Quarterback Dan Persa took himself out of the Wildcats' 38-35 loss at Illinois Saturday when his right Achilles stiffened up in the second half. Persa worked out Monday and practiced Tuesday, later admitting that he had an issue with the right foot in June during his rehabilitation. The issue set his recovery back about a month, and that's most likely why he sat out the Wildcats' first three games.

            Persa said he felt that "it was a done deal" during spring football that he would be the starting quarterback at Boston College -- until he reinjured the Achilles during a workout in June.

            "I just planted my foot wrong and it just kind of happened," Persa said. "That hit and set me back about a month. I was pretty upset."