CHAMPAIGN — Illinois never had the inclination to move away from AJ Bush Jr. at quarterback as its offense struggled last Saturday against Purdue. Illini football coach Lovie Smith thought there were more problems.
"It wasn't just on the quarterback," Smith said. "We thought we needed to keep fighting with that group that we had out there. We thought that group gave us our best chance to have success."
Mop up duty after Purdue held on to its commanding halftime lead in a 46-7 victory? Illinois was fine turning to one of its freshmen quarterbacks, but who would play in Bush's place took some strategic thinking.