Illinois Finally Deciphers the Tea Leaves, Fires Ron Zook as Head Football Coach
By Ty Duffy
Players loved Zook. He recruited NFL-level talent. Even with his program on life-support he obtained commitments from linebackers Lamar Atkins and Keith Brown from Miami Norland. When at Florida, he recruited the bulk of Urban Meyer’s first BCS title tea. It was the routinely disappointing game-day performances that did him in, as they did at his previous job.
Zook received everything needed to succeed, and he couldn’t. Despite time, patience and an expensive revamping of the coaching staff, the stink lingered and the losses piled up. He showed progress, but only from pariah to tired punch line. It’s never good when your coach’s last name becomes a pejorative verb.
Illinois does not have limitless potential, but the potential it does have was not being realized. The difference between Michigan State and Illinois is that MSU hired Mark Dantonio, while Champaign stuck adamantly with Zook. Not sure where Illinois looks for it’s next coach. We can only be certain that Mike Leach will be interested.
[Photo via Getty]