If anybody cares, there is some smoke coming out of Champaign that Ron Zook may not survive. Guenther was on board with keeping him virtually all year but the natives are restless and it sounds like he is now in fact going to at least consider removing Zook.

I was hearing all year long that Zook was safe regardless of what happened this year, but I think at 3-9 in a guy's 5th year Guenther may be realizing that something major needs to happen. The plan was originally for he and Zook to go after upgrades at the coordinator spots but I think he is realizing that if Zook's job was going to be on the line next year that wasn't going to be a very successful endeavor.

Zook may keep his job, but it's not nearly as certain as many were made to believe during the year given the way UI imploded.

That would not be good for the recruits they have already. They already lost c.j fiedoriweiz (way off on the spelling) and corey cooper is a very soft verbal. Would not be good for the class they have and could be a HUGE opportunity for Kill to get on some of those 3Stars in IL that they have verbals from.

(12-10-2009 08:20 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  That would not be good for the recruits they have already. They already lost c.j fiedoriweiz (way off on the spelling) and corey cooper is a very soft verbal. Would not be good for the class they have and could be a HUGE opportunity for Kill to get on some of those 3Stars in IL that they have verbals from.

It would be better for Kill and NIU if Zook gets fired next year. We will a full 25+ man class to fill then and could take on any Illini decommits. This year, there's not too much leeway. Illinois doesn't have many commitments anyways right now.

Guenther is half the football problem at Champaign. And that's straight from the mouths of a fair number of rather influential UI athletic alumni. Maybe it's time to UI to clean house at Beilfeldt, Assembly Hall and Memorial Stadium. No place to go but up.

(12-10-2009 11:45 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  Guenther is half the football problem at Champaign. And that's straight from the mouths of a fair number of rather influential UI athletic alumni. Maybe it's time to UI to clean house at Beilfeldt, Assembly Hall and Memorial Stadium. No place to go but up.

I think Guenther is too emotionally involved in the football program, being a former Illinois player. He seems to hire coaches that do fine in everything but football; most of the Olympic sports are good and basketball has been very, very good during his tenure as AD. I think he can look more objectively at the other sports.

I don't think they need to clean house necessarily (the athletic department, as a whole, is run pretty well), but I don't disagree that it might not be a bad idea to have some other input into a new football coach (if that is the direction he decides to go). His "one man search committee" approach hasn't worked.

http://www.pjstar.com/sports/illini/x190...ok-must-go
http://www.hailtotheorange.com/2009/12/1...rs-put-the

Might be able to pick up a few of the transfers too.

(12-10-2009 08:49 PM)rabidawg900 Wrote:  

(12-10-2009 08:20 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  That would not be good for the recruits they have already. They already lost c.j fiedoriweiz (way off on the spelling) and corey cooper is a very soft verbal. Would not be good for the class they have and could be a HUGE opportunity for Kill to get on some of those 3Stars in IL that they have verbals from.

It would be better for Kill and NIU if Zook gets fired next year. We will a full 25+ man class to fill then and could take on any Illini decommits. This year, there's not too much leeway. Illinois doesn't have many commitments anyways right now.

:iagree: Recall that is how NIU backed into Ryan Diem.

They already have two guys that were highly recruited in 08 that told the school they are transferring. Too bad they aren't from IL. Here are their profiles.

http://northernillinois.scout.com/a.z?s=...id=3008422
http://northernillinois.scout.com/a.z?s=...id=2897950

Zook stays, 4 assistants axed, 2 demoted

http://www.illinihq.com/news/football/20...ts_removed

If Zook goes next year, expect Kill to be on Illinois's short list of replacements

With the hiring of Paul Petrino as OC means they are changing from spread to more of a pro set. The spread has reached its zenith in popularity, the defenses have caught up. It is not "new" any longer.