CHAMPAIGN - It's hard to tell which will command center stage today at Memorial Stadium: football or the festivities?

The University of Illinois is betting there's room for both as the home opener coincides with the reopening of Memorial Stadium after a two-year, $120 million renovation project that has given the venue its biggest facelift since Red Grange dedicated the original structure in 1924.

The plan is for the day to include part football game, part history lesson as fans are treated to a trip down memory lane, with some 47 past Illini greats having pledged to be on hand to see the stadium's massive transformation. A steady stream of videos and player introductions are scheduled throughout the day.

Illini coach Ron Zook, who has pitched the importance of keeping in close contact with past players and the program's rich history, must nonetheless keep his focus on the matter at hand, and that's dealing with an Eastern Illinois University team that would like nothing more than to spoil Illinois' party plans.

Zook has completely dismissed Eastern's season-opening 31-12 loss at Central Michigan, figuring coach Bob Spoo will have his team ready to play at a much higher level today.

"What we watch on tape (from the Central Michigan game) won't be the same team that walks in here," Zook said. "We're going to get their Super Bowl.

"If you don't put the fire out immediately they will stick around and play hard. Their quarterback is very sound. I would expect they will throw caution to the wind. Our guys have to be ready for everything.

"You think of the people who have come out of Eastern Illinois, the coaches, people and players. They've been in the playoffs six of the last eight years. Coach Spoo has done an unbelievable job."

If that sounds like a pep talk designed to get his team's attention, it might be, because Zook figures his defense can use a little slap in the face after giving up 52 points, 549 yards and 28 first downs in Illinois' 52-42 loss to sixth-ranked Missouri last week.

Zook has not promised personnel changes, although he'll get at least one with sophomore defensive tackle Josh Brent of Bloomington making his debut.

Spoo was disappointed in Eastern's ability to run the ball with only 83 yards on 31 carries. And although Zook was not happy with Illinois' running game in the first half last week, he felt the situation improved in the second half against Missouri.

Look for Illinois to make a concerted effort to get the running game untracked, today with Daniel Dufrene joined by Troy Pollard (who returns from injury) along with freshmen Jason Ford and Mikel LeShoure.

"It was a little slow in the first half, but I knew it would be," said Dufrene, who settled in to gain 75 yards in 13 carries. "The coaches told me to just keep plugging away, to gain one yard here, two yards there, then to break one.

"It's a start and we'll be fine as long as we get better from here. We have to be ready for Eastern because they'll try to give us their `A' game."

One player who delivered on offense for the Illini was Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week Juice Williams, who passed for 451 yards and five touchdowns.

"You can see the focus and the fire in his eyes this year," Dufrene said. "He's really ready to play."

Williams' biggest problem might be the pass rush provided by Eastern's defensive end, preseason All-American Pierre Walters, a senior from Westchester St. Joseph.

Walters was recruited for a time by former Illini coach Ron Turner but had grade issues that forced him to sit out a year before becoming eligible at Eastern.

Walters recorded a sack against Illinois when the teams met in 2006 and had eight tackles and a sack in the opener last week.

"I definitely want to show (Illinois) they missed out on a good player," Walters said.

Zook said he hasn't thought much about the festivities that will surround today's game, but even his players are aware of what's going on.

"Yeah, we've heard about it," defensive end Will Davis said. "I'm excited to see guys like Dick Butkus and other guys coming in. We really want to put on a show for them.

"We want to show them that how we played (against Missouri) is not how we're going to play for the rest of the year. We're taking it as a personal challenge to show people our defense is not what they saw last Saturday.

"Maybe what happened in the Missouri game will be a blessing in disguise. We had some ups and downs last year and after those downs we really got together as a team and helped each other up. That's what I feel will happen this year."

mtupper@herald-review.com|421-7983