Around 7 p.m. Sunday, I sat down to watch the BCS selection show, hoping that Illinois would be chosen to go to a bowl game. Around 7:15 p.m. the Illinois logo jumped onto the screen, telling me that the Illini were in the Rose Bowl for the first time in 23 years!

Illinois will be up against a strong University of Southern California team, which is ranked seventh in the country. Illinois is ranked 13th.

However, the Illini are used to being the underdog, winning three upsets against Penn State, then ranked 21st, Wisconsin, ranked fifth, and Ohio State, ranked first.

Illinois has an impressive squad, led on offense by sophomore quarterback Isiah "Juice" Williams and junior running back Rashard Mendenhall. On defense, senior linebacker J Leman, a Champaign native, anchors the Illini.

This season has been a highly impressive one, especially coming off of a two-win season last year. The credit goes to the team and to Ron Zook's coaching.

Zook has been criticized for his coaching, most notably when he was at Florida. But none of the critics has been able to deny the excellent recruiting that Zook has done.

Always on the trail, Zook has built a good team by getting the right players. His adept recruiting ability has given the Illini quality athletes, even while the team was in a slump. Another mark of his great recruiting is his Florida team from last year, primarily consisting of his old players, who won a national championship.

The Illini should have success for years to come. With more quality recruits signing every day, the team should be good well beyond this season. The Illini have a strong core returning, even if Mendenhall decides enter the NFL draft.

With Illinois in its first bowl game since the 2002 Sugar Bowl loss to LSU, the C-U area is excited.

Prepare to see a lot more roses around town!