From “Fire Zook” to “Hire Zook…” Why Illinois matters again
“Fire Ron Zook.com.”
He might the only coach in America (at least the only one I can think of) who’s brush with internet infamy might be as well known as the man himself. And that’s a shame, because quietly in the middle of America, hours from the big city and years behind bigger budget programs, Ron Zook’s building a program of note at Illinois.
How he’s doing it has drawn criticism and cheers across the conference. Former MSU head coach John L. Smith said (in so many words) last year that Zook had to be cheating to recruit as well as he does. How could anyone convince kids good enough to play at Ohio State, Michigan and Notre Dame to skip those schools in favor of Champaign, IL… in favor of a program without a recent winning tradition… In favor of a stadium that may soon fall down (to be fair, they are renovating it)! So why come to Illinois?
The answer is Zook. To quote the movie “Tommy Boy,” he could sell a ketchup popcicle to a woman with white gloves! His energy and positive attitude draws young players to follow him. Zook’s recruiting talents go back years, to his days as an assistant at Ohio State. He sells optimism and opportunity. Kids buy it. But they only buy in because Zook’s proving he’s right.
Let’s be honest—a talented team should compete in the modern Big Ten. And at Illinois, Zook is landing talent. QB Juice Williams was one of the most highly-recruited QB’s in America when he decided to play at Illinois. Zook landed one of Ohio’s most talented players in TE Jeff Cumberland (of Columbus’ Brookhaven High). Zook’s an Ohio native, played his college ball at Miami University and is focused on recruiting in his home state.
That means for years to come, expect Illinois to seriously compete with Ohio State for Ohio’s best players. That also means for years to come, expect the Illinois game to “mean something.” Zook combines to focus and intensity to drive a team on the field, with the character and loose personality needed to relate to today’s young athletes. Under his leadership, expect the Illini make Saturdays (even this coming Saturday at OSU) more interesting.
