Illinois Fighting Illini (you'll see)

[ProudBuck67]

I'll reserve the up and coming program until after Williams moves on, then we'll see.

GO BUCKS!

 

[coastalbuck]

Now THIS is why kids love Zook.

Tax dollars well spent ha.

Must be fieldturf, no self-respecting field manager would let the coach drive that heavy POS on a grass field!!!!!!

 

[osugrad21]

Link

In recruiting, it's good to not be 'an uptight white coach'

By JOHN SUPINIE
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
Published Tuesday, January 02, 2007

CHAMPAIGN - Illinois can't be found at any one of the 32 bowl games that began on Dec. 19 and run through Jan. 8, when Ohio State and Florida play for the national championship.

 

[stxbuck]

Let's see how relating to the kids "like a player" works when Benn or Wilson start whining about not getting the ball every play or some other issue erupts. Unless the Illini win at least 8 games in 1 of the next 3 years, the Zoookster will be recruiting at Marshall or Western Mich. or somewhere similar......

 

[BigTenFan]

The photo of the golf cart is real and not photoshopped. I have seen it many times and I always crack up when I see it. The field is real grass and yes, the field supervisor cringes when he sees it out there. Speaking of turf, I see OSU is going to synthetic turf for next season. Too bad about no turf but I heard this was Tressel's doing along with your AD. Anyway, good luck against those Gators and GO BIG TEN.

 

[osugrad21]

Link

Recruiting: Big Ten football
Illinois emerges as a place to go
While U-M, OSU are having down years, Illini are attracting a number of high-quality athletes.
Dave Dye / The Detroit News
 How the Big Ten ranks nationally in recruiting:
Rivals.com
12. Illinois, 13. Ohio State, 17. Michigan , 22. Penn State, 27. Iowa, 28. Wisconsin, 38. Michigan State , 52. Northwestern, 56. Indiana, 59. Minnesota, 65. Purdue
Scout.com
13. Ohio State, 14. Illinois, 16. Michigan , 18. Penn State, 35. Iowa, 37. Wisconsin, 52. Michigan State , 57. Northwestern, 59. Indiana, 65. Purdue, 73. Minnesota
Southern California and Florida took it to Michigan and Ohio State in bowl games, and now Illinois is doing the same on the recruiting trails.
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The Wolverines and Buckeyes find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Both typically rank in the top 10 in recruiting, but that's not the case with less than a week remaining before Wednesday's national signing day. U-M is No. 17 and OSU No. 13, according to Rivals.com

Continued...

 

[Taosman]

the fact that, of all coaches, we're talking about Ron Zook. Career record: 27-33.

Spin that!

 

[VprHis]

27-33 in the Mighty SEC!!!!!


There. I spun it.

Actually, I do worry a bit about Zook. He wasn't spectacular at Florida, but what are the chances he learned from his mistakes there? He's not a great gameday coach? You don't have to be. Find assistants (maybe an assoc. head coach) who are awesome on gameday. Play the role of executive coach/program salesman. It can be done.

Besides, it'd be nice to see Illinois back up near the top of the conference. They've got too much history to wallow in mediocrity.

 

[osugrad21]

ESPN

Zook, Illini expected to ink top-15 recruiting class


By Mark Schlabach
ESPN.com
Archive



CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The rap on Illinois football coach Ron Zook is that he could sell you a used car, but might not be able to teach you to drive it. Zook could sell you swamp land in Arizona, but couldn't find the state on a map.
Ever since Zook replaced Steve Spurrier as Florida's coach before the 2002 season, he has been regarded as a masterful recruiter but a lousy coach. His Gators teams lost five games in three straight seasons, and he was fired before his last squad finished 7-5 in 2004.

Cont'd

 

[sandgk]

As far as Zook is concerned, he has never been given an opportunity to prove himself as a coach.
"The rap is, 'Well, you can recruit but you can't coach,'" Zook said. "Well, give me a chance to coach guys for four years."

You have to be kidding me!!

 

[Jeffcat]

You have to be kidding me!!

id take zook over meyer

 

[CleveBucks]

Illinois Has Rivals Fuming About Its Recruiting Coup

New York Times

Illinois, one of the worst teams among the major conferences in college football in recent seasons, has astounded experts and enraged rivals by putting together one of the nation?s best recruiting classes.


-- Continued --

 

[BGriffBuckeye]

I wouldn't say I am "enraged" by their recent success ont he recruiting front.

 

[jwinslow]

id take zook over meyer

Why?

 

[stowfan]

id take zook over meyer

No offense my friend, but you could be future ESPN material.