Photographer: Heather Coit

Isabella Sieve (cq), 4, of Washington, Missouri, shakes her pom pons as she and her family watch Illinois football players practice during UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010. Isabella's mom, Tiffany Sieve, is an Illini fan while dad, Chad Sieve, roots for the Missouri Tigers.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Illinois' Brad Janitz practices with teammates during UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Shawn Hannan (cq), second from left, of Champaign, briefly watches Illinois football practice with fans before he returns to his work in stadium maintenance during UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Illini fans, from top clockwise, Brian Mercer, of Lovington, Harry Bell, of Arthur, his grandkids, Hank Thomas, 6, of Urbana, Hallee Thomas, 7, their mother, Barb Thomas, and Jordon (cq) Clark, of Arthur, watch Illinois practice and later meet them in person during UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Illinois coach Ron Zook, center let, takes to the field during football practice at UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Illinois football fans of all ages watch their team practice and later meet them in person during UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Fans of all ages wait in line to meet the Illinois quarterbacks at UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Illinois quarterback Chandler Whitmer shares a laugh with fellow quarterbacks as they sign autographs for fans at UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Ashley Ensign, 5, of Mahomet, checks out her autographed poster with her mother, Jamie Ensign, her brothers, Austin, 9, right, and Tyler, 14, behind them, and friends, Chuck Smith and son, Corbin, 3, upper left, of Savoy, during UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Konnie (cq) Swanson, center, of Manlius, IL, spots her son, offensive lineman Nate Swanson, from the stands as she watches practice during UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010. Swanson was accompanied by Nate's grandparents, Bonnie and David Kepner, far left, of Walnut, Nate's father, Pete Swanson, third from right, and his 16-year-old twin sisters, Natalie, far right, and Niki (cq).

Photographer: Heather Coit

Caleb Cotter, 2, of St. Joseph, stays close to his mother, Susan Cotter, as they meet players with the offensive line during UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010. Caleb's brother, Austin, 6, not pictured, was there to collect autographs.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Stewie Llewellyn (cq) 4, of Columbia, Missouri, asks for autographs from running backs, Mikel Leshoure, second form left, and Ronald Stewart, during UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Coach Ron Zook hands back an autographed football to Brodie Sullivan, 8, of St. Joseph as assistant coaches, at left, look on during UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010. Brodie, who plays football for St. Joseph-Ogden youth football, showed off the shaved 41 on the side of his head. The number is also on his Spartans football jersey.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Defensive line, form left, Austin Teitsma, D.J. Woods, and Jake Howe get into the football spirit as they sign autographs for fans at UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.

Photographer: Heather Coit

The Illinois football team practices as the Illinois Marching Band provide the music behind them during UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Paul Rearden, owner of Pen & Ink Illustrations in Urbana, shows some of his work as he gets his artwork autographed by UI football players during UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Illinois football fans have plenty of room to roam as a line forms in front of the outside linebackers' table during UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010. Players were grouped by position this year as opposed to last year's continuous line-up at long tables.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Ryan Palmer, right, hams it up as offensive line teammate, Randall Hunt, autographs a football at UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Houston Bates, inside linebacker, autographs a poster Iduring UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase catches the ball during football practice at UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Illinois football fans watch their team practice and later meet them in person during UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.

Photographer: Heather Coit

The Illinettes line up for a photo as Cheryl Gilbert and her sons, Nicholas, 7, far left, Joseph, 4, and Tiimothy, 2, prepare to meet up with their father and Illinois assistant coach, Joe Gilbert, during UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.

Photographer: Heather Coit

The Illinettes goof off during Illinois football practice during UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010. The women took pictures of each other around the stadium.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Illinois assistant coach, Joe Gilbert, brings his sons, from left, Nicholas, 7, Timothy, 2, and Joseph, 4, to meet the Illini after practice at UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010. Not pictured is Gilbert's daughter, Madison, 10.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Illinois football teammates gather near the end zone for practice during UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.

Photographer: Heather Coit

Jacob Warrick, 15, of Decatur, watches the Illinois practice with his "big brother" Chuck Shonkwiler, also of Decatur, during UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010. The two are part of the Big Brother/Big Sister program. Shonkwiler received a bachelor's degree from Illinois in 1971 and a master's in 1976.

Photographer: Heather Coit

The Illinois Marching Band entertain the Illinois football team with their music during UI fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.