Illinois Fighting Illini (you'll see)

[DaytonBuck]

Since minorities can see a phony from a mile away I wonder about white folk

 

[OSUBucks22]

Rivals $

7/31

Jeff's update precitions for the Illini's 2009 haul.

At least he took Fellows off there...

 

[OregonBuckeye]

Scout.com: Big Ten

 

[shetuck]

ESPN: Zook making most of his Ohio roots

Zook making most of his Ohio roots

By Bill Kurelic

Updated: August 13, 2008

Illinois head Coach Ron Zook was born in Loudonville, Ohio, and grew up in the Buckeye State. He graduated from Miami of Ohio and held coaching positions at Cincinnati and Ohio State.

Zook is well aware of the abundance of high school football talent in Ohio, so it is certainly not surprising that he has made recruiting the Buckeye State a priority for his Fighting Illini coaching staff.

Zook's 2007 recruiting class included four Ohioans, wide receiver Brian Gamble, offensive lineman Mark Jackson, and defensive linemen Daryle Ballew and defensive lineman Steve Matas.

In his 2008 class, Zook signed four more Ohioans. Wide receiver Cordale Scott, defensive lineman Whitney Mercilus, linebacker Justin Staples and defensive back Ashante Williams all signed with the Illini last recruiting season. Scott was the coup for Zook. He was one of the top 10 prospects in the Buckeye State last season and Jim Tressel definitely wanted him to become a Buckeye. Scott interrupted the Cleveland Glenville to Ohio State pipeline when he surprised the recruiting world and picked the Illini over the Bucks.

This recruiting season it looked like Zook had done it again. One of the country's top defensive ends, Melvin Fellows (No. 107 on the ESPNU 150) from Garfield Heights, Ohio, committed very early to Illinois. However after subsequently landing a scholarship offer from Tressel, Fellows changed his commitment to Ohio State in April.

Even without Fellows, Zook has commitments for his 2009 class from three prospects from the state of Ohio, running back Bud Golden, offensive lineman Jake Feldmeyer and wide receiver Steve Hull.

Zook is far from done in the Buckeye State this season. He has scholarship offers out to offensive linemen Marcus Hall, Hugh Thornton and Jake Brandt, defensive end Cornelius Carradine, linebacker Luke Kuechly and defensive back Mike Edwards. All six are considering the Illini. Hall, Carradine and Kuechly are among the top 25 prospects in the state of Ohio, and Hall has an offer from Ohio State.

cont'd...

 

[Buckeye86]

Scout.com: Big Ten

Ohio State
797-304-52 (71.379%)
Big Ten Championships: 32
Head to Head vs Illinois: 60-30-3

Michigan
869-286-36 (74.475%)
Big Ten Championships: 42
Head to Head vs Illinois: 66-21-2

Illinois
557-507-50 (52.244%)
Big Ten Championships: 15
Head-to-Head vs the Big Two: 51-126-5

Illinois fans have every right to be excited, but its going to take more than just a few years of success before they can claim to be on the same level as the big boys in the Big Ten.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

Ohio State
797-304-52 (71.379%)
Big Ten Championships: 32
Head to Head vs Illinois: 60-30-3

Michigan
869-286-36 (74.475%)
Big Ten Championships: 42
Head to Head vs Illinois: 66-21-2

Illinois
557-507-50 (52.244%)
Big Ten Championships: 15
Head-to-Head vs the Big Two: 51-126-5

Illinois fans have every right to be excited, but its going to take more than just a few years of success before they can claim to be on the same level as the big boys in the Big Ten.

theyve been there done that. youre im assuming 22 (86 birth year) you just cannot remember those times.

 

[Buckeye86]

theyve been there done that. youre im assuming 22 (86 birth year) you just cannot remember those times.

Are you talking about a few years of success in which they claimed to be at the top of the Big Ten? According to stassen.com Illinois has had twenty two winning seasons since 1950.

2007 9-3

2001 10-2

1999 8-4

1994 7-5

1992 6-5-1

1990 8-4
1989 10-2
1988 6-5

1985 6-5
1984 7-4
1983 10-2
1982 7-5
1981 7-4

1974 6-4

1965 6-4
1964 6-3
1963 8-1

1960 5-4
1959 5-3-1

1955 5-3-1

1951 9-0-1
1950 7-2

So the 80's seem like the golden years of Illinois football with the stellar decade record of 63-48-4. I'm assuming these were the years I do not recall when Illinois had sustained success and imagined themselves to be among the elite of the Big Ten?

 

[shetuck]

Herald & Review: Illinois suddenly a football-crazed state

Illinois suddenly a football-crazed state

By MARK TUPPER - H&R Executive Sports Editor
Friday, August 15, 2008 12:39 AM CDT

Herald & Review/Stephen Haas
Illinois Head Coach Ron Zook

RANTOUL - Young people with big dreams are trudging through football practices around the country right now, some of them pros, some in college, others dreaming of becoming a hero in the halls of their high school.

It's an annual rite of passage in football-mad America and in collegiate strongholds like Columbus, Ohio, Austin, Texas, and Tuscaloosa, Ala., the fervor bubbles 12 months a year.

In those passionate college towns, the obsession is spread over three seasons: football, spring football and football recruiting.

It hasn't been that way here in Central Illinois, where basketball has traditionally sparked a more fervent level of fan interest.

cont'd...

 

[Sportsbuck28]

From that link..

The 2007 football success was not a one-year wonder. The talent level has skyrocketed and despite the loss of NFL first-round tailback Rashard Mendenhall, this is a better Illini football team than the group that went to the Rose Bowl last season.

Allow me to call bullshit on that.

 

[NFBuck]

From that link..


Allow me to call bullshit on that.

Eh, not so fast my friend. If Juice can improve his passing, and Dufrene, who looked pretty good when given carries, can be an above average back, the Illini could be pretty strong again this year.

They have good recievers (I think Benn is gonna be a stud). I think most of their OL is back and the D is pretty damn good. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that the Illini will improve again this season. If Juice's passing improves and becomes more consistent, they're gonna be a handful again this year.

 

[SNIPER26]

If Juice can improve his passing, and Dufrene, who looked pretty good when given carries, can be an above average back, the Illini could be pretty strong again this year.

If Juice's passing improves and becomes more consistent, they're gonna be a handful again this year.

That's a mighty big if. I could easily say "If Steve Threet morphs into Vince Young, Texas version, Michigan's offense will be amazing this year", yet it's not likely to happen

 

[Sportsbuck28]

Eh, not so fast my friend. If Juice can improve his passing, and Dufrene, who looked pretty good when given carries, can be an above average back, the Illini could be pretty strong again this year.

They have good recievers (I think Benn is gonna be a stud). I think most of their OL is back and the D is pretty damn good. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that the Illini will improve again this season. If Juice's passing improves and becomes more consistent, they're gonna be a handful again this year.

Mendenhall was their entire offense last year.. you don't get better losing that, nor do you get better losing your best LB in J Leman.

Maybe by late November this team will be better than the one that went to the Rose Bowl but to make that claim now isn't sound reasoning IMO.

 

[Oh8ch]

For all the talk about Williams he had a QB rating of 119 last year. Juice NEEDS a solid running game to create space for himself.

That said, Illinois should have a very, very good D this year.

 

[NFBuck]

Mendenhall was their entire offense last year.. you don't get better losing that, nor do you get better losing your best LB in J Leman.

Juice showed against us that he can be a threat too. Another year of development and the weapons he has at WR lead me to believe he can take the next step and be a solid passer. Dufrene also looked good when given opportunities last year, and with a veteran line back, I think he's a 1,000 yard back that could concievably open up the passing game.

As for Lamen, that is a huge loss, but that was a fast young, athletic defense last year. Martez Wilson is gonna be a beast and Vontae Davis is probably the 2nd best DB in the conference behind Jenkins.

I just think they're easy to overlook due to their doormat history, but I really believe the drop off is gonna be a lot less than a lot of people think. I think they may give Wiscy a run for 2nd in the Big-10.

Maybe by late November this team will be better than the one that went to the Rose Bowl but to make that claim now isn't sound reasoning IMO.

Eh, it's all about perspective. Last year they were a young team with a great back, a below average passing game and a decent D. I think if Dufrene can at least be a good back and Juice improves as a passer coupled with a good D, they could see another 9-3 season. I don't think they're BCS bound, but 9-3 (6-2) and a Cap One birth is a pretty good year for them.

 

[SNIPER26]

Juice showed against us that he can be a threat too.

I mean WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, you guys beat yourselves in that game. Uncharacteristic overpursuing, lack of containment, lack of a pass rush. I mean, for Christ's sake, this is a guy who almost lost his job last year.