Tuesday, August 18, 2009 9:58 AM CDT
For Illini, don't forget the punter
By MARK TUPPER, Staff Writer
mtupper@herald-review.com
RANTOUL -- A bit lost in the big-play barrage by the Illini offense in Saturday night’s football intrasquad scrimmage was the encouraging performance of punter Anthony Santella.
Punting is a concern going into the upcoming season. Santella averaged 39.7 yards per punt last season, ranking ninth in the Big 10 Conference. That’s not very good.
Santella is a junior from Wauconda who has been a walkon after transferring from the University of Utah. But Zook rewarded him with a scholarship before training camp started, promising that the punt team will raise its level of performance.
On Saturday, Santella booted the ball five times for an average of 48.6 yards. He had a 55-yard punt, another for 50 and one that traveled 49. His shortest punt of the night was 44 yards.
And there were no rugby-style punts that Zook says Illinois will employ in certain situations this season.
n Another former Illini walkon is trying to make his mark in the coaching field.
Aaron Moorehead, the one-time Illini wide receiver who played five seasons with the Indianapolis Colts in the National Football League, is working this season as a graduate assistant coach on offense at the University of New Mexico for new head coach Mike Locksley.
Locksley was Illinois’ offensive coordinator last season.
Moorehead was with the Colts from 2003 through 2007 and spent last year as the wide receivers coach at his high school alma mater in Deerfield.
n Speaking of Illini names from the past, former head coach Lou Tepper is preparing for his fourth season as head football coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Tepper coached the Illini for five seasons and was fired after finishing 2-9 in 1996. He was replaced by Ron Turner.
From there, Tepper worked as linebackers coach and defensive coordinator at LSU, and after three seasons he took over as head coach at Edinboro in Pennsylvania, where he stayed for six years. Tepper’s teams had a record of 26-8 over his final three seasons.
Tepper became head coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2006 and his three teams have combined to post a record of 25-7.
n Brit Miller’s two touchdowns in Friday’s exhibition opener for the San Francisco 49ers were great, and he’s already a mini media darling with the San Francisco writers and broadcasters.
While the touchdowns caught the attention of his coaches, his chance of making the team got a boost when fullback Zak Keasey, who was the starter Friday night, suffered a broken arm and will be out at least eight weeks.
That should help Miller is what is always a numbers battle.
But it didn’t take the 49ers long to sign another fullback. On Sunday, the 49ers brought in another free agent fullback, Bill Rentmeester of Wisconsin, who was cut by San Diego on Aug. 5.
The 49ers next exhibition game is Saturday night against the Oakland Raiders.
n Illinois’ football season opener is two weeks from Saturday against Missouri in St. Louis.
And while it’s true that Mizzou has lost talented quarterback Chase Daniel and electric receiver/kick returner Jeremy Maclin, the cupboard is not bare.
Those close to the program believe Missouri has its fastest team ever. And in its intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday, Daniels’ replacement put up some impressive numbers.
Blaine Gabbert, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound sophomore quarterback, completed 17 of 22 throws for 219 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also carried the ball five times for 52 yards and a touchdown.
So while the Illini offense and senior QB Juice Williams should provide a stout test for Missouri, sounds like Gabbert will give the Illini defense plenty to think about.
n Finally, we’re still waiting for the Illini basketball schedule to be released by the Big Ten Conference office. Should be out this week, perhaps as early as today or Wednesday.
Contact Mark Tupper at mtupper@herald-review.com|421-7983
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