Related Links: Game summary Illinois trounces Virginia 63-21 Complete bowl headlines Bowl schedule and results The writers' bowl picks Audio: Illinois coach Ron Turner is very pleased with the win Real | Windows Media Forum: Has Illinois become a Big Ten team to beat?
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In their first bowl appearance in five years, the Illini waxed Virginia 63-21 in the Micron PC Bowl. The victory over the Cavaliers not only meant the most lopsided score in this bowl's 10-year history. It also served as the final rebuilding block for coach Ron Turner's reclamation project of this once-proud program.

"Obviously we've made great strides," Turner said. "And we have been making great strides, even with the winless season. But the only people that saw it were the ones who were close to the program. But it showed this year with wins and losses."

When Turner came to Champaign-Urbana three years ago, he found the program in dire straits. The Illini were coming off two losing consecutive seasons. The talent level was at an all-time low and they were basement regulars in the Big Ten.

After only three seasons, Turner has gotten this team back to respectability with steady improvement. He transformed a team that went winless in his first season into impressive bowl victors two seasons later. Illinois' 8-4 record marks the most wins for the program since 1990.

Turner would have been pleased regardless of the outcome. Getting this team to a bowl was an accomplishment in itself. But the way the Illini thoroughly dominated the Cavs could possibly be only a glimpse to what might be in store.

The present state of Illini football is in good condition. So is its future. Turner's trigger man for the highest scoring offense in school history, quarterback Kurt Kittner, is only a sophomore and most of his teammates are underclassmen.

Kittner, the game's MVP, finished with 254 yards passing and accounted for four total touchdowns -- including one on the ground and receiving.

"We can be excited about the future with a lot of these guys coming back. I told the kids it's just the beginning," Turner said. "It's only the start. Hopefully, it's a sign of things to come and that we're doing something special with this program."

Kittner's two TD passes against Virginia gave him 24 for the season and eclipsed the school single-season record for touchdown tosses in a season (22) by Jeff George.

With Kurt Kittner returning at the controls, a foundation is firmly in place.(AP)

"The record feels good to break," Kittner said. "But this is a building block for next season. Not much was expected out of us this season. It was a great season ... something to build on for spring ball. We need to take this win and the wins against Ohio State and Michigan and make it a habit. We can't be satisfied."

Said Turner: "Kurt played great. It's not surprising. Kurt was making great decisions. He was throwing the ball the best I've ever seen him during the last three weeks. I'm a firm believer in playing like you practice, and we had great preparation leading up to this game."

Practice essentially made for a perfect outing for the Illini. The game was basically settled at halftime.

After Virginia tied the game 7-7 midway through the first quarter, the Illini seized control and never peeked in the rear view mirror. Before the bands touched the field at halftime, Illinois put up 35 more points, including a bowl-record 28 in the second period, to take a commanding 42-7 lead. And did it in every way conceivable: blocked punts, forced fumbles, running, passing and even the old quarterback throwback play to Kittner resulted in six points.

Against Virginia, Illinois played its best ball in recent memory. Every phase of the game clicked for Turner's bunch. With the pressure the Bowl Championship put on teams to finish the season unblemished, sometimes a team like Turner's that makes giant strides gets lost in the shuffle.

But on a national stage, the Illini served notice that they are a team on the rise and will be a force in the seasons ahead.

"This is a good way to end a good season," Turner said. "Hopefully some people will take notice and we'll crack the Top 25."

Don't worry, Ron. If they haven't noticed by now, they will next season.