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Illinois Fighting Illini (you'll see)

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Canton

Illini's Zook looking at future today
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
By Todd Porter
Repository sports writer

When Illinois Head Coach Ron Zook looks at the cover of his football team?s media guide, he sees the future. The picture shows Illinois players about to take the field in a loss to Rutgers last year.

They?re all freshmen.

Zook sees the future. Those players, a year ago, couldn?t see the fourth quarter.

Now a year later, the Fighting Illini understand who they are, where they?re going, and they see a future, too.

Cont...
 
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discusses Illini connection to DC school Dunbar

Illini find connection
Locksley helps lock up talent from D.C. school
October 3, 2007

"Illinois is the school for D.C. kids," Benn told the Champaign News-Gazette. "It's crazy. You wouldn't believe how so many people want to come here because of us and the mark we've made."

Ohio State has benefited from its relationship with Cleveland's Glenville High School and its coach, Ted Ginn Sr. Seven former Glenville players, including Troy Smith and Ted Ginn Jr., dotted the Buckeyes' 2006 roster. But it's unusual for out-of-state schools to form such a strong link.

"The only one I can think of that's close is Notre Dame and Moeller," said Lemming, referring to the Cincinnati school that produced Bob Crable, Tony Hunter and Steve Niehaus, not to mention coach Gerry Faust.

"As long as Locksley is happy at Illinois, the connection will remain stable."
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Illini find connection on ChicagoSports.com
 
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Funny really, that Benn quote:
"Illinois is the school for D.C. kids," Benn told the Champaign News-Gazette. "It's crazy. You wouldn't believe how so many people want to come here because of us and the mark we've made."
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Can I believe maybe 2 are considering, one of high merit seriously?
Yep, unbelievable - and let's all thank Lemming for hyping this thing up to the hilt.
 
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If there's a school that could become a giant overnight, it's got to be Illinois. Top notch academics, lots of tradition, big endowment fund and alum support, used to have huge Chicago base. The rise of Ohio State beginning in the 1940s was accompanied by the demise of Illini football. You'd have to go back to Zuppke, maybe Bump Elliott, to find an Illinois coach who's been able to hold the program in the top tier of the Big 10.
 
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cincibuck;948161; said:
If there's a school that could become a giant overnight, it's got to be Illinois. Top notch academics, lots of tradition, big endowment fund and alum support, used to have huge Chicago base. The rise of Ohio State beginning in the 1940s was accompanied by the demise of Illini football. You'd have to go back to Zuppke, maybe Bump Elliott, to find an Illinois coach who's been able to hold the program in the top tier of the Big 10.
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I think that Cincibuck is making a good point. If he is right, then it is a perfect storm for Notre Dame to have Illinois cutting off Chicago and Ohio State, back to Woody Hayes-era style year-to-year competitiveness, putting a border up around Ohio. Add to that a new coach and some temporary optimism in Ann Arbor, East Lansing looking up, and Cincinnatti looking much more competitive when recruiting the local Catholic powerhouse high schools, one has to wonder how an offensive genius can get a break.
 
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si.com

Illinois gives Zook raise, extension

CHICAGO (AP) -- The University of Illinois rewarded Ron Zook on Wednesday for the football team's 5-2 start, extending his contract and giving him a raise that will put $1.305 million in his pocket next year.
Zook now makes $1.055 million a year.

The new deal would further increase his pay to $1.505 million if the Illini make it to a bowl game. Illinois hasn't been to the post season since the 2002 Sugar Bowl, but it's one win away from bowl eligibility this season.

The three-year extension, approved at a meeting in Chicago by the board of trustees' executive committee, also will keep Zook on the Illinois payroll through January 2013.

Cont'd ...
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Recruiting bliss for Illinois
By Lindsey Willhite | Daily Herald

There's one small problem with Illinois' remarkable Rose Bowl-tinted success.

There might not be enough scholarships to accommodate all of the recruits who want to become Illini.

Did you ever think you'd read that sentence with a straight face?

"My phone is blowing up right now," Illinois coach Ron Zook said.

With 22 oral commitments on their current list -- and room for perhaps 10 more -- the Illini are in the unprecedented position of having to express their condolences to recruits who are recruiting Illinois.

"They're turning down guys right now that, a year ago, they would have been jumping up and down to get," said Jeff Johnson, Rivals.com's Illinois recruiting expert.

"It's getting to the point where they're going to have to make some decisions."
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Then there's Illinois' impending breakthrough at prospect factory Cleveland Glenville High School, which is coached by Ted Ginn Sr.

According to Johnson, the Illini are in good shape for four-star wideout Cordale Scott (6-3, 200) and defensive tackle Dawawn Whitner.
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Daily Herald | Recruiting bliss for Illinois
 
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sandgk;1017586; said:
Eh, 22 commits with room for 10 more?
22 + 10 = 32, max signed is 25.
Someone hasn't done their homework.
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They can tack three on to last year's class if they can get them in this spring and then let clearinghouse attrition and greyshirting get them into range.
 
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methomps;1018100; said:
They can tack three on to last year's class if they can get them in this spring and then let clearinghouse attrition and greyshirting get them into range.
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And some people worried that the Zooker didn't learn anything in the SEC.
 
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