Football is a violent game. Block and tackle. Overpower. Intimidate.
Disadvantaged coaches employ spread alignments in the hope of finessing it, but that usually fails. The "big uglies" routinely batter down the walls and decide the issue.
As Illini fan Robert Rosenthal concludes via a 17-year analysis, Illini opponents tend to throw fewer passes because of their ability to dominate with the run.
Why risk an interception when there's a safer way?
So for all the crush of summer-autumn coverage of the muddled Illini quarterback situation, and uplifting stories about Mikey Dudek and Ricky Smalling, success is more likely to hinge on the 300-pounders.