Bielema planning for the present, future

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Nov. 11—CHAMPAIGN — What did you do on your week off? Early Christmas shopping? Winterize the car (too late)? Catch up on your favorite Netflix show?

For Illinois football coach Bret Bielema, the answer was none of the above. Instead, he went recruiting. And took program general manager Pat Embleton with him.

How did it go? Check back in a year or two. But open week recruiting by the head coach has been valuable in the past.

"I listed on our roster right now, the amount of guys that I saw during our first and second bye weeks, me personally, that have affected our program," Bielema said during his Monday press conference. "I think a lot about Isaiah Adams was a guy that first came in. Zy Crisler, Gabe Jacas, I sent Aaron Henry to see him on our second bye week after our first year. I see guys all over in our building that we saw during these bye weeks that have literally changed the direction of our program one by one."

It takes time to evaluate the work.

"You won't really know the results of this year's recruiting until a year or two from now," Bielema said, "but I think it will be good."

Extra time

Illinois returns to Big Ten play at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (Fox Sports 1) hosting Maryland. The Terrapins are led by former Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, who helped Ron Zook's team reach the 2008 Rose Bowl. Locksley was the first — and most successful — offensive coordinator during Zook's seven seasons.

"Coach Locksley's got a great history here," Bielema said. "I know this means a lot to him to come back. He accomplished a lot of great things here as an assistant coach."

Maryland is 4-5 this season after losing Saturday at Rutgers, which Illinois beat the previous week.

Maryland enters as a two-touchdown underdog. Like he did at Illinois in 2006 with Juice Williams, Locksley starts a freshman quarterback. Malik Washington ran for 164 yards against Rutgers and threw for another 98 more.

"He's very, very talented," Bielema said. "A very opportunistic group. A tremendous challenge coming here."

Illinois has had four consecutive sellouts going into the Maryland game.

"We'd love to get a fifth," said Bielema, who with his wife Jen is donating 2,000 tickets to military personnel.

Ben Miller, a member of Bielema's staff and an Air Force alum, will serve as the team's honorary captain.

"For me as a head coach, he really understands how I see the game, call the game, so he helps me a lot on game day," Bielema said. "But in the transition to this roster management, he's also into a new role into recruiting and personnel."

Illinois is trying to finish the season 6-1 at home. The lone loss came to No. 1-ranked Ohio State. The team closes the home season Nov. 29 against Northwestern.

"That's something I take a lot of pride in in what we're doing," Bielema said. "This weekend is a chance to continue that in the right direction."

Feeling better

Bielema said he expect to have linebacker Dylan Rosiek on the field for Saturday's game.

"Dylan Rosiek practiced (Sunday) and had no problem," Bielema said. "It was only a 12-period practice. We wanted to get him in individual (drills), do the things a linebacker does. As long as there's no setbacks, he'll be with us for Saturday."

Mum's the word

Bielema is aware of a trick play Southern California ran against Northwestern on Friday, having a backup quarterback wearing a punter's number then throwing a perfect pass to continue a drive. The player is Sam Huard, son of former NFL quarterback Damon.

The Big Ten said Sunday the Trojans should have been penalized for the ruse.

"I didn't see it live," Bielema said. "Saturday morning, I got up and saw all the chatter about it."

The coach doesn't want to comment on what happened.

"I have a good buddy that always says, 'These stories are much better when you're not in them,'" Bielema said.

The reality of college football is that coaches will find ways to push the rules envelope. Worked for the Trojans, who weren't penalized and won the game 38-17 at home.

Going back to his first year as a head coach, Bielema didn't allow double numbers to avoid confusion. But the numbers became part of recruiting, with prospects wanting certain digits. So, he adapted.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos