Illinois Fighting Illini (you'll see)

[Fungo Squiggly]

Hyperbole ....is overstatement or exaggerated language that distorts facts by making them much bigger than they are if looked at objectively.

I don't know that it was hyperbole. I didn't get the tone that the writers were intentionally exaggerating the number. If he had said Illinois has offered 6,000 players, I'd buy that as hyperbole.

 

[Taosman]

Hyperbole of......hyperbole? :tongue2:

 

[OrangeRoughy]

constants to any follower of Illinois recruiting: Taylor Bell will always write something negative about Illinois...

...

"Illinois is Setting the Pace", by Tom Lemming, April 6:
"Illinois is leading the nation in offers, at least 150"

...

"Aggressive Illini Early with Offers", by Taylor Bell, April 18:
"they have offered scholarships to more than 150 players, more than any other school."

...

You know something, Lemming is the PERFECT name for this guy. He leads the dimwitted who follow blindly, instinctively, over the edge. It's truly marvellous that his last name is Lemming.

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Ron Zook continues building his Illinois football program
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
BY Mike Popovich
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

CANTON TWP. Ron Zook's first stop Monday morning was Loudonville High School, his alma mater.

While speaking there, the University of Illinois head football coach said the principal stood up and bluntly told him, "We wish you the best of luck in all but one game."

Zook took no exception to it.

He was in the middle of Ohio State country, surrounded by fans who show extreme passion for the state's most recognizable college sports team.

"I understand. I really do," Zook told the Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club later in the day at Tozzi's on 12th. "I grew up with Woody Hayes. And because of Woody Hayes, Ohio State has the tradition where everybody believes in you.

"Whether you like Ohio State or not, it's a day everybody captivates and is rooting for the same thing."

Buckeye fans better recognize this if they haven't already: Under Zook, Illinois now is a formidable challenger in the Big Ten.

Last year, the Illini won nine games, one more than the combined total in Zook's first two seasons. Illinois tied for second in the league, one game behind the champion Buckeyes. Ohio State's appearance in the BCS national championship game also enabled the Illini to be the Big Ten's representative in the Rose Bowl.


Cont...

 

[mercer_buckeye]

Aw that's really nice,


but it doesn't change anything fuck Illinois

 

[Oh8ch]

Hadn't hard that about Buckner. It must suck to be an I-L-L I-N-I fan.

It's not like they can't hear the shoes dropping after Eric Gordon.


MSU on the other hand could make a statement with a couple more blue chippers. If RR stumbles too badly there could be a long term change in the flavor of Michigan football.

 

[OrangeRoughy]

Hadn't hard that about Buckner. It must have sucked to be an I-L-L I-N-I football fan the last 20 years*

*fixed

I think the standard Illini fan response to the Buckner story is this: "Might lose him? Hell - I'm just glad to even be in the conversation again!"

Do Buckner & Hill flirting with MSU and Fellows dating tOSU bother me? Not really. I was really worried when Juice was committed to the Illini and visiting North Carolina, but he still signed. I was concerned when D'Angelo McCray had verballed to Illinois but was visiting Florida again, but he still signed. I was curious when Martez Wilson had an in-home with Coach Frontbutt and 6 ND assistants a week before signing day, but he held true to his verbal and signed. I raised an eyebrow when Corey Liuget was visiting Miami, FL and LSU after his Illini verbal, but he still signed.

As I said before, I think Fellows will be a Buckeye (he jumped on his first offer without thinking anything through, and then he blew up), but I'm fairly confident that Buckner and Hill will stay with the Illini. And I think Zook has the absolute perfect approach to committed recruits looking elsewhere: "Go ahead and look - I'm not worried. 'Cause all you'll find is that your one true home is in Champaign. You'll be at dinner with him, but thinking of me the whole time."

 

[Dryden]

"Go ahead and look - I'm not worried. 'Cause all you'll find is that your one true home is in Champaign. You'll be at dinner with him, but thinking of me the whole time."

Now that right there is some scary shit. Thanks a lot!

I'm going to need to check under my bed for Ron Zook when I go to sleep tonight.

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Ohio State Buckeyes step up football recruiting with Illinois trying to take Ohio high school stars



Wednesday, April 23, 2008 Story by Doug Lesmerises



Plain Dealer Reporter Columbus - Jim Tressel was always willing to nurture his foot ball recruiting classes and allow potential future Buckeyes to come out of their shells in due time. Then a poacher arrived at the border. With Illinois coach Ron Zook stalking nearly every one of Ohio State's in-state targets, the Buckeyes have countered with a recruiting flock this April that is more than double its usual size. In the previous six years combined, Ohio State had a total of 15 oral commitments by April 23. This year, the Buckeyes have 11, including seven from Ohio. Coincidence? Or could the Illini's tactics be inspiring earlier OSU recruiting strategies? "Well it should," said Glenville High coach Ted Ginn Sr. "Illinois is coming in hard." "When [Zook] first offered me," said Garfield Heights defensive end Melvin Fellows, "he told me that he wanted to be one of the top programs in Ohio, and that he wanted to offer [scholarships to] the best kids in Ohio." So far, Zook, an Ohio native and former OSU assistant, has won two head-to-head battles with Tressel. He beat the Buckeyes for Glenville's Cordale Scott in the Class of 2008; and scored a less-than-firm commitment for 2009 from Fellows, who is one of three oral pledges to Illinois but still attended Ohio State's spring game Saturday. Not a huge windfall. So perhaps the Illini's most significant in-state recruiting influence can be seen in the Buckeyes -- although they won't admit it. "We can't worry about other things," said OSU recruiting coordinator John Peterson. "I just think that kids are more prepared." Something has changed in Columbus. While some schools have joined this year's early push -- Texas has 17 oral commitments, LSU 11 and Southern Cal and Oklahoma 10 each -- not all schools are there. Notre Dame has just three oral commitments, and Florida and Alabama two each. In the Big Ten, only Michigan State (six) and Michigan (five) are within shouting distance of Ohio State, with February's National Signing Day more than nine months off. Gathering classes earlier could leave schools vulnerable to decommitments from players who pledged before they were sure. But the plan also allows a program to focus. By locking up so many of the best Ohio players, the Buckeyes are poised to make bigger inroads in states like Florida and Pennsylvania. For schools fighting an uphill battle, like the Illini in Ohio, an early offer can be the best offer. "It makes a statement to the kid and the people at the school that we're serious about you," said Eric Wolford, the Illini's lead recruiter in Northeast Ohio. "We just go after the best players we think can help us win. We don't care who else is recruiting them." First and attention

Cont...

 

[Buckeye86]

So far, Zook, an Ohio native and former OSU assistant, has won two head-to-head battles with Tressel... and scored a less-than-firm commitment for 2009 from Fellows, who is one of three oral pledges to Illinois but still attended Ohio State's spring game Saturday.

#1 I would hardly call Fellows a "head-to-head" victory for Illinois considering he was offered and committed before anyone else (including OSU) got their foot in the door.

#2 It is yet to be seen who will win the battle now that it is actually head-to-head.

 

[lopo89]

Sorry to disagree with you Orange Roughy but Fellows didnt just jump at the first offer and commit right away.

He said himself in the Plain Dealer today, Illinois offered him after his sophomore year. He was sitting on that offer for at least 8-9 months.


Buckner and Hill wont be going anywhere. Hill is firm with his decision and he said Buckner is as well.



Maybe the tide is turning with instate kids and loyalty to Illinois?
Recent Illinois commit '10 IL WR Corey Cooper said he considered himself to Illinois for over a year now. Hopefully that trend continues.

 

[jwinslow]

Illinois offered him after his sophomore year.

When Ill was 2-9.

Sorry to disagree with you Orange Roughy but Fellows didnt just jump at the first offer and commit right away.

He held Marshall and ILL offers at that point, didn't he?

He committed right when ILL was chosen for the Rose Bowl, and finished up a magical season where they beat #1 OSU, Melvin's instate school.


There's no comparison between the state of the program when he was offered and when he committed.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

#1 I would hardly call Fellows a "head-to-head" victory for Illinois considering he was offered and committed before anyone else (including OSU) got their foot in the door.

that's hardly fair. isn't offering first part of recruiting?

 

[Buckeye86]

that's hardly fair. isn't offering first part of recruiting?

doesn't going head-to-head against someone involve the other person being involved?

recruiting victory...sure
head-to-head victory, not even close

if Fellows reaffirms his commitment to the Zooker than they can start bragging about a head-to-head victory

 

[LordJeffBuck]

if Fellows reaffirms his commitment to the Zooker than they can start bragging about a head-to-head victory

Well he didn't, so they can't ... and they won't here on BP any longer.

Memo to Illini fan: When it comes to recruiting, we don't engage in idle speculation and blatant homerism on this site. We told you - repeatedly - that Fellows would de-commmit from Illinois. We told you - repeatedly - that he would verbal to Ohio State. We told you - repeatedly - that he would make the move before the summer. We told you - repeatedly - that it was a "done deal". You responded - repeatedly - that we were arrogant, uninformed, and just plain full of shit. Well, we hate to tell you so ... but we told you so.

We don't expect you to apologize for being rude and condescending and overconfident and inaccurate on our site, because, after all, you are Illini fans. But maybe, in the future, you could possibly consider, for a second or two, that we might actually know what we are talking about when it comes to Ohio State recruits.

On behalf of the rest of the arrogant, uninformed, full-of-shit BPRT, I shall remain,

Very truly yours,

Lord Jeff Buck