CHAMPAIGN - In any game that shapes up as a potentially close call, the outcome could be decided by a field goal.

With that in mind, Illini coach Ron Zook said Tuesday he still does not know who will handle the place kicking duties when No. 20 Illinois takes on No. 6 Missouri Saturday in St. Louis (7:30 p.m., ESPN).

In fact, on Illinois' depth chart this week, no fewer than four players are listed as potential starters at this very important position.

"We have three guys who are all kicking well but we have a little inconsistency problem," Zook said. "(Matt) Brandabur, (Matt) Eller and (Derek) Dimke have all shown me they can kick in the Big Ten Conference and can win for us.

"Hopefully we'll have a guy this week, but if we don't, we don't."

The fourth place kicker, Michael Cklamovski, performed the kickoff duties last season and could be doing them again this year. But Zook doesn't want to take four place kickers to St. Louis because he must follow a Big Ten rule that limits him to a 70-player roster for games played away from home.

Missouri, which plays in the Big 12 Conference, has no such restrictions."We can only take 70," Zook lamented. "They will have everyone on their sideline."

Zook said he has talked to Director of Athletics Ron Guenther about the rule, hoping it might be altered in the future when it puts Big Ten teams at a competitive disadvantage.

"I don't know how many (kickers) I will be taking, but I do know this: We have a couple guys who can win for us," Zook said. "I'm sure on that first kick or two they will be a little nervous, which I would expect. I have a lot of sympathy for that from when I coached special teams for the Pittsburgh Steelers. There's a lot of pressure riding on it, but that's what the kicker does. I have a lot of respect for them. He gets one shot."

The punting duties will once again be handled by Anthony Santella, who averaged 44.7 yards on six punts in the Rose Bowl.

Santella, a transfer from Utah, remains a non-scholarship walkon even though Zook admits he has earned the right to be given a scholarship. The trouble is, Zook already has a scholarship committed to one punter, Kyle Yelton, a junior who is now No. 3 behind Santella and Mahomet's Jared Bosch. And many head coaches don't want to devote more than one scholarship to a punter.

Rejus Benn and Vontae Davis are listed as the kick returners with Benn and Dere Hicks listed 1-2 as the punt returners.

The long snapper, walkon Tad Keely from Oswego, has been awarded a scholarship, Zook said Monday.

INJURY UPDATE

Zook declared just two players out for Saturday's game, defensive tackle Sirod Williams (knee) and wide receiver Jeff Cumberland (stress fracture, foot).

Williams is lost for the season but Cumberland is making progress, Zook said.

"Cumberland is swimming and is a little ahead of schedule," said Zook, who wouldn't speculate whether his 6-foot-5 receiver might be ready for the home opener Sept. 6 against Eastern Illinois.

Backup tailback Troy Pollard (high ankle sprain) has been running at practice and, "he informed me he would be ready to go," Zook said.

Although not mentioned by Zook in his injury analysis, starting center Ryan McDonald appeared before the media wearing a brace on his left knee. A black elastic sleeve peeked out beneath his khaki shorts.

"I was hoping you wouldn't notice that," McDonald said. "It happens."Asked if he would be playing Saturday, McDonald replied, "I believe so."Senior Mike Nabolotny, a converted tight end who has never started a game, is listed as McDonald's backup.

COMING AND GOING

Two players who had university-related issues to resolve are no longer on the team, Zook said.

Brian Gamble, who had 16 catches last year and would have switched to safety, is off the team along with offensive lineman Mark Jackson. "They had some things from the university to get corrected and they didn't get it done," Zook said. "Now it's an institutional issue. They have some things to take care of before they can even get back in school. We have moved on."

Two freshmen with academic matters to resolve are likely to be back with the team while a third will not, at least for the time being.

Freshman linebacker Evan Frierson from Washington, D.C., already has rejoined the team and freshman wide receiver Jack Ramsey from Chicago should be able to soon. Less fortunate is freshman defensive back Patrick Nixon from Jacksonville, Fla., who Zook said, "may have to go back home and work on the test and hopefully we can get him back here in January."

EXTRA POINTS

Zook said he met with AD Ron Guenther on Monday and voiced his opinion about extending the St. Louis-based opener with Missouri beyond 2010 or switching to a home-and-home series.

"I would prefer he comment on it," Zook said. "I'll leave that for him, but playing seven home games is important to our fans (especially) when you have a place like this," he said, referring to the newly renovated Memorial Stadium.

That sounds like a vote in favor of rotating future games between Champaign and Columbia, Mo.

… More than 11,000 tickets have been sold for the "Night of Legends" basketball game at the Assembly Hall on Saturday, Sept. 13. The game will feature past Illini stars including Olympic gold medalist Deron Williams, Dee Brown, James Augustine, Luther Head, Roger Powell Jr., Brian Cook, Frank Williams, Kenny Battle, Stephen Bardo, Kendall Gill and others.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling 1-866-ILLINI1.

mtupper@herald-review.com|421-7983