Future unsure for Weaver, Illini

In many ways, Scott Weaver is the perfect quarterback to lead ateam coached by Lou Tepper.

Both are articulate, gentlemen and scholars who exude valuesthat are becoming all too rare in big-time athletics.

And both are expressing optimism.

Weaver, who has weathered three autumns of dueling with thedeparted Johnny Johnson for the quarterback job, finally will havethe chance to be the starter.

He will have to operate, however, without the comfort zone thatan exceptional corps of linebackers has provided in Champaign thelast few years. In games in which it scored fewer than 10 pointslast season, Illinois still managed to go 2-1-1.

The new linebackers are more than competent. But they don'thave the monstrous talents of outside linebackers Kevin Hardy andSimeon Rice.

And while the returning inside linebackers, Dennis Stallings andDavid James, figure to be solid players, they still have to showthey can be as tenacious as their predecessors, Dana Howard and JohnHolecek.

To those who wonder how Illinois, which struggled to a 5-5-1record last year even with Hardy and Rice, can avoid an even biggerdecline, Tepper and his staff are pointing to teamwork.

"Call it cohesiveness or synergy," Tepper said. "But overall,the attitude of this team is its biggest positive. I think they'llplay better as a group than the talent itself."

On offense, Weaver is pointing toward the Illini's second yearunder Paul Schudel, Tepper's third offensive coordinator in his fiveseasons.

"My focus is not that this is my year to pick up the reins,"said Weaver, who is 4-5 in nine starts the last three seasons,including 2-2 last year. "My whole focus is that this is the secondyear that I've been here that we've had the same offense two years ina row. I have, and the team has, a different comfort level from ayear ago. Instead of learning things, we're polishing up on thingswe know."

The Illini will need to be ready from the opening kickoffbecause their early schedule of Michigan, USC and Arizona easilycould put them in an 0-3 hole.

Illinois still has a ways to go, though, judging from ascrimmage Saturday.

The only score came on a 23-yard Weaver pass that wasintercepted by defensive back James Williams. Backup Mark Hoekstra(14-of-17, 149 yards) had a better day statistically than Weaver(7-of-12, 80 yards) as each quarterback was intercepted once.

And so, it looks like business as usual for Illinois, whichfinished 20th in the nation in total defense but 102nd (out of 106teams) in total offense.

If Illinois does improve on offense, it will be because of adeep but undistinguished group of running backs led by RobertHolcombe and Ty Douthard. And because a young but improvingoffensive line has given Weaver time to find flanker Jason Dulick.

As if Weaver - a fifth-year senior - doesn't have enough to do,he has enrolled in Illinois' M.B.A. program.

"I discouraged Scott from going into the M.B.A. program," Teppersaid. (Former star punter) Brett Larsen did that last year, and hewas a walking zombie for a while. There will be some apprehensionuntil we get into it, but I think it will be a tremendous experiencefor him."

"I am concerned about the workload," Weaver said of his M.B.A.pursuit. "But I feel I can handle it. I'm confident in myabilities. I already had graduated, so why not do somethingproductive?"

The quarterback also thinks this can be a productive footballyear.

"Not too many people are looking at us to make any waves in theBig Ten," he said. "But I'm excited about our chances. I think ouroffense is going to be a lot more organized. Hopefully, this yearwe'll be able to get rid of the confusion and operate moresmoothly.