Illinois makes its mark on a Rose Bowl tradition; more

If he plays as well in the Rose Bowl as he eats, Illinois QB Juice Williams will be a load for USC to handle. AP

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Juice Williams never dreamed of this moment. Even in his imagination this seemed too far fetched to visualize.

"I can't say that it's everything I thought it would be because I never thought I'd be here," said the Illinois sophomore quarterback. "I hoped we'd get to a bowl, but I didn't think it would be the Rose Bowl."

It's a reality that was so unexpected that Williams was still unsure of what he was doing when he sat down with his offensive line and the Rose Queen for a Rose Bowl tradition last Friday night: the 52nd annual Lawry's Beef Bowl.

"Are you guys going to watch the Rose Parade?" Rose Queen Dusty Gibbs asked the table during the Fighting Illini's prime rib dinner. "You'll have to watch for our float."

"I thought we were going to be in the Rose Parade," said Williams looking slightly upset that he wouldn't be boarding a float hours before the game.

"I thought so too," said right guard Jon Asamoah. "Damn."

While Williams and his offensive line won't be taking part in the parade on New Year's Day, devouring unlimited quantities of prime rib seemed like a decent consolation prize.

"I've heard about this, so I saved up my appetite," said Williams. "I'm ready to get this thing going, but I'm not sure if I can keep up with these guys."

Williams may be a svelte 6-foot-2, 223 pounds, but he was born for this type of competition.

"You'll be fine," said Queen Gibbs. "I heard how you got your nickname. Is that true?"

"Oh yeah, 'Juice,' " said Williams. "I was 13 pounds when I was born, so my mom said I was 'a juicy baby' and that name's stuck ever since."

Williams lived up to his nickname as he put away three plates of prime rib and helped Illinois down a record-breaking 870 pounds of beef, shattering the mark of 799 USC had set a day earlier.

"It's the Rose Bowl," Williams said. "I had to do it. I'm one of the big boys now."

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