Bielema wants Illini prepared for inevitable adversity
· Yahoo Sports
Sep. 2—CHAMPAIGN — Thank goodness Illinois football doesn't have another Thursday game this year.
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That will help avoid the awkward conversations when we tell family members "Monday is Wednesday." And get met with blank stares.
For Bret Bielema and his team's planning purposes, Tuesday was Thursday, which meant the second press conference of the week for the sixth-year coach.
Bielema met with media members at the Smith Center for a 12-minute chat on Tuesday/Thursday (I promise not to do that again.)
The Illini open the season on actual Thursday at Gies Memorial Stadium against first-time opponent UAB (8 p.m. BTN).
It will be sixth opener at Illinois for Bielema and he is looking to improve to 6-0.
As he does for every press conference, Bielema started with a statement.
"I know it's Tuesday of this week, but it's Thursday for us," Bielema said. "So our guys went through a normal Thursday practice."
Unlike a year ago, Illinois isn't loaded with returning starters. Half the Illinois roster and a handful of the coaches are experiencing the Bielema calendar for the first time.
"I thought they've handled it really well," Bielema said.
Bielema has prepared his team for the night kickoff with multiple workouts under the lights. He also scheduled one of the team's scrimmages mid-afternoon to match the 2:30 p.m. start time for the second game against Duke on Sept. 12.
It has been 244 days since Illinois last played a game, defeating Tennessee 30-28 to win the 2025 Music City Bowl. The coach is willing to try anything to enhance its preparation.
"It's been a long time for the guys who returned," Bielema said, "Anybody that's going to suit up on Thursday and be in our two-deep and knows they are going to get on the field, I think they are all very excited.
"I think you have to contain the emotion. Life is always about how you respond to adversity. There's going to be some adverse moments. UAB is a really good football team."
Fresh start
Bielema was asked the following question on Tuesday: What excites you about your football team this year?
No surprise, the uber-prepared coach was ready with an answer.
"The new faces," Bielema said. "Obviously, you get to see a new quarterback (in Katin Houser) and see where that goes."
He is looking forward to Ethan Moczulski handling field goals and kickoffs. He returned to the program after spending 2025 at Washington.
The defense has a new coordinator, Bobby Hauck, and a handful of new position coaches.
"I've seen it for a long time now in the spring and in the summer and through the fall," Bielema said, "To see that handled gameday, I'm excited to see that."
Bielema watched the team's entrance video on Monday.
"There's some really cool things I think the fans will really enjoy," Bielema said. "To see our players react to that at a night game will be pretty cool."
Looking ahead
Thanks to the rare Thursday game, Illinois will be able to have coaches on the road Friday for recruiting. General manager Pat Embleton helps lead those efforts, with several high school prospects set to visit the program for Thursday night's opener.
"It's opened up the window for Pat and his crew to be out," Bielema said.
Bielema submitted a list of 16 coaches who will recruit the next four months.
"I'm on it," Bielema said. "There's about five or six assistant coaches during our bye week that might get out."
Mum is the word if you want to know the targets. Bielema tells his coaches not to publicize where they are going.
"We get some guys off the radar," Bielema said. "In recruiting, I always say we should info gather, not info give."