All hail 2001 Illini football team that won Big Ten title

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Sep. 8—CHAMPAIGN — In 2001, the Big Ten numbered 11 teams (ahh, simpler times) — and Illinois faced eight of them.

One of the no-plays was Michigan State, which finished 7-5 that season under Bobby Williams.

And the other Big Ten opponent Illinois missed that season: Iowa and third-year boss Kirk Ferentz. Plus young linebacker coach Bret Bielema, who was in his last season at his alma mater.

Bielema didn't have to coach against Illinois star quarterback Kurt Kittner, wide receiver Brandon Lloyd and center Luke Butkus.

"I remember the players," Bielema said Monday during his weekly press conference at Gies Memorial Stadium. "Do remember the run they went on."

Illinois went 7-1 in conference play that season to win its first outright Big Ten title since 1983.

Bielema has gotten to know some of the key players from the 2001 Big Ten championship. Lloyd will serve as guest captain for Illinois' game at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday against Duke at a sold-out stadium in Champaign. On Friday, Lloyd is entering the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame. Good timing.

"One of the reasons I started that guest captain program was just to connect with the past," Bielema said. "I started doing them when I was at Wisconsin. Obviously, I had played at Iowa and have been a part of Iowa's history. I didn't know a lot about Wisconsin, and I was able to connect with so many players during my time there."

He continued the tradition at his next stop, Arkansas.

"I had a chance to have Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Jones as guest captains of all things," Bielema said.

For the opener against UAB, former Illini linebacker and quipster Brit Miller took the post.

"I think he was ready to play to be quite honest," Bielema said.

Everyone's a critic

As he does on occasion during his press conferences, Bielema questioned some of the decision-making among Associated Press Top 25 voters. Yes, he knows I'm on the panel.

"It's just hard for people to continue to wrap their minds around — I know we've got a distinguished voter here — but I laugh when I get the AP poll and see some of the buffoonery that goes on in those type of things," the Illinois coach said.

Challenge accepted. No buffoonery from me.

Pack the place

Bielema celebrated the news that Saturday's game will be in front of a full house.

"Which is absolutely awesome," he said. "To have Duke come to town, defending ACC champs, so many great things around it."

Illinois defeated Manny Diaz and the Blue Devils 45-19 last season in Durham, N.C. Diaz added former Illinois assistant Trent Harris to his staff this season.

"We've got a lot of respect for Manny," Bielema said. "Obviously, they've got Trent over there, too. A guy who had been in our building for a couple years, that always adds a little nuance to it."

Paying respect

Illinois plans to honor victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks during football events this weekend.

"(Illinois athletic directory) Josh (Whitman) and his staff has put together a pretty special experience on Friday that will be awesome for those who can take part in that," Bielema said.

Bielema remembers where he was during the tragedy.

"I was in a defensive staff meeting," he said. "We were getting ready to play Iowa State, our rival game.

"I was sitting right next to Phil Parker, who is now the defensive coordinator. Rob Smith was in there as a graduate assistant, went outside, came back in and said a plane had flown into the tower. We all just tried to process it."

The staff kept working. Not long afterward, the upcoming games were all canceled.

"Kirk gave us the option if we wanted to go recruit," Bielema said. "I really just didn't want to get on a plane to be honest. I distinctly remember having that conversation with myself. At that time, I was not married, not dating and not engaged."

He didn't recruit that weekend.

The game against Iowa State was pushed back to the end of the season. The host Cyclones won 17-14.

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