Turner hopes run of good health pays off

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois coach Ron Turner expects a healthy team to take the field for Saturday's season opener against Florida A&M -- a turnaround from last season, when the Illini started the season hurting.

No one is expected to miss playing time, Turner said Monday.

"We came into camp in very good shape, conditioning-wise and health-wise, and we're coming out of camp in very good shape, health-wise," said Turner, who begins his eighth season as Illinois coach.

Last season wasn't so lucky.

Starting fullback Carey Davis had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee five days before the first game against Missouri. He played in the game and caught 10 passes for 66 yards, but then missed the next three games after developing an infection in the knee.

In all, 17 Illini players, including 12 starters, missed a total of 75 games because of injuries last season.

Saturday's game is the first of four consecutive home games for Illinois, which gives his team ample opportunity to prove last season's 1-11 record an anomaly, Turner said.

"This team has done everything it can to rebuild and regain some confidence, but you don't totally get that until you start winning some games," he said.

A first-game win is critical, safety Morris Virgil said.

"I think the first game is the most important game of the season," Virgil said. "If you get a win, it's a momentum builder."

Turner said his 2004 team has comparable talent to teams in the past few seasons, including the 2001 Big Ten championship team, but he said this year's team has better intangibles.

"I think it's more a matter of attitude, work ethic, determination, chemistry. I think this team has outstanding chemistry," Turner said.

Illnois will need chemistry, good health and a whole lot more in a conference that includes six of the Top 25 teams in the AP's preseason poll.

The Illini finished last in the conference last year with an 0-8 record. They lost seven of those games by 18 or more points, managing only to stay with Indiana.

That meeting with the Hoosiers, set for Nov. 6 in Memorial Stadium, may determine whether Illinois can improve its conference standing from last season.

Jon Beutjer, who led the Big Ten with 2,511 passing yards in 2002, returns from an injury that knocked him out of last season after seven games. He was granted a sixth year of eligibility.

"One-and-11 left a sour taste in my mouth," Beutjer said. "I didn't want to go out like that."

Florida A&M is a Division I-AA team. Saturday's kickoff at Memorial Stadium is scheduled for 5 p.m.