You look at the pic above and think "what does a celebration from the Illinois Fighting Illini 2004-05 college basketball season have to do with this?" The long overdue firing of the school's college football coach Ron Zook. Well, when I searched for google images of "Illini celebration," it was all hoops images. (which says something about why the Zooker is being … [Read more...] about Ron Zook Fired! Illini A.D. Addresses Media (Video)
fire ron zook
Which Illini Coordinator Gets Ron Zook’s (Interim) Job?
In 2009, a very underachieving Illini football team finished 3-9. Picked as high as third by some Big Ten and college football pundits, the horrible record was nothing short of a catastrophe for the resume of Ron Zook and the Illinois program. Or so I thought. Logic dictated then Illinois Athletic Director Ron Guenther can Zook then and there. Unfortunately, Guenther had … [Read more...] about Which Illini Coordinator Gets Ron Zook’s (Interim) Job?
5 Biggest Reasons Illinois Should Fire Ron Zook Next Sunday
The main story surrounding the Illinois Fighting Illini losing 28-17 to the Wisconsin Badgers today is the fact that Illini Head Coach Ron Zook is a "dead man walking." New Illinois Athletic Director Mike Thomas said he won't make a decision until after the season is over, so I wouldn't expect to hear anything concrete until after the season's final game- next Saturday at … [Read more...] about 5 Biggest Reasons Illinois Should Fire Ron Zook Next Sunday
Ron Zook Asked About Job Security; Walks Out of Media Session
Sometimes I forget that Illini football coach Ron Zook means something different to me than he does to the rest of the nation. I regard him as the college football coach at my alma mater, the University of Illinois. Sure, I take issue with a lot of his play-calling, and the way he defends his play-calling to the media (especially after the Western Michigan game, when his bad … [Read more...] about Ron Zook Asked About Job Security; Walks Out of Media Session
Questioning Ron Zook’s Very Questionable Play-Calls, Rationale
Fans of the Florida Gators will understand this piece. Actually non college football fans will probably understand it even. It feels like we publish this column every season. Last year, we did the "Did Ron Zook's play-calling cost Illinois a win?" story after the Illini had a chance to upset then #2 Ohio State at home in the Big Ten conference opener. Go here to brush up … [Read more...] about Questioning Ron Zook’s Very Questionable Play-Calls, Rationale
Illinois Loses to Minnesota
So. I suppose that headline really says it all, doesn't it? I mean...what more is there to say when a team that was 1-9, 0-6 in the Big Ten, and had lost to a 1-AA team, comes into your house and beats you. Well, maybe there is one more thing to say: We're not going to a bowl game, folks. … [Read more...] about Illinois Loses to Minnesota
Did Illinois Head Coach Ron Zook Blow The Ohio State Game?
Is there any more activity over at fireronzook.com? After Saturday's "moral victory" loss against #2-ranked Ohio State, it definitely should be. While the Illini were not expected to be close, and weren't supposed to win the game, they were driving to tie late in the game, and had a chance to completely turn the college football world on its ear. That's when Zook … [Read more...] about Did Illinois Head Coach Ron Zook Blow The Ohio State Game?
A Glimpse Into The Illini Future: Quarterback Jacob Charest
By Paul Schmidt While the Illini were falling to the Northwestern Wildcats, essentially ending their long shot run at a bowl bid, Illini fans did get an extended look at next year's early leader in the starting quarterback race, Jacob Charest, the redshirt freshman out of Butler High School in Matthews, North Carolina. Charest posted some modest numbers but, after being … [Read more...] about A Glimpse Into The Illini Future: Quarterback Jacob Charest
Who Had The Worse Weekend, the Chicago Bears or the Illinois Fighting Illini?
By Paul Schmidt For most Chicago area football fans, the weekend wasn't a complete loss. For anyone who is a University of Illinois graduate and a Chicago Bears fan...let's say you've had better weekends, and leave it at that. During the awfulness that was the Bears' game on Sunday, it spawned somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 tweets on Twitter about just how bad the … [Read more...] about Who Had The Worse Weekend, the Chicago Bears or the Illinois Fighting Illini?
Will Illinois Dismiss Ron Zook?
By Paul M. Banks and Paul Schmidt Read on as our two resident Illini experts discuss the tenure of Ron Zook and speculate on his and the University's next move. (PBanks) It's eerie how similar the Illinois tenure of Ron Zook is following the exact same story arc as another Ron, the man who preceded him, Ron Turner. Zook got off to a very rough start in Champaign, going … [Read more...] about Will Illinois Dismiss Ron Zook?