Thursday, September 7 Turner keeps perspective after Illini's super season By Jeff Potrykus Special to ESPN.com

Illinois coach Ron Turner must now become the voice of reason.

	Kurt Kittner tossed 22 TDs for Illinois as a sophomore.

Quiet, but firm, Turner's voice must prevent expectations for the 2000 Big Ten football season from reaching levels that are unrealistic, perhaps even unreachable.

When the Illini crushed Virginia in the Micronpc.com Bowl on Dec. 30, they finished at 8-4 to cap their most successful season since 1990, won their first bowl game since 1994 and sparked talk of a Big Ten title in 2000.

"We are going to be in Pasadena next year," senior safety Asim Pleas said, referring to the Rose Bowl. "And I am flying out to watch them."

Turner's advice to Pleas and the giddy Illini fans: don't purchase those tickets just yet. And if you do, make sure they are refundable.

"Everyone is talking about eight wins and a bowl win," Turner said, "but we've got to be realistic and look where we were in the Big Ten."

Specifically, the Illini finished tied for sixth at 4-4.

"We've got a lot of work to do to make a move in the Big Ten Conference," Turner said.

Although the Illini finished the regular season ranked 47th nationally in total offense (388.7 yards per game), that was good enough for just sixth-best in the Big Ten. And the defense was No. 9 in the Big Ten and No. 82 nationally (388.5 yards per game).

Room for growth is substantial, yet Turner realizes the Illini should return the bulk of the players who contributed to a magical season in Champaign.

The defense must replace seven starters, including three in the secondary. However, the offense loses just three starters, none on the line.

Perhaps most important, quarterback Kurt Kittner is back for two more seasons. As a sophomore, Kittner completed 54.3 percent of his passes for 2,448 yards, with 22 touchdowns and just four interceptions.

Most of the players who suffered through seasons of 0-11 in 1997 and 3-8 in 1998 before turning the program's fortunes around last fall will be back.

"We felt in the two years when we didn't have many wins that we were making progress," said Turner, 11-23 in three seasons as coach. "A lot of it had to do, not in wins and losses, obviously, but in attitude and work ethic and commitment. Just the overall attitude of the players, understanding what it takes to win and be successful.

"I think the players saw the progress all along and felt good about where we were going and what we were doing. They were frustrated, obviously, and wanted to win, but I think they understood the overall process. They understood why we weren't winning and what we had to do to get there."

To that end, about 65 percent of the team reported to school 10 days early last January to begin winter conditioning. Winter conditioning for the 2000 season begins Jan. 18, after a meeting with the coaches.

On that day, Turner's message will be a repeat of his speech in the wake of the 63-21 bowl victory over Virginia. That is, the climb to the top of the Big Ten will prove far more taxing than the distance covered to this point.

"They've got to understand that the reason we won eight games this past year is what they did from January to September," Turner said. "They've got to understand that it took a lot of hard work and patience and perseverance to get to the point where we were able to get to and win a bowl game.

"It's going to take the same kind of commitment and hard work to maintain where we are and then get to the next level.

"You can't relax and put it on cruise control. Obviously, it doesn't work that way."

For the second consecutive season, Illinois will not face Wisconsin and Purdue. Still, the Illini's 2000 Big Ten schedule isn't easy.

After relatively soft non-conference games against Middle Tennessee State, San Diego State and California, the Illini open the Big Ten schedule on Sept. 23 at home against Michigan. The Wolverines won't have forgotten blowing a 20-point lead and losing to the Illini, 35-29, in Ann Arbor.

Road games against Minnesota (Sept. 30), Penn State (Oct. 21) and Michigan State (Oct. 28) will be difficult. Those teams beat Illinois by a combined 98-48 this past season.

Turner also gets Ohio State at home in 2000, but the Buckeyes certainly will be looking to seek a bit of redemption for the 46-20 loss they suffered at the hands of the Illini this past season in Columbus.

"I think Michigan might be the team to beat in the Big Ten," Turner said. "And Ohio State you know is going to rebound and be what everyone expects Ohio State to be every year."

Expectations in Columbus will be high again in 2000. But they probably won't reach higher than those in Champaign.

"Yes, he did say that," Turner said laughing, when asked about Pleas' Rose Bowl prediction. "That's maybe a little bit premature. It's good that guys are thinking about that and talking about that. Most of the seniors were saying, `I wish I had another year. I wish I could come back.'

"They sense that we have a chance to take this to the next level. But there's a fine line. You want everyone excited. You want the confidence level to be high. You want the expectations to be high.

"But you don't want them to be too high."

Alvarez staying in school
No one should have been suprised when Barry Alvarez announced he would remain at the University of Wisconsin rather than test his coaching skills in the NFL.

According to people close to Alvarez, the allure of the NFL has dimmed considerably since he was courted by the Philadelphia Eagles prior to the 1995 season. The Eagles eventually settled on Ray Rhodes. Ironically, Alvarez was contacted recently by Green Packers general manager Ron Wolf, who fired Rhodes after just one season.

"As I've said all along, it is my desire to coach college football," said Alvarez, who recently completed his 10th season as Wisconsin's coach. "Thus, I will continue to serve as head football coach at the University of Wisconsin.

"I talked with Ron because of my respect for him and because of my relationship with the Packers organization. I was humbled when the Packers showed an interest in me, but I remain dedicated to building the program at Wisconsin."

Still, it remains unclear whether Alvarez withdrew his name from consideration for the Packers' opening.

UW athletic director Pat Richter could not comment on that issue. However, he was relieved the matter had been closed and that Alvarez planned to continue refining Wisconsin's program, which has won three Big Ten titles and three Rose Bowls in the last seven seasons.

"We felt that was his main interest," Richter said. "But, of course, we've had a good relationship with the Packers and it's understandable that he would at least want to hear what they have to say."

Alvarez has four years remaining on his current contract, which covers his base salary of $201,870. However, Alvarez's total compensation package, including payments from apparel companies, his television and radio work and other incentives, is around $800,000.

Richter acknowledged UW officials are still working on revising Alvarez's annuity package. That annuity package should be worth at least $2 million when it is scheduled to be paid out in 2008.

"We've made some minor adjustments but the dollars won't really change," Richter said Wednesday, adding he expected the two sides to reach agreement soon.

One option could be for Alvarez to receive the payout before 2008.

"That's possible," Richter said. "Those are things we'll discuss."

Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.