CHAMPAIGN - In case the Illini offense and defense are not enough for Saturday's homecoming football game against Minnesota, coach Ron Zook is asking for reinforcements.

He's calling on the fans to help push the Illini over the top.

"We're going to need everyone we can get into that stadium Saturday," Zook said Tuesday. "We are going to need the 12th man. We're going to need all the energy we can from our fans."

Accordingly, the university is designating this as the first "Rock the House" game at Memorial Stadium, calling for fans to bring and use their orange "Zook Zone" towels and create a loud racket throughout the game. The homecoming theme, "Feel the 'NOIS," is what Zook is hoping to hear throughout the game.

"I am making a plea to our fans," Zook said. "We need them hollering and yelling and waving those towels.

"You get a chance to play four Big Ten games a year at home, and we have to be ready to go. Our players will be ready," Zook said. "Our fans need to be ready, because I can promise you Minnesota will come in here with a chip on their shoulder."

Players say they've heard Minnesota's second-year coach, Tim Brewster, is particularly motivated because he wanted the Illini head coaching job when Zook was hired. Brewster played tight end at Illinois and helped the Illini to the Big Ten Conference championship in 1983.

But Brewster, who was an assistant coach at Texas, landed the Minnesota job and has turned the program around in just his second year on the job. After a 1-11 record last year, the Golden Gophers are off to a 5-1 start and will become bowl-eligible as soon as they can lock up victory No. 6.

Zook doesn't want that to happen Saturday and seems to be pulling out all the stops to safeguard against a letdown after beating Michigan 45-20 last weekend.

"I was talking to (former linebacker) J Leman, and he reminded me that two years ago, we won a game (in the state of Michigan), came back home and didn't take care of business. We are not going to let that happen again."

Leman was talking about the game on Sept. 30, 2006, when Illinois knocked off Michigan State 23-20 in East Lansing, Mich. Illinois then closed out the season by losing seven games in a row.

That completed a 2-10 season, and Illinois followed that last year by winning nine games, the best one-season turnaround in the country in 2007.

Now some are saying Minnesota could be this season's Illini, and Zook does see similarities.

"This is a good football team, a much-improved football team," Zook said. "They are playing with a lot of emotion. They are much more sound on defense, and their quarterback and receiver, they can move the ball on anybody."

In search of special

Zook said he is still fine-tuning kickoff coverage teams and will continue to change personnel until he finds the right combination.

"I will find 10 players who will run down the field and I will find me a kicker who can kick it, and if it takes me until the last game of the season, so be it," Zook said, still unhappy with the placement and coverage of kickoffs.

"It will be a test this week because (Minnesota) has done a heck of a job with their kickoff returns."

Zook switched kickers midway through the game last week. Matt Eller's kickoffs had more distance but not as much height, so he opted for Michael Cklamovski.

Who kicks off this week?

"It's a day-to-day thing," Zook said. "I have a meeting with (Cklamovski) at 2 o'clock today."

mtupper@herald-review.com|421-7983