini. He was an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection in 2010 when he helped pave the way for the top rushing offense in the Big Ten and 11th-best in the nation. Pocic is also on the Rimington Trophy watch list, which goes to the nation’s top center.

After being named a freshman All-American in 2010, Spence followed up with an even better year in 2011. He posted 69 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks during his sophomore campaign, while helping anchor the seventh-ranked defense in the country.

The Nagurski Trophy is named for former Minnesota fullback/defensive tackle Bronko Nagurski, who dominated college football from 1927-29. Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly won the award in 2011, while former Illini defensive end Whitney Mercilus was a Nagurski finalist last season. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists on Nov. 15. The winner will be announced Dec. 3 at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C.

The Outland Trophy, presented annually since 1946, is named after the late John Outland, an All-America lineman at Penn and Kansas at the turn of the century. This year’s winner will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 6 on ESPN. The 2011 Outland winner was Alabama offensive lineman Barrett Jones.

In all, four Illini have been named to eight different watch lists so far this summer.

Illini 2012 Preseason Honors & Watch Lists (as of 7/12)

• Jonathan Brown, LB – Nagurski Trophy (Def. POY), Bednarik Award (Def. POY), Lott Trophy (Def. POY), Phil Steele All-American (fourth team)
• Michael Buchanan, DE – Nagurski Trophy (Def. POY). Bednarik Award (Def. POY)
• Graham Pocic, C – Outland Trophy (Interior line), Rimington Trophy (C)
• Akeem Spence, DT – Outland Trophy (Interior line)

It seems like the Illini nation has been drooling over Simeon’s Jabari Parker since he learned how to walk. It’s too bad a recent tweet indicates we’re already out of the running. He said he would wait a while to make his final decision, but it’s clear from this tweet a couple of hours ago that he’s already cut a few schools from the list.

It’s not like I actually thought he would come to Illinois, because dreams don’t come true for Illini fans. However, I feel like it’s a little early to cut us out when you grew up in the heart of Illini country. Not to mention the fact that deleting Illinois and leaving DePaul on your list is just ridiculous. Just because the Big East is going to be a mess next year doesn’t mean the Blue Demons are going to actually win any games. I understand that Parker will only be at school for a year, but why go someplace where he will have zero exposure?

Of course Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, Georgetown and UNC make sense, because every basketball star has to list those under an unspoken law of the land. And as a devout Mormon I totally get BYU. But Florida? Huh? And considering another Big Ten school – like MSU – is just a direct stab in our orange and blue hearts.

The Chicago-native phenom was on the cover of Sports Illustrated earlier this year, and he’s only just heading into his junior year of high school. He’s been compared to his fellow alumnus Derrick Rose and some claim they haven’t seen a kid this great since a guy named Lebron. Let’s just say this kid is kind of a big deal, so it’s not a huge surprise to get the cold shoulder, just maybe not so early.

Perhaps it’s better to just get this heartbreak out of the way early so we can focus on diamonds in the rough. I can’t blame John Groce, because he’s only been on the job a few months. The other guys have been wining and dining Parker since he’s been in diapers. So if it’s not going to be Illinois, my choice would be for him to head to Georgetown or BYU. I would assume most Illini fans would be of a similar opinion.

Wherever Parker does land, I certainly wish him the best of luck for his one year of college, and then I look forward to seeing him in the NBA. I promise I won’t hold a grudge, I just need a few moments to grieve.