Northwestern, Illinois to play in Wrigley?

Even the voice-cracking humiliation of singing at a Cubs game has not soured Illinois Coach Ron Zook on the idea of returning to Wrigley Field — especially if the occasion is a game against Northwestern. The teams are set to meet Nov. 20, and Zook hopes the teams can square off at Wrigley Field. “It would be great national exposure and a neat thing for both sides,” said Zook, who visited Chicago on Tuesday. “Wrigley Field transcends the whole country.” Northwestern officials, buoyed by the success of the NHL’s Winter Classic, have been trying for more than a year to make a Wrigley Field game a reality. On Jan. 17, NU athletic director Jim Phillips said: “Within the next month or so, we’ll decide if it’s something that can work. There are a lot of moving parts.” – Chicago Tribune

Illinois Could Still Fire Ron Zook?

I understand the vote of confidence for Ron Zook as an attempt to quiet the unrest, but it doesn’t work that way. AD Ron Guenther’s statement that Zook, in his fifth year, needs more time to fix the mistakes doesn’t ring true, especially because Guenther, a former football coach, knows what he sees. And despite what angry Illini followers might think, nobody cares more about Illinois football than Guenther. Maybe Zook will return — because as bad a year as its football team is having, the University of Illinois is having a worse one. An academic scandal has rocked its trustees and its administration, who have bigger problems than football. Maybe there’s a question about whether Guenther should make Illinois’ next football move. The economics of the four years remaining on Zook’s contract also could be a factor. On the other hand, if the slide continues, it’s difficult to imagine the depths the 2010 season could reach. Juice Williams heads the list of departing Illini who aren’t producing this year. But it’s not as if Illinois has a flock of can’t-miss youngsters ready to step in and lead a turnaround. A college football program must substitute the absence of wins with hope for the future. The trouble is, that also is absent at Illinois. – Chicago Sun-Times

Ron Zook will return in 2010

Ron Zook will return as Illinois coach in 2010, athletic director Ron Guenther announced Saturday. Zook has been under fire for the 1-6 start, which includes six double-digit losses. Illinois endured a disappointing 5-7 season last year after reaching the Rose Bowl in 2007. “There will be some changes, but there won’t be a change at the top,” Guenther told reporters Saturday at halftime of Illinois’ 24-14 loss to Purdue. “There’s a great deal of frustration obviously with the program at the moment. We’re still going to evaluate [at the end of the season], but I think it’s really unfair to start jumping at the end of the fifth year on a guy.” Zook is 19-36 at Illinois after Saturday’s loss. He received a one-year contract extension this summer that takes him through January 2014. – ESPN

Illinois AD Guenther strongly indicates he won’t fire Ron Zook

Although Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther remains silent publicly on the status of football coach Ron Zook, Guenther has “strongly indicated” he will not make a coaching change next season, according to Illinois spokesman Kent Brown. As he does every season, Brown said, Guenther will evaluate the program after the season. Guenther has declined to speak to reporters and has no plans to release any specific statements about Zook’s status, Brown said. Zook’s name increasingly has arisen as a coach on the hot seat as the Illini, who play Saturday at Purdue, continue to struggle each week. Zook, who is in his fifth season at Illinois (1-5, 0-4), received a one-year contract extension before the season that runs up to January 2014. – Chicago Tribune

Like it or not, Ron Guenther will move patiently with Ron Zook

And while fans can afford to be impatient, (Ron) Guenther never is. He is a careful, loyal man who has never been prone to quick reaction. So anyone holding their breath waiting for Guenther to fire Zook mid-season should exhale and calm down. “Ron will do what he always does, and that’s to evaluate all aspects of the program after the season has ended,” said Kent Brown, the assistant athletics director in charge of media relations. In truth, Guenther evaluates the football program every day of his life, as he should. It’s the most important property in his department and Guenther, as a former Illini football player, cares deeply about its well-being. But that has never compromised Guenther’s willingness to move deliberately and only after meticulous inspection. Illinois is 1-5 today, and things seem grim. But I’ve learned the feeling changes from week to week. If Illinois was to win at Purdue Saturday, then upend Michigan in Champaign the following week, the feeling would be more upbeat. Likewise, if Illinois loses at Purdue and loses to Michigan, the 1-7 record will feel even more grim. The drumbeat for change will sound more urgently. What if Illinois loses the rest of its games? What if Illinois finishes the season 1-11, which would make the team 6-19 since it arrived in Pasadena, Calif., for the Jan. 1, 2008 Rose Bowl? Guenther’s biggest question is this: Can the football mess be fixed and can Ron Zook be the fixer? Then he has to ask: What is the cost of making a coaching change vs. what is the cost of not making a coaching change? Guenther is evaluating all of these things. There are some who believe that even if Illinois goes 1-11, Guenther will retain Zook for another season. Why? He may believe Zook can still fix the problems, although it’s hard to imagine that Guenther would not insist on some significant coaching staff changes. – Herald-Review

Ron Guenther won’t comment on Ron Zook until after season

Whatever Illinois athletics director Ron Guenther is thinking about football coach Ron Zook, he will keep it to himself until the end of the season. Guenther has turned down requests for interviews while he continues to scrutinize the football program. “As he does every year, Ron will evaluate the program and the coaching staff when the season is over,’’ athletic department spokesman Kent Brown said. “He won’t talk about it now.’’ That sounds like Zook’s job status is safe for another six games. He is 19-35 in his fifth season as Illinois coach. The Illini (1-5 this season) have lost their last eight games against major-college teams, and criticism is building concerning Zook and his long-term contract… Guenther must weigh the options of making a coaching change or giving Zook a chance to clean up the mess next season. Of course, this is big business. In July, Guenther extended Zook’s contract for one more season, paying Zook $1.5 million per year in a deal that runs through the 2013 season. If Zook is fired after this season, the school would still owe him roughly $4.4 million by the terms of the termination clause of his contract. Illinois would have the option of paying it out over four years. – State Journal-Register

Illinois in a dark, dark place

Illinois came to Indiana hoping to find a spark of salvation in a season that has so far produced mostly agony. Win here, raise spirits, then hope some of the new-found confidence might spread. Instead, however, Illinois left here wondering when or if the pain will ever end. A 27-14 loss to the Hoosiers means Illinois is alone in the Big Ten cellar, a dark, dank place where ghostly spirits lurk. I’ve tried to be realistic about Illinois’ football situation, which is grim. I find no joy in chronicling these losses and only the ghoulish finds delight in watching grown men work in various states of agony. When head coach Ron Zook reached the table at which he sat for the post-game media interviews Saturday night, he winced as he looked at the final stats sheet. I’m not sure which statistic caught his attention. The three lost Illini fumbles? That was a killer. The 482 yards surrendered by the Illinois defense? Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell threw for a career-high 333 yards and three touchdowns. Zook looked ashen-faced and no matter what, it’s heartless to wish that much pain on a hard-working man who will never be faulted for not trying. But each week, the evidence piles up that Zook and his coaching staff simply can’t find the reasons a team with enough talent to do better has slid this far off course. – Herald-Review

Ron Zook Feeling Heat at Illinois

The Illini drop to 1-5, continuing one of the most stunning downward spirals I can remember. Just two years ago, we were talking about a Rose Bowl team and a recruiting powerhouse. Now, Illinois has cemented itself as the Big Ten’s worst team, and head coach Ron Zook could have a rough time saving his job. Senior quarterback Juice Williams returned to the starting lineup and tossed two touchdowns, but his fumble late in the third quarter changed the game. Illinois appeared headed for the g0-ahead touchdown when Hoosiers defensive end Jammie Kirlew jarred the ball loose at the 6-yard line. Indiana answered with a 44-yard touchdown to Doss. This was a must-win for Illinois and Zook, and barring a shocking turnaround, the Illini will miss the postseason for the second straight year. They now head to Purdue to face a team coming off its biggest win in years. – ESPN

Zook, Guenther talk but not about the future

A lot of Illinois fans are curious these days about what Ron Guenther is thinking in regard to the football program now that the Illini are firmly entrenched in last place in the Big Ten. The reclusive athletic director has not been seen, but coach Ron Zook said the two got together Sunday morning and talked mostly about the team. “We talked this morning and watched some tape,” Zook said. “I don’t think this is the point to assess things as a whole. No one is more frustrated than him. We talked about a lot of things but nothing about the whole assessment of the program.” Beat writers who cover the team were hoping to talk to Guenther after the game in Bloomington on Saturday night but that request didn’t amount to much. He hasn’t been seen in the press box since the Ohio State game. – Post-Dispatch

Illini still undecided at quarterback

Anyone looking for Illinois’ secret quarterback decoder won’t find answers by scanning the list of this week’s captains. Juice Williams and Eddie McGee are both captains for Saturday’s game at Indiana, but coach Ron Zook hasn’t decided which one will start. The staff has discussed implementing redshirt Jacob Charest the “last couple of weeks,” Ron Zook said. – Chicago Tribune

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