Illinois’ quarterback preps for Saturday’s game

By Paul Trembacki
Sports Editor

Illinois senior quarterback Kurt Kittner remembers Oct. 24, 1998.

"Last time I went into Purdue, I didn't play the way I wanted to play, so I'm definitely thinking about that," Kittner said.

It was a bad day for Kittner, who was a freshman making his fifth collegiate start that day. He completed just five of 11 passes for 31 yards, fumbled twice and threw an interception as his team lost 42-9 to Purdue in front of a Homecoming crowd in Ross-Ade Stadium.

However, the senior's numbers are much better nowadays. The Big Ten's leading passer, he has thrown for 1,839 yards (262.7 per game). He also has 14 touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown.

He'll make his 36th career start Saturday when No. 21 Illinois (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) takes on No. 20 Purdue (5-1, 3-1) at 12:10 p.m. in Ross-Ade Stadium.

"It's not an easy game," Kittner said. "We're in the Big Ten and everyone's on an equal level. They're a great football team and we're a great football team, so we'll see what happens."

Purdue coach Joe Tiller said Illinois' success this year has been largely due to Kittner's re-emergence as a quality quarterback.

"Kittner is having a great season and I think it is between him and Zak Kustok as far as who the best quarterback in the league is this year," Tiller said.

As a sophomore, Kittner passed for 2,702 yards with 24 touchdowns and just five interceptions as Illinois went 8-4 and won the Micronpc.com Bowl. However, last season he passed for more than 700 fewer yards and six fewer touchdowns as the Fighting Illini went 5-6 and tied for last place in the Big Ten with a 2-6 conference record.

Kittner said he's having a much better year than he did as a sophomore.

"I think I'm doing some things that are smarter than before," Kittner said. "Obviously I'm not hitting all the passes I'd like to hit. On a whole, I'm doing things to get the job done when it counts."

Last year Illinois lost a close game to Michigan early in the season and lost confidence as the season progressed. This year the Illini shrugged off their second consecutive loss to Michigan and put together a string of wins that has them eligible for a bowl.

Their last game was a 42-35 win over Wisconsin in Madison, Wis., Oct. 20. Kittner led a late-game comeback and threw for 401 yards and four touchdowns in that game after making some mistakes early in the game.

"That's one thing a quarterback needs to do is make the plays when they need to be made," Kittner said. "I think as far as that aspect, I'm doing better than I did my sophomore year."

Illinois' players are also getting along better than they did during Kittner's sophomore year.

The team's togetherness was aided by an off-season softball league that promoted team unity in a non-practice environment. The unified offense has Illinois right where it wants to be.

"They are a very potent team offensively," Tiller said. "They present problems because they are a physical team and are hitting on all cylinders right now. They have a senior quarterback who is playing like every senior would wish to play."

Kittner has time to throw thanks to an offensive line composed of players averaging 6 feet 5 inches and 294 pounds. That line has allowed just seven sacks through seven games and held Wisconsin, which was averaging 3.5 sacks per game, without a sack.

Kittner lives with several offensive linemen, including starting right tackle Tony Pashos and starting left tackle Sean Bubin.

"They're guys that you need to be friends with because they're going to back you up on and off the field," Kittner said. "You just need to make sure that you take care of those guys and they'll do the same for you."

However, Kittner also said that Purdue's defensive line is superb and that Purdue's defense has no weaknesses.

Purdue linebacker Gilbert Gardner said the key to disrupting Illinois' offense is disrupting Kittner.

The quarterback is very important to their team," Gardner said. "He has a lot of ability and is very smart with his decisions and checks."

Kittner knows this Saturday's battle of second-place teams will not be won easily.

"It's going to be a dogfight," Kittner said. "It doesn't matter what their record is or what ours is — we're going to come in ready to play and so are they."

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Sports editor:
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